The best times to make a trip to Rome, Italy, are April through May and September through mid-October. These months have the best weather of the year, with mild temperatures that aren’t too hot, allowing you to spend the whole day exploring and checking out the many attractions.
Traveling during summer can be extremely uncomfortable as temperatures can soar above 100°F or higher. The month of August is also somewhat of a ghost town as Roman people take a month-long vacation. Winter travel to Rome is the best time to avoid crowds, but these months are cooler and much rainier.
Weather in Rome
Rome’s weather is similar to much of central and southern Italy, with hot summers and cool winter nights. The best times to visit Rome for the ideal weather conditions include April, May, September, and October.
During these months, the average daytime temperatures will hover between around 67°F and 82°F, with less than 3.5” of rainfall on average. So you’ll get comfortable temperatures and relatively dry days, the perfect combination.
Due to its location, the summer in Rome gets very hot and uncomfortable. With daytime average temperatures reaching up to about 90°F in July and August and daily highs getting up to 100-105°F at times, you want to avoid traveling during this time. If you do travel to Rome during the summer, you will experience almost no rain.
On the flip side, Roman winters are the wettest times of the year, with the rainy season running from November through February. Temperatures during the winter days will still hover in the mid-50s, so the days won’t be too cold if you make your trip then—just a little wet.
Best Time for Staying Outdoors in Rome: Late-March through Early-June and Mid-September through Early-November
The best time to visit Rome if you’re wanting to spend most of your time outdoors is during spring and fall. To be more specific, you’ll want to visit any time from late-March through early-June or mid-September through early-November.
If you’ve noticed, we’ve pretty much taken out all of the summer months as times when you’d want to visit Rome and stay outdoors. That’s because the Roman summers can get miserably hot, especially during July and August.
With temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F and the heat index reaching dangerous levels, you won’t want to be spending much time outside during the day, which would really put a downer on much of your trip.
Instead, visiting during the time suggested here will allow you to spend as much time outdoors as you wish, without the unbearable heat of summer of chilly winter weather forcing you back indoors.
Best Time for Sightseeing & Museum Hopping: March through April and Late-September through November
The best time to visit Rome for sightseeing and exploring the countless museums in the city is early-spring and late-fall. Particularly visiting Rome from March through April and late-September through November will be the best time of year.
Visiting Rome during these times of the year will typically provide temperatures ranging from the low-60s°F through the upper 70s°F. This range of temperatures is just about perfect for spending hours walking through things such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and more.
You might be wondering why these times are a little different than the previous category of staying outdoors, but that’s because of the museum hopping aspect. Early-spring and late-fall tend to be a bit rainier than is ideal for being outside, but those are the perfect days of your trip to spend checking out the museums that Rome has to offer.
Best Time for Honeymooners: May through June and Late-September through October
A honeymoon to Rome is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences of a newlywed couple’s lives, as long as they go at the right time. The best time to visit Rome for a perfect honeymoon is May through June and late-September through October.
What can ruin a Roman honeymoon experience faster than anything else? Bad wad weather and droves of tourists everywhere. That’s what makes late-spring and early-fall the best time of year to visit.
These times of year are just before and just after the high-travel season that Rome experiences in the summer, avoiding crowds and also the oppressive heat of the sun beating down on you every day.
But this is also the perfect time to have a smaller chance of rain showers popping up and ruining your trip. Planning your honeymoon to Rome earlier in spring or later in the fall will get into the rainy months of the year, and that would put a damper on the perfect honeymoon.
Best Time for Budget Travelers: December and Mid-January through February
The best time for budget travelers to visit Rome will be during the winter except for the holidays. This means making your trip in December before Christmas hits or starting in mid-January through February after New Year’s Day and the Epiphany have already passed.
During the winter, prices for hotels and activities in Rome will be at their lowest. As such a popular travel destination for visitors from all over the world, hotels, boutiques, and activities in Rome get more expensive during the high travel season of summer.
So during the winter, everything gets a bit cheaper so that visitors are still drawn to the city. Even if you’re planning a winter vacation to Rome to save money, the hotels in Rome can still be booked months in advance. Try getting your room booked at least 3 months in advance of your winter trip to ensure you get the best rates.
Best Time for Shopaholics: January through February
The best time to visit Rome for the best shopping experience is January through February. This is because just after New Year’s Day, the winter sales begin across Italy, and many places in Rome will offer some of the best deals of the year.
Italians from all over the country flock to Rome to take advantage of some of the best sales that the city has to offer, and the sale runs until the inventory of the stores and shops run out — or at least get to the point where they can no longer offer sales.
If you’re visiting Rome at any other time of year, make sure you save your bargain hunting for Sundays. Across the city, many museums and sightseeing locations are free to enter, although crowds may be a bit busier for this reason.
On Sundays, also be sure to check out Mercatino del Borghetto Flaminio in Rome to get the best deals of the week. Hundreds of vendors and exhibitors go there weekly to sell and trade clothing and other fashion staples at a great deal.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Rome?
We recommend spending at least three full days in Rome to ensure you get the chance to see and do everything without rushing through it all. As one of the most attraction-filled cities in the world, you want to fully enjoy your time in Rome and take it all in.
What is the rainiest month in Rome?
November is the rainiest month of the year in Rome, with rain expected to fall on at least ten days out of the month. And when it does fall, it tends to be heavier, leading to an average of over 115mm (over 4.5”) of rainfall during the month.
When should I not visit Rome?
The worst time to visit Rome is during the summer months due to the unbearable heat, but especially in August. Not only is the weather in August miserable, but the locals also take a month-long vacation, and the city becomes almost vacant with nothing to do.
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