Rome's weather month by month
Rome has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers, mild and damp winters, and a rainy season that peaks in autumn. October and November are the two wettest months of the year, with more than 110 mm of rain each, while July gets only about twenty. Average highs top 30°C in July and August, and average lows drop to around 3°C in January and February: frost is rare and snow is exceptional.
The figures below are the 1971-2000 normals for the Roma Ciampino station, published by the weather service of the Aeronautica Militare (the Italian Air Force). They are averages: any given year can differ markedly, especially during summer heatwaves.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.9°C | 3.1°C | 67 mm | 7 | Low |
| February | 13.0°C | 3.5°C | 73 mm | 8 | Low |
| March | 15.2°C | 5.2°C | 58 mm | 8 | Moderate, heavy at Easter |
| April | 17.7°C | 7.5°C | 81 mm | 9 | Heavy |
| May | 22.8°C | 11.6°C | 53 mm | 6 | Heavy |
| June | 26.9°C | 15.3°C | 34 mm | 4 | Heavy |
| July | 30.3°C | 18.0°C | 19 mm | 2 | Heavy |
| August | 30.6°C | 18.3°C | 37 mm | 3 | Heavy, city emptied of Romans |
| September | 26.5°C | 15.2°C | 73 mm | 6 | Heavy |
| October | 21.4°C | 11.3°C | 113 mm | 8 | Moderate to heavy |
| November | 15.9°C | 6.9°C | 115 mm | 10 | Low |
| December | 12.6°C | 4.2°C | 81 mm | 8 | Low, heavy over the holidays |
Crowd levels are a qualitative guide. For wet days, keep our list of things to do in Rome when it rains at hand.
Season by season: what changes on the ground
Spring (March to May): the most popular season
Temperatures climb from about fifteen degrees in March to nearly 23°C in May, wisteria blooms on walls across the centre and parks such as Villa Borghese turn green again. It is also Easter season, which draws pilgrims from all over the world: in 2027, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March. Holy Week and the Easter weekend are the busiest days of spring around the Vatican, with the celebrations described in our Easter in Rome page. April is still fairly rainy: bring a light jacket and an umbrella.
Summer (June to August): long days and strong heat
Summer is dry and hot, with average highs above 30°C in July and August and much higher peaks during heatwaves. Visit the open-air sites (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine) at opening time or late in the afternoon, keep museums for the hottest hours and refill your water bottle at the nasoni, the cast-iron public fountains whose water is safe to drink. Evenings are lively: the Roman summer brings open-air concerts and shows, and the Teatro dell'Opera performs outdoors (at the Circo Massimo in summer 2026, while the Baths of Caracalla are being restored). In August many Romans go on holiday and some neighbourhood shops close, especially around 15 August.
Autumn (September to November): the best compromise
September keeps summer temperatures (an average high of 26.5°C) with cooler evenings, and October stays mild at around 21°C. Rain returns from late September and becomes frequent in October and November, often as short thunderstorms. Visitor numbers stay high until the end of October, then drop sharply in November, one of the quietest and cheapest months of the year.
Winter (December to February): quiet, mild and cheaper
Highs hover around 12-13°C, days are short and the light is often beautiful between rainy spells. January (after Epiphany) and February are the months with the shortest queues at the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. The holiday season, from early December to Epiphany, is the exception: nativity scenes, the Piazza Navona market and midnight Mass at St Peter's draw large crowds, see our Christmas in Rome page.
Public holidays and highlights of the calendar
Public holidays change opening hours: some sites close, others are overrun. The main dates:
- Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (28 and 29 March 2027): papal celebrations in St Peter's Square, Vatican Museums closed on Easter Monday.
- 21 April, Natale di Roma: the anniversary of the city's founding, marked by historical re-enactments and events over several days.
- 25 April and 1 May: national holidays, with many Italian visitors in town.
- 2 June, Republic Day: military parade on via dei Fori Imperiali, closed to traffic and hard to reach that morning.
- 29 June, Saints Peter and Paul: feast of Rome's patron saints, a public holiday in the city; solemn Mass at St Peter's, Vatican Museums closed.
- 15 August, Ferragosto: the city slows down, many shops close, Vatican Museums closed on 14 and 15 August.
- 4 October, Saint Francis: a national public holiday in Italy again from 2026.
- 8 December, Immaculate Conception: the Pope's tribute at the column in Piazza di Spagna, start of the Christmas season.
- 25 and 26 December: St Peter's Basilica very busy, Vatican Museums closed.
Among other events, the Rome Marathon is run in March, the Festa de' Noantri livens up Trastevere in July (see our Trastevere guide) and the Rome Film Fest takes place at the Auditorium Parco della Musica from 13 to 25 October 2026.
Museum closures and free days to know
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month when entry is free from 9am to 2pm (last entry 12:30pm): expect a very long queue. They also close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, Easter Monday, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, and 8, 25 and 26 December.
On the first Sunday of the month, state museums and sites (the "Domenica al museo" scheme) and Rome's municipal museums are free for everyone. These days draw big crowds: if you want calm rather than savings, pick another day.
The 2025 Jubilee ended on 6 January 2026 with the closing of the Holy Door of St Peter's. Organised Jubilee pilgrimages and Holy Door crossings are therefore no longer on the calendar: 2026-2027 returns to the ordinary cycle of religious feasts.
Hotel prices and tourist tax by season
Accommodation prices follow the crowds. They are highest from April to June, in September-October, at Easter and over the end-of-year holidays; they drop in July-August at some properties, and above all from November to February (outside the holidays). Book early for Easter and spring long weekends. To choose your area, read where to stay in Rome.
On top of the room rate comes the contributo di soggiorno, Roma Capitale's tourist tax, paid on site at your accommodation, per person per night, for up to 10 consecutive nights (5 at campsites). Children under 10 are exempt. The rates are those in force since 1 October 2023, still applied in 2026:
| Type of accommodation | Per person per night |
|---|---|
| 1-star hotel | €4 |
| 2-star hotel | €5 |
| 3-star hotel | €6 |
| 4-star hotel | €7.50 |
| 5-star hotel | €10 |
| B&B, short-term holiday rental, agriturismo | €6 |
| Guest house (affittacamere) | €5 to €7 depending on category |
| Hostel | €3.50 |
| Campsite | €3 |
Prices observed in October 2026 on the Roma Capitale website. For a couple in a 4-star hotel for 4 nights, the tax comes to €60.
Our advice by traveller profile
- For good weather and long days: mid-April to early June, or mid-September to the end of October.
- To avoid crowds and pay less: November, January and February, on weekdays and not on the first Sunday of the month.
- For the great religious feasts: Easter, 29 June or Christmas, provided you book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
- In summer: plan your days around the heat, with outdoor sites early in the morning and a break indoors in the early afternoon.
Further reading
Once you have chosen your dates, build your programme with our Rome in 3 days itinerary, keep spending in check with our Rome on a budget guide and make the most of free days with free things to do in Rome.
