Sicily · Month comparison

May vs September

May ranks #1 overall vs September at #2. The undisputed best month — 23C, near-dry, schools in session, every site at its photogenic peak.

Sicily May — Noto baroque facade with flower petal carpet

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The undisputed best month — 23C, near-dry, schools in session, every site at its photogenic peak.

  • 23C with low humidity and 9 hours sun — perfect conditions for Etna trekking and temple visits
  • Infiorata di Noto on the third weekend — flower-petal carpets laid through the baroque town
Sicily September — Taormina Isola Bella in autumn light

September

#2 of 12 months

Best match

September is May with warmer sea — Italys connoisseurs month, weather perfect, prices retreating mid-month.

  • Sea peaks at 26C — warmest swimming of the year
  • Hotel rates drop 30-40% from mid-September as Italian schools resume
FactorMaySeptember
Weather score
10
10
Value score
7
6
Crowd score
6
5
Events score
8
7
Atmosphere
10
10
Avg high temp23°C29°C
Monthly rain25mm35mm
Daily sunshine9hrs9hrs

May trade-offs

  • Sea at 19C — first viable swimming days only at the end of the month
  • Some south coast scirocco wind episodes can push temperatures briefly to 35C

September trade-offs

  • First two weeks still effectively August prices
  • Storm risk picks up from third week — single days can be washed out
Scores compare months within Sicily. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →