Weather in Puglia, Italy: a month-by-month guide
Don’t know when to visit Puglia? You may be thinking Summer is the only time to go to Puglia, but you’d be mistaken. The mild temperatures in winter time and the scarce rainfall make it an all-year destination. Each month brings with it opportunities to discover a different side of this beautiful Italian region.
Or have you already planned your trip but don’t know what to pack or what’s on when you’ll get here?
Either way, this post is where you’ll find an answer to your doubts!
What to wear in Puglia
Before we delve into weather forecasts, one of the reasons why you might know more about the climate is for the very practical reason of sorting out your suitcase or to know if you have to hit the shops before you leave. That’s why we thought we’d share a couple of guidelines for the 4 seasons in Puglia first.
In wintertime (December through March), dressing in layers will keep you comfortable in the face of variable temperatures. Depending on where you come from, you may find winters in Puglia to be mild and pleasant, especially on a sunny day. For this reason, we recommend bringing a warm, waterproof jacket with a hood and sweaters, as well as long-sleeved t-shirts to wear under the sweater, cardigans or full zip sweaters if it gets warm around lunchtime and you don’t want to stay all bundled-up.
In April, May, October and November we recommend bringing a light, waterproof jacket with a hood and cotton sweaters, as well as short-sleeved t-shirts to wear under sweaters, cardigans or full zip sweaters. May and October are the trickiest months as they’re both transitional months, sometimes you may be able to go to the beach, other times it’s too chilly. Bring your swimsuit just in case you get lucky with hot, sunny days.
From June till the end of September, pack summer clothing, with a sweater or jacket in the evenings. Bring plenty of short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts, summer dresses and garments made of breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen. Don’t forget your swimsuit and sunscreen!
Sandals are fine, but it would be wise to also have a pair of sturdier shoes (i.e. canvas sneakers) and at least one pair you’re comfortable walking in. Leave your flip-flops for the beach, they’re a bit of nightmare to wear throughout the day when walking around on the cobbled streets of Puglia. One the best aspects of a road trip is that your suitcase travels with you so that a wardrobe change is never too difficult. You can swap your shoes depending on time of the day or the activity – easy!
Whatever the season, always keep in mind that legs, shoulders and upper arms need to be covered when visiting places of worship or you may be denied entry. Also, a lightweight scarf and sunglasses can come in handy.
Outside of the summer months, comfortable, waterproof shoes are a must, so we recommend boarding the plane wearing them and pack any other shoe in your luggage.
Now onto our month-by-month guide!
Click on a month from the list below to jump to that section or keep scrolling.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Weather in Puglia: January
Avg. High Temp: 12 °C (53.6 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 3 °C (37.4 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 10
What to pack
- Warm, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and long-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
If you’re looking to swim in the turquoise waters of Puglia, January isn’t the best time to visit. If, however, you want to discover another side of this region, explore its sights and learn about its traditions then January is a great choice.
You can start the new year in Puglia, with fireworks and celebrations that take place all over Puglia and let us assure you that the people of Puglia know how to have a good time! You can dance the night away, enjoy a traditional meal or countdown to midnight on the beach, whatever you choose, it’s going to be memorable.
Not many people know that the holidays in Italy don’t end on New Year’s Day but continue until January 6th, the Epiphany according to the Catholic church, when the arrival of the Three Kings to Jesus is honored. As always, there’s also a non-religious tradition to boot and in Italy that’s the tradition of the Befana, an old and ugly lady who flies on a broom and delivers stockings filled with candy overnight. Reminds you of someone? Before Santa Claus, which was introduced after WWII, Italian children would wait for the Befana to bring them tangerines and dried fruit if they had been nice or a lump of coal if they’d been naughty.
For this reason, there always are several events around this date, usually handicraft markets and shows, which can be enjoyed by grown-ups as well.
It is also worth mentioning that Christmas events usually extend until January 6th too, thus making it possible to visit the nativities Puglia is famous for. The one in Tricase, huge and with over 36 scenes or the one in the quaint town of Specchia. Even the UNESCO World Heritage Site Alberobello puts up a unique nativity. Other towns include Pezze di Greco and Castro.
Weather in Puglia: February
Avg. High Temp: 13 °C (55.4 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 2 °C (35.6 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 9
What to pack
- Warm, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and long-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
Besides Valentine’s Day, when you can stretch your budget by saving on meals and more, it’s the Carnevale tradition that steals the spotlight. Outlandish floats parading down the streets, costumes and delicious sweets like chiacchiere, it’s a great time to explore Puglia. The most famous celebrations take place in the towns of Putignano, Molfetta, Massafra, Manfredonia and Casamassima.
