Does It Snow in Italy? Where & How Much

Winter in Italy

Winter in Italy and snowfall patterns will depend on where exactly in the country you are and the altitude you're at. In general, the mountains in Northern Italy receive significant snowfall all winter, whereas only the highest peaks in Central and Southern Italy will see snow.

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When Is Winter in Italy?

The winter season here coincides with that of North America, starting in December and ending at the end of February. Snow in Italy is most common during the winter months but from my experience, if up in the Dolomites, you might experience snowfall as early as September and as late as June.

Most ski resorts in the Dolomites are open from December through March but can open as early as November and close as late as April depending on the year.

I've even faced hail on a hike in the mountains in August and trails inaccessible from snow in June but unless you're in the Dolomites or Italian Alps, that's not often the case.

Deciding when is the best time to visit the Dolomites is a tough one since the weather and landscape changes drastically all year.

The entire county faces winter, although to varying degrees. Outside of Northern Italy, it rarely snows in any city but can snow as far south as Sicily, although only on the highest peaks. In general, winter in Southern Italy is mild but can be humid, making it feel colder than it actually is.

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Packing for Winter

If you're visiting Italy in the winter, you'll want to pack real winter clothing. Even places like Naples will warrant a good jacket at night, although snow boots won't be necessary that far south, unless you head into the mountains.

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Christmas Holidays

Christmas is a great time to visit Italy since most cities have a Christmas market. Although it's a festive season, don't expect the markets to be quite as big and lavish as those you've heard about in Germany, France, and Austria.

Although there are Christmas markets all around Italy, you likely won't get the snow globe effect you can find in other countries since most towns are built in the valleys with warmer temperatures. That being said though, the towns in Northern Italy are typically built surrounded by their giant neighbors so while you might now have snow on the ground, you'll be surrounded by white mountains.

Unless you book your trip up into the mountains, you likely won't have a white Christmas in Italy.

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Where Can You See Snow in Italy?

Believe it or not, you can see snow in Italy throughout the country but the elevation matters.

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Northern Italy

If you'll be in Northern Italy during the winter, you likely won't have to travel far to get fresh snow but you will likely need to go up. The entire northern part of Italy is covered in impressive mountains - from the Dolomites in the northeast to the Italian Alps in the northwest.

Honestly, anywhere in these mountains should have plenty of snowfall during the winter season. The snow on the ground in towns and cities will come and go but the mighty mountain peaks tend to stay well covered.

As I mentioned, I live in Trieste and haven't yet seen snow in the city, but I can clearly see the mountains covered each winter on the horizon. In just under a two-hour drive I can be knee-deep in snow, sometimes less.

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Central Italy

When most people think of Central Italy, they think of major tourist destinations like Florence, Bologna, and Rome. Other than maybe a few flurries or a year with stranger than usual weather patterns, you likely won't see snow in these parts of Italy.

What many don't realize though is that the province of Abruzzo, just east of Rome, is covered in an impressive mountain range that does indeed get snow. I'll cover exactly where to go in the next section, but enough snow falls in this region that there are a number of ski resorts you can enjoy in the winter.

Although you can of course expect lower temperatures on your winter trip, you can also expect less crowds, making it a pretty great time to enjoy these popular cities.

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Southern Italy

Snowfall in Southern Italy isn't common and isn't something you should expect to see. This area enjoys mild winters and since they don't have the mountain ranges the rest of Italy has, rarely if ever sees snow.

That is, except for Mount Etna Volcano in Sicily and the surrounding Madonie Mountains. Sometimes it snows enough that you can even go skiing in Sicily! Just don't expect a thick fresh blanket of snow like you'll see in the northern mountains. Still, since the idea of it is pretty contradictory to what most people think of when they think of Sicily, it would be fun to try.

In general though, the temperatures in Southern Italy are pleasant during the winter. It won't be warm enough to swim but on a sunny day, you might not need a jacket. Just know that the houses in this region tend to be old and without great insulation so indoors can actually feel colder than outside.

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Skiing in Italy

Although neighboring Switzerland and Austria are world-wide famous for their ski slopes and winter sports, Italy offers exactly what they do.

All winter season you'll find a number of ski resorts all around the country but with the highest amount and the best ones found in Northern Italy. Snow capped mountains, cozy refugi, filling mountain food, and incredible views are just a peak at what you can expect by taking advantage of the snow in Italy.

As snowboarders, we spent all last winter trying out different ski resorts in the Dolomites to find our favorites. Know that we're not quite ready for off piste adventures nor do we enjoy the thrill of steep black runs. We're more into scenic runs that offer some variety so we're not doing the same run over and over again on a weekend trip.

Even if you don't ski or snowboard yourself, it's worth taking the gondola up to some of the peaks to enjoy a meal and the views - especially my 2nd recommendation on the list!

Our favorite Italian ski resorts are:

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Ravascletto/Zoncolan

This resort isn't actually part of the Dolomites but is in Friuli Venezia Giulia, the same province as Trieste. It's the closest major resort from our house so one we've been to plenty of times. Compared to other ski resorts in the area, it’s relatively small but I think it’s big enough and diverse enough for the average rider.

Since it's not part of the Dolomites, lift tickets are cheaper and it tends to not get as crowded, especially during the weekdays.

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Tarvisio/Lussari

As a snowboarder, the runs here aren't my favorite but as a traveler, it's easily one of the most scenic places to visit in Italy. The reason I don't love the runs is because you have to cut through the cute town at the top of the lift to get around and it's hard to do without constantly taking off your board. 

I still recommend visiting for the day, even if you don't hit the slopes. Just like Monte Zoncolan, this is also part of Friuli Venezia Giulia, near the border with both Slovenia and Austria.

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Cortina d'Ampezzo

This is one of the most famous ski resorts in Italy and, from experience, is really nice. Cortina is part of the Dolomites and is within the Dolomiti Superski area. What makes this cool is because once you get into this area, most of the resorts are interconnected so you really could never run out of slopes to try. 

Cortina is a lot more high-end than other resorts. The town is super cute but personally, not our favorite.

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Cinque Torri/Super8

Cinque Torri is accessible by a 20-minute gondola ride on the Cortina Skyline. The ride is easy and scenic and takes you to the fantastic Cinque Torri (5 Towers) and Super8 track. Personally, this is my favorite resort but for you to agree, you'd have to also enjoy pretty scenic trails and not much steep action. 

If you visit Cinque Torri, you can just do a few regular runs or you can do the Super 8 track that takes you around the mountain. I highly recommend the track for the views.

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Sellaronda

The Sellaronda is a famous ski circuit in the Dolomites. It takes you around the mountains in a circle, passing you through some of the best landscapes and slopes the Dolomites has to offer. You can complete the circuit in two directions: clockwise and counterclockwise. It takes most people about 6 hours to complete. 

Full disclosure, I haven't yet taken on the Sellaronda. For this, you can base yourself at any of the towns on the route, or nearby San Cassiano.

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Enjoy the Snow in Italy

Unless you're trying to escape the snow by planning your winter getaway to the southern regions of Italy, you're in for a treat. The snow in Italy is really fantastic and makes for not only a scenic backdrop but also for a lot of fun on the slopes.

So the next time someone asks you, "Does it snow in Italy?" You'll be ready to give them a quick yes, but...reply.