You may be wondering if visiting Tuscany in October would make sense. You will see some of the region’s best fall colors during the month. This is a wonderful time to visit because the temperatures hover from 52 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Tyrrhenian Sea stays relatively warm until mid-October.
Tuscany during October sees fewer crowds, and it has become a favorite time to travel for many reasons. The pleasant weather and sunny days—and the grape harvest—all give you reason to visit during the month of October. There are more rainy days and you may want to wear a light jacket at times during this month, but it’s one of the best months to visit.
If you’d like to discover everything you need to know about the weather and all the fun things that you can do during this season and where (hint: It includes art, beaches, and hot springs), please keep reading.
The Weather in Tuscany in October
Temperatures during this season will see the average day as sitting from 52 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. On average, Tuscany sees about 9 rainy days or 3 to 4 inches of rainfall during the month of October. How much rain it sees will vary from one year to the next. The weather makes it perfect for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You can also just fully appreciate the fall colors during this season.
10 Things to Do in Tuscany and Where to Go in October
1. Explore the Val d’Orcia
Made into an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Val d’Orcia is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. While here, you will at least want to visit Pienza, Monticchiello, and San Quirico d’Orcia. You would visit Pienza because of its spectacular views of Val d’Orcia with the trees all turning many colors. This is the season when the hills turn brown and the woods will paint themselves with reddish hues. Monticchiello offers a medieval town that can be pleasant to stroll through with October’s good weather. San Quirico d’Orcia sits in the heart of Val d’Orcia and is another delightful medieval town that will leave you experiencing the romance and tradition of Tuscany.
2. Enjoy Beaches and the Warm Saltwater
During your time in Tuscany in October, check out Castiglione della Pescaia. Its main attraction would be its white sandy beaches, which won the Blue Flag Award for cleanliness. The weather normally suits the beaches well during this season at least in the early part of the month. If you want Italian beaches into November, check out Sicily where they go to the beach up until the end of November. As for Tuscany, you could also visit Porto Ercole or Castigioncello for beaches. Talamone has a reputation for kitesurfing and windsurfing beaches. On the northern side of Talamone, you can go diving in the rocky bottoms.
3. Discover the Wild Maremma
The Maremma has it all from long beaches and blue seas to black rock and a wilderness covered in trees. You can also see marshes, green hills and natural thermal baths in this region of Tuscany. The sunsets here are always good, but October and November hold something special for sunsets in this region. Grosseto would be one of the medieval towns worth visiting here with its beautifully preserved walls and the Piazza del Duomo. Capalbio and Massa Marittima are the two other places worth visiting in Maremma.
4. Relax at the Hot Springs
Not only do the hot springs look visually stunning, but they have therapeutic benefits for the body and mind. Saturnia would be the most famous. Resting in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, this place draws visitors all year round with its sulfurous smells. It’s good for October because the weather is better for it. You don’t want to go to the hot springs in the summer season. Another hot spring includes Bagni San Filippo, which has a couple of privately owned spas and hotels in the area. For October in Tuscany, you could also visit Casciano dei Bagni, which is rich with vineyards and olive groves. This is a great place to go to witness the grape harvest as well.
5. Explore the Tufa Towns of Pitigliano, Sovana, and Sorano
The Tufa towns consist of Pitigliano, Sovana, and Sorano. In the 6th century BC, the Etruscans built these towns into the soft Tufa bedrock and steep hills that nature formed from volcanic ash. These imposing but beautiful towns sit in southern Tuscany. These towns are perfect for this season because you can wander in near-perfect weather in medieval streets that will leave you in awe.
6. It’s the Ideal Time for Hiking
October ranks as one of the prettiest months to visit Tuscany, and as such, hiking would make for the perfect activity. Hiking in Tuscany during October is better than in September because it isn’t as warm. Overall, you don’t need to worry about the weather. It has little wind, little rain and not too much hot or cold during this month.
7. The Art Towns of Siena and Florence
Tuscany has some major art towns like Siena and Florence. Siena is a must-see for art, and Florence held some of the Renaissance’s best artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, and Raphael.
8. Visit the Abbey of San Galgano
An old Cistercian Monastery founded in the beautiful Val di Merse, San Galgano is a famous but abandoned monastery built in 1324. Even as ruins, it has a gothic splendor that won’t fail to impress. Especially if you’d like to better understand the art and history of Siena, you need to visit this place since it plays an important role. Tuscany in October gives you a more agreeable time to visit.
Read more: Cathedrals in Italy – Exploring Italy’s Historic Treasures
9. Taste the Tuscan Wines
Tuscany is most famous for its red wines with its most famous areas including Montepulciano, Bolgheri, and Chianti. You can check out several great wineries in the region, but one of the most famous Tuscan experiences is to go out into the countryside and taste some wines. Especially during the grape harvest, it’s one of the best times to experience this part of Italy.
