Italy in February is cool, quiet and full of Carnival. Average highs run from about 46°F in Milan to 52°F in Rome and 55°F in Naples and Agrigento, the big museums are calm, and in 2027 Carnival peaks early, with Shrove Tuesday on 9 February. Pack layers and you get Italy’s winter festivals with few crowds.
Italy in February 2027: quick answers
- Is it a good time to go? Yes, for Carnival, art cities without lines, winter food and snow. Not for the beach.
- Weather: highs of about 46 to 49°F in the north and center, 52 to 55°F in Rome, Naples and Sicily, with frost and snow in the mountains.
- Carnival 2027: Venice until 9 February, Viareggio parades on 4, 7, 9, 14 and 20 February, the Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea on 7 to 9 February.
- Other big dates: Saint Agatha in Catania on 3 to 5 February, Valentine’s Day in Terni, the city of Saint Valentine, on 14 February.
- Free museums: Italian state museums and the Colosseum on Sunday 7 February; the Vatican Museums on Sunday 28 February.
- Good to know: there are no national holidays in February, but the Vatican Museums close on 11 February, and Agrigento’s almond blossom festival is in March in 2027.
We are Marco and Ilaria, and we live in Marche, the region between Umbria and the Adriatic. We design private, tailor-made trips around Italy, and February is the month our hill towns light up for Carnival. This guide uses official climate tables and the 2027 dates published so far by the organizers, checked on 14 November 2026.
Is February a good time to visit Italy?
Yes, if you want festivals and culture more than sunshine. February is still winter, but the days get longer, the great sights are calm and the whole country celebrates Carnival, from the masks of Venice to small-town traditions you will not find in any guidebook.
What works well in February:
- Carnival: in 2027 the main days fall between Thursday 4 February (Giovedì Grasso) and Shrove Tuesday, 9 February.
- Art cities: Rome, Florence and the hill towns of central Italy have short lines and an everyday rhythm.
- Food: black truffle season, Carnival sweets in every bakery and the new olive oil.
- Snow: the Alps, the Dolomites and the Apennines are in the heart of the ski season.
What doesn’t: beach holidays, island hopping and resort towns that live on summer, where many hotels and restaurants close until spring.
What is the weather like in Italy in February?
February is a little milder than January: cool days, cold nights and the softest weather in the south and in Sicily. The table uses the official 1981 to 2010 February averages from the Atlante italiano del clima published by Italy’s Rete Rurale Nazionale. They are averages for each whole province, hills included, so city centers are often a touch milder.
| Province | Average high | Average low | February rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agrigento (Sicily) | 55°F (12.8°C) | 43°F (6.1°C) | 2.0 in (50 mm) |
| Naples | 55°F (12.7°C) | 42°F (5.3°C) | 2.7 in (70 mm) |
| Palermo (Sicily) | 54°F (12.0°C) | 42°F (5.4°C) | 2.2 in (55 mm) |
| Catania (Sicily) | 53°F (11.6°C) | 40°F (4.6°C) | 1.8 in (47 mm) |
| Rome | 52°F (11.3°C) | 38°F (3.2°C) | 2.7 in (68 mm) |
| Ancona (Marche) | 49°F (9.5°C) | 35°F (1.4°C) | 2.0 in (51 mm) |
| Ascoli Piceno (Marche) | 49°F (9.4°C) | 33°F (0.8°C) | 2.2 in (55 mm) |
| Florence | 48°F (9.0°C) | 36°F (2.3°C) | 2.1 in (53 mm) |
| Perugia (Umbria) | 47°F (8.5°C) | 33°F (0.8°C) | 2.1 in (54 mm) |
| Venice | 47°F (8.6°C) | 33°F (0.7°C) | 1.7 in (44 mm) |
| Milan | 46°F (7.7°C) | 34°F (1.0°C) | 1.8 in (47 mm) |
| L’Aquila (Abruzzo) | 44°F (6.8°C) | 29°F (-1.4°C) | 2.6 in (66 mm) |
| Bolzano (South Tyrol) | 34°F (1.1°C) | 19°F (-7.3°C) | 1.1 in (27 mm) |
Two things the averages don’t tell you. In Venice and Milan, February is one of the drier months, but mornings can be foggy. On the Adriatic side, where we live, a few days of cold wind can bring snow to the hill towns, and those clear, white days are often the most beautiful of the year.
Where is the warmest place in Italy in February?
Sicily and the Naples area. In the official tables, the province of Agrigento has the mildest February, with highs of about 55°F and lows of 43°F, just ahead of Naples and Palermo. Catania is a little cooler but the driest of the cities in our table.
What’s on in Italy in February 2027?
Carnival above all. Easter falls on 28 March in 2027, so Shrove Tuesday is early, on 9 February, and Ash Wednesday follows on 10 February. These are the dates the organizers had published on 14 November 2026.
