Italy in November: where it is still warm, what is closed and which fairs are on
November is the quietest month in Italy. The summer crowds are gone, the Christmas rush hasn't started yet, and in gallery halls you stand before paintings almost alone.
The Vatican Museums run on their regular schedule, and a full ticket costs 20 €, or 25 € online with a reservation (as of 09/2026, official Vatican Museums website). The Uffizi Gallery, Borghese Gallery, and Pompeii keep the same schedule.
The main risk this month: the weather. Below we'll break down the weather by city, what closes in the off-season, November events, practical warnings, and eight tours from Florence that are easiest to book in November.
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November in Italy: what you need to know
💡 In short:
- November is low season: hotels and tickets cost the least all year.
- The north (Venice, Milan, Turin) sits in fog for weeks at a time.
- Small museums on the coast switch to winter hours; major ones operate as usual.
- Truffle fairs in Alba and San Miniato run through the end of autumn.
- In Rome, fake "charity collectors" work near the Spanish Steps.
- Prices, tickets, and opening hours: 12.09.2026, verified on the official Vatican Museums website.
In November, Italy splits into two countries. The north, from Venice to Turin, lives in dense fog for weeks, and visibility on highways drops to a few dozen meters. The south, from Naples to Sicily, stays mild, but rain is possible here on any given day.
The Amalfi Coast shuts down in November: hotels and restaurants in most towns stop operating after mid-month. If this is the part of Italy you want, plan your trip for October.
City | Daytime, °C | Nighttime, °C | Rainy days | Daylight, hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Milan | 11 | 4 | 11 | 9.5 |
Rome | 17 | 9 | 10 | 10.0 |
Naples | 18 | 11 | 11 | 10.0 |
Palermo | 20 | 14 | 8 | 10.5 |
Climate averages for November (as of 09/2026, Climi e Viaggi).
Daylight is short: in the north it gets dark by 5 pm, in the south about half an hour later (as of 09/2026, Climi e Viaggi). So schedule streets, ruins, and viewpoints for the morning, and leave museums for the afternoon.
What's open in November and what closes
Major state museums run on their regular schedule: the Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery, Borghese Gallery, Pompeii. A full Uffizi ticket costs 25 € (as of 09/2026, official pricing page), and the gallery is closed on Mondays.
Small museums in resort towns switch to winter hours and close early, often right after lunch. Ferries to Capri and Procida run less frequently in the off-season, so check the schedule with the operator. Alpine ski resorts open their season as soon as the first snow falls: some years that happens before the calendar start of winter.
November events: truffles, olives, holidays
From late October through early December, Alba hosts the Fiera del Tartufo, an international white truffle fair with a market, tastings, and restaurant weeks (as of 09/2026, fair's official website). In San Miniato near Pisa, the national white truffle exhibition and fair takes place in November. At the same time, olive harvesting is underway in Piedmont and Tuscany, and many farms let visitors watch the pressing.
On November 4, Italy observes National Unity Day, but since 1977 it has been a working day. On November 21, Venice holds the Festa della Salute, a city festival with a temporary pontoon bridge across the Grand Canal to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (as of 09/2026, festival program).
Practical tips
It gets dark early, so leave anything outdoors for the morning. At Pompeii, arrive at opening time: winter light fades quickly, and by midday the ruins look gray.
In the off-season, some small trattorias close for a day off, so check the sign on the door. In Rome, near the Spanish Steps in November, "charity collectors" with tablets are very active: don't sign anything, you won't get your money back.
Bring waterproof shoes and an umbrella, rain in November is normal. Plus a warm layer for the evening: in Milan and Venice it gets damp and chilly after sunset.
Tours and tickets in Florence
Florence is convenient because in November the lines at galleries almost disappear. The only issue: the short day compresses your schedule, and day trips outside the city are best taken in the morning. Below are eight options most frequently booked in the off-season.
