When should I travel to Napoli?

We survived January, and now it’s time to shake off the winter blues and plan your next Neapolitan adventure! A lot of you have been asking me when is the best time to travel there, and I can honestly say: ANYTIME. But I know it can be tricky to figure out what to expect during each season. So, I’ve put together a quick, inspirational guide to help you out!

January–February

FOR A LAID-BACK EXPERIENCE

✅ PROS

• Virtually no tourists, making it easy to find accommodation and enjoy the city without foreign crowds.
• A relaxed atmosphere with plenty of sunny hours.
• You can have the busiest places (like Capri, Sorrento, or Ischia) almost to yourself.
• Visiting Pompeii during this time is a unique experience, and exploring museums is also a great plan!
• The temperature remains fairly consistent between daytime and evening.

❌ CONS

• Fewer ferries operate to the islands, and some places may be closed.
• Not the best time for climbing Vesuvius.
• If it rains, it pours—bad weather could affect a short trip.
• You'll need a coat while sipping wine outside at OAK.
  (But as you can see, these are just minor inconveniences!)

Early Spring

FOR THE EXPLORERS

✅ PROS

• Still no overwhelming tourist crowds (fortunately!).
• Perfectly warm air during the day and at night—ideal for exploring!
• More places are open along the coastline and on the islands.
• A great time for hiking Vesuvius and traveling around (visiting places like Sorrento, Caserta, Salerno, etc.).

❌ CONS

• The ferry schedule to the islands is still limited (plan ahead!), and not all places are open yet.
• Thunderstorms and heavy rain can strike at any time.
• If the weather is good, you can go to the beach—but don’t expect fully operating facilities.
  (Still pretty bearable, right?)

Late Spring

FOR A PRE-SUMMER EXPERIENCE

✅ PROS

• Tourists start to appear, but there are still no overwhelming crowds, and finding good accommodation at a reasonable price is easier than in summer.
• Longer sunny hours and beautiful weather—warm enough for a swim but not unbearably hot.
• Open-air venues and beaches begin operating full-time, and you can enjoy being outside late into the night.
• Ferry and train schedules start to resemble those of the summer season.
• Whether you want to explore places like Caserta and Sorrento or relax on Ischia’s beaches for days, the choice is yours. Even the most touristy areas start coming back to life from late April.

❌ CONS

June and July

FOR THE TRUE NEAPOLITAN SUMMER EXPERIENCE

✅ PROS

• All the pros mentioned above, plus: All the summer infrastructure is up and running with extended hours, perfect for exploring or enjoying beach time and cold cocktails.
• You can enjoy the Bay of Napoli from the beach, a yacht, or any kind of ship.
• The Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, and Sorrento are in full swing—you can enjoy it all.

❌ CONS

• The more tourists, the more crowds—plan ahead and avoid the busiest places and hours.
• It’s getting hot! Not the best time for exploring for long hours—enjoy the sea and, please, relax!
• Finding accommodation gets harder and more expensive—start planning early!

August

ONLY FOR THE BRAVE

✅ PROS

• The pros are similar to those in June and July.

❌ CONS

• This is the time of Ferragosto, which means that most Italians are traveling and on vacation. As a result, many places are closed.
• The amount of local tourists adds to the already high number of foreign tourists, so the crowds can be bigger than ever.
• The weather can be extremely hot with high humidity—deadly, believe me.

This is the last month of the year that I’d recommend for traveling here. And the locals agree.

September–October

FOR A PAST-SUMMER EXPERIENCE

✅ PROS & CONS

• Quite similar to the late spring period. This is another one of my favorite times of the year to visit, so I’d 100% recommend coming during these months!

November–December

WINTER GETAWAY

✅ PROS

• The weather can feel like spring, with a bit more rain—but still perfect for exploring.
• Fewer tourists (except around Christmas and New Year’s, when Neapolitans return home from abroad or other parts of Italy).
• The holiday season here is quite fun—the city is full of decorations, lights, and Christmas events. Expect the loudest New Year’s celebrations, with more fireworks than you’ve ever seen!

❌ CONS

• Rain or cold winds can be an issue, but these periods don’t last long.
• Fewer sunny hours during the day, so you won’t have as much time to explore the islands and nearby places.

But really… who cares about little things like that when you're in Napoli?