Where to go on holiday in Italy in October: 10 must-see destinations

In Italy, October is a month that takes on an irresistible charm. The main point in its favour? The mild climate. It is the month of the "low season", a term that almost sounds like an oxymoron if you talk about Italy, but in reality it is a golden time to discover the country in a more authentic and relaxed way. Temperatures are pleasant, ideal for urban exploration or nature excursions, and tourist attractions are less crowded. It's like having VIP access to Italian beauty.

It's not completely a question of convenience. October in Italy is an explosion of colors and flavors that makes each destination a multisensory experience. Imagine youʼre walking through the vineyards of Tuscany, where the leaves take on shades of gold and orange, creating a postcard landscape. Or take part in one of the numerous autumn festivals, where you can taste seasonal delicacies such as porcini mushrooms, truffles and new wines. It is the season in which nature blends with culture in a perfect union, making every trip an unforgettable adventure.

October is still the grape harvest season in many Italian regions. Immersing yourself in the vineyards to closely observe the grape harvest could be the perfect way to come into contact with local traditions. Furthermore, it is also the ideal time to taste white truffles, tasting the autumnal flavors of Italian cuisine.

So, if you are looking for a holiday that is a perfect mix of relaxation, discovery and authenticity, October is the perfect month. Get ready to experience Italy like you have never done before. Below, we have selected ten destinations to go on holiday in Italy in October, unique places that shine in the autumn atmosphere.

Florence is a city that offers much to see and its light shines in every season. In autumn the mild climate and the still long days allow you to enjoy the beauty of the city to the fullest and it's not surprising that Florence is much loved by foreigners in this season, also due to its proximity to the Chianti Hills and the cellars of the best Tuscan wines, ready to taste for the new vintage. Which is why Florence and Tuscany are the first place to think about going for an October holiday in Italy.

Florence is a city full of history and art, main centre of the Renaissance, and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the streets of the centre, you can admire masterpieces such as the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. Furthermore, the city is home to some of the most famous museums in the world, including the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery - where Michelangelo's David is - and the Bargello Museum. In autumn these museums are less crowded, so you can admire some of the world's most famous works of art in a milder environment.

If you desire to admire the foliage we suggest you reach Monte Senario, just north of Florence. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding countryside. In autumn, its woods are colored red, yellow and orange. Otherwise, even the Cascine Park, south of Florence, transforms into a rainbow of colors.

Letʼs stay to the food and wine argument to visit one of Italyʼs most exclusive regions to holiday in October: Piedmont. For its wines and truffles, autumn in Alba is a multi-sensory experience. With its beautiful cathedral of San Lorenzo, Alba is known for its white truffles, and in October the city hosts the annual International White Truffle Fair, an unmissable event for gourmets.

But Alba is also the home of Barolo wine, the ‘king of wines and the wine of kings’. The surrounding wineries offer tastings that are true wine experiences. And for art lovers, the historic centre is a veritable open-air museum. Don't miss the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, the Torre del Comune and the Piazza del Duomo.

And then there is nature. The Langhe, the region in which Alba is located, offers breathtaking landscapes, ideal for autumnal excursions. The golden vineyards, chestnut forests and mist-shrouded hills create an almost magical atmosphere, a true balm for the soul.

Perugia is an ideal destination to discover during the month of October. Imagine walking through the streets of one of Italyʼs youngest city, with its university and international vocation, the crisp air caressing your face and the scent of... chocolate pervading your nostrils. Yes, you got it right: October is the month of the famous Eurochocolate, the international chocolate festival that attracts gourmands from all over the world. During these days of sweet bliss, you can taste numerous varieties of chocolate, watch spectacular chocolate sculptures and participate in workshops and themed events.

It is not only chocolate, however, that makes Perugia one of the best destinations for an October holiday in Italy. The city is rich in monuments and places of interest, such as the Fontana Maggiore, the Palazzo dei Priori and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, as well as the National Gallery of Umbria, which houses an extraordinary collection of medieval and Renaissance works of art. And don't forget to take a walk along the Etruscan walls, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

If you are looking for a different autumn, less traditional but equally fascinating, Palermo is your destination. Autumn in Palermo is a sweet and warm transition period, where summer can still be felt in the air and you can't give up having breakfast with an ice cream brioche. The mild climate is ideal for exploring the city on foot. Start with a visit to the Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece that is an amalgam of styles, from Norman to Arabic.

