Italy is one of the best European countries to visit in June. As summer starts to sweep across the Mediterannean you can expect great weather, warm seas, and al fresco dining, all without the high-season crowds. Nevertheless, not every city is made equal. If you’re wondering which are the best Italian destinations in June, you’re in the right place.
With its long Mediterranean coastline, sun-drenched countryside, and rugged Alpine highlands, Italy is as diverse as it is influential. No European country can match up to the powerful mark the Italians have left on Western culture and we’d be lying if we didn’t say we’re all chasing a slice of the dolce vita.
You can never go wrong with an Italian summer, but these dazzling destinations are the best places to visit in June for sun, sea, scenery, and sumptuous cuisine. From the top of the boot to the tip of the toe, Italy is waiting. Let’s get into it.
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Rome
There’s no doubt that the bustling capital is one of the best Italian cities to visit at the break of summer. Blossoms in full bloom, vibrant street life, and warm sunny days for exploring Rome’s top attractions from the piazzas to the Colosseum. What’s more, you might just miss the school holiday crowds that flock to the city at the peak of summer.
The Roman Empire led Europe to great prosperity and technological advancements and their influence still lingers all over the continent. The city of Rome is a testament to 3,000 years of urban development, but it has also sat at the head of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, the smallest country in the world and home of the Pope, is nestled in the center of Rome as a treasure trove of art and Renaissance architecture.
There is tons to do and see within Rome’s romantic and charismatic city limits, from taking in the decadent fountains to getting lost down gritty lanes in hole-in-the-wall-taverns, exploring the grand piazzas and elegant gardens, and visiting all of the well-preserved Roman sites.
June sees things start to heat up in Rome and daily highs hover in the low 80s, rarely falling below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Daily low temperatures increase from around 57 degrees Fahrenheit to 63 and it won’t get much colder than 50 degrees throughout the whole month.
You can expect around 22 sunny days in Rome in June and 50 mm of rain. If you happen to visit on the 29th, this is a regional holiday and day off for Rome’s population in celebration of the patron saints. The attractions might be busier, but the lively outdoor culture will be at its peak.
Tuscany
Tuscany is a verdant and sun-drenched region in central Italy, covering around 23,000 square kilometers and reaching from Sestino in the east to Elba Island off Tuscany’s west coast. It encompasses diverse landscapes from the rugged Apennine Mountains to the beaches of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Chianti vineyards, and its sprawling capital of Florence.
There are tons of places worth visiting in Tuscany but some of our highlights for June include Val d’Orcia for UNESCO World Heritage and natural beauty, San Gimignano for well-preserved medieval sites, quaint Siena for its historic town center, Montalcino and Montepulciano for wine lovers, Bagno Vignoni and Saturnia for their thermal springs, and of course, Florence, for some of the highest-regarded examples of Renaissance art and architecture in the world.
The region is dotted with charming villages and heritage towns, lyrical landscapes, great art, and suburb food, and no matter where you go, you’re in for a treat. Pisa with its leaning tower is located close to the coast, and a stone’s throw from some of Tuscany’s underrated islets scattered to the west.
June is a popular time to visit, which is no surprise seeing as the weather is not yet unbearably hot but still warm and sunny with little rain. Average highs hover between 77 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely dropping below 50 degrees. By the end of June, temperatures can reach the mid-90s and rainfall is rare, with just 19 mm in the month. Yet, this affords the sweeping landscapes, vineyards, and olive grows with their characteristic golden hue.
Look out for the Luminara of San Ranieri in Pisa if you’re headed to Tuscany in the middle of June. This ancient tradition started in 1688 with the lighting of candles and bonfires, and to this day, every June 16th or 17th, around 70,000 candles are lit and placed on buildings and in the Arno River in honor of the patron Saint Ranieri.
Amalfi Coast
June is a great time to visit Amalfi when summer crowds haven’t peaked but all the tourist services, beach facilities, and wonderful restaurants are up and running. The Amalfi Coast stretches for 50 kilometers along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula. Majestic cliffs, rugged beaches, and seas of pastel-colored fishing villages have called tourists to Amalfi’s dreamy shores for decades.
UNESCO regards Amalfi as an outstanding example of natural Mediterannean beauty and it’s no secret that the region is one of Italy’s most memorable. Positano is one of the most famous and postcard-perfect towns in Amalfi with its cliffside, colorful houses, pebbly beachfront, steep narrow streets, and artistic boutiques. The Majolica-tile dome of Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, a 13th-century Byzantine church, is a symbol of the Positano skyline. The Sentiero degli Dei hiking trail links the village to other towns. One of which is Sorrento, the equally lusted but less crowded village facing the Bay of Naples.
Most of the action in Sorrento takes place from atop the steep cliffs that separate the town from the busy marina. Overlooking the majestic, and still-active, Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento is known for its sweeping Tyrrhenian Sea views and the café-lined Piazza Tasso. The center is a maze of quaint alleys, religious shrines, and steep lanes. There’s also the 14th-century Chiesa di San Francesco with its tranquil cloister.
Amalfi is also well known for its winding coastal roads, connecting Salerno to Sorrento and meandering past spectacular villas, fragrant lemon groves, and terraced vineyards. The Amalfi Coast is least busy from November to March, but the beginning of June is a great time to visit if you’re after lusted beach time without the peak crowds. You can enjoy pleasant average daily temperatures between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, while these can soar to the mid-90s by the end of the month – perfect for boat days exploring Capri, Ischia, and Procida Islands.
