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Italy had a record summer. This year so far more visitors than ever visited the land of pizza, pasta and squares.
But if you think the holiday season in Italy is over, you are mistaken.
There is never a bad time of year to visit Italy, but it is an especially great destination to visit during the winter months.
When you visit Italy during the winter months, you will feel like a local. The main attractions are not overrun with tourists and there are few queues. Low visitor numbers mean that prices are also much lower.
The weather is cold and wet in the north, but still relatively mild in the south. This means you can enjoy both snow sports and a glimpse of the Mediterranean winter sun on the same trip.
Here’s why these 3 cities are my favorite destinations in Italy during the winter months:
Rome
Rome is considered Italy’s cultural heart and capital, and the whole city feels like an open-air museum.
Some of the most important historical sights in the city include the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum. Although you can visit these attractions regardless of the time of year, you will find that the weather is much more comfortable for exploring in winter.
Tourist numbers are certainly lower during the winter months, but you will notice that there are far fewer tourists if you visit early in the morning. Some days it feels like you have the whole place to yourself.
Because the attractions are quieter in winter, you can see so much more of the city. Handy if you want to cram as much as possible into a relatively short trip!
My favorite month to visit Rome is December, when the city has a special kind of magic. Cool but not uncomfortable. Christmas has been in the air all month and it feels like everyone is in a good mood.
The nativity scene and Christmas decor in front of St. Peter’s Basilica are my favorite in the city, and Piazza Venezia is also famous for its beautiful Christmas decorations and festive atmosphere.
Visit the Roman Christmas Market in Piazza Navona, which feels like an immersive winter wonderland. You will find traditional gifts in wooden huts, delicious traditional dishes and twinkling lights.
Venice
Venice is one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy: and also one of the most popular.
During the summer months, visiting Venice can be very stressful. The canal paths are full of people. Queues for Bato buses can be incredibly long. And the temperatures mean that much of the city has a very unpleasant smell.
The winter months in Venice, on the other hand, are quieter, easier and feel so much more romantic. The entire city is often covered in a persistent fog and during the coldest month of January it sometimes snows, making the city look particularly beautiful.
Winter in Venice can be very cold, but that just gives you a good excuse to stop for coffee and pastries in one of the many cafes along deserted alleys while you watch the world go by.
The city’s Christmas lights are officially switched on on December 8. This day is also the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the whole city has a festive atmosphere. Even the famous gondolas will be decorated with lights during the holidays.
Take time to visit the Venice Christmas Market and enjoy the traditional Italian food stalls.
You can also visit after Christmas where the Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 with a boat race unique to Venice. Members of the city’s rowing club dress as witches and race from San Toma to the Rialto Bridge.
It is a big celebration and there are fairs and festivals throughout the city. This unique experience is definitely worth visiting Venice.
Turin
If you are visiting Italy during the winter months for snow sports, Turin is a great place to visit. Turin acts as the gateway to Italy’s best ski resorts and is also close to the slopes of both Switzerland and France.
But if, like me, you’re more interested in après-ski than skiing, this is still a great town to visit in the winter months.
Turin is often overshadowed by the nearby northern city of Milan, and its beautiful historic sights and high-fashion scene make Milan a great place for solo travel.
But Turin deserves to be seen as a top destination in its own right. The breathtakingly beautiful Royal Palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and looks particularly beautiful when covered in snow.
The historical 18e and the city’s 19th-century cafés are an attraction in themselves, thanks to their flamboyant decoration and abundance of gold, marble and chandeliers. They look more like museums (or Liberace’s living room) than cafes, but they are a great place to stop and warm up with delicious hot chocolate or rich coffee.
My favorite attraction in Turin is the city’s Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio), considered the best Egyptian museum outside Cairo, and its size is overwhelming.
Add to that the open-air ice skating in the city center during the winter months, the beautiful skyline and some of Italy’s best markets, and you have one of the best Italian winter destinations.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
