This Is Italy
Do you want to go to Italy in February? Is that a good idea or a bad idea? Is there something to do in the shortest month of the year? And which weather conditions do you have to take into account? In this article we give you tips and advice about Italy in the month of February.
As for the weather: you don't go to Italy in February especially for the nice weather. Like February is a chilly and wet month. Except of course if you come for winter sports in the Alps or the Dolomites. There is certainly snow and if you are lucky you will also get some sun.
Many Dutch and Flemish people choose to spend their carnival or spring break in the snow. And winter sports with a bit of Italian flair are excellent for both beginners and experts. Here are a few magical winter sports paradises which may also be on your wish list.
February: nice in the low season
It makes sense that you travel to Italy in the winter if you stand on the skis or snowboards. But what if you want to visit nice towns, visit museums and enjoy Mediterranean cuisine? Do you also have something to look for during this time?
Well if you want to save a lot on travel costs. February is really low season, except for the ski areas. Outside the holidays, you can book airline tickets and accommodations at low prices. Although you have to take into account that the prices with carnival (Carnival) may increase again in some popular destinations.
Read more tips to save on your Italy holiday here.
And when you talk about Carnival in Italy, you are of course mainly talking about Venice. Many come here especially for the carnival and that has an effect on the rates for overnight stays. Instead of quieter, it is (even) busier here in the weeks around Carnival. There are therefore almost the whole month activities related to carnival, but for many parties you have to put a lot of money into your pocket.
A reason for traveling in February (or January) can also be the sale. This lasts until about mid-February and sometimes offers nice clothes for little money. If you want to go shopping, you should opt for a trip in the first half of the month.
You have to make sure that you travel in the winter. This can have its advantage over the crowds in the tourist areas, but it can also mean that certain attractions are closed or less attractive. And that you can't enjoy the famous Italian landscapes, because they are still a bit dead and gray.
February is therefore certainly not a month for everyone.
The weather in February
Generally it is chilly and humid in February. Snow falls in the high-altitude areas. In northern Italy you can also encounter snow in lower areas, but in central and southern Italy this is a rarity.
It can also be quite wet. The general advice is to take into account the cold and rain during your stay. That should not be a problem if you visit cities and also spend a lot of time in museums and shops. But you may want to avoid extensive outdoor areas such as Pompeii near Vesuvius during this time.
At the end of February it is possible that you will experience a few sunny days, where the sun on your skin already feels a bit warm (but you still don't feel like taking off your winter coat).
The average temperatures in Italy in February are:
- Northern Italy: -4-5 ° C
- Central Italy: 5-13°C
- Southern Italy: 10-16°C
The highest average temperatures for the city of Rome are about 13 degrees Celsius, but normal is also around 3 to 4 degrees. However, Rome already has about 4,5 hours of sun per day in February. So you can usually enjoy some blue sky between the showers.
Do you want more sun and warmth? Then you better wait until March or April, when it is often really spring in Italy.
What is there to do in February?
February is a quiet winter month in Italy, except in the ski resorts and regions where Carnival is celebrated on a grand scale.
Carnival – 40 days before Easter – is by far the biggest event in February. But not really out in the open like in the south of the Netherlands. In Italy there are large parades with floats in various villages and towns.
Are you a fan of grand parades? Then you should visit the Tuscan coastal town Viareggio go watch. As it has traditionally been, local and national problems and politicians are ridiculed.
However, don't expect a booze party in Italy. Alcohol intake is also limited during Carnival and many parties are private parties or events for which you have to pay a lot. In other cities, carnival is mainly a children's party, such as in Rome.
If you want to go to Italy for the carnival, find out in advance what you want to see and do. Make a program and buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
The program Festival of Sanremo is every year at the beginning of February in this Italian seaside resort. The winner of the Italian Song Contest can traditionally represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Although Valentine's Day on February 14 is not really a thing in Italy, the city of love, Verona, likes to make an exception. On Valentine's Day and the days around it, all kinds of activities are organized for you and your partner throughout Verona. All that under the heading Verona in Love.