But Palermo is also a city of markets. The Mercato del Capo and the Ballarò Market are places pulsating with life, where you can immerse yourself in the scents and flavors of Sicilian cuisine. October is the month of olives and prickly pears, and in the markets you will find stalls overflowing with these autumn fruits.

For those in search of a little mysticism there are the Capuchin Catacombs, a place that provokes profound reflections on life and death in a unique historical and cultural context. Finally, for contemporary art lovers, the GAM (Gallery of Modern Art) offers temporary exhibitions ranging from Surrealism to Post-Impressionism, a real feast for the eyes and soul.

The vestiges of a glorious past, the splendours of ancient cities and civilisations are perhaps the main reason why Campania is world famous. The most visited archaeological site in the world, Pompeii has fixed for everyone the idea of what the customs and lifestyles of Ancient Rome were like and how the cities were organised, with the patrician villas, the Forum and the Amphitheatre.

The excavations of Pompeii are not the only ones to visit for those who want to learn the stories of Ancient Rome, and October is the best month to do so. Herculaneum and Oplonti offer the same knowledge and are perhaps even better visited because they are less extensive and dispersed. Those who love archaeology will inevitably have to pay a visit to Naples. It is here, a stoneʼs throw from Piazza Cavour, that the MANN - the National Archaeological Museum of Naples - houses most of the works and artefacts discovered in Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Those who know the Cinque Terre know how easy it is to get caught up in the human (and rail) traffic that besieges the five beautiful Ligurian villages in summer. Better, then, to get to know them in October, perhaps on a longer holiday that also includes Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets.

To discover the Cinque Terre, one is spoilt for choice as to which to visit first and which is the most characteristic of the villages. Monterosso with its winding beach, Vernazza with the Doria Castle, Corniglia high above looking out to sea, Manarola and Riomaggiore recently reunited again by the Via dellʼAmore, the most romantic path you can imagine.

But picturesque Liguria continues to the east along the Gulf of Poets, with the delightful little towns of Lerici, the village of Tellaro, which was the buen retiro of poet and director Mario Soldati, and the marvellous Portovenere with the island of Palmaria in front of the striking church of San Pietro.

If Venice is the evergreen destination of every trip to Italy, in October it is even better appreciated in its authenticity, made up of tourism but also of everyday life. Globally renowned exhibitions open at the Doge's Palace or Palazzo Grassi, the Correr Museum and the Peggy Guggenheim, but there are also days of high water and crowded vaporettos. St Markʼs Basilica and the Campanile are a must, but it is also nice to get lost in the darker atmospheres of Venetian autumn.

To go around through the narrow streets (calli) and districts (sestieri) is one of the great pleasures that Venice offers in October. The Grand Canal is always a reference point for orientation, so once youʼve visited the Rialto Bridge, itʼs a good idea to continue on to Punta della Dogana and admire the splendid basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, which houses paintings by Titian Vecellio and Luca Giordano inside.

If in September the obligatory stop is, by taking the ferryboat, the Lido di Venezia with its famous Film Festival and Biennale, in October it is a good idea to stretch out to the islands of Murano and Burano. Colourful, charming, beautiful, with many glass artisans opening the doors of their workshops to visitors. For a taste of Venetian cuisine, don't miss the moeche, the soft crabs (they have no shell) that are caught in autumn.

Rome is the classic destination for an October holiday in Italy. The weather is perfect for visiting its museums, churches and monuments, and it was in Rome that the term ‘ottobrata’ was born, those sweet, sun-filled days as if the end of summer had lingered on to greet visitors. So book a visit to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in October, flock to city parks like Villa Ada and Villa Borghese and flock to St Peterʼs Square on Sunday for the Popeʼs Angelus.

October also lends itself to getting to know a little of Romeʼs surroundings, the Castelli, to discover beautiful towns like Frascati and Grottaferrata and enjoy local wines and fine Roman cuisine. Then a trip to Tivoli and its fabulous Roman villas: Villa dʼEste and Villa Adriana, but leave yourself some space to stroll around Villa Gregoriana and take a leap into nature admiring the Aniene waterfalls.