Find out in this article all about Florence climate and weather by month and start preparing to visit this incredible destination.
Overview of the climate in Florence
As in all of Italy, Florence’s climate is characterized by very intense, humid winters and fairly harsh summers. In terms of rainfall throughout the year, the wettest month is November.
See the chart below for all this information on Florence’s temperate climate throughout the year:
Seasons in Florence
1. Summer in Florence
This season covers the months of June, July, August and September and is the high season in the city. This period is marked by the highest number of visitors to the city, as it also includes the school vacation period.
This is not the most recommended time to travel, as prices are higher and places are full of people. In addition, temperatures fluctuate a lot: with lows of 16ºC and highs that can reach 35ºC, which can be uncomfortable for many people.
Even so, if you want to visit the area during this season, we recommend planning your trip well in advance. Book accommodation, tickets to attractions, airline tickets and other important things as early as possible. This will guarantee lower prices and avoid the headache of finding everything already sold out or with long queues.
What to pack? As usual, it’s important to pack fresh clothes, such as shorts, blouses, skirts, t-shirts and shorts. And don’t forget a jacket in case the temperatures drop a little. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, suntan lotion and plenty of bottles of water.
What to do in Florence? There are plenty of things to do in Florence during the summer. From visiting museums and indoor places to visiting the city’s parks, we recommend that you give priority to cooler, open-air places.
Holidays in Florence during the summer
- 02/06: Italian Republic Day
- 24/06: St. John’s Day
- 29/06: St. Peter and St. Paul
- 15/08: Assumption of Our Lady
Events to enjoy in summer in Florence:
- Calcio Storico Fiorentino (June): soccer championship held in celebration of St. John, patron saint of the city. The championship is contested by 4 districts of Florence and ends on St. John’s Day, June 24th.
- Festa di San Giovanni (June): the celebrations to commemorate St. John don’t stop there: on the evening of June 23rd, a city-wide festival kicks off with a beautiful fireworks display.
- Pitti Immagine (June): this is the biggest fashion event in all of Florence. Pitti Immagine is a fashion show that takes place every week in January and June, featuring collections for women, men and children.
- Feast of Sant’Anna (July): on July 26, there is a festival in honor of Sant’Anna, the city’s patron saint. On this day, the “Corteo Storico della Republica Fiorentina” parade takes place, which is very beautiful.
2. Winter in Florence
Winter in Florence lasts from December to March and is a period of intense cold, although the city is not one of the coldest in the country. Its minimum temperatures are 0ºC and its maximum temperatures reach 12ºC.
This is the low season in the city, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. In the low season, the city receives a very low influx of visitors. As a result, ticket and accommodation prices drop considerably and the queues for attractions are considerably shorter.
In fact, if you want to save money, except for the holidays, traveling to Florence in winter is a great choice. However, if you can’t stand low temperatures, it will be more difficult to enjoy the open spaces. However, you’ll still be able to enjoy a lot of indoor activities to protect yourself from the cold, such as museums, churches and castles.
What to pack? To protect yourself from the cold, we recommend packing warm clothes, such as thick coats, pants, woolen clothes, scarves, hats, gloves and caps.
What to do in Florence? As I said earlier, this season is not the best for spending hours outdoors. You can (and should) stroll through the streets and squares and admire the city’s beauties. But we recommend that you prioritize visiting indoor spaces, such as the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Palazzo Vecchio, the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts and other museums in Florence.
Winter holidays in Florence
- 08/12: Immaculate Conception
- 25/12: Christmas
- 26/12: St. Stephen
- 01/01: New Year
- 06/01: Epiphany
Events to enjoy in winter in Florence:
- The inauguration of the Christmas tree (December): the event takes place every December 8th and consists of the official inauguration of the tree in Florence’s Piazza Duomo. Throughout the day, there is also the Fiera dell’Imaculata craft and agricultural fair in Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
- Festa degli Ommagi (December): this religious event consists of a very traditional procession in the Florentine Republic, which honors civil and religious authorities.
