November in Italy suits travelers who want museums, villas and city streets in cool, mild weather, with Rome afternoons at 62°F (17°C) and Naples and Palermo warmer still.
Rain falls on ten days in Florence and Naples, and Rome gets under ten hours of daylight in mid-November, so outdoor sights belong in the morning. The Venice International Art Exhibition runs until November 22.
At a glance
- Rome, afternoon high and night low: 62°F (17°C) and 47°F (8°C)
- Palermo, afternoon high and night low: 68°F (20°C) and 59°F (15°C)
- Milan, afternoon high and night low: 54°F (12°C) and 41°F (5°C)
- Rainy days: Rome 9, Florence 10, Naples 10, Venice 6
- Sea: Naples 67°F, Palermo 67°F, Venice 60°F
- Event: 61st Venice International Art Exhibition, through November 22
What is the weather like in Italy in November?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea | Daylight (15th) |
|---|
*Long-term monthly averages.*
November is cool and damp in Italy’s big cities. Rome reaches 62°F (17°C) in the afternoon and drops to 47°F (8°C) at night. Naples and Palermo stay milder, while Milan and Venice sit in the mid-50s°F by day.
Rain is frequent enough to plan around. Rome has nine rainy days in the month, Florence and Naples ten, Venice six. Carry an umbrella, wear shoes that grip wet stone, and book museums for the hours when the sky looks worst.
October is a clear step warmer: Rome’s afternoons reach 72°F (22°C). December is colder again, with Rome at 55°F (13°C) and Milan down to 46°F (8°C) by day. In Milan, December also brings fewer rainy days than November, six against eight.
Where to go in Italy in November
Rome
Rome has the mildest of the central-Italy afternoons in November, and its big sights fit a cool day well. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine share one 24-hour ticket, and the Vatican Museums ticket is valid only on the day it is issued. Plan the Vatican for a day when the forecast turns wet.
Florence
Florence runs at 60°F (16°C) by day and gets ten rainy days, which suits its indoor collections. The Uffizi holds paintings by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Piazza del Duomo gathers the Cathedral, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery in one walk.
Venice
Venice has the Art Exhibition until November 22, with venues at the Giardini and Arsenale. The Gallerie dell’Accademia holds Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century in 24 rooms. The lagoon islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello are worth a morning, since daylight lasts under ten hours.
Milan
Milan is the coldest of the big cities, at 54°F (12°C) in the afternoon, so the Duomo, the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sforza Castle museums fill the days well. The Brera gallery has 500 works on display. The castle museums are closed on Mondays.
Naples and Pompeii
Naples reaches 65°F (18°C), enough for Pompeii and Herculaneum without summer heat. The National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the Sansevero Chapel are the indoor choices when it rains, and Naples has ten rainy days in the month.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast runs from Positano to Vietri sul Mare. Ravello, on a rocky spur at 1,198 feet (365 meters), has Villa Rufolo and the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. Amalfi’s Arsenale della Repubblica offers a guided tour of about 30 minutes included in the ticket.
What to do in Italy in November
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine in cool weather
One 24-hour ticket covers a single entry to the Colosseum and a single entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine areas. The Domus Aurea, entered from via della Domus Aurea, opens only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with visits every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The free MyColosseum app has audio guides in Italian and English. With Rome’s daylight just under ten hours in mid-November, start at the Colosseum in the morning and leave the Forum for the afternoon.
The Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio on a wet Florence day
The Uffizi fills the first and second floors of a building put up between 1560 and 1580 to a design by Giorgio Vasari. Its collection also includes a Medici collection of ancient statues and busts. The info desk is on the left side of the Piazzale degli Uffizi.
Palazzo Vecchio houses Donatello’s Judith and Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory. Its tower is 312 feet (95 meters) high and gives views of Florence on the way up. Climb it on a dry afternoon, and keep the Boboli Gardens, with their grottos and fountains, for a break between showers.
The Venice Art Exhibition and the Doge’s Palace
The 61st International Art Exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, so early and mid-November are the last weeks. The St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket covers the Doge’s Palace, the Correr Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.
The audioguide is included in the ticket. The Rialto Bridge visit is free and takes about 20 minutes, a good filler between showers.
Pompeii and Naples’ archaeological museum
The Pompeii ticket includes the ancient city, the Villa of the Mysteries and Villa Regina in Boscoreale. Pompeii Plus adds Oplontis, Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco. The Pompeii Artebus shuttle connects the sites, and the themed itineraries last about 1.5 hours and cost €8 plus the entrance ticket.
Choose it for a clear day. On a rainy one, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, at Piazza Museo 18/19, keeps the day dry.
Is Italy busy in November?
In November, the Art Exhibition in Venice, open until November 22, is the main draw left on the calendar.
Timed or limited visits are the ones to book ahead.
Tourist tax is set town by town. In San Siro, a three-star hotel charges €1.50 per person per night and a five-star €5. In Nesso, the €2 daily tax applies only from April 1 to October 31.
Can you swim in Italy in November?
Sea temperatures in November are monthly averages. Naples and Palermo both stand at 67°F, and Venice at 60°F. Naples was at 71°F in October, so a swim now means a short, brisk dip at midday.
On the Amalfi Coast, Positano has a pebble beach, and the small beach at the bottom of the Fiordo di Furore is another place to swim. Venice’s water at 60°F is for looking at.
What to pack for Italy in November
November asks for layers and for something that keeps rain off. Afternoons are mild in the south and chilly in the north, and nights are cool everywhere.
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes for the nine to ten rainy days in Rome, Florence and Naples
- A warm layer for Milan and Venice, where December nights fall to 33°F (1°C) and 34°F (1°C).
- A phone with the MyColosseum app, whose audio guides are free
- Offline maps through the Visit Naturaitalia app, which works offline once sheets are downloaded
What to know before visiting Italy in November
The U.S. State Department rates Italy Level 2, exercise increased caution, due to terrorism, in an advisory issued September 10, 2026. It recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and buying travel insurance before the trip. Anyone driving should know the ZTLs, restricted traffic zones found in about 300 Italian cities, where an unauthorized entry draws a fine of €100 to €200 per passage.
Some openings are narrow. The Domus Aurea opens Friday to Sunday, the Sforza Castle museums close on Mondays, and the Villa Lante noble floor opens on Wednesdays with booking required.
Is November a good time to visit Italy?
Yes, for travelers who want museums, ruins and city walks in mild weather and are fine with some rain. It is a poor month for sunbathing.
Compared with October, November gives up about ten degrees in Rome and a lot of sea warmth: Venice’s water drops from 66°F to 60°F. Shifting by four weeks either way mostly changes how much coat you need.
For swimming, Naples and Palermo, both at 67°F in the sea, are the warmest choices. For fewer crowds, the big festivals fall outside the month. For culture, the Uffizi, Vatican Museums and Doge’s Palace give wet days a purpose.
The Venice Art Exhibition closes on November 22, so the first three weeks of the month are the ones to pick if it is on the list.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/campania/costiera-amalfitana), checked 2026-10-30
- whc.unesco.org (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/it), checked 2026-10-30
- fondazioneravello.com (https://www.fondazioneravello.com/villa-rufolo/), checked 2026-10-30
- enit.it (https://enit.it/storage/202601/20260126134620_fespo_2026_ita_0126_compressed%201.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/de/wohin-gehen-lombardei/comer-see), checked 2026-10-30
- visit.venice.it (https://visit.venice.it/things-to-do/rialto-bridge), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.sansiro.co.it (https://comune.sansiro.co.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Del_GC_96_2025_approvazione_tariffe_imposta_soggiorno_2026.pdf), checked 2026-10-30