This article is part of the Complete Guide to Photography in Tuscany
There is never a bad time to visit Tuscany, but the best months for photography follow a different pattern to the typical tourism season. The weather varies throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 10°C in winter to 30°C in summer, and most visitors arrive during the hottest months. However, the best time to go can depend on what you want to get out of your photography.
Spring is the most popular season for photography and best for the iconic scenes of mist flowing through peaceful valleys at sunrise. Autumn has similar conditions but a different atmosphere, with fewer wildflowers and more shades of yellow, red, and brown in the landscape. Winter can be stark but striking, with a chance of snow for a very different impression of the Tuscan landscape. Finally, summer can be beautiful, with long sunny days and early sunrises that make it easy to avoid other visitors in the early morning.
This article explores photography in Tuscany at different times of the year to help you decide how to time your visit.
Visiting Tuscany in Spring
Sunrise - Sunset Times
March 15th: 0626-1821
April 15th: 0631-1958
May 15th: 0550-2032
Most photographers visit Tuscany in spring, when there is mild weather, beautiful conditions and a good chance of mist in the valleys. The temperature is between 12°C and 20°C and varies a lot over the course of the day. You may need a jacket and hat for a sunrise shoot, then sunblock and cool clothes for the daytime, and the best approach to packing is plenty of thin layers.
The landscape is full of colour in spring as the fields are prepared for crops and wildflowers appear all over the countryside. You may capture some wildlife in the early mornings, such as wild boar, deer and other creatures roaming the fields. There are festivals in Tuscany, and spring is a good time to capture cosy street scenes in the historic villages with colourful decorations among the houses.
It’s relatively easy to find accommodation and available restaurants in spring, when Tuscany is busy enough to support a wide range of facilities but not yet at the peak of summer. However, this is the most popular time for photographers, and you are likely to encounter plenty of others at the famous photography locations around Val d’Orcia.
Some photography locations in Tuscany are very well known, and you may experience some moments of crowding during peak light, even if the wider region is more peaceful.
Visiting Tuscany in Summer
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June 15th: 0533-2056
July 15th: 0548-2052
August 15th: 0620-2017
Summer is peak tourist season in Tuscany, with hot weather and long sunny days. There is a lower chance of mist than in spring and autumn, and temperatures are fairly stable, with highs of 30°C and overnight lows of 14°C. You will need some layers in the summer, but plan mostly for warm weather.
The landscape appears in shades of green as the crops grow, with fewer wildflowers to add bursts of colour. However, you can sometimes find enormous fields of sunflowers that make a spectacular subject. There are summer events, from medieval festivals to themed music experiences, and the famous Palio horse race around the main piazza in Siena, with four days of related celebrations throughout the city in July and August.
Summer in Tuscany can be crowded, but most visitors gather in Florence, Siena, Pisa and other major Italian towns. There are more coach tours and visitors in rural areas, but it may not be noticeably busier than some days in spring or autumn (both great times to visit the countryside).
Photography in Tuscany is more challenging in the summer. Sunrise is very early, with a low chance of mist, and it can be difficult to plan a sunset shoot and an evening meal. Scenes of green patchworks of fields under a clear blue sky can be beautiful for photography, but you’ll find more variety and colour in spring or autumn.
Visiting Tuscany in Autumn
Sunrise - Sunset Times
September 15th: 0654-1924
October 15th: 0728-1831
November 15th: 0708-1645
Autumn is a second photography peak in Tuscany, with mild weather and beautiful conditions. Like spring, the mornings can be cold in autumn, and the temperature ranges from around 10°C-20°C overnight to 15°C-25°C during the day, so you’ll need layers to be out in the landscape at different times. Sunrise is not too early, and you can also plan a sunset shoot before heading out for an evening meal for an enjoyable structure to a day of photography.
The Tuscan landscape is beautiful in autumn colours, with golden and red tones appearing in the vineyards and forests. The fields add some variety as crops are harvested at different times, and the landscape slowly changes over the season. There are harvest and food festivals in autumn, and you can find events celebrating truffles, wine and other traditional local produce.
There are plenty of visitors in Tuscany, most exploring the wine culture during harvest season and historic cities in milder weather. You’ll also meet other photographers at the most popular locations in Tuscany, especially around sunrise when conditions are best.
However, these spots get busy because the conditions and landscape are so impressive, so it’s worth persevering with the crowds. Many recognisable images of Tuscany are made in spring, so autumn offers the opportunity to capture something a little different, and the colour palette of the landscape will give your images a distinctive atmosphere.
Visiting Tuscany in Winter
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December 15th: 0740-1639
January 15th: 0744-1703
February 15th: 0713-1744
Winter is the quiet season for tourism in Tuscany, with temperatures ranging from 1°C to highs of about 9°C. It is mild enough that you can easily travel around, but you’ll need warm layers to spend extended periods out in the landscape. We associate images of Tuscany with warm colours and bright skies, but the surrounding Apennine mountains have ski resorts and winter sports facilities. The plains are milder, but it snows even in the popular photography destination of Val d’Orcia, and the mountain villages can be a picture of winter cosiness in the cold.
The landscape can appear in dull shades of brown and green during winter, with the fields sometimes covered in a blanket of white. Tuscany can look a little barren after the autumn harvest season, but sunrise and sunset are at easy times of the day, and the sun remains lower in the sky for longer. Although the weather can be less reliable, the light can be beautiful, and it can be easier to make full use of the shorter days.
Winter is an unusual time to photograph Tuscany, but still an appealing time to visit. The atmosphere of your images will be more distinctive, and it will be easier to capture something new in the landscape. If you prefer less busy locations and prioritise unique images over optimum conditions, winter may be the best time for your photography.
Summary
While there are clear peak times for photography in Tuscany, there is something to photograph and a reason to visit at any time of year. If you want to capture the iconic scenes of mist flowing over the rolling hills dotted with villas, spring is the ideal season with the best conditions. Autumn is close behind, though the colour palette is different.
Fewer photographers visit Tuscany in summer and winter, though the landscape is still accessible and stunning in good light. For more unusual images of Tuscany, visiting outside the peak photography seasons can be rewarding, even if it will take more perseverance and effort to get a great photograph.
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