Discover the Most Affordable Times to Fly to Italy

Are you ready for a sultry seaside escape along the Amalfi Coast or a chic shopping trip in a luxurious Milan hotel? To save on flight costs, it’s essential to choose the right time of year for your visit. According to Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at Going.com, January and February consistently offer the most budget-friendly flight options to Italy. These months see the lowest tourist traffic in the U.S. and Western Europe, prompting airlines to lower prices to fill seats.

If you’re looking to combine pleasant weather with lower airfare, Keyes recommends considering a trip during the shoulder seasons, which span from March to April and October to November. This time frame is well-known for offering great deals on flights to Italy, apart from winter travel.

If you can wait until the end of the spring shoulder season, you’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures in the mid to high 60s throughout Italy, with early May seeing highs in the 70s. Similarly, early fall also offers mild weather, with October temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to low-70s.

Traveling during the shoulder season has its perks. In spring, the hills are lush and vibrant with blooming wildflowers and tulips. Almond trees start flowering in February, and Agrigento, Sicily hosts the Almond Blossom Festival at the end of February or early March, marking the start of spring in style.

Spring visitors to Italy should be mindful of Holy Week dates, which change each year, as affordable accommodations can be hard to find during this time. Many towns hold special Easter processions, and on La Pasquetta, or "Little Easter," Italians typically venture into the countryside to enjoy time with loved ones.

If wine tasting ranks high on your list of activities, visiting Italy in early fall offers a fantastic chance to explore Tuscany and other renowned wine regions at their peak. The grape harvest takes place from late August through October, so plan your trip to witness this fascinating season. Additionally, October and November see the olive harvest, and you can visit a farm that produces its own olive oil to experience its rich aroma and taste directly.

Often overlooked, Keyes notes that Thanksgiving is another excellent time for budget flights to Italy.

“I would argue that the undiscovered best week for affordable flights to Italy is Thanksgiving,” he explains. “While domestic airfare skyrockets during this time, fewer Americans travel internationally, and Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Italy. It can actually be cheaper to fly to Milan than to Minneapolis that week. Plus, by late November, the enchanting Christmas markets may already be bustling in various parts of Italy.”

And honestly, who wouldn’t want to carve a turkey in Milan? You can complement your feast with a local truffle; as noted by Eataly Magazine, white and burgundy truffles are in season from September to December, while winter black truffles peak from December to early March. Fortunately, there’s truly no bad time to visit Italy. Find the flight and timing that suits your budget, and start planning the Italian getaway of your dreams.