Could the off-season really be the new season? We can’t dispute the many perks to travelling in Italy off peak. From October through April, travellers can experience Italy at its peaceful best, with fewer crowds and more meaningful local encounters than you’ll find in the high season. But avoiding the crowds and summer heat aren’t the only reasons to opt for an off season trip. It promises an entirely fresh perspective on your most beloved destinations.
Read our guide to Italy in the off season to discover why this might just be the best time to book your luxury villa holiday to Italy.
When is the Off Season in Italy?
October through April are the prime months for experiencing Italy during the low tourist season. These months offer the perfect combination of milder weather, fewer crowds, and vibrant local culture.
The shoulder season in September and October is an equally beautiful time of year to travel, especially if you love your food and wine.
Why travel to Italy in the Off and Shoulder Season?
1. Ideal weather for outdoor lovers
Italy in the off season boasts mild weather, perfect for hiking and outdoor activities without sacrificing sunshine. The cooler temperatures make exploring Italy’s stunning natural and national parks far more comfortable.
Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country, and our luxury villas bring destinations like the Prosecco Hills and Val d’Orcia direct to your doorstep.
Top Experiences:
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Tour the picturesque fishing villages of Cinque Terre with crisp skies and empty cobbled streets.
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Enjoy a leisurely bike ride in the hills around San Gimignano, surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards.
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Hike or horseback ride along the wildly beautiful Maremma Coast.
Cinque Terre
2. Join the grape and olive harvest
Autumn in Italy is synonymous with the grape and olive harvest, offering the chance to take part in centuries-old local traditions. The timing of the harvest can vary by a few weeks each year depending on a number of factors, including the positions of the vineyard, height of the land and type of grape. Sangiovese grapes, for example, that are used to make beloved Chianti and Brunello wines, are harvested between September and October.
During the Vendemmia, (“grape harvest”), many wineries welcome guests to help handpick the grapes and press the fruit. There couldn’t be a more special time to plan a tour and tasting of your favourite wineries.
Top Experiences:
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Participate in a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Colle Bereto in Radda-in-Chianti, followed by a Bistecca lunch.
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Savour extra virgin olive oil fresh off the press at Villa Monteoriolo, a historic family-run estate near Florence.
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Get to the heart of Brunello wine country, with a tour of two wineries followed by a guided visit to Montalcino and Pienza.
Colle Bereto
3. Cooler weather and stunning sunsets
The off-peak season brings crisper, clearer air and breathtaking early sunsets. The Tuscan countryside views in the winter and autumn months are utterly mesmerising as a result. The light during these months is perfect for photography and appreciating the natural scenery in peace. We may be biased, but this is by far one of our favourite times to travel.
Top Experiences:
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Immerse yourself in the breathtaking Umbrian countryside on a Vintage Car Tour along the ancient Via Cassia from Città di Castello to Lake Bolsena.
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Stay at one of our Luxury Villas with Stunning Views for a front row seat of the most spectacular sunsets.
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The off season doesn’t mean you have to forgo alfresco living. At our Villas with Private Heated Pools, the water is always warm enough to jump right in.
4. Food lovers forage at your leisure
Food lovers, the shoulder season and off season in Italy is your time. October onwards is great for foraging porcini mushrooms, white truffles, and chestnuts that carpet forest floors. Tuscany and Umbria host several truffle festivals in November, such as San Miniato’s white truffle festival and Valtopina’s truffle celebration, where you can sample local delicacies.
Top Experiences:
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For a truly local experience, visit the Mostra Tartufo Fabro. The national market takes place in Fabro, south of Perugia, in early November, showcasing truffles, local cheeses, cured hams, olive oils, and sweets.
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Try your hand at truffle hunting with a trusty Lagotto Romagnolo hunting hound, followed by a decadent lunch featuring the truffles you find.
Truffle hunting
5. Comforting cooking and cosy cuisine
Winter dishes in Italy are heartwarming and perfect for the cooler months, especially if you’re travelling in January and February. Savour hearty stews like Peposo and Ribollita, wild boar ragu dishes, and indulge in comforting cooking lessons from your villa kitchen.
Top Experiences:
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Have a private chef prepare wood-fired pizzas in your villa's outdoor oven.
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Get stuck into a hands-on cooking class with a local chef, mastering the art of fresh pasta making.
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Enjoy an affogato, a cosyl dessert of fresh gelato topped with hot espresso.
6. Connect with locals and experience lower key festivals
Travelling during the low tourist season allows for deeper connections with locals, when smaller crowds are guaranteed. Whether that’s having more time at a family-owned winery, exploring a local farmer’s market or chatting over dinner with the owners of a small trattoria. Plus, you'll have more opportunities to attend unique seasonal events that don’t draw the same crowds as their more famous counterparts.
Top Festivals:
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The Palio di Buti near Pisa, takes place in January. It is one of Tuscany’s oldest horse races and a lower key alternative to the Palio di Siena.
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The Perugia Eurochocolate Festival in October is a famous event, but a paradise for chocolate lovers that you won’t regret attending!
7. Enjoy Uncrowded Attractions
One of the greatest perks of shoulder season travel is the lack of crowds and therefore queues. Iconic hilltowns like San Gimignano are nearly empty, allowing for a more authentic experience. And your favourite museums, like the Uffizi in Florence can be enjoyed at leisure without lengthy wait times or advanced booking. If there are any Italian cities you are desperate to explore, now is your chance.
Top Experiences:
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Explore museums during the Night of the Museums in mid-May, with many top sights open until midnight and reduced admission fees.
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Stroll through the quiet campi (“squares”) of Venice, and take in the art and architecture without the usual throngs of tourists.
Luxury villa rentals in Italy tailored to your needs
Whether you're planning a family reunion or a romantic getaway for two, our luxury villa rentals in Tuscany, Umbria and Veneto offer everything you need for a restorative and enriching vacation.
Want for nothing at our villas with stunning views, villas with private heated pools, and fully-staffed escapes with chefs, and make the off season the best time to visit Italy. Contact our Villa Specialists to kickstart your travel plans and discover why Italy in the off season is the perfect for your next getaway