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Original poster

Sicily, too hot and crowded in August?

21 replies

DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 16:56

Just that really. Looking at Palermo for a week at the end of August but have read a few reviews saying it gets very hot and crowded in the summer. Alternately we could go October half term, but then have read it can be rainy then Confused

Hoping some of you have experience visiting at one of these times and can advise what it was like. TIA!

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Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 16:58

Could also possibly do week after Easter, so April, but worried places could be shut.

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GreyGardens88 · 02/03/2019 16:59

I was thinking of spending a week in Catania at the end of June, as it is one of the few places with cheapish flights at that time

Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 17:03

I read end of June was a good time to visit GreyGardens, nice weather but not too crowded, unfortunately we need to fit with school holidays.

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AnnaMagnani · 02/03/2019 17:05

Do not go to Sicily in August.

I went to Bologna in August and that was bad enough. Like being smacked in the face as soon as you went outside. If you google it, the first article that comes up was advising not to go in August Grin

My BIL and SIL went to Sicily for their honeymoon in August. All they can remember is melting about while pretending to be interested in mosaics but actually wanting to dash back to the aircon. No romance was had at anytime.

Clarabellawilliamson · 02/03/2019 17:06

Easter, definitely! It will be lovely weather and easter is a huge deal so there's loads to see. I've been at easter (as a teen with my parents) and August both times to Palermo/ Cefalu and August was VERY hot. That was a particularly hot year though, and we had no air conditioning or anything.

Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 17:17

Thank you both, will definitely be too hot for us then, we're pale sweaty burning types. Flights a bit of a pain at Easter, would only be able to go Monday to Friday, might be a nice short break though.

Anybody been October?

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babysharkah · 02/03/2019 17:19

Most places in southern Europe are hot and
Crowded in August!

AnnaMagnani · 02/03/2019 17:27

Ah, I am a pale sweaty burny type too. Only time I have enjoyed Italy in August was a year the Italians were bemoaning their terrible summer - DH and I thought it was marvellous.

Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 17:51

I agree babysharkah, but was kidding myself as it is an island there might be a refreshing sea breeze to make it bearable. We purposefully did Spain last Easter for the exact same reason. Had looked at Norway for summer but it's just so expensive!

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Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 17:52

AnnaMagnani, we love an overcast day!

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Lemonsquinky · 02/03/2019 18:18

I'm going to Sicily in August. We were going to near Sorrento but Thomas Cook lost the hotel and we had to cancel and rearrange to another hotel and there wasn't much choice left. I'm looking forward to seeing the temples and maybe Mount Etna. It's going to be about 30*c.

Lemonsquinky · 02/03/2019 18:19

If you want cooler with a refreshing breeze go to the Canary Islands.

Hassled · 02/03/2019 18:26

We went in August a couple of years ago and it actually wasn't very hot at all - to the point that we could have done with it being hotter. We stayed north of Catania, if that's weather-relevant. And not too crowded at all.
Then we went to Rome in August where it was hotter than the sun - that was our big mistake.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 02/03/2019 18:27

Noooo. Hot hot hot as hell. Very pretty though. But miserably hot.

stanski · 02/03/2019 18:56

Don't go in August! You can't breathe. Family member works there in tourism and has tourists fainting all the time between mid July and end of August. If you're not used to that temperature don't do it then

Pinkywoo · 02/03/2019 19:12

We were there last July and it was up to 45 degrees with unbearable humidity, apparently August was hotter! Also most shops, restaurants and bars are closed for the majority of August for various festivals, October is nice because it's quieter and cooler, but the sea is still lovely and warm.

Original poster
DoctorNicoleWatterson · 02/03/2019 20:38

Thanks all. Lemonsquinky, must admit I'm not too keen on the Canary Islands, but I might just have been unlucky with holidays there. I also enjoy trying new places, there's so much of the world to see it almost seems a waste to go to the same place twice. Not that I haven't done that of course, especially big cities where it's hard to squeeze everything in to one trip. I do really fancy seeing Sicily, just not in August I now realise.

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scintilla87 · 02/03/2019 20:52

During the first two weeks of August you have Ferragosto, which is when a lot of Italians take their summer holiday. Roads and beaches will be busier during that time as a result.

SJane48S · 03/03/2019 12:00

We went in August two years ago - not Palermo but the other side of the island - Catania/Taormina/Syracuse. It was during a heatwave across the Med & temps were between 30-36. It was wasn’t pleasant but to be honest, there were similar temperatures across the Med. We had swimming pools, the sea & air conditioning & coped!

juneau · 03/03/2019 18:29

Yes, August is BOILING! What about the May half-term? IMO that would be the perfect time to go. I've been to Sicily in June and Sept and both were lovely, but I wouldn't go in the summer holidays - no way.

HaventGotAllDay · 03/03/2019 18:34

In fairness, Bologna would feel hotter, it's well known for its "afa" (kind of heavy, fuggy overpowering heatwave)
Easter would be cooler for sure, and nowhere will be closed (tourist places won't be closed in August tbh, anyone who runs a business, particularly in this economic climate, tends to shut up shop in September or Feb.
July is invariably hotter than August, by mid August there are summer storms and Italians begin to bemoan the end of summer.

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