Rome in Winter - 10 Reasons to Visit During the Cold Season
DE |
Millions of tourists flock to Rome every year. Especially in the warm summer months, the city is teeming with tourists strolling through the picturesque alleys and visiting the city’s historical sights.
What many visitors to the Eternal City don’t know is that a trip to Rome in winter can also be extremely rewarding.
Those visiting Rome for the very first time will be able to explore much more of the city during the winter months of December, January, February, and March.
The lines in front of the highlights are only a fraction compared to the summer months, so you can see more of the city.
- Updated on
If you book your Rome tickets with the skip-the-line option, you can even skip the lines altogether and save even more time.
If you want to know what the temperatures are like in Rome in winter and also find out what the city has to offer during the cold season, be sure to read this article to the end!
Autor
Welcome!
Welcome to Rome Tourist!
My name is Allie.
Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit in Europe, especially Florence!
I love everything the city has to offer. From the architecture to the most delicious food and wine, Florence has it all. So, come with me on this beautiful journey through Florence.
Allie
1. Flights & Accommodation are Significantly Cheaper in Winter
One of the most obvious and probably most appealing arguments for traveling to Rome in winter is the significantly lower cost of flights and accommodation.
Hotels in Rome are generally very expensive, with prices around 150-200 euros per person per night not uncommon. However, if you travel to Rome in early January, for example, you can find some real bargains.
By then, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve hustle and bustle will be over and there will be plenty of beds available again.
A night in one of our favorite hotels can be booked for less than 130 euros per night in mid-January. This is a price drop of more than 100% compared to the high season.
The Turbopass is the most popular city pass in Rome!
Flights are also significantly cheaper in winter. If you book your flight in advance and choose the off-season, you can also save money.
35 euros per flight is definitely feasible. After all, there’s hardly a better feeling than saving money and possibly putting it aside for your next trip.
Hotel recommendations in the city center 😴
Are you looking for accommodation in Rome?
We have researched the best hotels in the city! -> Best Hotels in Rome City Center
2. Significantly Fewer Tourists in Winter
The Colosseum attracts more than 6 million tourists every year. As you can imagine, the lines are extremely long.
Anyone who has to wait in line for several hours in summer temperatures of 30°C and above is totally annoyed.
The delicious gelato you bought minutes ago at one of the delightful ice cream parlors around the corner is already dripping onto your feet, and the heat of the blazing Italian sun is becoming a miserable ordeal.
If you visit Rome in winter, you can expect some precipitation, but you’ll save yourself several hours of waiting. In our experience, even the waiting areas at the most popular hotspots are limited, so you’ll only spend a few minutes in the waiting area.
Of course, there is always something going on in Rome—even in winter. But who wants to stroll through a seemingly deserted city? Right, probably no one.
So you will still encounter mainly Romans and a few tourists, but you won’t experience real crowds in winter.
Whether in the cold months of December, January, and February or in the hot summer, a hop-on hop-off tour in Rome is a good idea at any time of year, especially in the cold winter!
Our recommendation for hop-on hop-off city tours
3. More Time for Other Highlights & Museums in Rome
In addition to lower travel costs, time is certainly another decisive factor in visiting Rome in winter.
Due to the significantly lower number of visitors, you save yourself several hours of lining up every day. However, you get to see far more of the city than you would during a visit in summer.
But how can you best use the time you save? In our experience, the best way is to explore Italy’s capital at your own pace.
This may include an extra cappuccino or two – or you can simply take more time to visit Rome’s sights. The less time pressure you are under, the more you will see, of course.
There are a number of great museums in Rome, some of which you should definitely see. The Vatican Museums, for example, are so huge that you will only see a fraction of the art treasures in one visit.
However, if you can allow yourself more than the usual 2-3 hours of visiting time, you will definitely not regret it afterwards. After all, there is hardly anywhere else where you can see such a remarkable art collection.
4. Rome's Tempratures in Winter
The weather is an important factor when traveling. But what temperatures can you expect in Rome in winter? Unlike the mild November, December in Rome is already quite cool, but still relatively pleasant.
Average temperatures are now around 13°C (55°F). You can expect around 4 hours of sunshine per day and a total of 10 rainy days.
While the number of hours of sunshine per day remains the same, the average temperature in January drops by one degree Celsius to 12°C (53°F). The number of rainy days is reduced to around 9 per month.
In February, temperatures in Rome average around 13°C (55°F) again. You can also expect 4 hours of sunshine per day and a total of approximately 9 rainy days.
March is already pleasantly mild. Temperatures now climb to an average of 16°C (60°F). You can expect around 5 hours of sunshine per day and a total of around 8 rainy days.
So be sure to include accessories such as a rain jacket and umbrella in your Rome packing list. In our experience, it is best to apply the well-known onion principle in Rome in winter and wear several layers of thin clothing.
Rome has some great outdoor highlights to offer, where you should dress warmly in winter. These include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Trevi Fountain. Once you enter one of the heated museums, it is advisable to take off some of your clothes so that you don’t get cold afterwards.
5. Rome's Magical Christmas Atmosphere in Winter
If you want to spend Christmas in Rome, you can look forward to festive celebrations. Unlike most winter days in Rome, Christmas is a bustling time in Italy’s capital.
