Because Italy stretches more from north to south than from east to west, it has climates that vary depending on latitude. To the north, near the mountains, temperatures become far harsher during the winter months than they do in the southern coastal sections.

In general, the country is known as a summer destination (unless you're a snow skier). The months of June, July, and August tend to bring the least rainfall, though those months can also become oppressively hot. Tourists who try to push themselves from one attraction to the next are susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. July and August are also the busiest in terms of pedestrian congestion, as Italians themselves are on summer vacation. If you can visit in the spring, say between April and June, you'll find the country much easier to get around. Prices are typically lower at this time of year.

Temperatures in Rome

Rome is just south of the middle of Italy, on the western coast. Its daily temperatures rarely drop below 50°F, even during the winter months, when average nighttime lows are in the high 30s and low 40s.

During the popular summer vacation months, the average high temperatures in Rome are well into the 80s and 90s, with lows typically in the 60s and 70s.

Temperatures in Venice

Venice, on Italy's eastern coast, is farther to the north than Rome. Its daily high temperatures can drop into the upper 30s during the coldest winter months, with some lows below freezing from December through February. During the summer months, Venice daily highs tend to be between 75 and 85°F, with lows in the high 60s to low 70s.

Temperatures in Sicily

Sicily, the southernmost Italian island that hangs down below the tip of the mainland “boot,” is temperate thanks to its coastal climate. Its average summer highs are in the 80s and 90s, with lows during July and August around 75°F. When winter comes to the island, daytime temperatures drop to about 60 degrees, with nighttime lows in the 40s.