If you are planning a trip to Naples, it’s a good idea to take a look a the city’s weather so you know what kind of temperatures to expect and to pack wet-weather gear if there is a chance of rain.
Naples and its surrounding region of Campania have a typical Mediterranean climate, with very hot and dry summers and mild but wet winters with frequent precipitation.
To follow the weather forecast while visiting, check out any app or website for the latest updates hour by hour and day by day for the current weather based on weather stations in Naples and the whole peninsula entire surrounding bay.
Hot Neapolitan Summers
June, July, and August are the hottest months of the year in Naples. Middays have an average high of above 30° C for weeks on end and often peak at around 40° C or higher during the warmest hours of the day.
We do not recommend scheduling excursions for the hot midday hours during these months, so plan to visit open-air sights like the crater atop Mt. Vesuvius, the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the ruins of Paestum in the early morning or, if the sites are open, in the late afternoon when the heat has abated. Be sure to bring sunblock and a bottle of water with you wherever you go if you are visiting Naples during the sunny days of summer.
The summer heat is sometimes accompanied by haze and scattered clouds, which can put a damper on scenic excursions, hikes, and photo ops on the top of Mt, Vesuvius or scenic overlooks in the city like Castel Sant'Elmo that depend on clear skies. Be sure to keep current with the Naples weather forecast and check online webcams to get an idea of real-time visibility and what you can expect in the coming hours and days.
Mild Neapolitan Winters
As in much of southern Italy, winters in Naples are very mild. January and February are the coldest months, but even then, low temperatures rarely drop below 10° C, with the minimum temperature almost always above freezing.
You can dress in a T-shirt and shorts until late November; even in the middle of winter, there are often balmy days when you only need a light jacket, at least during the midday hours. Once you have landed in Naples Capodichino you can ditch your heavy winter coat, though the intense humidity and high average wind speed and wind direction from the north and northeast make it seem colder than the temperature suggests.
We recommend dressing in layers so you can adjust to changes in weather conditions and wind during the day both outdoors and inside. In autumn and winter, however, be sure to wear warm, waterproof shoes and bring a water-resistant jacket, which is more practical than an umbrella in case of light rain.
Here are the average temperatures of Naples during the year.
| Month | Temperature | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4,7° - 13,5° | 10 |
| February | 5° - 14° | 10 |
| March | 7,3° - 10,5° | 10 |
| April | 9,9° - 19,5° | 9 |
| May | 14° - 23,8° | 6 |
| June | 18,1° - 28° | 4 |
| July | 20,4° - 30,6° | 2 |
| August | 21° - 31,2° | 4 |
| September | 17,2° - 27° | 6 |
| October | 13,5° - 23,2° | 8 |
| November | 9,4° - 18,5° | 11 |
| December | 5,9° - 14,4° | 11 |
Rain: The Wet Months in Naples
The wettest months in Naples and the surrounding area are autumn and winter. Despite its reputation as a sunny, dry city, Naples gets a significant amount of rain in October and November, when weather patterns often cause rain for days on end. If you are visiting in the fall, keep in mind that the chance of precipitation is high.
In the spring, rain is less frequent and often comes in short but intense thundershowers that quickly clear up. It rarely rains in Naples in summer, though sudden and violent storms sometimes roll in during the afternoon. Due to climate change, the intensity of summer storms in Naples has increased over the past few years, with strong winds, violent showers, and weather warnings.
There is rarely snowfall in Naples, so when it does snow during the coldest months, it brings with it a magical, fairytale-like atmosphere (along with traffic disruptions and other inconveniences). The peak of Mt. Vesuvius, on the other hand, is often dusted with snow during the winter at altitudes above 1,000 meters. If you visit in winter, be sure to check out the snow-covered crater of the volcano!
Beach Time in Naples
One of the main attractions in Naples and the surrounding bay is its waterfront, with beaches crowded with tourists and locals in the summer months when the day weather is hot and sunny. The seaside is calmer in spring and autumn, with sparser crowds, less traffic, and easier parking.
You can take a dip in the sea even through the autumn months in Naples. After the long, hot Neapolitan summer, the sea temperatures usually remain warm enough to swim until October. In spring, the water is colder - hearty swimmers can take the first comfortable dip in May in Bella Napoli.