July in Italy brings long sunny days, afternoons of 88°F (31°C) in Rome and seas warm enough for a swim. It suits travelers who want museums and sights in the morning and the water later in the day.
Some places keep short schedules. The Domus Aurea in Rome opens only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Sforza Castle museums in Milan close on Mondays.
At a glance
- Rome, afternoon high: 88°F (31°C)
- Rome, night low: 67°F (19°C)
- Rome, sunshine: 11 hours a day
- Milan, rainy days: 4, with under 2 inches (44 mm) of rain
- Sea near Venice, Naples and Palermo: 77°F to 78°F (25°C to 26°C)
What is the weather like in Italy in July?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 83°F (28°C) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.6 in (67 mm) | 7 | 9.9 h | 73°F (23°C) |
| July | 88°F (31°C) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.7 in (44 mm) | 4 | 10.9 h | 78°F (25°C) |
| August | 89°F (32°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.3 in (59 mm) | 6 | 10.3 h | 78°F (26°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
July is hot and sunny. Rome reaches 88°F (31°C) in the afternoon and cools only to 67°F (19°C) at night, and Milan is almost the same, with 87°F (31°C) by day. Rome gets 11 hours of sun a day on average.
Milan has four rainy days in July and under 2 inches (44 mm) of rain, so a shower rarely rearranges a trip. Wear light clothes and plan outdoor sights for the morning. Keep museums for the afternoon, when the sun is strongest.
June is cooler in Rome, with afternoons of 83°F (28°C), and August is a degree or two hotter than July. Milan is the wettest in June, with seven rainy days, and gets six in August. July is the driest of the three months in Milan, with under 2 inches of rain.
Where to go in Italy in July
Rome
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine are covered by a single 24-hour ticket. That leaves room to spread the three sites over a cooler morning and a later visit. The Vatican Museums, at Viale Vaticano, are valid only on the day the ticket is issued.
Florence
The Uffizi Gallery 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. Palazzo Vecchio has a tower 312 feet (95 m) high with views over the city.
Venice
Venice has a sea temperature of 78°F (25°C) in July. The St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket covers the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms. The Rialto Bridge is free to cross.
Milan
The Last Supper Museum is at Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, and the Duomo stands on Piazza del Duomo. La Scala has its box office on Piazza della Scala. With four rainy days in July, the city is easy to walk. Skip the Sforza Castle on Mondays, when its museums are closed.
Pompeii and Vesuvius
Pompeii Artebus, a shuttle service, connects all the sites. Vesuvius has its Great Cono nature trail, no. 5, which starts from the square in Ercolano at 3,281 feet (1,000 m).
What to do in Italy in July
The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine in one day
The 24-hour ticket gives one entry to the Colosseum without the arena, and one entry to the Forum and Palatine. In the July heat, take the Colosseum first and the open ground of the Forum when it suits you.
The MyColosseum app has free audio guides in Italian and English. The Y&Co app has audio-video guides in 9 languages. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Domus Aurea has visits every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Uffizi and the Boboli Gardens
The Uffizi occupies the first and second floors of a building put up between 1560 and 1580 and designed by Giorgio Vasari. It also has Medici statues and busts, Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures. It is a good afternoon indoors.
The Doge’s Palace and its secret rooms
The museums ticket includes the MUVE app audioguide. The Secret Itinerary tour covers the rooms where the Venetian administration worked, and the Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour goes through the Doge’s private rooms next to the Basilica.
The public entrance is at Porta del Frumento, Piazzetta San Marco. A visit to the Rialto Bridge takes about 20 minutes, which fits easily before or after.
Burano lace and Mazzorbo
The Museo del Merletto stands on Piazza Galuppi 187 in Burano, next to the Church of San Martino. By reservation, visitors can watch lace-makers at work, so book ahead.
A long ramp connects Burano to the island of Mazzorbo and its park. It makes an easy walk on a warm day.
Pompeii by shuttle and Vesuvius on foot
The thematic itineraries Civic Pompeii and Daily Pompeii last about 1.5 hours and cost €8 plus the entrance ticket. The Pompeii Artebus shuttle links all the sites.
Start early and bring water on the Vesuvius trail, since the climb is outdoors in July.
Is Italy busy in July?
Book rooms and the main tickets ahead for July, especially for the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Doge’s Palace. The Vatican ticket is good only on the day it is issued, so choose the date carefully.
Can you swim in Italy in July?
Yes. The sea averages 78°F (25°C) near Venice, 77°F (25°C) near Naples and 78°F (26°C) near Palermo in July. That is warm enough to get in without hesitating. These are monthly averages, so a given day can be a little cooler or warmer.
August reaches 78°F (26°C) near Venice, 79°F (26°C) near Naples and 81°F (27°C) near Palermo.
What to pack for Italy in July
July asks for light clothes, sun protection and shoes for walking on stone, with one thin layer for the evening.
- Light, breathable clothes for afternoons of 88°F (31°C)
- A hat and sunscreen for 11 hours of sun a day in Rome
- A compact umbrella for the four rainy days in Milan
- Comfortable shoes for the Pompeii itineraries and the Vesuvius trail
- A swimsuit, since the sea is 77°F to 78°F (25°C to 26°C)
- A phone with the MyColosseum app for the free audio guide
What to know before visiting Italy in July
La Scala offers guided tours in Italian, English and French at some times of day. The Vatican Museums ticket is valid only on the day it is issued.
Is July a good time to visit Italy?
Yes, July is a good month for travelers who want sun, sights and a swim in the same trip. Rome offers 11 hours of sun a day, and the sea is warm.
June is a little cooler, with afternoons of 83°F (28°C) in Rome and a sea at 73°F (23°C). It also has more rainy days in Milan. August is warmer still, at 89°F (32°C) in Rome, and the sea gains a degree or two.
For swimming, July and August are both good, and August has the warmer water. For lighter heat, June is the pick. For fewer rainy days in Milan, July has the fewest of the three months.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- colosseo.it (https://colosseo.it/en/opening-times-and-tickets/), checked 2026-10-30
- palazzoducale.visitmuve.it (https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/visitor-information/), checked 2026-10-30
- visit.venice.it (https://visit.venice.it/things-to-do/rialto-bridge), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.venezia.it (https://www.comune.venezia.it/sites/comune.venezia.it/files/page/files/Itinerario_%20Burano%20Torcello%202017%20ITA.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- visit.venice.it (https://visit.venice.it/experiences/venice-carnival), checked 2026-10-30
- milanocastello.it (https://www.milanocastello.it/it/visita/orari-biglietti-abbonamenti-e-card), checked 2026-10-30
- uffizi.it (https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi), checked 2026-10-30