Have you ever:
- Tried to drive in Italy on Pasquetta?
- Attempted to reserve a last-minute train in Italy right before Christmas?
- Wondered why potential Italian tour guides don’t answer your emails on August 15th?
- Shown up to the Uffizi Galleries in Florence on the first Sunday of the month and wondered who invited the rest of the planet?
Then again…
Have you ever:
- Been swept up in Venice’s magical Carnevale celebrations?
- Watched patron saint day fireworks with locals?
- Strolled empty city streets on a summer eve (while everyone else was at the beach or in the mountains)?
- Watched your kids marvel at and join in a Rificolona procession?
I may or may not have done all of the above.
I’m a mamma of three based in Tuscany, and in my 20+ years living, working, and traveling all over Italy, I’ve made my share of travel mistakes and also had many travel blessings.
As a travel planner, I want to help you make the most of your time here, and a big part of that is choosing when to visit.
Below I’ve included holidays and other holiday-like times you should be aware of when planning your trip to Italy. Use this list to help decide when to visit Italy – and when to stay away!
Andiamo – Let’s go!
You may also want to check out
How to Avoid Crowds on Your Trip to Italy
Tips for a Budget Trip to Italy as a Family
Read more about visiting Italy in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December.
Why You Should Know About These Holidays
You may want to plan your trip so you’ll be there on a holiday, or you may want to avoid it! Yes, holidays are amazing here, but they also bring higher prices, heavier crowds, full trains, etc. Know your trip goals!
Italian National Holidays
These are the biggies that often bring the country to a (mostly) standstill. Businesses and government offices close, schools are closed, etc. In bigger cities, many restaurants and shops will remain open.
Here are our national holidays:
JANUARY
January 1 – Capodanno (New Year’s Day)
January 6 – Epifania (Epiphany), aka La Befana
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Date Varies – Pasqua (Easter Sunday)
Date Varies – Pasquetta (Little Easter, falls the Monday after Easter Sunday)
Good To Know: Pasqua & Pasquetta fall in March or April, depending on the year)
APRIL
Date Varies – Pasqua (Easter Sunday)
Date Varies – Pasquetta (Little Easter, falls the Monday after Easter Sunday)
Good To Know: Pasqua & Pasquetta fall in March or April, depending on the year)
April 25 – Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day)
MAY
May 1 – Festa del Lavoro (Labor Day)
JUNE
June 2 – Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day)
JULY
AUGUST
August 15 – Ferragosto (Assumption of Mary)
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
October 4 – Festa di San Francesco d’Assisi (St. Francis of Assis’s Day)
Good To Know: In 2025, the Italian government voted to reinstate this as a national holiday. However, in 2026 our kids had school, so we’ll see if the holiday takes hold nationally in 2027.
NOVEMBER
November 1 – Ognissanti (All Saint’s Day)
DECEMBER
December 8 – Festa della Concezione Immacolata (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
December 25 – Natale (Christmas)
December 26 – Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day)
More Important Italian Holidays to Know About
These aren’t national holidays, but they are celebrated throughout Italy.
- Patron Saint Holidays – Cities, towns, and villages will have a patron saint. The celebration may be tiny, or it may include parades, fireworks, and more (lookin’ at you, Florence, and your Festa di San Giovanni on June 24th).
- Christmas Eve – Don’t miss a traditional Christmas Eve meal!
- New Year’s Eve – Learn how to say Happy New Year in Italian!
Other Italian Holiday Periods to Be Aware Of
Italian School Breaks – Italian public schools tend to start around the 15th of September and finish around the 10th of June. Kids have a break for Christmas (usually from the 24th of September through the 6th of January) and our bambini get a short break for Easter (typically from the Wednesday before Easter through the Tuesday after Easter). We don’t really get any other breaks, so expect crowds of Italian families out and about when we do!
European School Breaks – Much less condensed than Italian school breaks, Euro breaks are spread throughout the year. I recommend doing a quick Google for various countries (especially UK, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Belgium) for “[country] half-term break” and “[country] school holidays 202X.”
Ferragosto – Ferragosto is officially August 15th, but many Italians make the days around the holiday a vacation.
Summer Vacations – Italian kids have a long summer vacation, and adults typically take vacation/holiday in the summer as well. In the past, August was the month for Italian vacations, as entire factories and businesses shut down for the month. Now, you’ll find Italians taking vacations in staggered weeks throughout the summer. Expect to see beaches and mountains full of Italians during the summer.
The Ponte – If a national holiday happens to fall mid-week, many Italians will make a ponte (bridge) to extend the holiday. For example, if Ognissanti falls on a Tuesday, Italians may take off that Monday to have a four-day weekend. Another typical ponte is the time between the 25th of April (Liberation Day) and the 1st of May (Labor Day).
Christmas – A common saying in Italy is “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi,” which translates to “Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want.” Italians head home for the Christmas holidays, which extend to January 6th (Epiphany) for many.
Beach Time – Beach season for us typically begins Easter weekend and finishes when school starts. But, know that the season extends a bit if the weather is nice, especially in southern Italy.
Sunday at the Museum – Some state-run museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of the month. While the entrance is free, keep in mind the crowds can be crazy.
Read more about Free Sundays at Museums in Tuscany
Carnival – Italy’s Carnevale is celebrated in many places throughout the country, but nowhere does it as big as Venice.
And Remember, These are Not Italian Holidays
- Valentine’s Day
- Fourth of July
- Halloween – It is celebrated more and more every year
- Thanksgiving
- Spring Break- Read more about Visiting Italy for Spring Break
