Best time to visit Sicily
The best time to visit Sicily for a beach holiday is during summer from late-June through to early-September.
However, anytime from early-May to mid-October is good for a range of outdoor activities. April and May are good months for hiking, exploring the island and visiting cities, so avoiding the intense heat of summer.
Sicily weather
Sicily – the largest island in Italy and the Mediterranean – experiences a Mediterranean climate: coastal areas have hot, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters; while inland, the temperatures are more extreme, and cooler in the mountainous areas.
Messina, located in the north-eastern tip of Sicily, has a particularly warm and wet microclimate due to its position between the strait of the same name and the Peloritani Mountains. However, it rains rarely in summer.
Locations on the west coast (Marsala and Mazara del Vallo) and north coast (Cefalu and Milazzo), share a similar climate to that of Palermo.
Here are the average temperatures recorded in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, which is located on the northern coast.
What is the best month to visit Sicily?
June through September are the best months to visit Sicily – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Sicily.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and heat of summer, the months of May and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Sicily?
The hottest month in Sicily is usually August, with a maximum daytime temperatures of 30°C (86°F), with high heat and humidity and a low of 23°C (73°F)
However, on the warmest days in August (and July), the temperature usually reaches a high of 36°C (96°F).
The hot, summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 27°C (80°F).
Which is the coldest month in Sicily?
The coldest month in Sicily is usually February, with an average high temperature of 15°C (59°F) and an average night-time low of 9°C (48°F).
The cool, winter season lasts from late-November through March, with an average daily high temperature below 17°C (62°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Sicily?
The sunniest month in Sicily is usually July with sunshine on average for 66% of daylight hours; that's 11.5 hours of sunshine per day.
Typically, the months of May through September are the sunniest of the year.
What is the humidity in Sicily?
Sicily experiences significant seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 54% – 68% over the course of the year.
The more humid time of year lasts from mid-June through September, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 12% of the time.
The month with the most muggy days in Sicily is August, with around 14 days that are muggy.
We derive the humidity comfort level from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the air. A higher dew point feels muggy and uncomfortable.
November through April is generally comfortable, with no days in any month that are muggy.
When is the sea warmest in Sicily?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Sicily in August when the water temperature reaches 26°C (78°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The sea temperature is comfortable for swimming from July through to early-October.
Which month has the most rain in Sicily?
December is usually the wettest month in Sicily with 95mm (4in) on average. There are normally 12 days in December with some rain.
The rainy period of the year lasts from late-September to mid-April, with a greater than 18% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from mid-April through to mid-September. July has the least rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Sicily?
The windiest month of the year in Sicily is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 19 kilometres per hour (12 mph; 10 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from late-October to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 15 kilometres per hour (9 mph; 8 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from late-April to late-October. The calmest month of the year in Sicily is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Sicily.
Palermo sits in an area exposed to the cool mistral wind that blows from Sicily, as well as the sirocco wind that blows from Africa
Sicily Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 16 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 11 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 68 | 65 | 62 | 60 | 57 | 55 | 54 | 55 | 61 | 64 | 65 | 68 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 90 | 70 | 60 | 45 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 40 | 80 | 85 | 95 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 19 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Palermo, Sicily, Italy | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: Usually from June to early September. This is the most expensive and most crowded time to travel in Sicily. August is the busiest month when most Sicilians also take their holidays.
Shoulder season: April to May, early September to October and mid-December to 24 December.
Low season: Early November to mid-December and from 25 December to the end of March. Many hotels and restaurants take a month or more off between November and February.
Source: Meteorological data for Palermo, Sicily is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by Servizio Meteorologico – the Italian Meteorological Service – from the nearest weather station: Palermo Boccadifalco Airport, located about 8km (5mi) west of Palermo.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Sicily: 11 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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