Quiet and with very few crowds, visiting Rome in November is more of a local rather than a tourist experience. With much fewer tourists than in the busy summer season, you will immerse in the authentic Roman lifestyle.
We love November in Rome. We enjoy sightseeing when landmarks are quiet and crowd-free, we enjoy the warm colors of its falling leaves, and we like to take longer walks now that the summer heat is long gone.
With fall in full swing and winter approaching, there are a few things to keep in mind if you are visiting Rome in November.
If you are wondering what to expect from Rome in November, whether it’s a good idea to plan your trip to Italy in the fall, or what’s the weather like, keep reading. With our guide, we hope to help you decide whether November is a good time for you to go to Rome and make your trip planning easier.
Is November a good time to go to Rome?
If you don’t mind a potential shower now and then, November is a great time to visit Rome. Even though November is one of the rainiest months in Rome and for sure the rainiest of the autumn season, it doesn’t really rain every day. In fact, you might as well find nice weather for the whole duration of your Roman holiday.
Here are some reasons why I think November is a great time to go to Rome.
4 reasons to visit Rome in November
- Crowd-free landmarks. This is a big reason for wanting to plan your Rome trip for November. While I’m not telling you that you will find the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums empty, rest assured that your experience will be better than the one you could have in July and August. I still recommend booking your tickets online, but if you don’t manage, try to pick less busy hours and you will still find space availability and smaller lines.
- Cheaper prices. Both international flights and hotels in Rome will be cheaper in November. November is in between two busy holiday seasons so the prices are usually down. You will find cheaper international flights to reach Rome and also cheaper domestic flights if you wish to visit other cities and take a longer Italy trip. The lower accommodation prices will allow you to either afford a better hotel or truly travel on a shoestring and book a cheaper room. This way, you can even make your budget stretch further and stay in Rome for 4 days or even a week instead of making it only a short city break.
- Pleasant temperatures. With the summer heat just gone and the winter freeze still not here, Rome in November pleases us with lovely temperatures. You won’t be able to go out wearing just a t-shirt, but you won’t need too heavy clothing and shoes either, so walking will be a pleasure.
- Beautiful colors. Whether you are a photography enthusiast, an Instagram fan, or simply like to stare at stunning views, November is a great month to be in Rome. The warm orange, brown, and yellow colors are all over the city conveying a sense of poetry to streets and landmarks.
How’s the weather in Rome in November
Temperatures in Rome in November are quite mild. Ranging between 7°C (44°F) the lowest at night and 17°C (62°F) the highest during the day. As per experience, the highest temperature can reach even more than 17°C and get closer to 20°C (68°F).
The weather in Rome in November is pleasant and allows you to take long walks. November gives us more rainy days than both the previous and the following month, but there are also many rain-free days. Even though you can find some sun, it’s possible sometimes to find cloudy and gloomy days.
Also, even when there is a rainy day, it doesn’t mean that it will actually rain the whole day. In November it rains more than in both October and December. On average, we have around 10 days of rain for some 115 mm (4.5 inches).
Planning your trip for Christmas? Check out our guide to visiting Rome in December!
Important dates in Rome in November
- November 1st – All Saints’ Day. The 1st of November is a holiday and offices and schools are closed, while shops and restaurants remain open, especially in the city center and close to famous landmarks.
- November 2nd – Day of the Dead. This is not a holiday but Italians honor their dead by bringing flowers to their graves. Everyone is back to work, offices are open, and so are shops and schools.
- November 4th – Giornata dell’Unità Nazionale (Day of National Unity). It’s not a national holiday but there are official celebrations in Piazza Venezia at the Vittoriano Palace where is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Are Rome landmarks closed on November 1st?
No, all landmarks in Rome are open on November 1st even if it’s a holiday. Only the Vatican Museums are closed, but Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is open to visitors. Keep in mind, however, that many museums are closed on Monday.
Things to do in November in Rome
Visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
If it’s your first time in Rome or if you have never been to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, November is the perfect time to do so. These landmarks are next to each other and to see both you will need a single ticket that remains valid for two days.