Puglia
Tucked away in Italy’s heel, Puglia is sun-drenched and summery, with flora and fauna in full bloom by June, without the oppressive heat of mid-summer. The southern region sprawls along Italy’s Adriatic with hundreds of kilometers of Mediterannean coastline to enjoy. Centuries-old farmland and World Heritage settlements punctuate the landscape, while the whitewashed towns of Cisternino and Polignano, and the conical roofs of the Itria Valley are symbols of the region.
Sometimes called Apulia, Puglia is well-known for its olive oil production, providing around 40 percent of Italy’s olive oil – that’s over 300,000 tons of the stuff per year. But that’s not the only reason it’s grown to notoriety. The capital, Bari, is a bustling university port town with a maze-like old center, terracotta tiled roofs, 11th-century churches, and ancient pilgrimage sites. There’s also historic Lecce, dubbed “The Florence of the South”, thanks to its baroque buildings, magnificent sculptures, world-renowned art, and Roman column and sunken amphitheater.
June is warm and sunny in Puglia and it’s actually the driest month of the year raining on just three to four days, but not the hottest, making for the perfect conditions to explore the countryside and coastal towns. The sea temperatures hover at a balmy 73 degrees Fahrenheit, while air temperatures climb into the 80s – great for lazy beach days.
The region is also vibrant in June and you can take part in various festivities such as the Sagra della Cilegia Ferrovia di Turi, the Feast of San Vito Martire in Polignano Mare, Palio di Taranto in Taranto, and the Historical Parade of San Giovanni in Putignano.
Umbria
Dubbed Tuscany’s little sister, if you want to escape the crowds for some rural tranquility and fascinating heritage, look no further than Umbria. The central Italian region borders Le Marche, Lazio, and Tuscany and is often considered to be Italy’s green heartland. Medieval hill towns, thick forests, and great cuisine are just some of the features Umbria is best known for and there are plenty of fascinating old villages waiting to be discovered.
The regional capital, Perugia, perches atop a hill overlooking the verdant landscape and protecting the medieval site of the Palazzo dei Priori. The Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria art musuem is housed in the grounds while the pedestrianized Corso Vannucci is the epitome of bustling Perugia life.
You can enjoy long walks through the farmland and along the shores of Lake Trasimeno when the weather is mild and forgiving in early June. Things heat up towards the end of the month, but Umbria is a lot cooler than the south making it perfect for those who prefer to venture in the great outdoors over lazing on the beach.
Cinque Terre
Northern Italy’s answer to Amalfi, the Cinque Terre is a string of five medieval fishing villages, perched above the Italian Riviera in all their colorful glory. The pink, yellow, and orange hues stand out against the rugged landscape where vineyards cling to steep terraces. Fishing boats bob in the lively harbors and quaint trattorias churn out seafood delicacies, but most importantly, bowls of the region’s specialty pasta sauce, pesto Liguria.
The Cinque Terre is more compact and easy to get around than Amalfi, with dramatic hiking trails offering fabulous sweeping sea views between the villages. The five towns that comprise the area include Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso, each with its own distinct charm.
Each one was once a fortified settlement, protected by a castle overlooking the sea to defend against Saracen raiders. Today, the Cinque Terre is punctuated by UNESCO Sites, a testament to its historical value. All the villages are popular tourist destinations, but the easternmost Riomaggiore is an unofficial headquarters for the region.
June in Cinque Terre is magical with sprawling open trails, mild weather, and clear views. It’s always busy here, but not nearly as tourist-choked as Amalfi and June is a good time for avoiding peak crowds. Summer has unofficially arrived and highs hover between the high 70s and low 80s. The sea is brisk and still cool at this time of year but perfect for hardy swimmers or cooling off on really scorching days.
Matera
Nestled near to Puglia but in the Basilicata region, Matera sits on a rocky outcrop, most famous for its ancient Sassi districts. Sassi di Matera was once considered “the shame of Italy”. You might not believe it now looking at the fascinating troglodyte settlements, but it was once poverty and disease-stricken and among the first-ever human dwellings in the country.
The Sassi was even evacuated in the 1950s due to the horrendous living conditions, but thanks to these events, the unique cavernous houses, carved into the mountainside, remain well preserved. Museums and heritage sites take the place of human dwellings, including the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario complete with a collection of period furniture and medieval tools, as well as St. Lucia Alla Malve, the 13th-century rock church.
Winter is rigid but June brings perfect sightseeing weather with daily highs between 77 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It rarely dips below 55 degrees and it only rains on around four days of the month with an average of 31 mm in total.
Is June a good time to go to Italy?
June is a great time to visit Italy, when the weather has started to heat up, flowers are in full blooms, the sea is just warm enough for a dip, and summer holiday crowds haven’t appeared in their boatloads. The shoulder season from April to the beginning of June can also be a slightly cheaper time to visit, compared to July and August when tourism is at its peak, and you can expect varying temperatures from 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit depending on where in the country you visit.
When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
Amalfi is always popular and even June sees the first hoards of tourists flock to the colorful shores of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Summer is especially crowded, expensive, and often unbearably hot with high temperatures reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast to dodge the crowds and high season prices would be between March and May when the weather is pleasant and hotels still operate discounts.
Is Rome safe?
Rome isn’t without its flaws and you can expect higher crime rates and security risks than in surrounding rural regions, as you should in any city. However, Italy’s capital is a relatively hassle-free place to visit and locals say they feel safe living in the city. Pickpockets operate in tourist hotspots and on public transport, and foreign visitors are especially vulnerable to money scams, but Rome demonstrates lower theft rates than Milan, Bologna, and Florence.