In Piazza dei Signori there is a market where you can buy handmade products. Piazza Brà offers all kinds of chocolate-related products. You can also visit the various sights with a discount. And then there are the parties where the red hearts are not out of the air. So if you want to do something really romantic, you know where to go…
For more information about Verona in Love and the program, visit: www.veronainlove.it.
Candlemas February 2 is one of the oldest religious festivities in the country, with pagan origins. Before Christianity, the Romans celebrated the Lupercalia between February 15 and 18; at the end of the festival, women with candles and torches walked through the city to scare off the evil spirits.
One of the largest religious celebrations in the world takes place on February 4-5 in Catania, Sicily. The local saint Saint Agatha (Santa Agata), died at the age of 15 in the year 252 AD. The city honors her with a mass and a procession in a silver carriage to Monte Sangiuliano. Of course there is also plenty of good food, wine and fireworks.
On the weekend around Valentine's Day (not a big party in Italy) there is a chocolate festival on Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The tastiest chocolate and the most special creations are shown in dozens of stands to the eagerly looking public.
In February, the almond blossom blooms in Sicily. Visit Agrigento and admire the decorated balconies. It Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore is the almond festival and here you can enjoy good food and festivities such as parades, performances and fireworks.
You can also enjoy other food festivals in various towns and villages during this period. Local residents of your destination will be happy to tell you more about it.
Are you traveling to a major city in Italy in February? Then there is always something to do. In the villages and in the countryside you have to take into account a very quiet month.
To Italy in February? Our tips
Which destination do you choose if you travel to Italy in February? Here we have some tips for you.
Sicily and Sardinia
Do you want to get as much Mediterranean sun as possible during your winter stay in Italy? Then go 'overwinter' in Sicily or Sardinia. The extra hours of sun in these places do you good anyway. If you want to feel the least cold, it is best to go to Sicily. The almond bushes are probably already in bloom!
Have you always wanted to enjoy those beautiful costumes and carnival masks? Then take the opportunity to go to Venice. This is also that magical time of year when the mist hangs low over the canals of Venice. In terms of costs, it is best to stay outside of Venice.
In Ivrea, the carnival traditionally ends with a real Orange War. Different teams fight each other with the apples of orange. It is the biggest food fight in the Mediterranean.
City trips
Just like in January, the lines are shortest in Rome in February. It never gets quiet, but if you've always wanted to visit the Pantheon and the Sistine Museums in Vatican City, now is the time.
For shopping enthusiasts, a visit to Milan during the sales is a must. So towards the end of the sale period in the middle of February you will get the best prices! Look out for the signs with balances.
Also in Florence the waiting times for the attractions are short. Enjoy visiting the Dom and the Uffizi without the hordes of other tourists. Is it cold outside? You can enjoy yourself in Florence in the shelter of palaces, churches and museums.
Another recommendation if you are going on a ski trip to the Alps (or just as a city trip for a day or three): Turin. Don't miss the beautiful Film Museum with its glass elevator to the roof of the city.
Or travel a little further south and visit the rawest of all Italian cities: Naples. February is a perfect time to sample the best pizza in the world and attend an opera at Teatro San Carlo.
Attention: winter period!
Traveling to Italy in February also means that you have to take into account that many attractions and museums in Italy still have a winter program or are even completely closed.
For example, a large amusement park like Gardaland near Lake Garda is completely closed until the end of March. Are certain sights important to visit for you? Be sure to check the opening times in the period in which you want to travel.
Do you want more people and vibrancy around you? Then look up the popular destinations where many tourists always go: Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples.
Are you going by car? Then it must be prepared for the winter in Italy. Winter tires in Italy are mandatory from November 15 to April 15 in certain areas. Blue or green signs point out this obligation.
Tires with M+S coding are considered winter tires in Italy. In the winter sports areas, there may also be an obligation on snow chains.
How do you feel about going to Italy in February? Do you already have experience with this? Let us know what your tips are!
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