The pearl of Italy, the capital of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But does it retain all its charm and glory in winter? Should you visit Florence in December, January or February? We’ll take a glance at what you can expect in terms of the temperatures.
Florence in winter
Florence is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. Though the temperatures are not very high, we’d still argue that it’s well worth a visit. Florence, thankfully, has plenty to do no matter the weather, so you certainly won’t get bored stuck in your hotel room. Let’s see what temperatures you can expect in winter.
Florence in November
Let’s look at the last month before winter, in case you’d like to visit at the end of that month or at the very beginning of December. It’s, of course, a little colder already, with an average of about 14-16°C. You can also totally see 20°C regularly at the beginning of the month, though. When the sky is relatively clear, no rain or clouds, it’s still certainly pleasant enough for all your exploratory needs.
We’d say that November is the perfect compromise for if you really don’t like the cold but you also don’t like when there are loads of tourists around. Most people will be scared off by the low temperatures already which means that the massive queues that you usually experience in Florence won’t be a problem. This is especially important if your main focus is museums and art galleries.
Florence in December
December, on the other hand, is our last spike in popularity before the proper winter. Admittedly, we can’t blame people, as Florence is truly magical before Christmas. You’ll see wonderful decorations, Christmas trees and illuminations everywhere. It’s beautiful stuff, though you’ll have to share space with a lot of other people when enjoying it.
As for temperatures, you can expect a range of 10-15°C on average, with occasional dips and jumps. So nothing too bad yet, certainly don’t expect too much snow or frost, though evenings are already very chilly. Make sure to bring some warm jumpers. It also rains a bit, so an umbrella wouldn’t hurt either.
Generally, Christmas is for those of you who don’t mind the crowds too much, as queues do get decently large again, and you want to experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas. You can also visit the Christmas Market and stock up on various delicacies, gifts, handicrafts and regional products. There are also wonderful nativity scenes in churches and an incredible Christmas Tree in front of the Duomo.
If you don’t care that much and you’d rather have peace and quiet, though, let’s maybe look at January and February.
Florence in January
Tourist traffic drops sharply after the New Year, so at least there’s that. As for the weather, it does get a tiny bit colder, about 10-13°C on average, though you may also encounter temperature spikes sometimes. It’ll also rain a bit, very comparably to December, about 8 days of mild rain, so an umbrella would also be useful.
Florence in February
Temperatures rise gently in February – very gently, as the usual average is 11-15°C. You may, however, encounter singular days that reach even 19-20°C. Rain’s comparable to the two previous months, though sunshine is more common in February. Through the clouds, you can see spring approaching. And, thankfully, you can see that without anyone bumping into you because the tourist counts are still low. Prices are also much lower in winter, all throughout apart from Christmas.
In general, winter in Florence is certainly no paradise where you get to keep 20 degrees throughout the month and also get the reduction in prices and tourist crowds. It’s a bit cold, yea, but still miles warmer than what we usually get and you get to see Florence like you couldn’t possibly imagine in the high season – more quiet, more peaceful and more real.
If you can’t physically stand the cold, we get it. Skip out on it. If you don’t mind it too much, we’d heavily encourage you to give it a shot. Worst-case, you’ll see Florence in exchange for a bit of a runny nose.
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