Show-stopping cities: Rome, Florence, Venice. The epicenter of the Roman Empire. Birthplace of the Renaissance. Sun-kissed Amalfi coast. Good food, wine, beauty, and style – Italy is all that it is promised to be and more. This small country packs a lot! It will take many trips to cover all that this beautiful country has to offer.
We did the classic 2-week Italy itinerary with Amalfi coast in early June. This itinerary includes the must-visit cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice, along with the stunning Amalfi Coast, perfect for first-time travelers. And if you want to know more about Italy weather in June, what to expect, best places to visit, things to do in Italy in summer, this post is a comprehensive guide.
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Weather in Italy in June
Weather-wise, May, June, September and October are great to travel to Italy. These months combine the convenience of peak season with pleasant weather. It gets quite hot in July and August and also more crowded everywhere in Italy.
The regional average temperature vary a bit throughout Italy in June. It is slightly cooler in the northern region, especially in the nights, with average temperature ranging from 55-80°F (13-27°C). Weather is super pleasant in central Italy in the month of June with average temperature from 60-80°F (16-27°C). It gets a bit warmer in the southern region, average daytime temperature around 70-85°F (21-30°C).
There could be a possibility of light rain shower in some areas in June.
What to wear in Italy in June
Italy is stylish so you wouldn’t want to be caught in faded denim shorts and washed off t-shirt. I wore cotton and linen dresses throughout my trip to Italy in summer. I was carrying many nice outfits for evenings, see my complete packing guide for Italy. And also a light full sleeve jacket for cooler nights. We were dressed casually for our time at Amalfi coast, but combined comfort with some style.
I wore shoes, at time flat sandals (and not heels) for all the walking around Rome, Florence, Vatican and even the steps at Amalfi coast. Swimsuits, cover-up, sunglasses, sunscreen and tote bag are essentials for the beaches, pool areas at hotels and the islands.
Do remember that for Vatican and many other churches in Italy, you need to cover your knees and shoulders, so carry an appropriate dress for this.
What to expect regarding crowds and cost
If you are expecting less crowds in June, forget it. June is summer time and peak season in Italy. The crowds are perhaps a tad less than July and August, but the popular attractions are all crowded. It is best to book skip-the-line tickets to Colosseum and other major attractions in Italian cities.
The same goes for costs. Expect everything from hotel prices, food and activities to be expensive in June. So if you are planning a trip in summer, do book hotels in advance.
Best places to visit in Italy in summer
For our first visit to Italy, we wanted to cover the main cities: Rome, Florence and Venice. And none of them disappointed. The major attractions to put on your Rome itinerary like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine were as stunning as they are made out to be. If world-famous landmarks is what you are seeking, Rome is your best bet and many choose Rome over Florence for this reason alone. No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to Vatican City. Florence is like an open air museum steeped I history as you walk anywhere.
And Venice is touristy for sure, but also lively and charming. You can enjoy not just the city of canals but also nearby Venetian islands as part of your Venice itinerary. And visit the beautiful city of Verona.
If you want to focus on northern Italy, you can spend more time in Tuscany. Natural beauty, gastronomic delights and cute hill towns. We spent only a day to Tuscany from Florence and could easily go back. What more can one ask for! You can spend a few days exploring Lake Como area. The region around the city of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, is a foodie haven and is also wonderful to explore during the summer season.
South of Rome lies Naples and the famous archaeological site of Pompeii. Then there is the scenic Amalfi coastal area, cliffs with sheer drops, the beautiful turquoise waters, the fresh produce, the pretty towns and the luxury accommodation options. Or you can opt for Puglia‘s stunning beaches along the Adriatic coast.
If this isn’t your first visit to Italy or if you are looking to beat summer crowds, there are many uncrowded places in the country. You can consider Umbria with its rolling green hills and medieval towns in lieu of expensive and famous Tuscany region.
Similarly, for coastal beauty and relaxation, there are spots cheaper and less crowded than the Amalfi coast that we visited much further in south of Italy. Sardinia and Sicily are hardly hidden gems anymore, but still beautiful islands to visit in Italy.
Things to do in Italy in summer
It’s not what you can do in Italy in summer, it’s more like what you can’t do. But Italians have a famous saying, “Dolce far Niente”, which means ‘the sweetness of doing nothing.’ So take time to savour everything while on a trip to Italy in summer.
