Visiting Rome in Winter: The Sites, Perks and Drawbacks

THE PERKS OF VISITING ROME IN THE WINTER OFF-SEASON

While Italy is a dream destination year-round, consider visiting Rome in winter! Even in November, December, and January, you’ll find mild weather in the lower elevations in the Mediterranean.

I’m a big proponent of off-season travel in Italy, France, Spain, and other countries in southern Europe. You’ll find better deals on flights and hotels, plus much smaller crowds at the most popular tourist sites!

Key Takeaways About Rome in Winter

Flights to Rome in winter are up to half off their normal prices, and hotels will also come at a discount. The weather in Rome is typically in the 50s and 60s (Fahrenheit) and the drizzle that comes along in the winter months isn’t a deal-breaker.

We’ll discuss the Colosseum, the Vatican at Christmas, shopping the decorated streets of Rome, the Christmas Markets, and day trips to hilltop towns in the Italian countryside.

All of Rome’s attractions are open during the winter months, and they’re far less crowded! It’s one of the main perks of visiting Rome in winter (or any part of Italy in winter)!

Many of the restaurants and cafes still put tables outside. You’ll need a sweater or jacket, but the winter weather in Italy is still mild enough to have a glass of wine on a patio during the day. At night, many restaurants will roll out heaters to keep outdoor diners toasty.

Winter Tours in Rome

Some people prefer to spend their whole trip in Rome, while others try to pack in as much of Italy as possible. Here are a few options I recommend for the famous sites in Rome, plus a few day trips out of town. They’re all great ideas for a winter visit!

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Rome to Amalfi, Positano, Pompeii

• If you’re trying to pack a lot into your trip to Italy, this is a great way to spend the day! You’ll get a guided tour of Pompei, drive along the Amalfi Coast, and spend time in Positano.

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Colosseum- Skip the Line

• Excellent reviews for this tour, which lets you skip the line to get into the Colosseum.

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Vatican Early Entry + Sistine Chapel

• I’ll discuss the Vatican more in depth below, but early entry is the only way to go!

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Rome to Tuscany (day trip)

• If you’re trying to see as much of Italy as possible, this is a great day trip option!

The crowd around the Trevi Fountain in winter seems to be a bit more sparse than it is during the busier summer months. It’s actually pretty easy to get up close to the fountain’s edge for photos or a coin toss.

I’d suggest going early in the morning, around 7:30am, for photos without a crowd at all. Several of the cafes nearby have delicious breakfast treats!

Evenings seem to draw the largest crowds:

The Roman Colosseum in Winter

While the Colosseum is open all winter, make sure to check the hours. The last tour begins an hour before sunset. The sun sets around 5:00pm through much of the winter in Rome, so you shouldn’t arrive at the Colosseum too late in the day.

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Colosseum & Underground [SKIP THE LINE!]

Generally, these are the fall, winter, spring, and summer hours for the Colosseum:

Fall:

• 8:30am – 7:00pm (September 1 to September 30)
• 8:30am – 6:30pm (October 1 to last Saturday of October)

Winter:

• 8:30am – 4:30pm (November, December, January, half of February)

Spring:

• 8:30am – 5:00pm (mid-February through mid-March)
• 8:30am – 5:00pm (mid-March through end of March)

Summer:

• 8:30am – 7:15pm (late March through August)

The Colosseum is closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The Forum is another name for the ruins in Central Rome. It’s a 5-acre site which you’re free to explore. It used to be home to government buildings and a marketplace.

🇮🇹 Book a Tour: Colosseum and Forum [Skip the Line!]

It’s a beautiful site to take in the winter sunset!

The Spanish Steps in Rome lead up to the Trinita die Money, a French church which Pope Gregory XIII wanted easier access to.

The steps were constructed 300 years ago, and remain a major attraction in Rome to this day.

In the winter, the Spanish Steps host a variety of concerts and other events. It’s also at the end of one of Rome’s most famous shopping districts, adjacent to all of the big flagship stores for Italian brands from Valentino to Prada.

The Pope often appears to great fanfare right down the plaza for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December.

Rome’s Markets in Winter

Rome’s markets are open in winter, selling a slightly adjusted array of products for the season.

January and February, on average, are the coldest months in Italy.

Still, average low temperatures remain above freezing. For me, sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s or 60s (Fahrenheit) create perfect conditions for walking around and exploring a city!

Rome Winter Weather

I always do better with visuals, so I made this chart of the average daily high and low temperatures in Rome during the winter months.

High daily temperatures still reach the lower 70s in October. They dip down into the 60s for November.
In December, January, and February, the average high temperatures in Rome are in the low-to-mid 50s.

By March, the average daily high climbs back up into the 60s.

The average low nightly temperatures in Rome remain slightly above freezing, hovering around 37 degrees Fahrenheit in January and February.

In November, December, and February, the average nightly low temperatures are in the 40s.

Rome in Winter: The Downside

Visiting Rome in winter comes with one main drawback (in my mind): the amount of daylight.

You’ll get as little as 10 hours of daylight in Rome in December and January. The sun won’t rise until 7:30am, and it’ll set by 5:00pm.