Weather in Puglia: March
Avg. High Temp: 15 °C (59 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 3 °C (37.4 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 9
What to pack
- Warm, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and long-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
In and around the town of Foggia, Saint Joseph’s Day is celebrated with bonfires, burning tall pyres of wood, each town trying to outdo the next one over. Twenty, thirty, forty years ago, youths would collect wood from households as early as two to three months before March 19th, going around town with little carts. When the day of the Lu fauone d’San Gisepp would come, the townspeople gathered around the fire, a tradition still carried out today. Along with the bonfire, there often are open-air meals in the town square, handicraft markets and live music.
Weather in Puglia: April
Avg. High Temp: 18.5 °C (65.3 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 5 °C (41 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 11
What to pack
- Light, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and short-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
Apart from some exceptions, Catholic Easter almost always falls in April, offering plenty of opportunities to witness century-old traditions in some of the most picturesque hamlets in Puglia.
Two are the recurring elements: penitents leading the procession, like in Troia (Foggia), Francavilla Fontana (Brindisi), Gallipoli, Molfetta and Taranto and torches and bonfires to light the way, like in San Marco in Lamis (Foggia) and Noicattaro (Bari).
On Easter Monday, do as the Italians do and go for a picnic in the countryside or to the beach should the weather be warm and sunny.
Weather in Puglia: May
Avg. High Temp: 24 °C (75.2 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 10 °C (50 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 7
What to pack
- Short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts
- One warmer outfit at least, just in case (long trousers and sweater)
- Sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes for walking
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
- Swimsuit, sarong and flip-flops for the beach, just in case
What’s on
The first swim and the first gelato of the season are usually on the cards in May but so are the many events taking place this month, such as the Palio di Taranto, usually around May 8th. A boat race for the patron saint Cataldo taking place in the beautiful town of Taranto. The 10 town districts compete against each other, rowing for first place. Near Foggia, in Lesina, the celebrations for the patron saint Primiano, take instead the form of a procession ending with stunning fireworks. In Erchie, along the procession celebrating the saint Lucia (first weekend in May), there are handicraft markets, open-air concerts and other entertainment.
Weather in Puglia: June
Avg. High Temp: 29 °C (84.2 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 15 °C (59 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 5
What to pack
- Summer dresses, short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts
- Swimsuit, sunhat and sarong
- Sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes for walking. Flip-flops for the beach only.
- One sweater or jacket if it gets chilly at night
What’s on
School’s out (in Italy at least), the days are sunny and long, always ending with an aperitivo with a view. Shops are open till late so you can enjoy beach all day long and explore the sights when the sun sets. June also sees the streets of Torremaggiore, near Foggia, go back in time, with a historical reenactment that retraces medieval events.
The Summer solstice or the night of Saint Joseph, as it is better known in Italy, takes a magical turn in Bitetto, a quaint hamlet near Bari. Here, fortune tellers, acrobats, dancers and buskers entertain locals and visitors alike, until late at night. Informal, al-fresco dining is available throughout the hamlet, with the Sangiuannidd spaghetti as the main dish.
In Polignano Mare, the celebrations for the patron saint San Vito Martire (15th June) start at sea, when the effigies sails around the harbor, aboard a fisherman’s boat. A procession follows, while stunning light decorations can be admired all over town. Fireworks, live entertainment and handicraft markets complete the event. Galatina, near Lecce, also hosts similar celebrations on the last weekend of June to honor the saints Pietro and Paolo.
Weather in Puglia: July
Avg. High Temp: 32 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 16 °C (60.8 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 4
What to pack
- Summer dresses, short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts
- Swimsuit, sunhat and sarong
- Sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes for walking. Flip-flops for the beach only.
- One sweater or jacket if it gets chilly at night
What’s on
Get to work on that tan! And when the night comes, take your pick, there are countless events taking place in July, many of which offer the unique opportunity to admire luminarie, traditional light decorations that are put up temporarily to celebrate a patron saint.
For example, the small town of Scorrano with its ‘Festa di Santa Domenica’ promises astounding luminarie, as do the towns of Tuglie for the ‘Festa Madonna del Carmine’ and that of San Vito dei Normanni during the ‘Festa Patronale San Vito Martire e San Vincenzo Ferreri’. Otherwise you can refresh your history knowledge during the Palio dei Capatosta, near Bari, a boat race with historical reenactments or at the Santa Margherita celebrations in Latiano, with an Ancient-Rome parade.
Weather in Puglia: August
Avg. High Temp: 32 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 16 °C (60.8 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 4
What to pack
- Summer dresses, short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts
- Swimsuit, sunhat and sarong
- Sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes for walking. Flip-flops for the beach only.
- One sweater or jacket if it gets chilly at night
What’s on
Most Italians will be on holiday in August, so you’ll find many more people around than in other months, take this into account when planning your itinerary. On the bright side, traveling to Puglia in August means finding here a plethora of events almost wherever you go! From the smallest local festival to the huge ‘Notte della Taranta’ in Melpignano, a televised concert, there’s always something to do.
