Vitamin D in Italy in December: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in December: afternoon highs average only 14.9°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
0.6 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
2.4peak UV Index
–to a full dose
15°Cafternoon high
15/30rainy days
28/30sunny days
How long in the sun in December?
- Even at midday the UV Index stays below 2.5 for most of December, so sunbathing makes little or no vitamin D. Oily fish, fortified food or a supplement matter more. Ask your doctor.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | – | – | – |
| Type II | – | – | – |
| Type III | – | – | – |
| Type IV | – | – | – |
| Type V | – | – | – |
| Type VI | – | – | – |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Capri, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in Italy in December
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | Too cold | 2.6 h | 18 min | 17°C | 4/30 |
| Taormina | Too cold | 1.9 h | 20 min | 16°C | 7/30 |
| Palermo | Too cold | 1.8 h | 20 min | 16°C | 9/30 |
| Cagliari | Too cold | 1.7 h | 20 min | 16°C | 3/30 |
| Cefalù | Too cold | 1.7 h | 21 min | 15°C | 15/30 |
| Rome | Too cold | 0.1 h | – | 13°C | 8/30 |
| Venice | Too cold | 0.0 h | – | 9°C | 4/30 |
| Rimini | Too cold | 0.0 h | – | 11°C | 6/30 |
| Amalfi | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 15°C | 9/30 |
| Positano | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 15°C | 13/30 |
| Capri | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 15°C | 15/30 |
| Sorrento | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 16°C | 13/30 |
| Naples | Too cold | 0.5 h | – | 15°C | 12/30 |
| Cinque Terre | Too cold | 0.0 h | – | 13°C | 5/30 |
| Portofino | Too cold | 0.0 h | – | 13°C | 4/30 |
| Costa Smeralda | Too cold | 0.3 h | – | 15°C | 10/30 |
| Alghero | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 15°C | 7/30 |
| Polignano a Mare | Too cold | 0.2 h | – | 14°C | 10/30 |
| Lecce | Too cold | 0.6 h | – | 14°C | 7/30 |
| Elba | Too cold | 0.0 h | – | 14°C | 9/30 |
Other months in Italy
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Too cold
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Too cold
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Excellent
- Aug Excellent
- Sep Good
- Oct Good
- Nov Too cold
- Dec Too cold
Best months: May to October. Full Italy guide