Rome in Winter: What to Do from December to February

Rome in winter is mild, quieter and rainier: lows drop to around 3°C in January and February, frost is rare and snow is exceptional. It is the season of nativity scenes, festive lights and museums without long queues, as long as you accept shorter days and a few showers. This guide tells you what to do from December to February, which sites close on holidays and how to plan visits when night falls early. Information checked in October 2026 for winter 2026-2027.

Rome's climate from December to February

Rome has mild, damp winters. Average lows are around 3°C in January and February, with days that are often cool but bright; October and November are the wettest months, and rain is still frequent in December (details in our guide to the best time to visit Rome). Snow is very rare: the February 2012 snowfall, which covered the Colosseum, is still remembered.

The Colosseum under snow in February 2012

The sun sets early (around 4:45 pm in mid-December): keep outdoor sites for the middle of the day and plan museums and churches for the rest. Opening hours at the big sites shorten in autumn; for example, the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from 25 October 2026 (see our page on the Colosseum).

Christmas, New Year and Epiphany

The holiday season runs from early December to 6 January. It is all in our page Christmas in Rome: the fair on Piazza Navona, the tree and nativity scene in St Peter's Square, Christmas Night Mass at the Vatican. For 31 December, see New Year in Rome. On 6 January, the Befana, the old woman who brings sweets and coal, closes the festivities on Piazza Navona.

Book accommodation very early for the Christmas–New Year period, the most expensive of the season. After Epiphany the city empties and prices fall (see the budget for a trip to Rome).

Museums and sites to favour in winter

Winter is the right season for the big museums, with fewer people than from March to October. Reservations remain useful during the Christmas holidays.

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, calmer than in summer.
The Borghese Gallery, which can only be visited by reservation, in time slots.
The Capitoline Museums, Palazzo Massimo and the Baths of Diocletian, ideal for a day under cover.
The Doria Pamphilj Gallery and Palazzo Barberini for painting.
The Pantheon and St Peter's Basilica at any hour, sheltered from the rain.

If the rain sets in, see our selection for Rome on a rainy day.

Closing days to know

The Vatican Museums close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, and 8, 25 and 26 December, in addition to Sundays (except the last of the month). Always check the dates on the official website before booking: a public holiday can change a site's opening. On 8 December (Immaculate Conception), ceremonies take place in Rome, notably in Piazza di Spagna, where the Pope pays tribute at the Column of the Immaculate Conception.

Winter tips

Dress in layers: cold in the morning and evening, milder at midday; a raincoat and shoes that cope with wet cobblestones (sampietrini).
Umbrella: bring a small one, showers are frequent.
Book restaurants: tables in Trastevere and around Piazza Navona fill up at weekends, even in winter.
Sales: winter sales start in early January, on a date set each year by the region; the shopping streets of Via del Corso and Via Condotti are very busy that weekend.
Valentine's Day: for a romantic getaway, see Rome for couples.