Winter is an underrated time to visit Naples (and the south of Italy generally!) as the weather is generally stable and the crowds non-existent.

You should consider that between November and February it’s Naples and Campania’s low season, with the exception of dates like Christmas and New Year’s Eve where the city in particular can be quite busy with locals and visitors from the Campania area enjoying festive celebrations.

This is without a doubt the cheapest time of year to visit Naples, with the average per night cost at hotels and apartments at their lowest average.

While the early spring can be considered as the traditional ‘shoulder season’ for visiting Naples, late spring has in recent years become the start of one of the busiest times of the year for visitors.

As the weather settles and the season progresses, ferry schedules return to normal and cruise ships begin to dock at Naples port.

Note that Italy has several national holidays during this period (Easter, April 25 Liberation Day/Festa della Liberazione and May 1 Labor Day) which will see Naples and the major sites fill with locals making the most of their time off work.

Naples Italy also celebrates the Festa di San Gennaro (Festival of Saint Gennaro) where the city honors their patron saint. During the Festa di San Gennaro you can expect celebrations throughout the historic center of the city.

Certain sites may operate different opening hours during these holidays so its always advisable to check in advance of planning a visit.

Hotels and apartments begin this period close to the lowest prices you can get per night on average, with those prices increasing steadily through the season, with a peak around Easter.

Spring can be a great time of year for sightseeing as the weather is cooler, but this can lead to large crowds of people who had the same idea. If you really want to visit the big sights like Pompeii, go earlier in the season to help you avoid the crowds.

Consider that May marks the start of one of the busiest periods of the year in this area, and this means consistent crowds and queues at the most popular sites.

The weather at this time of year can be very changeable – I’ve been out one day in March drinking a spritz in Santa Lucia wearing just a t-shirt, and then the next day I’ve been shopping in the centro storico wearing a full winter coat!

I’d recommend bringing a light rain jacket and umbrella as you may well have some rainy days, but also light layers that can be taken off and on as needed

The average temperature changes significantly from March to May so your travel packing will need to be different depending on when you’re traveling.

Summer in Naples and Campania combines both one of the busiest points of the year with one of the quietest, within the stretch of just a few weeks.

At the start of summer Italy celebrates Festa della Repubblica – the ‘Festival of the Republic’ which marks the end of the Kingdom of Italy monarchy and establishment of the Italian Republic in the 1940’s.

For me, regardless of where you are in Italy, this is the start of summer. Italians are out in force – at the beaches, lakes and parks typically – enjoying time off work and the always-great weather that is typically of this point in the year.

During these peak summer months you’ll find plenty going on that can give you a break (if needed) from the sunny days and crowds. You’ll find dozens of listings at Napoli’s Teatro San Carlo (this is opera season) and other key events such as Napoli Teatro Festival Italia.

The pleasant temperatures at the start of June make this season popular with visitors from all over the world, and there is an increase in cruise ships docking which bring large groups to the center of Naples and sites like Herculaneum and Pompeii.

This means that accommodation prices peak at this time of year and will remain high through to mid/late September, with some exceptions in August.

The busy period includes July, and you should note that this is one of the hottest months of the year on average. Therefore you need to pack light, breathable clothes (think linen) and a sun hat.

While summer in Naples can be a lot of fun if you can plan on mostly relaxing at a hotel, given the increased costs, temperatures, and crowds, we do not recommend staying in the city in June and July.

Places like Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast are glorious in the summer however, with the high average temperature making it the perfect time to spend your days on the beach and out on the water.

Fall in Naples and Campania can offer the best of both worlds; great weather at the start of September (generally through to mid-October) and less crowds in November as the traditional visitor season comes to a close.

I would consider September, alongside June, to be the busiest months and peak season in Naples and Campania. Where the weather is generally fantastic, and schools have not completely returned until later in the month, most places you visit can be very busy with tourists and locals alike.

Because of this, hotel prices in September are generally the highest you’ll find in the year, but with a steep drop off later in the autumn. As a contrast, our favourite place to stay in Sorrento – Hotel Continental – was 20% more to book for a week in September compared to the Ferragosto holiday week in August.

