What is it like to visit Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in October?
To cut right to the chase, October is a beautiful time to visit the Sorrento and Amalfi Coast.
Sorrento and Amalfi Coast in mid to late-October are beautiful.
With warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies throughout our visit, the weather was perfect. This time of year, crowds are quieting down, making it easier to travel along the Sorrento Amalfi Coast, get reservations at restaurants, and book boat tours and excursions.
Let’s go deeper into what to expect on a visit to the Amalfi Coast in October.
WEATHER ON THE AMALFI COAST IN OCTOBER
Usually, it was slightly warmer than average for October. Almost every day, the average high was 26°C (80°F) and the average low was 15°C (60°F). A few days are some clouds, but other than that, are clear, sunny skies the entire 10 days.
That’s totally different than what we read about what to expect along the Sorrento Amalfi Coast in October.
So, we started asking some questions.
The weather pattern is shifting. Now, the weather in October is what you would once expect in September: warm weather and maybe a rainy day here and there, just like we experienced.
And the typical October weather has shifted into November. In November, the weather does get cooler, and rain chances go up, but there are still more sunny days than rainy days. It’s getting a bit too chilly to go swimming, but the weather is still very nice for sightseeing.
The average high in October is 24°C (75°F) and the average low is 15°C (60°F), just slightly cooler than what we experienced. Expect a few rainy days during the month, but sunny skies are more prevalent than cloudy, drizzly days.
Of course, there could be a weather disturbance that produces a series of rainy days, but that can happen anywhere in Italy, from September through December.
We use Meteo.it to track the weather when we visit Italy. The forecasts are very accurate and better than other sources such as Weather.com or Accuweather, from our experience. You can also download the Meteo.it app, add in the cities you will be visiting on your trip to Italy, and easily get the upcoming forecast.
SUNRISE AND SUNSET TIMES
In early October, the sun rises at 7 am and the sun sets at 6:45 pm. By late October, sunrise is at 7:30 am and sunset is at 6:00 pm.
On the last Sunday of October, daylight savings time in Europe ends, so clocks fall back one hour. In 2023, this falls on October 29. On October 28, sunset is at 6:00 pm. On October 29, due to the time change, sunset is at 5:00 pm.
WHAT WILL BE OPEN IN OCTOBER?
October is the transitional period from the busy summer season to the off season. Even though the weather is still warm, beach clubs close for the season around mid-October. Some shops will also close, sometime between mid-October and early November. However, there will still be plenty of restaurants and hotels open if you plan to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast in late October or into November.
The ferries run through October, generally ending for the season at the end of October or into early November. They won’t get going again until sometime next spring, usually in April.
To get around the Sorrento Amalfi Coast in November, you can still use the public buses, hire a private driver, or rent a car and drive the Sorrento Amalfi Coast.
THE ADVANTAGES OF VISITING THE SORRENTO AMALFI COAST IN OCTOBER
In October, crowds are a lot lower in Sorrento and on the Amalfi Coast. Even so, it still felt rather busy to us, especially on the weekends, so it is not going to feel deserted.
Driving the Sorrento Amalfi Coast was not an issue (during October, the legendary traffic jams rarely occur) but we still had a hard time parking in some towns. If you want to drive the Sorrento Amalfi Coast, a good time to do this is from the end of October into November, when the weather is still nice, and traffic is low.
Since there are less tourists, it is easier to get reservations at the top restaurants, but some of the very good places, like La Sponda in Positano and Il Buco in Sorrento, still need to be made weeks in advance.
If you want to book a boat tour or day trip to Pompeii or Capri, it is also easier to do this in October, than the busier months of June through September.
You’ll also spend less time waiting in line for a bus or a ferry and you won’t have to deal with long traffic jams on Amalfi Drive (whether you are driving a rental car or sitting on a bus or in a private car).
Finally, the weather is still warm, but you most likely won’t have to deal with the hot summer temperatures, which makes sightseeing more pleasant.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF VISITING THE AMALFI COAST IN OCTOBER
There aren’t many.
The water is cooler, so for some people, October isn’t a great time to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast if you plan to go swimming.
If you want to visit the beach clubs, get here before mid-October, since they close around the middle of the month.
IS IT WORTH VISITING THE AMALFI COAST IN OCTOBER?
Absolutely yes! With beautiful weather and lower crowds, October is one of the best months to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast.
In our opinion, October is a better month to visit than September, since it is less crowded during this time. You could get some rain, but from talking to the locals, sunny skies are becoming the predominant weather pattern in October.
I also think November would be a very nice time to visit the Amalfi Coast. Rain chances do go up a little bit, and not everything will be open (like the beach clubs and some shops and restaurants), but during this month, the weather can still be very pleasant, and crowds will be even lower than those in October.
VISITING THE SORRENTO AMALFI COAST IN NOVEMBER
By early November, many hotels and a good number of restaurants close. However, they all don’t close, so you will be able to find a place to stay and eat, you just won’t have the same number of choices as September or October.
Ferries also stop running in early November, so, to get around, you can drive, take the bus, or hire a driver.
The weather gets cooler, with average highs ranging from 17°C to 23°C (check this 62°F to 74°F). The number of cloudy and rainy days increases, but from what we were told, you may get 1 to 2 rainy days a week during the month of November.
If you want low crowds and don’t mind the cool weather and less being open, November is a beautiful time to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is October a good time to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast?
October is one of the best times of the year to visit the Sorrento Amalfi Coast. The weather is warm, skies are generally sunny, and crowds are easing up as the region transitions into the off season. Beach clubs tend to close in mid-October, so if you plan to visit a club, plan your visit for the first half of the month. If you like the idea of driving the Sorrento Amalfi Coast, plan your visit for the end of October, or even early November.
What is the weather like in the Sorrento Amalfi Coast in October?
The average high in October is 24°C (75°F) and the average low is 15°C (60°F). Expect a few rainy days during the month, but sunny skies are more prevalent than cloudy, drizzly days.
What is the best way to get around the Sorrento Amalfi Coast?
During the summer months, the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast is by boat (ferry, small boat tour, or private boat). The views are beautiful, and you can avoid the traffic jams on Amalfi Drive. If you are traveling on a budget, travel by ferry or by bus. From June through September, avoid driving the Sorrento Amalfi Coast if possible, since traffic jams are frequent, parking is a nightmare, and rental car traffic is limited by the new alternating license plate system.