Since they are two of the most important archaeological sites in Rome, I won’t suggest taking them lightly. I still recommend booking online to skip the line and secure your spot, but since the crowd is nowhere near the summer months, you will enjoy your experience inside much more than you would in August.
However, being both sites open-air, make sure you visit them when it’s not raining.
- Opening hours of the Colosseum in November: Every day 9 am-4.30 pm.
Don’t miss our complete guide to visiting the Colosseum in Rome.
Visit major landmarks crowd-free
Apart from the Colosseum, there are many other fantastic places to visit in Rome that in November are quiet and pleasant. Some of these include strolling in one of the city’s parks such as the elegant Villa Pamphilj and the quaint Villa Torlonia, a smaller garden packed with landmarks.
If you do make it to Villa Torlonia, don’t miss the buildings of Casino Nobile, Casina delle Civette, and the Moorish Greenhouse (Serra Moresca). While if you are strolling around Villa Borghese, make it a point to visit Galleria Borghese, one of Rome’s most important museums.
Some other places you can visit in Rome in November for a crowd-free experience include Palazzo Barberini, Saint John in the Lateran Basilica, the Fori Imperiali, the Trajan’s Markets, Castel Sant’Angelo, the Pantheon, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls Basilica if you don’t mind going the extra mile to reach the lovely Garbatella neighborhood.
Celebrate Halloween at Cinecittà World
Cinecittà World is the amusement park of Cinecittà Studios, famous for being the set of many Italian and international movies for decades. Cinecittà World is located south of Rome and apart from the permanent attractions inspired by the most famous movies, for every festivity, they also organize cool themed parties.
This year, for Halloween, every weekend of October and the 1st and 2nd of November, visitors can enjoy their day out in Cinecittà World walking amongst zombies and mummies, attending Dracula’s funeral, visiting the horror cinema exhibition, descending to the horror house and Manikomio scary rooms, and many other creepy attractions.
On October 31st and the two days in November, there will also be live shows and concerts.
- Where: Via Irina Alberti.
- When: Every October weekend and November 1st and 2nd.
- How much: 37€ (27€ online), children 29€ (22€ online), family of three 69€ (only online).
- Website.
Snap great pictures
It’s not a secret that Rome’s streets feature some potholes here and there. Although this is generally perceived as a problem, and when I drive in Rome, it definitely is, when the street holes in the city center get filled with water, they give us wonderful reflections.
Since visiting Rome in November might include some showers, why not capitalize on that and get beautiful pictures? As soon as it stops raining, go out and about to the main landmarks of the city center and capture the reflections and the beautiful atmosphere of gloomy days and sky.
Admire the foliage
Autumn is my favorite season also for the colors it gives us. Part of this warm atmosphere is the falling leaves. There are many places to admire the foliage in Rome in November.
One of the easiest is Villa Borghese. Strolling around the boulevards of this great central park opens wonderful sceneries of foliage the typical autumn warm hues and Rome’s domes and rooftops in the background.
If you enjoy going offbeat, head south and visit the fantastic Parco degli Acquedotti, Park of the Aqueducts, named after the several ancient water systems Rome was so famous for. With the fascinating backdrop of ancient Roman vestiges, this park in the Appian Way is a great place to enjoy the foliage in Rome in November.
Of course, magical places to admire the falling leaves in all their orange, brown, and golden hues are the parks and woods around Rome. Some of the places to check out are the mysterious Bomarzo sacred wood near Viterbo or the regional park of Bracciano-Martignano around Bracciano Lake. Even if they are not too far from Rome, it will still be a long day out so don’t forget your road trip essentials.
Don’t miss our article about the best day trips from Rome.
Have brunch
Trust me, on a cold, humid, rainy day, there is nothing better than ducking into a cozy coffee shop mid-morning for a hearty, warming brunch. Just like the one I had in the lovely Santi Sebastiano e Valentino bakery with a kitchen, where they prepare fantastic bread, focaccia, pizza, and pastries, and also serve coffee drinks and high-quality tea.
There are many places in Rome to have a great brunch. One central and easy to reach just behind Piazza Navona is our very favorite Coromandel (Via di Monte Giordano 60/61). Some others where you can stop during your sightseeing include Proloco Trastevere (Via Goffredo Mameli 23), Marigold (Via Giovanni da Empoli 37), Queen Makeda (Via di San Saba 11), and Mama Shelter (Via Luigi Rizzo 20).
Some places serve brunch every day, while others only on weekends, so it’s better to check before going, unless it’s an unplanned stop.
Go to a museum
One of the best things to do in Rome when it rains is to go to a museum. Since in Rome in November you might find some rainfalls, why not duck into a museum and learn more about our beautiful capital?
Some of the museums that can really increase your knowledge about Rome are the Capitoline Museums for the city’s ancient history, the Etruscan culture as well as Rome’s foundation, and the venue of Museo Nazionale Romano set in the Diocletian Baths, one of the richest collections of ancient Roman artifacts, objects, mosaics, and tools.
If you want to find out more about Rome’s more modern history, check out Centrale Montemartini in the Ostiense neighborhood, the former main power plant where Roman and Greek classic artwork is displayed next to the modern machinery to produce electricity.
Don’t miss our article on the best museums in Rome.
Visit the Vatican Museums
One of the richest and most popular museums in the city, the Vatican Museums are a fantastic addition to your November in Rome bucket list. While the average time most visitors spend in the Vatican Museums is 2 hours, when I talked to one of the art curators, he recommended no less than 5 hours for a better, deeper visit.
I agree. You are not going to visit the Vatican Museums every day, so when you do, I suggest taking your time to appreciate the great wealth of artwork and historical pieces.
Included in several Vatican tours, some of the most important art masterpieces you can view are the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, the Gallery of the Maps, Raphael’s Rooms, the Egyptian Museum, Museo Pio Clementino for a rich statue collection, and the fascinating Carriages Pavilion to see the means of transportation of the popes throughout the centuries.
- Opening hours of the Vatican Museums in November: Monday to Saturday 9 am-6 pm (last entrance at 4 pm). Closed on November 1st.
Don’t miss our guide to visiting the Vatican.
Duck into Saint Peter’s Basilica
Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the most important churches in Rome and for sure the most visited any season. Even when the line at the entrance is long, the police control runs pretty quickly, and I’m sure in November you won’t find a big line.
If you think you will be able to devote a bit more time to the Vatican’s main church, I strongly recommend booking a tour of the ancient Roman necropolis underneath St. Peter’s Renaissance basilica. This will open a fascinating look at the history of Christianity and at the centuries of honoring and paying tribute to the tomb of the Apostle Peter.
By booking a tour of the necropolis, once you are done underground, you will be led through a passageway directly to the crypt of the popes so you can simply go up and visit St. Peter’s Basilica.
Go to church
Whether it’s for praying or to discover more artwork, going to church is a good idea if it’s cloudy, raining, or cold. Churches are packed with famous art masterpieces so visiting them is obviously not something to do in Rome in November only, but for sure when it’s cold or humid, it feels like a safe haven to spend some time in.
Chase Caravaggio’s work in Rome, attend religious functions and learn about the history of Christianity in what can be a themed itinerary in the eternal city.
See an exhibition in Rome in November 2024
With the end of the summer holiday, the city comes back to life in full swing. In November in Rome, there are many exhibitions you can visit across its museums and cultural spaces. Here are some exhibitions running in November 2024:
- Roma Pittrice. Le artiste a Roma tra il XVI e il XIX secolo. Museo di Roma (Piazza di San Pantaleo 10). An exhibition of paintings by Roman female artists running until January 31st, 2025.
- Fernando Botero. La Grande Mostra. Palazzo Bonaparte (Piazza Venezia 5). An exhibition showing the artwork of the famous Colombian artist. It runs until January 10th, 2025.
- Mirò – Il costruttore dei sogni. Museo Storico della Fanteria (Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 3) until February 23rd, 2025. An exhibition devoted to the famous Catalan painter and sculptor.
- Monet e gli Impressionisti – Digital Experience. Next Museum (Corso d’Italia 37b) until January 31st, 2025. Thanks to AI, video mapping, and virtual reality, visitors will be able to submerge in the paintings of Monet and other Impressionist artists. Closed on Mondays.
