Italy in May

Italy in May can be the stuff that dreams are made of, even if the prices are hiked accordingly. The weather is more reliably good than it is in April (though still not too hot), and tourists are flocking to Italy in droves starting in May. No, unfortunately you are not the only person who woke up this morning and thought, “Y’know what we should do? We should go to Italy in May.” Still, if you’ve had that thought, you’re in good company - and there are lots of good reasons to see what May is like in Italy.

Prices, as mentioned, are likely to be higher in May than they are in February or November, so be prepared to pay more for everything from your Italy airfare to your car rental to your hotel room. You can save money on accommodation by staying in hostels rather than hotels (many have private rooms that are still less expensive than most hotel rooms), and taking the train rather than renting a car. But if you are hoping to get off the beaten path - which is always a good thing to do, especially as more and more tourists start coming to Italy - you may need to have a car to get into the countryside to towns that don’t have train stations.

There are festivals and events going on throughout Italy year-round, and if you can participate in one or several during your trip you are bound to come away with a better understanding of the real Italy - not to mention some amazing vacation memories. Check out this Italy festival finder for some ideas of festivals that may be taking place in May near where you’re visiting. For instance, who can resist the allure of something in Cortona called the “Festival for the Elderly and the Sick?” Seriously, some events are actually worth seeking out, including the 19 days in May when Florence’s Iris Garden is open to the public (the only days it’s open to the public all year), or the festival of sailboats in Venice, or the White Asparagus Festival in Cimadolmo in the Treviso area. To use the festival finder, just choose the month and the region(s) you’ll be visiting from the drop-down menu and click the “Search” button for a few highlights of festivals and events you may want to add to your itinerary.

One of the country’s biggest sporting events takes place in May, running for three weeks - it’s the annual Giro d’Italia, or Tour of Italy bike race. The route changes annually, so you should check a race schedule to see if you’ll be near the route during any point in your trip. If you’re trying to avoid the crowds associated with the race, you’ll want to stay far away from the route. But if you’re interested in checking it out, it’s a very cool event and could make yours a once in a lifetime trip!

Also keep in mind that few days on the Italian calendar are as honored as May 1, or International Workers Day. Regardless of the day of the week, this day is one where average workers all over the country take the day off - so you may find things you were counting on being open are closed up tight. Check at the hotel or hostel’s front desk to find out what’s going to be open on May 1 so you can take advantage of those sights (keeping in mind that other people will be doing the same thing, so lines may be longer), or take the opportunity to give yourself a day off as well and lounge in the park with a picnic. Just make sure you’ve done your grocery shopping for your picnic ahead of time, because the stores are likely to be closed!