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 23 January to 9 February | Venice Carnival | Venice |
| Sundays 31 January, 7 and 14 February | Carnival parades with the “getto” of sweets | Fano, Marche |
| 3 to 5 February | Feast of Saint Agatha | Catania, Sicily |
| 4, 7, 9, 14 and 20 February (and 30 January) | Viareggio Carnival float parades | Viareggio, Tuscany |
| Friday 5 February | Lu Bov Fint, the “fake ox” run | Offida, Marche |
| Sunday 7 February | Free entry to state museums, including the Colosseum | All of Italy |
| 7 to 9 February | Battle of the Oranges | Ivrea, Piedmont |
| Tuesday 9 February | Shrove Tuesday; the vlurd procession at 7 pm | All of Italy; Offida |
| Thursday 11 February | Vatican Museums closed | Vatican City |
| Sunday 14 February | Valentine’s Day, feast of the patron saint | Terni, Umbria |
| Sunday 28 February | Free entry to the Vatican Museums, 9 am to 2 pm | Vatican City |
Carnival in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea
Italy has three very different “big” carnivals. The official Venice Carnival site lists the 2027 edition from Saturday 23 January to Tuesday 9 February: masks, costumes and street theater in the city’s squares and palaces.
Viareggio, on the Tuscan coast, is the carnival of giant satirical papier-mâché floats. The Fondazione Carnevale di Viareggio has scheduled six parades on the seafront: 30 January, then 4 February (the only evening parade, at 5 pm), 7, 9, 14 and 20 February, when the winners are announced with closing fireworks. Unusually, the last two parades come after Shrove Tuesday. The parades are ticketed, with single entry from €16.50 and free entry for children up to 1.20 meters tall.
Ivrea, near Turin, stages the Battle of the Oranges, which re-enacts a medieval revolt against a tyrant. According to the official 2027 program, the General takes power on Thursday 4 February and nine teams on foot battle the throwers on horse-drawn carts from 2 pm on Sunday 7 February, with the battle continuing to Shrove Tuesday. The organizers explain that visitors wear the red Phrygian cap as a sign of taking part.
Saint Agatha in Catania (3 to 5 February)
Every year on 3, 4 and 5 February, Catania honors its patron saint with one of the largest religious festivals in Italy. The City of Catania describes processions through the streets and the tall candelore, carved and gilded candle towers carried by the city’s guilds.
Valentine’s Day in Terni, the city of Saint Valentine
Saint Valentine was bishop of Terni in southern Umbria, and he is the city’s patron saint. His remains rest in the Basilica of San Valentino, where couples come to ask for his blessing. Terni’s tourism office says the Valentine celebrations fill the whole month of February with concerts, shows and cultural events. It is an easy day from Rome or Perugia, and close to the Marmore Falls. For more ideas for couples, see our romantic getaways in Italy.
Almond blossom in Sicily: the festival is in March in 2027
Many guides place Agrigento’s almond blossom festival in February. In 2027 it is not: the mayor of Agrigento has announced the Mandorlo in Fiore festival for 2 to 7 March 2027, as La Sicilia reported. The almond trees themselves can flower from late February, so a trip at the end of the month can still catch the blossom around the Valley of the Temples.
Which Italian city is best to visit in February?
It depends on what you want from the trip: Venice for Carnival, Rome for the great sights, Sicily for the mildest weather, the Dolomites for snow, and Marche for Carnival traditions and truffles away from the crowds. Here is how we would choose.
- Venice, for Carnival. Go in the first nine days of February for the masks, or straight after Ash Wednesday for quiet canals. Hotels during Carnival book up early.
- Rome, for the sights without lines. The Colosseum archaeological park keeps winter hours until 28 February 2027, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with last entry at 3:30 pm, and is free on the first Sunday, 7 February.
- Sicily and Naples, for the mildest days. Agrigento, Naples and Palermo top our weather table, and Catania has Saint Agatha from 3 to 5 February.
- The Dolomites and the Alps, for skiing. February is the heart of the season, and South Tyrol is the coldest area in our table.
- Marche and Umbria, for living traditions. Historic carnivals in Offida and Fano, truffles, quiet Renaissance towns and Valentine’s Day in Terni. More on our home below.
Coming earlier in the winter? Our guide to Italy in January covers Epiphany, the winter sales and the start of Carnival.
Why Marche is worth it in February
Because February is when our small towns show their oldest traditions, the truffle season is at its best and you share the art cities with locals. These are the moments we love most at home.
- The Carnival of Offida: the hill town of Offida, near Ascoli Piceno, keeps one of the most authentic carnivals in Italy. The 2027 program has the Bov Fint, the “fake ox” chased through the streets, on Friday 5 February from 2:30 pm, masked balls in the Serpente Aureo theater, and on Shrove Tuesday, 9 February, the lighting of the vlurd at 7 pm, when the town carries burning reed bundles through the square.