This is hardly surprising when you consider that Vatican City is the center of the Catholic Church. Large parts of the city center are now aglow with festive colorful fairy lights.
While the churches in Rome prepare for the big celebration, most shops attract customers with beautifully decorated shop windows and great special offers.
A visit to Rome is highly recommended, especially during the Christmas season from December 8 to January 6. Even though the Christmas markets in Rome are significantly smaller than in other cities, strolling from piazza to piazza is a real pleasure.
One of the most popular Christmas markets in Rome is located in Piazza Navona. Many small stalls tempt visitors with hot cocoa and mulled wine.
Also very well known are the Auditorium Parco della Musica Christmas market in the north of the city and the Piazza Mazzini Christmas market, where you will find plenty of delicacies and great craftsmanship. However, a major highlight are the huge Christmas trees at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and the Vittoriano Monument.
6. Try Rome's Culinary Winter Specials
Visitors to Rome in winter are spoiled for choice when it comes to culinary highlights. In addition to the usual suspects such as pizza, pasta, and the like, artichokes are now particularly popular.
After all, Italian artichokes are harvested in fall and winter. Recipes such as “Carciofi alla romana” or “carciofi alla giudia” are particularly popular in Roman cuisine.
Those who can’t stand the slightly nutty aroma of this green vegetable will probably prefer to tuck into a classic pizza or traditional spaghetti carbonara.
You can also enjoy a delicious glass of red wine and traditional bruschetta in one of Rome’s magnificent restaurants.
Rome also has a variety of great cooking classes and numerous food tours up its sleeve in winter! Those who want to expand their cooking skills will probably love them.
7. Savor Rome's Street Cafés
If you’ve always thought that Italian cafés have something special about them, then you should get to know Rome in winter!
When it’s freezing outside, the freshly ground coffee at the counters of traditional Roman “bars” tastes even better.
Whether early in the morning, mid-morning, or late afternoon, enjoying coffee is a high priority throughout Italy. Street cafés can be found on every street corner in Rome, so you can warm up between sightseeing stops.
But unlike in our country, most Romans drink their coffee standing up. If you want to enjoy your coffee while sitting down, you’ll pay significantly more. The cost of a cappuccino, for example, can quickly rise from around one euro to two or three euros.
8. Find Bargains in the Winter Sales
If you want to go shopping in Rome, you should definitely come in winter. During the winter sales, the city is teeming with bargains. The “sale marathon” in Italy’s capital takes place shortly after New Year’s Eve, more precisely in January and February.
If you like, you can use your Christmas bonus to buy a whole new wardrobe. There are plenty of opportunities to do so in Rome. The 1.5 km (1 mile) long shopping street Via del Corso is particularly popular, where you will find brands such as Zara, Nike, Diesel, and more.
Also very well known is Via dei Condotti, where you will find a variety of elegant luxury boutiques. This is where the crème de la crème of international designers are located. These include luxury brands such as Gucci, Dior, Prada, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and others.
If you prefer to travel to Rome during the Christmas season, you should also stroll through the famous shopping streets. These are particularly beautifully lit in winter, with thousands of Christmas lights!
9. Rome's Unique Winter Events
In addition to the wonderful Christmas decorations, Rome offers some beautiful highlights in winter. Every year, there is a Christmas nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square and several ice rinks scattered throughout the city.
The most popular place for ice skating in Rome is in Piazza Adriana, right next to Castel Sant’Angelo. Here you will find a Christmas market with all kinds of delicacies and a magical atmosphere! The so-called “Ice Park” in Piazza dei Re di Roma, southeast of the Colosseum, also offers an ice rink.
On New Year’s Eve, you can experience a gigantic, free concert at the Circus Maximus. At the so-called “Festa di Roma,” an average of around 40,000 people gather to celebrate the turn of the year with world-famous artists and musicians.
If you spend the end of February or beginning of March in Rome, you will witness the Roman Carnival. In many piazzas, you will see people dressed up in their typical Roman masks.
10. Enjoy a Roman Thermal Bath
If you want to use winter in Rome primarily for relaxation, you should not miss one of the many thermal baths. The Romans already appreciated their thermal baths very much! In the days of the emperors, bathing establishments such as the Caracalla Baths in Rome were popular social meeting places and also served for personal hygiene.
Unlike today, private baths were a real luxury in ancient Rome. This meant that people were, in a sense, forced to bathe and wash in the public baths.
If you like beautiful spa facilities, you will definitely love our hand-picked wellness hotels in Rome. We have put together a selection of the best spa accommodations in the Eternal City. Especially in winter, it is nice to climb into a warm whirlpool or enjoy a couples massage after a long day of sightseeing.
Sebastian
Welcome to Rome Tourist!
My name is Sebastian.
For me, Italy’s capital is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! I love the city’s amazing architecture and am particularly interested in its fascinating history!
Allie
Hello everyone!
I’m Allie and I love the great food and relaxed atmosphere in Rome! My favorite thing to do is stroll through the streets of the Eternal City with a coffee to go.
Did you know that …
By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost.
Thank you for your support. ♥️
via GetYourGuide
via Booking.com
Find Flights to Rome
via Skyscanner
Discover more Rome guides: