When is the best time to visit Rome?

A beautiful Spring day

I was just asked this questions a few weeks back but it’s a common question I always get. My answer is always the same “visit Rome in Spring between April and June, and in Autumn from end-September until late October.” During these months, the weather is Rome is at it’s most pleasant and in October there is a period known as the Roman ‘Ottobrate’ which is rough translated as ‘beautiful October days’.

The spring and autumn days are sunny and comfortable, making it a pleasure toexplore this lovely historic city on foot. You will get the occasional rain showers from October onwards, but they are not too heavy. Just make sure you carry an umbrella with you at all times. I always have one in my bag but if you are without one and it rains, there is an army of people selling umbrellas. You don’t worry about finding them because seriously, there are everywhere. If you want to buy one, I think it costs about 5 euros.

Before we moved to Rome, we would come back almost every Christmas.  Christmas season is a beautiful time to visit with nativity scenes set up in public spaces such as the Spanish Steps and in the many churches across the city. There is also a Christmas Fair to enjoy in St Peter’s Square and in Piazza Navona.

For obvious reasons, January and February are the quietest months if you want to avoid the crowds. I often pass by Piazza Navona and it’s close to empty during cold winter days.  In winter, there are also a lot of renovation work being done to monuments so you may not get the pictures you want.

I have always wondered why people would want to visit Rome in winter. I guess I don’t enjoy the cold that much and that’s the reason for saying that. However, there are days in winter when the sun is out and it’s warm. This winter, the weather has been unpredictable, one week it’s warm and the next week it snows!

Many tourists usually come to Rome in summer but it can get a touch too hot.  Friends of ours were in July last year and it was difficult for them to explore the city on foot.  Temperatures can exceed 32C (90F) in July and August and historically, the locals would abandon Rome in August, as it was considered too hot and sticky. Increasingly the city is staying open and welcoming guests throughout the year with many activities such as cultural festivals and free films are shown in outdoor theaters, providing additional entertainment during the summer months.

The peak summer season can be very crowded, especially during school holidays, so visiting Rome off-peak has its advantages with shorter lines at the most popular sights, such as St Peter’s Basilica. Mid-week is also a little quieter than the weekends, although Rome can never be described as quiet, even in the early morning hours!