The best time to visit is May, June, or September. The weather is warm, the sea swimmable, and the town is busy but not overwhelmed. July and August bring Italian summer crowds in force — the beaches fill, the streets are packed on summer weekends, and accommodation prices spike. If you visit in high summer, arrive on a weekday and leave before the weekend rush.
The Andersen Festival takes place in late May or early June — a multi-day programme of street theatre, oral storytelling, and music performances spread across both bays, named for Hans Christian Andersen who gave the Baia delle Favole its name during his 1833 visit. It's a genuinely atmospheric event, with performances continuing after dark along the waterfront.
October and early November are underrated: the crowds thin, the sea stays warm enough to swim, and the light on the coloured facades of the Baia del Silenzio is at its best. Most restaurants stay open through October.