- The Carnival of Fano: on the coast north of Ancona, Fano’s floats throw sweets and chocolates to the crowd, the “getto”. The City of Fano has set the 2027 parades for the Sundays of 31 January, 7 and 14 February; the regional tourism site Let’s Marche lists the parade on Viale Gramsci at 3 pm.
- Truffles: according to the Truffle Museum of Acqualagna, the prized black truffle is harvested from 1 December to 15 March and the bianchetto from 15 January to 30 April, so February is a good month for a truffle hunt with a local hunter and his dog.
- The Frasassi Caves: open all February. In winter the official site lists tours at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm on weekdays and six tours on weekends, between 10 am and 5 pm. They are a short drive from Fabriano.
- Urbino and the snowy hills: the Ducal Palace of Urbino is a joy without the crowds, and the Sibillini Mountains are white above towns like Sarnano.
A February trip designed around you. We plan private trips for 1 to 7 guests, with licensed local guides, truffle hunts, Carnival evenings and our own drivers to take you from one town to the next. See our private luxury tours of Italy, or our private Marche tours to live Carnival in our region with us.
What is closed in Italy in February?
Very little. February has no national public holidays, so shops and sights keep normal winter hours. A few exceptions are worth planning around.
- Vatican Museums: closed on Sundays except the last one, and closed on 11 February, according to the Vatican Museums. On Sunday 28 February entry is free from 9 am to 2 pm, with last entry at 12:30 pm.
- Winter hours: sites close early; the Colosseum’s last entry is 3:30 pm until the end of February.
- Carnival crowds: Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea are at their busiest between 4 and 9 February, so book hotels and restaurants early, and remember that the Viareggio parade route is ticketed.
- Seasonal places: beach clubs and many coastal hotels, from the Amalfi Coast to the Adriatic riviera, stay closed until spring.
What should I pack for Italy in February?
Pack for cold mornings and mild afternoons: a warm coat, layers you can take off in museums and restaurants, a scarf, a compact umbrella and comfortable waterproof shoes with a good grip for wet stone streets. If you plan Carnival evenings or the mountains, add a hat and gloves. In Ivrea, buy the red cap on arrival.
Is February a cheap time to go to Italy?
Outside the Carnival hot spots and the ski resorts, February is one of the quietest months, so you have more choice of hotels, tables and guides in the art cities and the countryside. Venice during Carnival, the Dolomites in school-holiday weeks and Valentine’s weekend in romantic places are the exceptions, and they book up early.
Frequently asked questions about Italy in February
Is February a good time to visit Italy?
Yes, if you want Carnival, art cities without lines and winter food more than beach weather. Days are cool and getting longer, and in 2027 the main Carnival days fall between 4 and 9 February.
How cold is Italy in February?
Official 1981 to 2010 averages give highs of about 46°F in Milan, 48°F in Florence, 52°F in Rome and 55°F in Naples, with lows near freezing in the north and center. In South Tyrol the average high is only 34°F.
Where is the warmest place in Italy in February?
Sicily and the Naples area. In the official province averages Agrigento and Naples reach about 55°F by day, with Palermo close behind at 54°F, and nights stay around 42 to 43°F.
Which Italian city is best to visit in February?
Venice if you want Carnival (until 9 February 2027), Rome for the great sights with short lines, Catania or Agrigento for mild weather, and the hill towns of Marche for traditional carnivals and truffles away from the crowds.
When is Carnival in Italy in 2027?
Shrove Tuesday is 9 February 2027. The Venice Carnival runs from 23 January to 9 February, the Viareggio parades are on 30 January and 4, 7, 9, 14 and 20 February, and the Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea is from 7 to 9 February.
Are there public holidays in Italy in February?
No, there are no national public holidays in February. Local patron-saint feasts bring big celebrations, such as Saint Agatha in Catania from 3 to 5 February and Saint Valentine in Terni on 14 February, and the Vatican Museums close on 11 February.
Plan your February in Italy with locals
Sweet Life Italy is a certified incoming tour operator of the Marche Region, based in Castelraimondo and founded by Marco and Ilaria, who live in Marche. We design private, tailor-made trips for 1 to 7 guests across Marche and the rest of Italy, and we bring more than 13 years in luxury tourism to every itinerary.
We plan every trip with at least 8 weeks’ notice, so now is the right time to organize a February journey, whether you want Carnival in Venice, a truffle hunt in Marche or a slow week in the Umbrian hills. Tell us about your trip and we will start with a free video call. After that we send a day-by-day proposal and a free first estimate.
Featured photo: a carnival costume and mask in Venice, by Ralf Steinberger via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
