Six fabulous things to do in Italy during the off-season

From thermal baths to Christmas markets, Italy’s off-season offerings are sure to inspire newfound appreciation for the country

Italy’s summer season usually sees a peak in tourism for the country, but embrace the shoulder and winter seasons instead and you’ll be rewarded with authentic Italian experiences without the crowds. Here are some of the most unique activities that can be experienced during a getaway in off-season Italy.

Food festivals or sagra

A trip to Italy often involves an array of gastronomical delights but the autumn and winter months provide access to the country’s diversity of local produce and flavours. Sagra, or food festivals, typically take place from October.

One of those festivals, the Eurochocolate Festival of Perugia, is held for one week at the end of October. Chocoholics visiting Umbria’s capital during this time can expect the air to be filled with the scent of cocoa while seller stalls line the streets. Guests wandering Perugia’s streets may come across handmade truffles, liquors, sauces and spreads available for purchase.

In Emilia Romagna, several food festivals take place during the autumn. These include Bologna’s Mortadella Bo sagra, the sagra del marrone or chestnut festival, the Tartofla truffle sagra and the Tortellino sagra.

November is prime time for truffle lovers to visit San Miniato in Tuscany where its renowned truffle festival is held annually. Featured delicacies include olive oils, breads, cheeses and sausages, with the local truffle hailed as the prize treat.

Winter Hikes

A unique look into Italy’s countryside and coastline can be found along several hiking routes during the off-season. Hiking in Liguria is like a step back in time as five colourful fishing villages can be reached by foot on the cliffside trails between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia. The route offers views high above the villages with glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea while weaving through olive terraces, vineyards and citrus groves.

The famous Amalfi coast’s off-season vibe is more calm and serene than in the summer months. Ascending the steep pathway that rises from the village of Camogli and passes through San Rocco di Camogli, is a hiking path that offers panoramic views over Golfo Paradiso, or Paradise Gulf. The walk takes hikers through hamlets and woodlands along the exposed clifftops. Weather permitting, a dip into the sea at San Fruttuoso can provide a refreshing break before journeying onwards through hills and olive groves to Portofino.

Thermal baths

Italy’s thermal springs are at their best during the off-season. The escape from the cooler air gives opportunity for visitors to relax and rejuvenate. These steaming outdoor pools can be found throughout the country.

At Saturnia thermal baths in Tuscany guests can immerse themselves in the natural pools of the Mulino waterfalls. Views from the Sirmione thermal baths in Lombardy frame Lake Garda. For a more a luxury experience, Bormio thermal baths host spa treatments, a turkish bath and a finnish sauna while the Merano thermal baths of South Tyrol look out onto mountains that are often snowcapped.