I’m often asked when is the best time to visit Rome and even though I think spring is a fantastic season to travel to the Italian capital, it has pros and cons.
Depending on travelers’ interests, every month and every season in Rome has something different to offer. In this detailed guide, I write a summary of what to expect when visiting Rome each month of the year so that you can make a more informed decision about when to travel.
Whatever your interests and travel needs are, in this article you will find out when is the best time to travel to Rome for shopping, sightseeing, taking day trips or long walks, and also when to expect crowds and higher prices.
After reading this handy month-by-month guide, you will be ready to book your flight and plan your trip!
Best time to go to Rome – A monthly planner
Rome in January for shopping deals
The first week of January, the schools are still closed for the Christmas holidays and on the 6th, in Italy, we celebrate the Epiphany with the old “Befana” lady who arrives on her broom to bring gifts to children. In Rome, the Befana is celebrated in big style in Piazza Navona.
In the remaining three weeks of January, Rome is pretty quiet tourist-wise but the shops in the city center usually become crowded because on January 7th, the biggest winter sales start. Shops will be selling away the leftovers of their winter collection with discounts that start at 30% off and towards the end can reach even 70% off.
Together with February, January is one of the coldest months of Rome’s winter, and being quiet, after the end of the holidays, hotel rates usually go down.
Check out my guide to spending January in Rome
Rome in February for cheaper prices
Apart from the Carnival days, which go between Fat Thursday and Mardi Gras, February is a generally quiet month in Rome tourist-wise. This means that you will find more hotel options, better prices, and shorter queues.
If you are visiting famous Rome landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, however, I would still suggest booking your tickets ahead.
February is also one of the coldest months of the year so make sure you pack winter clothes and are prepared for some rain and windy days.
Check out my guide to February in Rome
Rome in March for crowd-less landmarks
March is when spring starts but don’t expect very warm weather. Or better, expect a quite unpredictable climate with sunny days quickly turning into rainy evenings. This is why you should pack a bit of spring and winter clothes so that you are not caught unprepared. Layering is your best bet.
Tourist-wise, March is not too busy even though there are more visitors than in the previous months. I would still suggest planning your trip ahead if you want to visit some major Rome landmarks.
Check out my guide to March in Rome
Rome in April to celebrate its birthday
April is a fantastic time to travel to Rome. First of all, the weather has started becoming warmer and cozier, not too cold anymore but not too hot yet. Walking around Rome’s streets and parks such as Villa Borghese and Villa Torlonia is very pleasant.
This is also the month of Rome’s birthday (Natale di Roma), so there will be celebrations around the Circus Maximus and the city center.
April is usually the month we celebrate Easter in Italy and, obviously, also Rome will have its ceremonies and holidays. This is a great time of the year to take day trips and stay out in nature and especially on Easter Monday, you will see the locals flocking in the parks in and around the city.
Check out my guide to April in Rome
Rome in May, one of the best months to visit Rome
May is probably the best time to visit Rome for its perfect weather. Not unstable like in March and sometimes April, May offers a mild climate and pleasant temperatures to stay outdoors. Restaurants will have their tables outside and you can enjoy your meals al fresco.
In May, there is only one holiday and it’s on the 1st, Labour Day. Every year on this day, there is a big, free concert with many Italian and international artists. Usually held in Piazza San Giovanni, this year 2024 it will be in the Circus Maximus. It starts in the afternoon and goes on until the night but if you want to attend, I suggest you show up quite early to secure a spot because there will be thousands of people.
Check out my guide to May in Rome
Rome in June for great weather
Rome in June is very pleasant, even though the heat is starting. Hotter than May but less than July, in June you can still enjoy some walks, the parks, and open-air archaeological sites such as the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, and the Trajan’s Markets.
The day of notice in June in Rome is the 29th because it’s the day of the patron saints Peter and Paul and schools and offices will be closed. Restaurants and shops won’t be, though.
Check out my guide to Rome in June
Rome in July for some beach time
Let’s face it, July in Rome is very hot and somewhat humid. Walking in the city center is pleasant only early morning and at night, in the middle of the day, it’s unbearable.
This is why if you are visiting Rome in summer, I would suggest you pack a bikini and consider some beach time to give yourself a break from the city heat. There are many beaches near Rome and easy to reach by train such as Ostia Lido or by car if you feel confident driving in the city.
If you are in the city and the heat becomes unbearable, what’s a better way to escape the sun than visiting one of the many beautiful Rome museums? In summer, the local municipality organizes entertainment along the river so that in the evening you can enjoy stands, live shows, and restaurants. The banks of the river are also fresher than the streets.
Rome in August
Similarly to July, also in August Rome is hot. After the 15th, the weather starts being less muggy but not always, and definitely not fresh either. There will still be the stands in the banks of the river for a nice night out.
The 15th of August is a holiday in Italy and many places will be closed. This, however, is not as radical as it was when I first moved to Rome in the 1990s. Back then, most of August, shops and restaurants would really shut down, while now, they remain open and only some will close for a week or so.
Check out my guide to Rome in August
Rome in September
Similarly to June, also September is a nice month to travel to Rome. Even though it’s not as hot as in July and August, you can expect pretty warm temperatures. For the first three weeks, it’s still summer and fall starts on the 21st. While it’s generally hot, sometimes, you can find some light rain that in September never lasts too long and just serves to refresh the air.
Around mid-September, schools in Rome reopen after the summer holidays and the city traffic is back to its normal craziness. The city center will still have some crowds but fewer than in spring and summer. The weather is very nice and walking around the city is pleasant, this is why it’s still a busy tourist season.
Check out my guide to September in Rome
Rome in October
October is the best time to visit Rome weather-wise because the big heat is over and it’s not as crowded as in May. The main monuments will still be quite packed, though, so booking in advance will save you plenty of time.
This is a fantastic month to walk around and explore Rome’s piazzas and streets, enjoy an al fresco meal or drink in a rooftop bar or restaurant, and
Check out my guide to October in Rome
Rome in November for romantic lights and colors
In November, fall is at full speed and the colors and atmosphere around Rome are very romantic. This is a perfect time for scenic walks along the Tiber, taking beautiful pictures, and exploring the city on foot without sweating since the summer heat is a far memory.
Check out my guide to November in Rome
Rome in December for the Christmas spirit
December is a magical time to visit Italy and Christmas in Rome is wonderful. You will be experiencing the Yule spirit the whole month with beautiful street decorations, adorned trees, nativity scenes in every church, and themed shop windows. If you are into Christmas festive spirit, then December is the best time to visit Rome for you.
Check out my guide to Rome in December
The best time to visit Rome for fewer crowds
Winter is the season when you will see fewer crowds in Rome, especially from January through mid-March. Towards the end of March and the beginning of spring is when the tourist season starts and even though there won’t be the crowds of May and summer, you will start seeing longer lines at the entrance of the landmarks.
The best time to go to Rome for the weather
Weather-wise, my favorite time to visit Rome is spring and fall. That’s right, also fall. I know that fall can reserve some showers and overcast skies, but overall, the light is beautiful and the orange, red, yellow, and brown hues of the falling leaves offer fantastic photo opportunities.
Spring gives the opposite colors, pastel and bright, but especially at the beginning of the season in March, don’t expect the weather to be very warm, and be prepared for some unexpected showers.
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Thank you very much for your insight. My sister and I have roots in Palmyra. If we used Rome as a base, would their be train service to Palmyra or close by?
Hi Janis, do you mean Palermo? Yes there are train and flights from Rome to Palermo.