1. Day trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa
© Hervé Simon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Hervé Simon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsA route through three Tuscan towns in one day: the towers of San Gimignano, Piazza del Campo in Siena, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In November, groups are smaller, you won't stand in line at viewpoints, and lunch takes place at a winery with a tasting. book the tour on GetYourGuide
2. Pizza or pasta plus gelato on a farm
© twosheffs · CC BYPhoto: twosheffs, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), FlickrHalf a day on a farm near Florence: you make pizza or pasta, and at the end you make gelato. The format works well if you're traveling with kids. Groups are small, ingredients are local, and the instructor speaks English. see the program on GetYourGuide
3. Pasta cooking class with wine
© campdarby · CC BYPhoto: campdarby, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), FlickrAn evening format in the city center: pasta from scratch, sauce, tiramisu, and unlimited wine. It's convenient to slot into a rainy day when you don't feel like leaving the museums. price and time slots on GetYourGuide
4. Small-group wine tasting in Tuscany
© Eric Kilby · CC BY-SAPhoto: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsA trip to Chianti wineries with a tasting in a small group. In November, the cellars are quiet, the winemaker answers questions at a relaxed pace, and there's no summer crowd at the counter. compare options on GetYourGuide
5. Cinque Terre with a walk or a stop in Pisa
A trip along the Ligurian coast to the Cinque Terre villages. You can choose an option with a hiking trail between the villages or with a short stop in Pisa. The trails are uncrowded in November, but bring a rain jacket: this stretch gets rain more often. choose a date on GetYourGuide
6. Evening food tour at sunset
© Sailko · CC BYPhoto: Sailko, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsA walk through central Florence with stops at trattorias and wine paired with every course. The November sunset starts early, so you cover half the route with the historic streets lit up. book an evening on GetYourGuide
7. Wine safari through Tuscany from Florence
A tour of several estates with lunch and tastings. This format is for those who want to get away from tourist routes and see the vineyards in autumn colors. see details on GetYourGuide
8. Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano with lunch
© Giorgio Galeotti · CC BYPhoto: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsA full day covering three towns with lunch and a tasting at a winery. The upside is that you hit the main Tuscan highlights without renting a car or hunting for parking. book on GetYourGuide
Tickets and combos: what to buy in advance
Time slots for the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia no longer sell out within minutes in November, but morning hours still go first. Online tickets usually cost a few euros more than at the ticket office, but you avoid standing in line in the rain. If you are going to Rome, get a Colosseum ticket with an entry time: without a slot you will end up in a separate line, and it is longer.
Tickets to the Galleria Borghese are sold by time slot, so for November they are booked in advance. In Venice and Milan during the off-season there are more combined offers: museum entry together with a transfer or lunch.
Combined tickets are a good deal if you plan to visit several museums in one day. Compare what is included in the pass: some offers sell entry only without a time slot, and then you stand in the general line.
Museum tickets and tours in Florence are easy to browse in a single list. Choose an option with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance if your plans might change: in the off-season this costs almost nothing.
Tours and tickets in Florence
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Is it cold in Italy in November?
In the north, yes: in Milan and Venice it is around 10-11 °C during the day, and fog can linger for weeks (as of 09/2026, Climi e Viaggi). Rome and Naples are still warm, around 17-18 °C, and Sicily reaches up to 20 °C. Bring a jacket, an umbrella, and waterproof shoes, and the cold will not be a problem.
Are hotels and restaurants open in November?
Yes, except on the Amalfi Coast: most hotels and restaurants there close. In Rome, Florence, and Venice everything is open, but some small trattorias take a weekday off, so check the sign on the door. Hotels are cheaper in the low season, and there is a wider choice of available rooms.
Are there Christmas markets in November?
Mostly no: the markets in Bolzano and other Alpine towns open closer to December. Instead, truffle fairs run in November in Alba and San Miniato, and Venice hosts the Festa della Salute.
Should I book in advance or just go without reservations?
In November you need reservations where entry is by timed slot: the Borghese Gallery, the Uffizi Gallery, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum. Everything else can be decided on the spot, and hotel rooms are almost always available. Exception: Venice during the Festa della Salute.
Is November a good time for the sea?
The water and air are already cool, and swimming is comfortable only in Sicily. On the plus side, beaches are empty, ferries to Capri and Procida run on the winter schedule, and hotel prices drop. For a beach holiday, November works only in the south of the country.
In short: what to book
November gives you Italy without the lines. Book in advance the things that sell out weeks ahead in summer: timed entry to the Borghese Gallery, Vatican Museums tickets, and a Tuscany tour. Hotels cost less in the low season, and the choice of available rooms is wider than in August.
- If you are going for the cities: base yourself in Florence or Rome plus one Tuscany tour.
- If you are going for wine and food: Alba, Chianti wineries, a cooking class in Florence.
- If you are going for warm weather: Sicily or Naples, but not the Amalfi Coast.
Hotels for your dates: check prices on Trip.com. Museum tickets should be booked in advance, and in November slots are still available.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.