Marvel at cathedrals, ancient ruins
Italian cities do get hot and humid in the summer. And because of holiday season, all the major attractions in cities are crowded. Yet, sightseeing in June in the main cities is manageable. Be it the Colosseum in Rome, or the Duomo in Florence, or the Sistine Chapel in Vatican, there is enough jaw-dropping beauty and history to fill your summer.
Sun, sand and beach
Italy in summer is when people flock to Italian beaches for sunshine. This could be the coastal towns in Amalfi, or the picturesque islands like Capri, Sardinia, and Sicily. Or go to the south of Italy to Puglia, for towns clinging to cliffsides and pretty beaches. Taking a boat tour around Amalfi or Puglia coastline, or a boat tour to Capri island as a day trip is really enjoyable.
Spend time in small towns and villages
Italy is not just the big cities. It has hundreds of beautiful small towns where you can enjoy Italian way of llife, history, architecture and fresh food. There are towns like San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, where you can stay and explore Tuscany. There are 5 of the colourful, picturesque Cinque Terre towns. Belluno is easily one of Northern Italy’s prettiest small towns.
On the southern side, there are charming towns like Alberobello and Polignano a Mare in Puglia.
Hiking, cycling and being outdoors
For those who enjoy hiking and mountains towns in the Alps, The Dolomites are a majestic mountain range located in northeastern Italy. Hiking the Dolomites is an thing to do in Italy in summer. Trentino is a great option to visit in Italy in summer. There are plenty of hiking trails around Cinque Terre towns, Lake Como, and Amalfi coast towns as well.
Relax in lush natural scenery
You can spend your summer eating local produce and drinking amazing wine in Italy. Stay at a vineyard or an agriturismo in Tuscany or Umbria region. And make sure to buy some fresh cheese, wine, truffles, olive oil, and other food produce as gifts from Italy.
Eat your heart out
Be it enjoying gelatos every single day of your Italian trip, or doing summer activities like truffle hunting, no trip to Italy in summer can be complete without indulging in local Italian dishes. Bologna is known as Italy’s foodie city with cured meats and creamy gelatos.
Festivals and Events in Italy in June
Republic Day: Italy celebrates its birth as a modern nation on June 2nd, when the nation voted to switch from a monarchy to a republic. There are celebrations, and fireworks throughout the country, particularly in Rome.
Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul: The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast to honour the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This is observed on 29 June.
Summer Solstice: The summer solstice has played an important role in Italian culture. This typically takes place in the 3rd week of June, although exact dates change yearly. There are celebrations throughout the country.
Opera di Verona: June is when Europe’s most famous outdoor opera season kicks off. Verona’s 2000-year-old Roman amphitheatre comes alive at this time.
Summary: Pros and Cons of visiting Italy in June
Pros
Start of the summer season: Pleasant weather and clear skies.
Gorgeous countryside with lush green trees.
Sea is warm enough for a dip, and all hiking trails are open in the mountains.
Cons
The cities are more crowded than the spring season (April & May).
Onset of tourist season, so prices for accommodation, flights and tours will be high.
The southern parts of Italy get quite hot (but not as hot as July and August).
Have I convinced you to visit Italy in June? We had a lovely family vacation here and you will too.
Planning a trip to Italy? Here are some more guides to help you.
Italy Itinerary: The classic two-week Italy Itinerary
Italian cities: One day in Florence, 4 days in Rome, Visit the Vatican City, 2 days in Venice, Rome over Florence
Italian regions: Amalfi coast itinerary for 4 days, Northern Italian Lake Towns, Lake Como in 3 days, Cinque Terre and Where to stay in Tuscany
Souvenirs: Good Souvenirs from Italy
Packing List: Complete packing guide for Italy
Food in Italy: Best Local & Traditional Italian Food you must try
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Coming from Australia the June temperatures are not too bad for us and Italy is such a stunning country. Great list of places to visit.
It can already be very hot in June but it is still shoulder season in Europe. Well done for covering the main attraction,s two weeks is a really good time to spend in Italy!
We didn’t feel super hot in early June. But then again, I am from India so used to hot summers. But May would be evenn better for city sightseeing.