Best time to visit Italy

Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia) in Italy

A long path of all across Italy must be quite a challenge to thru-hike. The good news is you can choose the most scenic parts from its 368 sections

Best time: March–November

Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia)
Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia)
Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia)

In Italian, it's called Sentiero Italia. The national trail of Italy literally crosses the whole country, starting from Trieste, through the entire Alpine Arc and Apennine mountain chain, to Sicily and Sardinia. The trail ends at Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. The entire length of the route is 3,831 mi (6,166 km). If you fancy seeing the trail and don't feel like walking thousands of miles, you should know that the Grand Italian Trail is divided into 368 sections or legs, and you are free to start wherever you want and walk as much as you prefer.

The trail was initiated back in 1983 by a group of ambitious hikers. It was established in 1995 through the so-called "Walk Italy" event supported by the Italian Alpine Club. That year became memorable owing to the first thru-hikers of the Great Italian Trail. They completed it in eight months, even though the calculated time for a thru-hike trip is considered to be 350 days. The period of eight months is just perfect considering the hiking season in Italy that begins in March and continues into November.

Northern parts of the trail might be covered in snow from October to May, so this part would be best during the summer months. Southern territories are hot in summer, so spring and autumn are the best times to hike there.

Practical info

What is the length of the Grand Italian Trail and what is its route?

The Grand Italian Trail, also known as Sentiero Italia, spans the entire area of Italy, covering a distance of 3,831 miles (6,166 km) from Trieste to Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. It runs all the way from the Alpine Arc and the Apennine mountain chain and also covers the regions of Sardinia and Sicily. It is divided into 368 parts or sections, which gives hikers the freedom to select how much or how little of the trail they want to cover. Show more

How long did the first few hikers take to finish the entire Grand Italian Trail?

The first few hikers to complete the entire Grand Italian Trail took about eight months, although the recommended duration is considered 350 days. This duration is perfect as the best time to hike Italy is from March to November. If you're trekking the northern parts, summer is the best time to hike as the regions are covered in snow from October to May, while the southern territories are hot during summer, making it best to travel in spring and autumn. Show more

Can you opt to choose a specific section to hike instead of completing the Grand Italian Trail?

The Grand Italian Trail is broken up into 368 sections allowing hikers to choose the specific sections they want to hike. They can choose where to start their journey and the number of sections they would like to cover. This flexibility means that trekkers of all levels of experience can enjoy the trail at a pace suited for their needs. Show more

During which period would hiking the northern regions of the trail be most ideal due to the accumulation of snow?

The northern regions of the Grand Italian Trail are prone to experiencing snow accumulation from the period of October through May. However, summer is the most suitable time to visit this region because of the weather conditions. Spring or autumn are the best times to trek through the southern territories of the trail since they get too hot during the summer months. Since the hiking period for the whole of Italy spans March to November, there's ample time to explore this region during the best time suited to you. Show more

When is the best time to opt for the southern regions of the Grand Italian Trail due to the hot summer climate?

The southern territories of the Grand Italian Trail get hot during the summer months, which means that spring and autumn are the ideal times to cover this section of the path. As Italy's trekking season lasts from March to November, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful region. Additionally, the established water sources help trekkers stay hydrated during the summer months. Show more

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin