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The best time to visit Novara depends on what you want: stable sunshine, the festivals, or the lowest hotel prices. In short, aim for late April through mid-June or September, when temperatures sit in the 18 to 24°C range and the rain is manageable. This page breaks the year into blocks with exact temperatures and events; pair it with our Novara weather by month data.
Best Time to Visit Novara: Spring (April to June)
April to mid-June is the most comfortable window. April averages 12.2°C and May 16.8°C, with daytime highs of 17.9 to 22.3°C, ideal for walking between the Basilica of San Gaudenzio and the Broletto. Rain is the trade-off: May is the wettest month by frequency with 93.3 mm over 7.8 days, so carry a compact umbrella. The Novara Jazz Festival runs from the last weekend of May into early June, filling courtyards with concerts; see the Novara events and festivals page for the full programme.
Best Time to Visit Novara: Summer (July to August)
July and August are hot and humid, averaging 23.2°C and 22.9°C with highs near 29°C and nights at 17.3°C. Many locals leave in August, so some smaller restaurants close for ferie and the city feels quiet. It is the sunniest time of year, but heat plus humidity makes midday sightseeing tiring, and brief thunderstorms add 64 mm of rain in August. If you come in summer, schedule outdoor things to do in Novara for the morning and retreat indoors after lunch.
Best Time to Visit Novara: Autumn (September to October)
September is the second-best month, averaging 18.4°C with highs of 24.1°C, warm enough for day trips to Lake Orta or Lake Maggiore 45 minutes away. October cools to 13.1°C and brings 87.9 mm of rain, but the rice harvest around the city and the grape harvest in the nearby Langhe hills make it a good time for food-focused travel. The rice paddies turn gold in September, a good window for photographers. For the district-by-district rundown, see our Novara neighborhoods.
Best Time to Visit Novara: Winter (November to March)
Winter is the least appealing season for weather. December, January and February average 2.2 to 3.9°C, with lows below freezing and frequent fog that can linger for days. November is the wettest month with 112.2 mm of rain. The one reason to come in January is the Festa di San Gaudenzio on 22 January, when the city holds the flower ceremony in the basilica. Hotel rates are at their annual low from November through February, so budget travellers save the most here. Our Novara travel tips covers airport, transport and packing advice in detail.
Best Time to Visit Novara: Cheapest and Least Crowded Months
Hotel prices bottom out in January and February, when the city sees few foreign visitors, and again in late November. Expect to pay roughly 20 to 30 percent less for a room than in May or September. The busiest, priciest period is late May to early June during Novara Jazz, and the days around 22 January for the patron-saint feast. For a balance of good weather and lower rates, choose the second half of September; see our where to stay in Novara guide for area-specific options.
