Month guide · Rome · Italy
Rome in January
What January is really like in Rome: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jensens, Public domain
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 9.4 hours of daylight. Cool and often sunny between rainy spells, with short queues at the Vatican and some of the lowest hotel prices of the year after Epiphany.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Rome: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with December (13°C (55°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:35
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:03
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool and sometimes rainy but rarely freezing, with a festive December, quiet January and February and the lowest hotel prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is May at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Epiphany and the Befana fair in Piazza Navona (6 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Colosseo
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Climb to the Farnese Gardens on the Palatine for the best overview of the Forum, and carry water — shade is scarce.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
Religious site · Vatican City
St Peter's Basilica
One of the largest churches in the world, rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries with Michelangelo's dome and Bernini's colonnaded square, St Peter's holds Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's bronze canopy over the papal altar.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with the dome
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- History
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Landmark · Tridente
Spanish Steps
Walk up the steps and continue along to the Pincio terrace above Piazza del Popolo for a sunset view over the domes.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Trastevere
Trastevere and Santa Maria in Trastevere
Trastevere is best explored on foot from Piazza di Santa Maria, where the basilica's medieval gold mosaics glow in the apse.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Couples
- After dark
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 3°C and 7 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Rome?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Rome in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Rome?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and often sunny between rainy spells, with short queues at the Vatican and some of the lowest hotel prices of the year after Epiphany.
+How warm is Rome in January?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Rome in January?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.