10 ways to make the most of autumn in Italy

Seek out fall foliage

Trees and forests cover most of Italy, so you’re never far from the brilliant autumnal hues of yellows, oranges and reds. You can head to a national park for an autumn hike or just take a stroll at a local park to admire the falling leaves. 

If you’re able to make it to Piedmont, you can take advantage of a particularly iconic way to experience the fall leaves: the Treno del Foliage (“foliage train”). The two-hour seasonal route runs between Domodossola, Italy (about an hour and a half drive north of Milan), and Locarno, Switzerland, on the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway.

Go truffle hunting

A quintessential autumn activity in Italy is a search through the forest for one of fall’s most prized ingredients. 

During this season, experienced truffle hunter guides and their specialized sniffer dogs romp through the forest to find these gold nuggets and dig them up to be cooked in a rich risotto or pasta or sprinkled on pizza. 

READ ALSO: Six reasons autumn is the best time of year to visit Italy

Most truffles in Italy are in season from fall through winter. The most popular regions to go hunting are Piedmont and Tuscany, though truffles can be found in many central and northern parts of the country. 

Hike in cooler temperatures

Do as the Italians do and take advantage of the mild autumn temperatures to explore nature on foot. All regions of Italy have places to hike or trek, depending on what you’re looking for.

There’s nature, walking paths, wildlife and cultural sites to be found in Italy’s 25 national parks, from the snow-covered Alps to the rolling vineyards of Tuscany.

Fall is the best time to hike on the coast and in the south, when the scorching summer heat subsides. Popular routes include the Cinque Terre and the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast.

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Spend time at an agriturismo 

Whether for a romantic long weekend or a week away with family, spending autumn days at an agriturismo is the perfect way to unplug and reset in an idyllic setting.

These farm stays are classic countryside retreats that combine sustainable tourism, great food and personal connection with Italian farming families. 

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Depending on the type of farm and the location, you could spend your days tasting wines and olive oils, taking cooking classes, going for a horseback ride, hunting for truffles and even helping with harvests if you want. 

Try your hand at olive harvesting

Fall is the time to collect the olives that make the liquid gold that Italy is so famous for. Olive harvesting season, or la raccolta, takes place each year between October and December. 

It’s an exciting time of year to be in the groves, and many families open their doors to allow visitors to help with the harvest. The traditional method you’re likely to find on small family farms is hand harvesting – it’s hard work but worth it when you taste the difference of fresh olive oil directly from the source. 

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Taste classic autumn dishes 

Seasonal eating is the Italian way, and the many fall flavours are all worth trying. Autumn recipes and ingredients range from truffles and pumpkin to wild boar and chestnuts.

Fall recipes are warm and rich. Dishes like pumpkin risotto, truffle pasta and slow-cooked stews featuring game, like venison, deer, or boar, are popular choices.

READ ALSO: Pumpkin risotto and the great wardrobe switch: How life in Italy changes when autumn arrives

Other fall treats are simply eaten as-is, like roasted chestnuts, which you’ll find served in paper cones from street stalls in many of Italy’s cities and at local festivals. 

Escape the city on a day trip

What’s there to do now that the days are crispier, nights longer and moods gloomy? There’s only one answer: la scampagnata.

This quirky Italian word, meaning “wanderings in the countryside”, describes the ideal autumn weekend in Italy. You scampare (escape) the city, rounding up friends or family into the car and heading out on a day trip in search of idyllic rural areas, charming villages and, above all, a traditional lunch to be feasted on.

Attend a food festival

Autumn is the best time for Italy’s sagre (food festivals). These local food fairs centre on a specific local product or delicacy, and since autumn is the harvest season, many are held during this time of year. The celebrations can last anywhere from one day to a week, and the activities often include dancing, music, parades, tasting experiences and artisanal pop-up shops.

READ ALSO: The best Italian food festivals to visit in October 2025

Popular autumn sagre in Italy range from the white truffle fair in Alba to the sagra of porcini mushrooms and chianina meat – a renowned breed of cattle – in Tuscany’s town of Castelfranco di Sotto.

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Ride a tourist train

Italy’s national rail company has expanded its services again this year after the initial success of new tourist-focused rail routes. This autumn’s programme focuses on cultural destinations and seasonal experiences, with routes departing from Rome to destinations including medieval hill towns and wine regions. 

The weekend itineraries include two new trains to Assisi in Umbria and Alba in Piedmont, in addition to service from Rome to the historic Tuscan town of Siena. There’s also a special overnight train for Oktoberfest that takes you from Rome to Munich.

Try ‘young’ wine

Autumn is also the time for harvesting grapes that will become vino. Like olive harvesting, you can often participate in the harvest at a local Italian vineyard. 

If you’re more interested in drinking than harvesting, you can try vino novello (lit. “young wine”), made from grapes harvested just weeks before using a sped-up fermentation process. This type of wine has a fruity and fresh flavour and a lower alcohol content than the average Italian wine. 

Pair a glass of vino novello with a seasonal snack like roasted chestnuts, and you have the perfect fall aperitivo.