Like the ‘Dama del Mare’ festival in Castro, that takes you back in time to the Renaissance, precisely in 1537, the year in which the Turkish fleet landed on the coast of Salento invading the town of Castro and plundering it. The historical reenactment of the invasion takes place through a game of checkers, on a giant chessboard, and the pawns are represented by women dressed in historical costumes, as well as armigers equipped with the weapons of the time, along with colorful flag-wavers.
The town of Acaya too puts up a beautiful historical reenactment, with a parade of Renaissance knights, noblewomen, jugglers entertainers and flag bearers and so does the town of Oria, with about 1000 inhabitants in historical costumes that will accompany the “Emperor Frederick II” along the streets of Oria, ending with a medieval joust.
The picturesque town of Alberobello, famous for its trulli is home to a unique theatre play, taking place in the surrounding woods and olive groves, with actors reenacting scenes from the Italian 19th-century war of independence, at the end of which there’ll be wine tastings and a food market.
Weather in Puglia: September
Avg. High Temp: 28 °C (82.4 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 13 °C (55.4 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 9
What to pack
- Short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts
- Swimsuit, sarong and flip-flops for the beach
- One warmer outfit at least, just in case (long trousers and sweater)
- Sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes for walking
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
If you think that Summer is done and dusted, then you’d be wrong! September is still warm and sunny enough to enjoy the beach, yet the heat is usually more manageable than in August. After the 15th you’ll see less and less people around because the Italian school year will have resumed by then, so it’ll be easier to nab a prime spot on the beach. September is also when Puglia’s largest fair takes place, the ‘Fiera del Levante’, with a calendar full of events that take over the town of Bari.
Nearby, in Gravina di Puglia, there’s also a large historical reenactment (Raduno dei Cortei Storici Nundinae) uniting people from all across Southern Italy. The town of Capurso joins in as well, with celebrations honoring the Madonna del Pozzo, with flag-throwers and luminarie (light decorations). Stornarella, near Foggia, instead bids goodbye to Summer with a stunning firework show.
Weather in Puglia: October
Avg. High Temp: 22 °C (71.6 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 10 °C (50 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 9
What to pack
- Light, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and short-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
- Swimsuit, sarong and flip-flops for the beach, just in case
What’s on
October in Puglia is a blissful time. It’s not too hot nor too cold, not many tourists are around and you may still be able to take a swim in the first week or so, but at this time of the year there’s still plenty to do aside from the beach. The grape and olive harvest is underway, for instance, and you can take part in it at some vineyards or farms, truly a one-of-a-kind experience!
If you’re a keen, amateur photographer, you can go on a photo tour and be able to take pictures without the summer crowds. And if you like opera, the theater season resumes after the Summer break offering the perfect opportunity to catch a play.
Weather in Puglia: November
Avg. High Temp: 18 °C (64.4 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 6 °C (42.8 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 12
What to pack
- Warm, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and long-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
Imagine cozying up by the fire, wine in hand, after a day of sightseeing. Or driving to a different sagra every day sampling local delicacies like chestnuts, mushrooms and Novello wine (young wine) from the harvest earlier in the fall. You can also join the locals in Orsara for bonfire night on All Saints’ day, a tiny festival called ‘Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje’, where tall pyres are lit up at night, while during the day guided tours will let you discover this small town. Bonfires – and fireworks! – also make an appearance at another local festival, ‘Festa dell’uragano’ in Martignano.
Weather in Puglia: December
Avg. High Temp: 14 °C (57.2 °F)
Avg. Low Temp: 4 °C (39.2 °F)
Avg. Rainy Days: 13
What to pack
- Warm, waterproof jacket with hood
- Long trousers, sweaters and long-sleeved t-shirts to dress in layers
- Comfortable, waterproof shoes
- Scarf and sunglasses if it gets windy
What’s on
Did you know that wintertime is one the best times for fresh produce in Puglia? Because of the currents and mating seasons, fish is freshest in winter and you get to sample all the preserves made from the summer season. One of the best occasions to do just that is ‘Festa Du Caudiell’, in the town of Biccari, near Foggia, where bruschettas are toasted by a bonfire and dressed with olive oil from the same year’s harvest. December is also when the saint Lucia is celebrated and in Corato, near Bari, this means hot-air balloons, bonfires and torchlit streets and squares. While in Lecce the local, ancient tradition of papier-mâché puppetry takes center-stage (pun intended!) with the ‘Fiera dei Pupi’.
Puglia is also famous for its nativities. The one in Tricase, huge and with over 36 scenes or the one in the quaint town of Specchia. Even the UNESCO World Heritage Site Alberobello puts up a unique nativity. Other towns include Pezze di Greco and Castro.