7 Best Places To Visit In Italy In October [With Pictures!]

Visiting Italy in October means enjoying the warmth of the summer sun without stifling heat along with the aromas of the harvest season, opportunities to indulge in delicious local bites, and discovering endless historic landmarks, all without the massive summer crowds of, say, July. 

There’s really no question that this time of year is one of the best for your vacation in Italy, but as you plan your itinerary, you’ll want to know the very best places to experience. 

Where should I visit in Italy in October?

October offers cooler weather in Italy, making destinations that are otherwise too hot to enjoy much more accessible. If you’re visiting Italy in October or around then, be sure to check out these places:

• Collodi
• Polignano a Mare
• Piedmont
• Lake Como
• The Dolomites
• Sicily
• Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

If you’re curious about any of these places or if you only have enough time to visit one or two, read on for a full explanation of why each of these is a great spot in Italy to visit during the month of October.

Collodi

Tuscany has become the quintessential destination to visit Italy, particularly in the fall with spectacular landscapes blanketed in warm autumn shades. The cooler temperatures and more laid-back pace are ideal for exploring museums, art-filled churches, wineries, and more. 

Collodi, in particular, is a top spot to consider. While it’s often overlooked for its more well-known neighbors like Florence and the Cinque Terre, there are fewer tourists in comparison but plenty of delights to explore. 

A 12^th-century village, it includes medieval buildings and an ancient fortress that spill down a mountainside highlighted with brilliant color during the season. 

It’s also home to Pinocchio Park where Carlo Collodi, the author of Pinocchio himself, was said to have dreamed up his tale, complete with sculptures of his creations, like the giant whale that swallowed the boy.

Polignano a Mare

One of the most alluring towns in the Puglia region, located in the “heel of the boot,” as they say, Polignano a Mare is a popular beach destination that’s jam-backed with tourists in the peak seasons who enjoy the golden sands and turquoise sea. But in the fall, visitors can enjoy its beauty without the masses. 

Soak up the sun and swim in the sea that will still be warm enough for a dip while surrounded by the breathtaking scenery. 

That includes spellbinding sea caves, one of which houses a unique restaurant, Grotta Palazzese. It sits within a vaulted limestone cave offering a dramatic atmosphere that incorporates rock formations while waves cast blue-green shadows on the walls of the grotto. 

Visitors can also take cooking classes to learn how to make fresh pasta, discover how olive oil was made, and spend time with some of the friendliest locals in the country.

Piedmont

Fall, and particularly October, is Italy’s peak food and wine season, and Piedmont is one of the best places to be to enjoy it. 

Chocolate, mushrooms, truffles, and chestnuts are all celebrated with their own festivals during this period, and it’s also vineyard harvest time. 

From early October through late November, the International Alba White Truffle Show offers the chance to enjoy the unique flavor with the focus on some of the most talented chefs showcasing their very best dishes. 

Not only can you enjoy their meals, but you can meet them and watch cooking shows. A wine tasting session is included and samples of truffles will be available too.

While savoring all of those delectable eats you’ll be able to enjoy some stunning fall foliage in this region hemmed in by the Alps. There are countless trails and roads to explore the peaks that will be ablaze with color.

Lake Como

One of the most magnificent and most famous of Italy’s lakes, the sapphire waters of Lake Como cover more than 56 square miles, surrounded by emerald forest and grand estates with beautifully manicured gardens, while the peaks of the Italian Alps serve as the backdrop. 

Located an hour’s drive north of Milan, it also has some world-famous residents, including the Clooneys and Richard Branson. 

There are many charming villages along the shores while orange and gold hues provide gorgeous pops of color in autumn. 

The main town of Como overlooks the lake’s southwest end near the border of Switzerland and includes an enchanting historic center with picturesque piazzas where locals come together to chat or dine. 

Bellagio is one of the most well-known villages, located at the heart of the lake, and features five-star hotels, upscale boutiques, amazing waterside villas, and sun-splashed squares.

The Dolomites

The Dolomites, or the Italian Alps, are located in Italy’s northern Trentino-South Tyrol region which borders Switzerland. If you’re looking for a mountain escape, this area can’t be beaten, and the incredible peaks will be bathed in autumn hues. 

The area is jam-packed with vineyards, organic Alpine farms, and even castles. 

Plus, if you’re here later in the month and the weather starts to get chilly, there are many thermal baths and spas to warm up in too. 

As the gateway to the Dolomites, Bolzano makes a great base, with atmospheric streets and squares along with footpaths and cable cars that bring panoramic vistas of the jagged peaks. 

Explore medieval castles, visit vineyards, and immerse yourself in a thriving culinary scene. Don’t miss a visit to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeological. It displays Europe’s oldest mummy, the 5,000-year-old Iceman.

Sicily

Summer in Sicily is sweltering, but in the fall, the pleasant weather makes it much more enjoyable to take advantage of all the region has to offer, including the sea, with the water still warm enough for swimming.

Sightseeing will be more comfortable, including opportunities to see the Greek temples that are dotted across the island, dating as far back as the 7^th– and 8^th-centuries BC. The UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples just outside the town of Agrigento is especially impressive. 

The series of 5th-century Doric temples sit on a ridge facing the sea, with the western section featuring the largest Doric temple ever unearthed, the unfinished Temple of Zeus. In the eastern section, you’ll find the most well-preserved temples, attributed to the goddesses Concordia and Juno Lacinia.

Sicily is also famous for its cuisine, with dishes inspired by many different cultures as it’s had a variety of rules, including the Spanish and the Arabs. Restaurants serve lots of fresh seafood, including Italy’s famous red prawns, all sorts of pasta, and sweets like cannoli. 

There are also pistachio farms to visit where you can learn about how they’re produced. Palermo, the capital and oldest city, offers some of the best street food in Italy.

It can be sampled at the three main markets, Il Capo, Ballaro, and the famous Vucciria. 

Of course, a visit to Mount Etna, an active volcano is a must. You can take a helicopter tour to see it from above or embark on a hike, capped off by stopping at one of the many wineries for a tasting. 

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

A mountainous stretch of coastline just south of Naples in southern Italy, the Amalfi Coast is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

It’s a dreamy setting, with steep roads winding alongside sheer cliff faces that plunge down to a brilliant turquoise sea, while lemon groves provide a fragrant scent while wandering through villages like Sorrento. 

With its vantage point overlooking the Mediterranean, the vista is stunning, extending from Procida Island across the Gulf to Naples out to Mount Vesuvius. Piazza Tasso serves as the center of life, but there are cafes, restaurants, and shops throughout the historic center. Ice cold limoncello is never far away. 

This is the iconic image of Italian dolce vita.

The Amalfi Coast is filled with tourists in the summer, but the crowds thin significantly by October.  

The cooler temperatures make it ideal for outdoor activities like a hike on the Path of the Gods, a famous 4.5-mile-long clifftop route that boasts incredible panoramas of the small seaside villages. 

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