10. Festivals and Seasonal Events
The truffle season in October has become so popular that they have an event here toward the end of the month called the National White Truffle Fair in San Miniato. It runs in the last two weeks of October. The best time to go truffle hunting here, which has become a cultural experience is from September through to December. The chestnut harvest also happens in October, and you have a couple of different chestnut festivals in the mountainous regions of Tuscany. Check out Mount Amiata, northern Mugello, or the hamlet of Caprese Michelangelo.
Marradi also holds a chestnut festival every Sunday in October where you can eat roasted chestnuts and cakes, jams, and marron glaces. You can also ride the old steam engines here that connect Moradi to Florence. The olive harvest here also starts toward the end of October. This is a great time to see it because the temperatures are more pleasant than in November or December.
Where to Stay and the Best Accommodations
Tuscany offers plenty of beautiful places to stay from areas on the sea to vineyard hotels. Check out some of the ones highlighted below for staying in Tuscany in October:
Hotel Castello Monticello
Located in Giglio Porto and giving you panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, this hotel was built in 1902. It has a delicious Mediterranean restaurant and elegant rooms to sleep in. The restaurant serves local specialties, and you can taste some of the Tuscan wines.
La Torre della Piramide
Located in Pitigliano, this is one of those hotels that includes a terrace. The property sits about 18 miles from Cascate del Mulino Thermal Springs, and it sits 23 miles from Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve. Couples in particular have taken a liking to this location.
Az Agr. Il Cavalleggero
Resting in Campiglia d’Orcia, this hotel has free wifi and private parking. Vegan and vegetarians will especially like this accommodation because they include an Italian vegetarian or vegan breakfast. You can also rent bikes to check out the surrounding areas. You also have options with a garden view.
What to Wear in Tuscany in October
During the October season, Tuscany is quite mild in weather with some of the most pleasant weather second only to the spring season. For the daytime, you might wear jeans, skinny jeans, or leggings. It can still get hot in Tuscany during this time especially during the earlier part of the month, so you may want to bring some lighter clothing.
At the same time, you may want to bring along thick wool trousers and flannel shirts because it can start to get cold during this time. A light jacket can help you to have a good time especially in the evening. You will also want autumn boots because it can get rainy.
Remember this rule: You can always dress down, but you can’t dress up if you don’t bring it. Tuscany in October has reasonably agreeable weather, but you want to come prepared for unpredictable shifts in weather.
Read more: What To Wear In Florence Italy – A Traveler’s Guide
What to Pack for Tuscany in October
Besides clothes, you also have a few essential items that you may want to include like:
- Reusable water bottles
- Sunglasses
- Small umbrella
- Hat
- Bag
- Travel wallets
These are things that can help to make your time more pleasant while giving you more options as you travel the country.
Why Visit Tuscany in October?
October brings with it a slower pace of life, and the cooler temperatures make it easier to wander aimlessly in the medieval streets and cobblestone alleys of Tuscany’s best small towns. This region is full of surprises like churches full of art and museums that give you unique insights into Italian culture. This ranks as one of the best times to visit Tuscany because the landscapes during this season start to look colorful, and you can see some of the fall’s best colors in October.
Anyone who ever went to Italy knows how food lies at the heart of Italian culture—it’s serious business. During the month of October, things like chestnuts, truffles, and mushrooms all see celebration with local specialties. You will see sauces with hare and wild boar on the dinner table.
October in Tuscany is part of the grape harvest, and you will see new wine fermenting in barrels. The smell of fermenting wine permeates the villages, and you will see the streets stained purple. This all happens right before the olive harvest in November. Throughout the world, you can even find grape harvest festivals.
Local Insider Tips
Best Places for Photography
Tuscany has some of the most incredible views with its rolling hills and picturesque panoramas. Not only are the landscapes good, but the medieval villages can give you some incredible photos. The most photographed area in Tuscany is on the road that leads to the La Foce Gardens in southern Val d’Orcia. It has zigzagging slopes with cypress trees that make for dramatic photos. As for the cities for photography, Pienza is thought of as one of the best for it, but almost anywhere in Tuscany will do well.
Day Trip Suggestions
Tuscany is known as a region that has it all from medieval towns to beaches. You have some great day trips from Siena. The one that I would recommend is Pienza and the Val d’Orcia day trip. Pienza is a town most well known for its cheese, and Val d’Orcia is one of the perfect choices for nature lovers. You can also check out day trips from Florence. The one that I would recommend is a day trip out into the countryside of Chianti. The area is famous for its wine tasting, and especially for Tuscany in October, you get to witness the grape harvest. It also has some of the most beautiful landscapes in Tuscany.
