Best Time to Visit Rome

By Robert Heaney
Ponte Sant'Angelo leading to Castel Sant'Angelo

Home to some of the most iconic monuments, attractions and historical sites both in Europe and the world as a whole, Rome is consistently one of the continent’s most popular destinations for its unique blend of culture, history, climate and cuisine.

Though many of the eternal city’s top sights are very much evergreen, making for a fairly dependable trip no matter the time of year, the exact period in which you choose to visit comes with its own unique set of characteristics. Between varying weather, seasonal events and changing tourism rates, each quarter of the year offers something slightly different.

Naturally, there can be no definitive best period to visit Rome, and the benefits of one season easily match up against those of another. As such, we’ve summarized the best of each season to help give you more insight into their individual characteristics, which we hope will help you figure out the best time to visit Rome according to your own preferences.

Winter (December – February)

Image of Cityscape, Urban, Church, Landmark, St. Peter's Basilica,

Average Temperature: 37 - 59°F • Average Rainfall: 6 - 9 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 3 - 5 hours/day

For the most part, winter in Rome typically stands among the quietest periods for the city. In the absence of the glorious summertime weather and the waves of family-oriented holidaymakers, the Italian capital falls into somewhat of a relaxed lull throughout winter.

Though Rome can never truly be considered quiet at any given time, owing to its largely evergreen attractions and lauded reputation for city breaks, this is by far its most serene period of the year. Most attractions and venues, while still somewhat busy, are likely to be much more smooth to visit, without nearly as many crowds as the busier months.

There is, of course, a brief caveat in this trend, namely the holiday season. Proud home to the beating heart of Roman Catholicism, Vatican City, many visitors and devotees alike flock to the eternal city throughout December to revel in its impressive array of cultural and religious events.

Between the city’s comparatively quiet nature and the thrilling bustle of the holiday season, many consider winter to be the best time to visit Rome. By visiting off-season, you’ll also often benefit from some of the lowest airfare and hotel prices of the year, sometimes at quite a hefty discount on peak-season rates.

Things to do in Winter

Should you find yourself in Rome during the holiday season, you’ll find the city awash with delightful installations and festive events. Naturally, the Vatican tends to be the epicenter of it all, adorned with festive displays to complement the famous mass headed by the Pope himself. Throughout Rome itself, you’ll also find a smattering of delightful European Christmas markets, alongside temporary ice rinks at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the Ice Space Village.

For the rest of winter, you may want to take advantage of the smaller throughput of tourists to enjoy some of the city’s top attractions and landmarks at their quietest. Of course, the likes of the Colosseum and Vatican City will inevitably top the list, but you’ll see some of the greatest differences around the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, usually packed with visitors and therefore tricky to capture just right.

What’s On in Winter

The winter season in Rome is largely dominated by religious events. Aside from those taking place throughout the holiday season, there’s also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, an impressive Hanukkah celebration, the parade of the Three Kings for the Epiphany and the oddly animal-oriented Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate.

That being said, the few non-religious events to take place throughout the season also happen to be some of the country’s biggest of the year. New Year’s Eve is celebrated in a big way in Rome, with impressive light shows and street parties taking place throughout the night. In February, the centuries-old Carnevale erupts in a city-wide party held over several days ahead of the traditional coming of Lent.

Spring (March – June)

Image of City, Bell Tower, Tower, Neighborhood, Urban, Plant, Arch, Gothic Arch, Cathedral, Church, Outdoors, Cityscape,

Average Temperature: 43 - 84°F • Average Rainfall: 4 - 7 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 7 - 9 hours/day

Springtime launches Rome into its early-year shoulder season, with average tourism rates resting somewhere between the quiet of winter and the bustle of summer. For the most part, though you can expect plenty of crowds, most attractions and venues should be smoothly accessible for much of the season. Even better, this period still tends to offer somewhat discounted rates on airfare and hotel prices.

The weather differs quite drastically throughout spring, depending on when exactly you choose to visit. Temperatures tend to flirt between rather cool and very pleasantly warm, getting warmer and more consistent the closer to summer you get. With a relatively good chance of rain throughout the season, you’d be best advised packing an umbrella just in case, as well as some warmer clothing options.

Things to do in Spring

This period is best spent balancing the middling tourist scene in spring with those slightly lesser-visited attractions to get the maximum possible experience. The ruins of Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, for example stand as mere whispers of their former glory, offering some brief but mesmerizing insights into the lifestyles and daily practices of everyday folk in a civilization now long since passed.

For somewhat of a whirlwind tour of Rome’s top attractions and a more convenient means of getting around, a Big Bus Rome tour offers just that and more. The tour operates a central route passing by most of the city’s most popular sights, as well as a hop-on, hop-off service and optional audio-commentary in several major languages.

