To best plan your trip to the Eternal City, you may wonder when is the worst time to visit Rome.
Having lived in this city for almost 40 years, I want to reassure you: all seasons and months are good for visiting Rome.
However, to make your trip more enjoyable, you should avoid traveling during certain periods.
If you don’t have much time to read the whole post that goes into a lot of detail, consider these as times that are not great for visiting Rome:
- July: because the weather is very hot
- August: because the weather is very hot
- December 23, 24 and 31: because they are the most important national holidays, the historic center is more crowded than usual and transportation slows down.
In this post, I will tell you in detail about what is the worst time to visit Rome. I was born and raised in Rome, so I am very familiar with this topic and will give you some local tips.
When is the worst time to visit Rome?
Visiting Rome means exploring historical landmarks and works of art even quite distant from each other.
This involves walking even more than a kilometer a day or taking transportation that shares the road with thousands of cars in a congested traffic situation.
Based on this premise and the weather conditions, I drew the worst times to visit the Eternal City.
The Days of December 24th and 31st
Between December 24th and December 31st, the most important holidays in Rome happen: Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Family gatherings on December 24 and 25 are traditionally occasions for cooking meals with many courses and exchanging gifts. Italians, who are latecomers by nature, will buy gifts on Dec. 23 and 24.
On those dates, the streets of the historic center of Rome, which are full of stores, will be crowded, and the traffic even more chaotic than usual.
Although the atmosphere and typical Christmas dishes are very attractive, I do not recommend visiting Rome on those dates.
On the evening of December 31, New Year’s Eve concerts occur in two central squares (Piazza del Popolo and Circus Maximus).
Thousands of locals flock from the suburbs and other cities to central Rome to attend these free events. The subway is usually so crowded that to avoid accidents, police decide to close many stops.
Consider this factor.
July and August
In summer, temperatures in Rome can reach as high as 40°. This is usually during the months of July and August. Even if you gear up with hats and sunscreen, walking for many hours a day will not be easy.
Taking the metro, the temperature difference between outside and inside with air conditioning may even make you sick.
You will be forced to avoid going outside during the middle hours of the day, from about 10 AM to 5 PM.
It is up to you to figure out whether you would be able to take advantage of the early morning and evening hours to visit the monuments.
There is also to be said that most venues use little air conditioning or use it at minimum power.
If the scorching, humid heat does not scare you, then green light to visiting Rome in summer.
January and February
Due to climate change, Rome’s winters have become shorter and milder. The temperature rarely drops below 5°.
It rarely snows in Rome, and when it does, it is usually a festive occasion because children skip school and the snow-covered Colosseum is a sight to photograph.
January and February are usually the months with the worst weather, but I’m not talking about extreme weather.
It is colder than usual and there can be some cold winds.
The only red flag for visiting Rome in the winter months is for families with babies or toddlers, who are more sensitive to the cold.
A separate discussion belongs to rain.
When it rains
Global climate change has affected Rome’s weather by raising temperatures and causing a peculiar weather phenomenon.
Locals and the media commonly speak of “water bombs” (rain bombs.) These are sparse and intense rainfalls that cause flooding and severe traffic problems.
These rain episodes are very reminiscent of subtropical rains, but they usually last only two or three days.
It would be best not to visit Rome during one of these episodes!
Unfortunately, it is not easy to predict these weather phenomena.
It can happen in all seasons.
This year it rained a lot in April and May, when we expect good weather.
We have also had years when rainfall could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
At the time I am writing this, it is late October and still quite warm.
The weather in Rome is really unpredictable. Therefore, you should not base your travel plans solely on the weather factor.
FAQs – Worst time to visit Rome
What month is Rome least crowded?
The months when Rome is least crowded are:
- November
- December (excluding the days from December 23 to 31)
- January
- February
The first 2 weeks of March
Is Rome unbearable in July?
The heat in Rome in July is usually unbearable. Temperatures in the middle hours of the day reach 36-38°.
What months do Italians take off?
Italians usually go on vacation for 2 weeks between June, July and August, but especially in August, when companies close for vacations.
Another peak vacation period is between December 22 and January 7, coinciding with the Christmas season.
Another great time for vacations in Italy is February, when many Italians take a week off to ski.
What is the rainy season in Rome, Italy?
For the past 10 years or so, it has been difficult to know when days of heavy rain will occur in Rome.
It can happen in any month of the year, in hot or cold weather.
Generally, September is a dry month, as are July and August.
Why is Rome so expensive in September?
September is one of the best months to visit Rome, along with October. This happens because the days are still quite long, it is sunny but less hot than in previous months.
Rainfall is usually sparse in September.
Therefore September is considered as high tourist season. In Rome, there is a large flow of travelers, less room availability, and higher hotel prices.
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