Rome in winter is an amazing place to visit. Crisp yet sunny winter days are the perfect weather for outdoor sightseeing, while cooler nights call for hearty pasta dishes and warming wine.
The city is popular all year round but crowds dwindle in the winter so you can enjoy the sights with fewer people and get your coveted photos of the Trevi fountain.
At Christmas there is a festive atmosphere as shops and restaurants are decorated for the season and huge trees adorn piazzas. The biggest and best are in St Peter’s square in the Vatican and outside the Colosseum.
Here are some of our other favorite things to do in Rome in winter.
Best pasta eating weather
Of course you can eat pasta in any weather but somehow it seems to taste even more delicious when it’s cooler outside. There’s nothing quite building up an appetite wandering the streets of Rome and then finding a small trattoria or cosy restaurant for a pasta lunch. Somehow your carbonara is
Fewer crowds
Christmas lights and festive cheer
Rome starts getting ready for Christmas in early November. Stores and restaurants around the city decorate their windows for the season and the atmosphere is truly festive. Being the home of the Roman Catholic church, the Vatican is a focal point for Christmas celebrations.
If it’s not Christmas for you without a Christmas tree you won’t be disappointed. There are huge Christmas trees outside St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican and the Colosseum.
Seasonal dishes
Beautiful winter light
Best weather for sightseeing
Hotel prices are cheaper
Views for miles
Will you book a winter trip to Rome
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