What’s On in Spring

Embracing the true spirit of spring, Rome puts on a variety of major events and celebrations committed to the themes of rebirth, growth and fertility. Though Easter naturally takes the cake, with an official mass held at the Vatican, there’s also the Festa della Primavera, or Spring Festival, which sees much of the city adorned with blooms of fiery roses and azaleas. Also popular is the Romanesco Artichoke Festival, held in the neighboring coastal town of Ladispoli.

Spring also happens to be littered with holidays and festivities, such as Republic Day, marked by a major military parade through the streets of the capital, and the Birthday of Rome, characterized by another procession led by historical re-enactors dressed in clothing from various historical periods.

Summer (July – September)

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Average Temperature: 61 - 90°F • Average Rainfall: 3 - 6 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 8 - 11 hours/day

Summer in Rome is easily the most popular and busy period for tourism. Throughout the season, visitors can expect to queue and book sufficiently in advance for their choice of attractions and venues. Given the higher demand, the likes of airfare and accommodation prices also tend to peak around this time.

Though the eternal city has much appeal across the board, one of the defining factors in the summertime rush is its idyllic Mediterranean climate. For most of the season, temperatures remain consistently warm and pleasant, with near-constant sunshine to add to the package. Between the fantastic weather and thrilling bustle of summer, it’s no surprise that the majority of visitors consider this the best time to visit Rome.

Things to do in Summer

As mentioned earlier, many of Rome’s top attractions can get particularly busy around summer. Though that shouldn’t deter you from exploring some of the continent’s most iconic landmarks and historical sites, you’ll want to plan accordingly to avoid any potential disappointment.

Aside from exploring some of the capital’s poster-boy attractions, summertime couldn’t be better for taking some time to enjoy some of Rome’s serene parks and open spaces. Topping the list are the central glades of Villa Borghese, the romantic skyline views atop Pincio Hill and the impressive diversity of international flora houses within the seventeenth-century Botanical Garden.

What’s On in Summer

Rome’s peak tourism season just so happens to coincide with some of its biggest and most hotly anticipated events. Many events, such as the Isola del Cinema film festival, the Rock in Roma music festival and the Lungo il Tevere exhibition space running along the banks of the Tiber stick around for most of summer, meaning you can usually enjoy your pick of the litter no matter when exactly you choose to visit.

Many of these events also turn Rome into even more of a cultural hotspot than usual, such as the Concerti del Tempietto theater series held within the ancient Marcello Theater. Toward the end of the season, the Romaeuropa festival brings together international artists across various disciplines to offer a series of stellar dance, music, theater circus and digital arts performances.

Fall (October – November)

Image of Cityscape, Urban, Ruins,

Average Temperature: 46 - 73°F • Average Rainfall: 8 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 4 - 6 hours/day

Fall marks the late-year shoulder season for Rome, characterized once again by tourist traffic somewhere between that of summer and winter. In much the same way as throughout spring, you can be fairly sure of comparatively lower rates on airfare and hotel prices.

Much of the fall in Rome offers exactly what you’d expect of the season, with typically cool to mild temperatures dominating much of the month, paired with dwindling daylight hours and sunshine. With at least one day of rainfall likely each week, you’d be best off making sure to pack an umbrella and a waterproof jacket alongside some relatively warm clothing.

Things to do in Fall

As mentioned earlier, the shoulder seasons in Rome are the best times to explore some of the city’s lesser-visited attractions. Unbeknownst to some, the eternal city has its very own Egyptian-style pyramid, the Pyramid of Cestius, alongside the similarly Egyptian-inspired Flaminian Obelisk and Obelisk of Montecitorio located on Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Monte Citorio, respectively.

With the spooky season falling slap-bang in the middle of fall, you may find yourself looking to get into the spirit of Halloween. Many major tourist venues and restaurants throughout Rome offer their own themed parties, but for some truly authentic macabre chills, the likes of the Rome Catacombs and the Capuchin Crypt certainly aren’t for the faint of heart.

What's On in Fall

Rome truly becomes the national epicenter of cultural events throughout fall. While also continuing to carry the torch of the Romaeuropa festival, the city also hosts the Rome Art Week to showcase hundreds of international artists across various disciplines, alongside the October Rome Film Fest in celebration of all things cinema.

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Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Best Markets in Rome

Rome has enjoyed a fine marketplace tradition ever since Emperor Trajan first threw open the doors to his vast shopping and entertainment emporium way back in the Second Century. You can still visit the fascinating ruins of this ancient shoppers’ paradise on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, at the opposite end to the Colosseum. It’s well worth checking out for its well-preserved balconies, marble floors and remains of what would have been libraries and concert halls. Alas, Trajan’s Market is now a mere tourist attraction – albeit a very fine one – but most certainly no longer the place to source ancient Roman essentials like wheat, mead, togas, sandals, urns, mobile phone cases and fidget toys. No! For those, we must look elsewhere, so join us on a voyage of discovery through the modern city, as we go in search of the best markets in Rome... Campo dei Fiori Admittedly not quite as old as Trajan’s shopping mecca, Campo dei Fiori does hold the accolade of Rome’s longest-running market. It’s been operating here since 1869, and brings its riot of color, sounds and scents to this popular piazza every morning except Sundays. Back in medieval times, the square was a meadow filled with flowers, and the name Campo dei Fiori is a literal translation of this. Carrying that tradition into the 21st Century, you’ll find flower sellers hawking all manner of vibrant seasonal blooms here, from romantic Tuscan poppies to rainbows of gerbera. Follow your nose to the the foodie stalls where delectable homemade cakes, freshly baked breads and pungent Italian cheeses await. You’ll also discover some of the freshest local vegetables here, with purplish artichokes, huge porcini mushrooms and vibrant puntarelle (a variety of chicory) often the stars of the show. And if you’re not, ahem, in the market for raw ingredients simply grab a sweet cannoli pastry and espresso and enjoy the bustle of the market from the comfort of one of the cafés that line the piazza. Porta Portese Rummagers, get ready! Porta Portese’s Sunday flea market is the biggest in Rome, stretching for around a mile beyond its entrance, the forbidding ancient city gate that lends the market its name. Expect a little bit of everything here and in the surrounding streets and alleyways, from vintage Roma and Lazio soccer memorabilia to old vinyl records and CDs (expect a very strong showing from Italian best-sellers like Pavarotti, Zucchero and Andrea Bocelli). There are also – deep breath – retro comics and old newspapers, antique silverware, leather goods, mountains of clothes, kitsch movie memorabilia and, well, just about everything else you can think of. Sure, you might have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince here but, who knows, you might just walk away with that limited edition reproduction Luke Skywalker lightsaber you always dreamed of owning. Pro-tip: arrive early and bring your best haggling game (in Italian, if you can) to bag the best items at the lowest prices. Fontanella Borghese Bibliophiles, cartophiles, deltiologists and philatelists: this one’s for you. Also known as Mercato delle Stampe, this is the place for antiquarian books, maps, postcards and other printed ephemera. Dodge the tourist traps around the edges (cheap identikit prints from stall to stall are a dead giveaway), plunge in, and you might just strike gold. The piazza itself, tucked between via del Corso and the east banks of the Tiber, is an elegant place to while away an hour or two, with the stately facade of the Palazzo Borghese on one side and the University of Rome’s architectural school in a suitably striking building adjacent. San Cosimato Set on a pretty piazza in Rome’s laidback Trastevere district, San Cosimato is a favorite with in-the-know locals thanks to its farm-fresh produce and long history, with some stalls dating back 100 years or more. Here’s where to stock up on glistening just-caught fish, aromatic cheeses, vine-ripe tomatoes and piquant Tuscan salamis. There’s even a little book stall and a fab playground for the kids. More than just a market, this is a favourite place for Trastevere residents of all ages to congregate and catch up on the latest gossip. Look out for the stall with the longest queues of chattering locals: a sure sign that the produce on that one will be the very best. Borghetto Flaminio Sellers and patrons of Sunday’s Borghetto Flaminio Market would likely balk at their beloved vintage emporium being described as a flea market. And yet that, in essence, is what it is: second-hand goods hawked and haggled for inside an old bus depot. But this is no ordinary flea market, no sir! For here is where you can lay your hands on the finest cast-offs of Rome’s elite: all immaculate vintage fashions, sparkling antique jewelry and pristine accessories such as purses and scarves. So confident is Borghetto Flaminio Market in the quality of its finery that there’s even a small entry charge. And, indeed, once inside it comes over as more boutique pre-loved treasure trove than regular flea market with its associated tat, trinkets and trash. Campagna Amica Situated right next to the Circus Maximus, Campagna Amica Market is easily one of the best food markets in Rome. It trades exclusively in produce sourced from within 100 kilometers, which primarily means goods from local Lazio farmers. Fill your boots and get stocked up on the region’s finest wines and fruity extra virgin olive oils. There’s also pasta, prosciutto, pecorino and pickles galore here, so you’re highly unlikely to go away empty-handed. All this talk of food making you hungry? Grab a porchetta sandwich stuffed with warm, garlicky roast pork shoulder so juicy it fairly drenches the bread, then try telling the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita) round the corner it isn’t the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Go on, we dare you! Christmas! A towering Christmas tree bejeweled with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights, the intoxicating aromas of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts, and the sound of excited young children badgering beleaguered parents for this or that shiny trinket: Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a traditional market. Rome’s contribution – a daily event on Piazza Navona through the festive season – is no exception. In addition to dozens of stalls selling candy, antiques and unique handcrafted gifts, you can expect street performers, a beautiful old-fashioned carousel, sigh-inducing nighttime illuminations, carol singers and oodles of Christmas cheer. 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Stuart Bak
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Rome in February

Celebrated home to many of Europe’s most famous cultural and historical attractions, Rome presents a unique concoction of both low-season calm and celebratory chaos throughout February. No matter your preferences, whether you’d rather explore the city’s famous sights without the crowds or join in on a city-wide street party, Rome in February has it all. Visiting Rome in February Average Temperature: 37 - 57°F • Average Rainfall: 6 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 5 hours/day Continuing the trend set throughout January, Rome in February maintains a relatively low throughput of tourists. While the Italian capital is never truly quiet, owing to its largely evergreen key attractions, this period stands as one of the best times to see Rome in its most serene, authentic state. That being said, events in February such as Carnevale and Valentine’s Day are very much an exception to Rome’s low-season serenity. These celebrations help to create a truly electric atmosphere throughout the city, but they also come at the cost of much busier venues and attractions. Whether these are the ideal times for you to visit will depend entirely on your own preferences. Rome’s weather stays relatively consistent throughout winter, with February temperatures typically drifting between a little above freezing and mildly comfortable. With at least one day of rainfall likely per week to complement the cooler winter climate, you’ll want to make sure to pack appropriately if you plan on exploring more of the city’s open-air attractions. Things to do in February The winter low season is a fantastic time to experience some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks in relative peace. While the likes of Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona are notorious for drawing in a constant stream of tourists, they aren’t nearly as busy during this period as in the busier summer months. Be sure to come early in the day if you want to snap that perfect shot ahead of the crowds. Also worth a visit in February are the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, now in one of their most serene periods between the religious festivities of the festive season and Lent. Take this opportunity to explore one of the world’s most impressive collections of historical artifacts and artworks, and admire the impressive master architecture of two of the world’s most iconic religious sites. In much the same way, winter’s smaller tourism scene makes February a great time to explore more of the country’s best offerings. With Naples, Florence and Pompeii just a little over an hour’s train journey away from Rome, a day trip is more than enough time to experience more of Italy’s world-renowned culture, cuisine and history. If you’re looking for something of a different experience of the Italian capital, take some time to discover the more macabre side to the city. The Roman Catacombs stretch for miles beneath the city, lined with the skeletons of a civilization now long passed, while the likes of a Dark Rome tour takes visitors on a stroll through some of Rome’s darkest and most fascinating stories and legends, from gritty historical events to whispers of the supernatural. What's On in February Carnevale di Roma With roots as far back as the 12th Century, Carnevale is one of Rome’s most hotly anticipated annual events. For eight straight days, the city of Rome comes to a near-complete standstill as thousands of locals and visitors alike take to the streets to revel in all manner of colorful festivities. Historically, the festival stood as a final chance to feast and party in the lead-up to Lent. Alongside much dancing, singing, eating and drinking, the celebration was often punctuated by impressive duels, bullfights, parades and a particularly popular riderless horse race. Although some of these events may have since fallen out of practice, the same jovial merriment is still very much alive in today’s Carnevale. Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona and Piazza della Repubblica are often the main epicenter of festivities, erupting into great street parties complete with events and entertainment for all ages. Another popular venue is Castel Sant’Angelo, where you can typically find live music performances and a generally electric buzz, often along with an artificial ice rink. While the traditional Berber horse race fell into oblivion long ago, horses still play an important role in the festival. The race has since been succeeded by a horse-back costumed parade throughout Rome’s historic streets, often joined and escorted by horses from the military’s own equestrian unit. A large equestrian show takes place later in the festival, with horses performing all manner of impressive acrobats and dressage, where children may also be offered free horse-back rides. Those already familiar with Carnevale celebrations in Europe in general may already be aware that Italy’s most popular and famous celebration actually takes place in Venice rather than Rome. If you’re looking to join the very best festivities that Italy has to offer, Rome simply pales in comparison to the colorfully chaotic street parties of Carnevale in Venice. Valentine's Day One of Europe’s most famously romantic cities, there are few better places than Rome to spend Valentine’s Day. Take a relaxing evening stroll along the banks of the Tiber, enjoy a candlelit dinner at a charming Italian restaurant, gaze up at the stars from one of the city’s many popular trattorias or take part in one of many possible couple-friendly activities. Many restaurants and venues throughout the city take the opportunity to offer special menus, products and discounts on and around February 14, resulting in almost endless ways to really treat that special someone. We’d recommend you make plans and bookings ahead of time to avoid any disappointment on the day
Robert Heaney

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