By the end of February, you’ll get a full 12 hours of daylight in Rome. The sun rises around 6:30am, and sets around 6:30pm in Italy by late February.

Still, Rome is not a city that “goes to bed early,” so you’ll find plenty to do after the early sunset!

Does it Snow in Rome?

Snow in Rome is rare, but it does get cold enough every once in a while.
A couple of inches of snow fell in Rome in 2018. The official City of Rome Twitter account posted this photo of the Roman Ruins, blanketed in white.

Attached was a long list of closures and announcements for residents.

Snow in Rome is usually accompanied by public transportation delays, along with airport and road closures. Stores and schools tend to close, too, since the city isn’t equipped to handle more than a dusting.

Prior to 2018, the last measurable snowfall was in 2012.

If you travel to Rome in the winter, you’re likely to have a few grey, gloomy days, but your chances of seeing snow in the city are slim.

It usually runs from November into January. The vendors sell everything from crafts and gifts to floral arrangements and food.

It’s really enjoyable to walk around, and it always draws a big crowd!

Christmas Shopping in Rome

The biggest names in Italian fashion pull out all the stops at Christmas!
Rome’s Via dei Condotta, across from the Spanish Steps, is home to several flagship stores, from Prada to Salvatore Ferragamo to Bulgari.

It’s the equivalent to the over-the-top decorations in storefronts along New York City’s 5th Avenue.

The Fendi building glows with an electric green tree, made of plastic Fendi suitcases.

The Vatican welcomes millions of visitors each year to the museum and Sistine Chapel.
The weeks leading up to Christmas (and Easter) are perhaps the most festive.

You’ll find a large Christmas tree next to an over-sized wooden nativity scene built in Saint Peter’s Square.

While the Vatican Museum opens to the general public between 9:00am and 10:00am, I’d recommend booking a tour which lets you in early:

🇮🇹 Book a VATICAN TOUR: Breakfast + Early Access

• This Vatican tour includes breakfast INSIDE the Vatican, and special early-entry to the museum, Sistine Chapel, etc.

🇮🇹 Book a VATICAN TOUR: Skip the Line!

• This tour option allows you to begin your tour before the general public is allowed inside. You’ll meet the guide nearby, before going into the museum and Sistine Chapel.

Our guide said 40,000 people visit the Vatican EACH DAY. Tours are the only way to get in early, before the crush of people at the opening.

These photos show the size of the crowd when the doors opened, on a rainy day, mid-week, in December.

Check for Holy Days on the Catholic calendar. The Vatican will be closed for feasts (like the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and other events.

Otherwise, winter is a good time to visit the Vatican. You’ll find slightly smaller crowds inside, as you walk through the halls of the museum, checking out the frescoes on the ceilings, the Pope-mobiles from the past, and the extensive art collection.

As always, security at the Vatican is tight.

You’ll find police outside in Saint Peter’s Square at all times, and all visitors inside will go through metal detectors and a bag search.

One of the biggest perks of visiting Rome in winter are the deals you can find on airfare and hotels.

Aside from the weeks around Christmas, expect decent discounts!

You can use this interactive map to check out hotel and rental options in the area I’d recommend staying in, near the Spanish Steps:

The area is especially festive, and decorated beautifully.

The Inn at the Spanish Steps has rooms and suites in a couple of historic buildings along Rome’s Via dei Condotti, which is home to the big Italian brands.

As much as there is to do in Rome, it’s also a great base to use for day trips in Italy!

🇮🇹 Book Tour: Rome to Amalfi, Positano, Pompeii

🇮🇹 Book Tour: Rome to Tuscany

In addition to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, Rome is a great hub for day trips to surrounding towns like Assisi and Orvieto. The hilltop villages are easy to get to, and very enjoyable during the winter months.

Assisi is a two-hour train ride from Rome. You’ll find crowded streets, even in the winter, as crowds come to enjoy the shopping, restaurants, and history.

I’ve been using Trainline to book trains in Europe. It’s simple to search, and avoids the kiosks in the train stations. They send you a QR code to your text and email, which you have scanned at the station to board.

➡️ Click to Book Train Tickets in Italy

Orvieto, like Assisi, is another hilltop village with a rich history. It’s a bit smaller, and closer to Rome.

You’ll find plenty to do on a day trip to Orvieto in the winter months.

I have a separate blog, detailing how to get from Rome to Orvieto for a day trip, and everything you’ll find there:

🌎 Jared’s Detours Blog: Rome to Orvieto

Highlights include the underground system of tunnels, St. Patrick’s Well, and the famous Duomo, or cathedral.

Rome is also a relatively short train ride from Florence, which is also great to visit in winter.

From Florence, you can easily take day trips to nearby city and towns, like Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano.

If Italy is on your travel list, it’s definitely worth considering a winter visit.

In addition to the deals you can find on airfare (especially on midweek travel) you’re likely to save quite a bit on your lodging, too.

For me, the best part of a trip to Italy in winter (or any part of Southern Europe in winter) is: You’ll see far smaller crowds.

I don’t like lines at tourist sites, and it’s definitely much easier to visit the most famous attractions in the off-season!

Check out some of our videos of things to do in Rome in the winter: