We always picture Rome baking in the sun, swamped with summer tourists. Yet those who know it are aware: winter may be the loveliest season for the Eternal City. The climate stays mild, the low light sublimates the ancient stones, and above all, you can finally admire the monuments without jostling.
Here's why winter deserves your visit, and how to make the most of it. Find all the activities on our what to do in Rome page.
Why Rome is perfect in winter
Three reasons, mainly. First the crowds: outside the Christmas holidays, the queues melt away and you enjoy the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain almost peacefully. Then the prices: flights and hotels are noticeably cheaper than in high season. Finally the weather: with temperatures often between 8 and 15°C, you walk all day without suffering the summer heat.
The must-sees, finally without the queue
Winter is the dream time for the great sites: the Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are visited with a fluidity unthinkable in summer. Still book your skip-the-line tickets: even off-season, slots remain limited, and it guarantees entry.
Colosseum & Vatican to book
Skip-the-line tickets for the Colosseum, the Forum and the Vatican Museums.
Christmas and winter atmosphere
In December, Rome takes on a special atmosphere: nativity scenes (the famous presepi) in the churches, a Christmas market on Piazza Navona, lights in the lanes. And on 6 January, the feast of the Befana closes the festivities in a joyful, quintessentially Italian mood. A hot chocolate on a terrace, and you have the perfect weekend.