- Festa della Befana (January): this is the date on which the Christmas and New Year celebrations come to an end. The name Befana is the popular form of “Epiphany” and the day is considered a public holiday throughout Italy.
- Cavalcade of the Magi (January): this historic event in Florence takes place on January 6th and dates back to an ancient Florentine procession called “Festa dei Magi”, which dates back to the 15th century.
- Pitti Immagine (January): this is the biggest fashion event in all of Florence. Pitti Immagine is a fashion show that takes place every week in January and June, featuring collections for women, men and children.
- Danza in Fiera (February): a festival of dances of all rhythms. The event lasts four days in the city and offers various competitions, workshops and performances.
- Carnival (February): the carnival brings events all over Florence, all with lots of music, food and float parades.
3. Mid-seasons in Florence
Spring (late March to May) and fall (late September to November) in Florence are the quietest months to travel to the city. This is undoubtedly the time we recommend most for your trip to Italy, as you can see the transitions between the seasons and enjoy a climate that isn’t so extreme, but quite pleasant.
Temperatures in the city during spring are a minimum of 5ºC and a maximum of 24ºC and during fall they are a minimum of 6ºC and a maximum of 27ºC.
What to pack? For both seasons, you can pack both cool clothes to enjoy the heat and warmer clothes to face the drop in temperature.
Remember that these items vary according to the month you are traveling to Florence. Taking spring as an example, if you visit the city between the end of March and the beginning of April, the best choices are warmer clothes. On the other hand, if you want to visit the city in May, closer to summer, cooler clothes are a good choice.
What to do in Florence? One of the great things about these seasons is that you can mix up your outings both indoors and outdoors. From visiting museums and indoor venues to exploring the city’s parks, some of the activities we recommend doing in Florence during the summer are strolling along the Ponte Vecchio, visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, going to Florence’s museums and enjoying the evening strolling through the city streets.
Spring and fall holidays in Florence:
- 19/03: St. Joseph’s Day and Father’s Day
- Easter: the first Sunday after the first full moon, between the end of March and the month of April.
- Angel Monday: the day after Easter Sunday
- 25/04: Freedom Day
- 01/05: Labor Day
- Mother’s Day: second Sunday in May
- 01/11: All Saints’ Day
- 02/11: Day of the Faithful Departed
- 04/11: Italian National Unity Day
- 08/12: Immaculate Conception
Spring events in Florence:
- Medieval New Year Festival (March): the festival, called Capodanno Fiorentino, takes place every year on March 25. During this festival, the Catholic Church celebrates the Annunciation given to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel.
- Scoppio del Carro (April): an annual symbolic event in which a car explodes, representing purification through fire. The celebration is one of Florence’s oldest traditions.
- International Craft Fair (April).
- Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (May): a festival that celebrates the cyclical rebirth of nature and spring. This festival features concerts, ballets, operas and theatrical performances.
- Palio del Baluardo (May): archery competition that takes place on the third Sunday in May and commemorates May 16, 1527, when the citizens of Florence expelled the Medici family and proclaimed the Republic.
Fall events in Florence:
- Festa della Rificolona (September): takes place on September 7 and is an event of popular Florentine folklore in the city’s parishes. This is because the day is the eve of the Virgin Mary’s birth and during this festival paper lanterns are placed in the windows and carried in procession through the city.
- Tuscan Wine Fair (September).
- Biennale Enogastronomica di Florence (November): the Bienale Enogastronomica di Firenze brings together the gastronomic traditions of the Tuscan region. The event brings together chefs from all over the country and is perfect for tasting new dishes.
- Creativity Fair (November): this event usually takes place in the last week of November and features a variety of handmade crafts.
- Florence Marathon (November): an annual marathon held on the last Sunday in November in the historic center of Florence.
Save money on your trip to Florence:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Florence cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Tickets: find out where to buy your Florence tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Florence. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