There is just one major holiday in the autumn which is All Saints Day on November 1 where Italians remember passed loved ones. As this is the day after Halloween, increasingly Italians celebrate both dates together, and if these dates fall on a weekend, can you can expect big crowds in Naples.

For September you are almost guaranteed good weather (with a small chance of passing storms) and high temperatures during the day (but not as hot as June and July!).

However the evenings are always on the fresher side and call for a light jacket if you are outside.

This changes quickly however by mid-October when autumn storms become more frequent and temperatures drop.

Like when visiting in the spring, I would recommend packing an umbrella and jacket in case of storms and for those for cooler nights, but there is a big difference in the average temperatures in September and November so think about that when planning your travel packing.

If you read the previous sections, it won’t surprise you that we recommend visiting in the early spring or mid fall if your priority is sightseeing. The weather is good enough to be outside a lot but not too hot and the crowds are far from their peak!

At this time of year the weather is generally good and hotel prices are down from the peak rates of June/July and September.

Just be mindful of public holidays during these times as sites like Pompeii will be very busy with locals and visitors alike, and public transport schedules could differ compared to those advertised.

If your goal is to relax while visiting Naples and Campania, come in August, which happens to be our favorite time to visit.

Yes, you can still take day trips if you want, but the combination of long sunny days and warm evenings make the days seem to stretch out forever. Relax on a bathing platform perched at the base of impressive cliffs, take a boat ride along the Amalfi Coast or out to one of the islands, enjoy long shady lunches followed by leisurely shopping before relaxing in the evening with a glass of wine or local limoncello.

This part of Italy has a unique charm which is best appreciated by taking things slowly. Even if you want to do some sightseeing during a summer trip, make sure to set aside at least a few days in your itinerary for pure relaxation!

As noted above, our favorite time to be in Campania and Naples is August, and to be specific, the middle of August.

On August 15 Italy celebrates Ferragosto, a festival that has its roots in ancient Rome as it started by the first Roman emperor Augustus to celebrate the then-end of the harvest season. The date now marks the Assumption of Mary in the Catholic calendar and is considered by all Italians to be Italy’s biggest national holiday alongside Christmas and Easter.

At this specific time of year, you can expect:

• The weather to be reliably good, with temperatures starting to decrease from their average summer maximum
• Hotel costs to decrease momentarily from their peaks, where businesses are looking to encourage guests between the two visitor peaks of early summer and September.
• A general feeling of celebration and relaxation in the air as most Italians take some extended time off around Ferragosto.

The one downside of this time of year is that a lot of businesses can be closed while owners and staff are on vacation. This applies particularly to small businesses. However, from our own experience of visiting Sorrento and other parts of Campania in August, you won’t struggle to find places to eat, drink and shop at.

Museums and sites remain open throughout August aside from on August 15 when some might be closed just for the day.

It depends on why you are visiting, but chances are if you are planning a trip to Sorrento, you are interested in relaxing, eating/drinking and shopping.

If this is the case, consider coming in July or September if you are OK with high daytime temperatures. May or October are better if you prefer cooler weather.

At all of these points of the year, all sites, attractions, shops, restaurants, bars and cafes will be open. There are minimal public holidays during these months, meaning a reduced chance of crowds and transport disruption.

Let’s start with our recommended method for getting to the Amalfi Coast; ferries or private boat transfers.

However, this means you are at the whim of the weather. If conditions are not right, ferries will be suspended and skippers will not want to head out to sea.

You can visit the Amalfi Coast by road but this is not recommended. The small roads between the towns are choked with traffic nearly all year-round, and you will spend a lot of time in traffic wondering why you didn’t take a ferry. Trust me, I’ve been there!

Therefore, if you have your heart set on seeing Amalfi, Positano, Ravello or other towns along the Amalfi Coast, visit during June or July.

During these months the weather is at its most stable in this region so ferries and boats run regularly.