There is no bad time to visit the Eternal City: every season has its bests and the weather is ideal for sightseeing. As one of the major art cities in Italy, Rome attracts visitors year-round. The most popular times to visit are Spring and Fall, when the weather isn’t quite so warm or cold. However you have to choose what is the best period for you basing on your needs: consider weather (temperature and rain), budget, and events you are eventually interest in (Easter or Carnival, for example), when planning your vacation to Rome.
Summers in Rome can get very hot, particularly in July and August, but rain is very sporadic. High humidity is also common in July and August. In August many shops and restaurants are closed for annual holidays and many residents vacate the city, due to the feast of Ferragosto (Feast of the Assumption, on August 15th). However the city is usually full of tourists. Early morning, evening and night tours are recommended, and proper sun protection during the day is advised. Many attractions are open after sunset in Summer, and the city organizes a lot of nocturnal events (Estate Romana). Avoid staying outside during the hottest hours of the day. Drink a lot: Roman public fountains have a good, clean and refreshing water. And enjoy gelato.
Winter can get chilly, though temperature rarely goes under zero degrees and there are only few really cold days, especially in January. Snow is very rare, and rain is not copious as in late Autumn. December can be fun for Christmas time, with lights and street decorations, Nativity scenes in the Churches, and Christmas trees, and for New Year’s celebrations. After Christmas holidays you will find Rome uncrowded and welcoming, hotel rates are generally lower, and January brings citywide saldi (sales) with price cuts of 50% or more.
- The best time to visit the city is in late Spring and early Autumn, when the temperature is mild, weather is warm and sunny, and the days, thanks do Daylight Saving Time, are longer. Rain is common, especially in October and November, and March and April can be windy. The colors of the nature are lovely, rich in flowers in Spring and with red shades in Autumn.
Bear in mind that the best combination of mild temperatures and low rain, and the presence of special events (like Easter and Christmas), bring to periods of High Season (from mid-April to June, from September to mid-November, from mid-December to mid-January) when Rome is crowded by visitors and prices are higher.
Photos sources: weatherspark.com; worldweatheronline.com; aroundrometours.com; blog.eun.org; turismoroma.it