Attend a concert or a local event in Rome in November 2024
- Puccini 100. Until December 15th, 2024 – Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30). Several concerts of Puccini’s operas. Official website.
- Laura Pausini. November 18th-19th – Palazzo dello Sport (Piazzale Pier Luigi Nervi 1).
- Roma Jazz Festival. November 1st-23rd – Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone (Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30), la Casa del Jazz (Villa Osio, Viale di Porta Ardeatina 55) and Club Monk (Via Giuseppe Mirri 35).
- Peter Pan – Il Musical. October 18th-November 3rd – Teatro Brancaccio (Via Merulana 244).
Explore Rome underground
Truth is, visiting Rome’s underground sites is any-weather-friendly. Usually, the underground landmarks are humid, but this is not only in November but any season. This is why even if you are visiting in summer, it’s always recommended to wear a shawl over your shoulders.
Since you are traveling to Rome in November, my guess is that you will also be covered enough to go underground.
Places like the catacombs, the undergrounds of San Clemente Basilica with the ancient Roman street and Mithra temple, or the fantastic underground buildings of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere Basilica are great to visit in Rome in November.
Stroll around Trastevere
It’s not common to see the Trastevere neighborhood crowd-free, but in November in Rome, this can happen, too. Wander the local cobbled alleys, visit the local churches, and enjoy the local food.
Some of the best things to do in Trastevere include visiting the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, the museum of Roman folklore, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, a stroll in the Botanic Gardens if it’s not raining, and discovering hidden gems like the wonderful ancient pharmacy of Santa Maria della Scala.
If you are hungry, don’t miss our article on the best restaurants in Trastevere.
Take a cooking class
If it’s raining, why not capitalize on the bad weather by learning how to make a traditional Roman dish or other famous Italian culinary specialties? In Rome, they run several cooking classes where expert chefs teach how to make popular dishes such as pasta, whether it’s the northern egg-based or the southern type with only semolina, pizza, tiramisu, and even artisan gelato.
We took a great pasta-making class in Trastevere where we learned to make egg-based fettuccine pasta from scratch and the original and delicious amatriciana sauce. Usually, these cooking lessons involve learning precious cooking secrets, an immersion in the local culture, and plenty of food and wine tastings.
Check out the best cooking classes in Rome for more options.
What should you book ahead in Rome in November?
Even though November is not a too busy month in Rome, there are still places I recommend booking ahead.
- Tours. In general, tours require to be booked in advance no matter which month you are traveling. Of course, being November, you won’t need to book your place too much ahead as if you were going to Rome in July or August.
- Entrance tickets. Even though not too busy, the most popular attractions like the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, or Galleria Borghese will still have some lines at the entrance. Book your ticket online to speed up the process.
- Restaurants. In Rome in November, you are likely to always find a table in a restaurant. Unless you want to go for dinner in the city center or Trastevere on a weekend. In this case, always book ahead.
- Hotels. Rome is full of great hotels so you will always find space, especially in a quiet month such as November. Book ahead if you want to secure a room in a specific hotel or just as a good planning habit!
Is Rome crowded in November?
November is probably the least busy month tourist-wise. If you travel to Rome in November, you should expect a more authentic experience than, for example, in August. In Rome in August, in fact, you will mainly meet foreigners and tourists because Romans are either on holiday or stay far from the tourist-packed landmarks.
In November, Romans are in the city and at work. The traffic that you will find is the real Roman traffic and life goes on as normal. If you explore neighborhoods like Testaccio, Ostiense, or Prati in November, you will definitely see more locals than tourists and get a better hint of the Roman lifestyle.
With this, I’m not saying that in November you will find Rome empty. But for cultural sightseeing, November is a perfect month to travel to the eternal city.
What to pack for a trip to Rome in November
Here are some items I recommend packing if you are planning your Rome trip in November.
- Backpack. Having a backpack when sightseeing in Rome is very practical because you can easily carry your personal belongings and valuables. Keep in mind that you can’t enter the Colosseum with a backpack so in this case, you might opt for a cross-body bag.
- Reusable water bottle. Rome is full of little nasoni fountains pouring drinkable water so if you are wandering the city, having your own reusable bottle will save you good cash because you can refill it any time.
- Umbrella. Because of the chance of rain, carrying your own umbrella is a good idea. To travel light, pack one small and foldable umbrella.
- Camera protection. If you have a valuable camera, you might want to protect it from the rain.
Insider’s tip: If you forget something, don’t worry, in Rome, you can buy just about everything.
What to wear in November in Rome
The weather in November in Rome slightly changes from the beginning to the end of the month, but roughly these are some essential clothing items you should pack no matter when you are traveling.
- Raincoat. You never know when it rains in Rome in November, but packing a raincoat is always a good idea. You can pack one that folds easily so it doesn’t take up too much of your luggage space.
- Ankle boots or sneakers. If it rains, I would suggest wearing ankle boots that protect you from getting wet, but when it doesn’t rain, a pair of sneakers is perfect for walking around Rome’s landmarks.
- Socks or tights. In Rome in November barefoot sandals are a thing of the past. Summer is officially over and it’s not that warm anymore, so wearing socks will become necessary. Or tights if you are wearing a skirt.
- Jumper. Probably wool sweaters are too warm for November, especially at the beginning of the month, but jumpers are necessary. Underneath, you can wear a cotton top.
- Long-sleeve cotton tops. Layering is very handy in Rome in November, so packing long-sleeve cotton tops is a good idea to remove the outer layers if it becomes too hot. Especially at the beginning of the month, you can also pack short-sleeve tops.
- Scarf or shawl. I wear a scarf in Rome from October until late spring, so in November I totally recommend it. You will judge by yourself if it’s the case to use it, but I’m guessing in the evening you will.
- Jeans or cotton trousers. Comfortable trousers are comfortable to walk all day and warm enough for November in Rome.
- Jacket or cardigan. A jacket or a cardigan in November becomes necessary in Rome. In the evening, you might want even a warmer jacket than during the day.
For a more exhaustive list, check out our tips on what to wear in November in Rome.
How long are the days in Rome in November?
Usually, on the last weekend of October, Italy goes back to solar time. So in November the sun rises and sets an hour earlier than in the previous month.
At the beginning of November in Rome, you can expect the sun to rise around 6.40 am and set at 5 pm. Around mid-November, dawn is around 6.55 am and dusk is between 4.50 and 4.45 pm. Getting towards the end of the month, the sun rises between 7.10 and 7.14 am and sets at 4.40 pm.
The daylight in Rome in November goes from around 10 hours and a half at the beginning of the month and 9 hours and a half towards the end of the month and the nearing of the winter season.
Rome in November with kids
I think your kids will enjoy Rome in November more than in the busiest summer months because they will have to stand much less in the queue and find much fewer crowds.
At the beginning of November, you might still find warm-ish days, so if your baby wants gelato, you won’t feel too guilty allowing it. Probably not so much at the end of the month when temperatures start dropping.
Parks and playgrounds
With our 3-year-old in Rome in November, we often go to a park. We love Villa Pamphilj and Parco degli Acquedotti. Both parks are better when the day is dry because most of what to see and do is open-air. Parco degli Acquedotti has also a covered playground for children and to use it, they need to take their shoes off to stay clean and dry.
Your child will enjoy Villa Borghese, too. Apart from the foliage and the historical landmarks, here there is Bioparco, the Rome zoo, and kids love it. There are several animal species and areas to explore, a perfect place to spend a day or half a day out. However, being November in Rome, make sure you go if it’s not raining because it’s all open-air.
Explora Children Museums
On a rainy day, your children will love the Explora Museum in Flaminio, near Piazza del Popolo. Explora is a museum of experiences for children aged between 0 and 12 years old. Every age has its own section and area, and obviously different activities.
We went to Explora when our son was 1 and he loved it. He played with lights, sounds, musical instruments, cushions of different shapes, and obviously other babies. If you are traveling to Rome with a baby, I definitely recommend treating your child to this experience at least once.
Now that our baby is 3, we can’t wait to go again so that he can discover new things such as the firefighters’ truck, which is his new obsession. And since we live here, I’m positive we are going to spend one weekend in November in Rome at the Explora Museum.
