Rome In December - How To Plan For Your Best Trip

If you are coming to Rome in December, you are in for a treat.

Rome is (mostly) un-crowded in December, the weather is not too bad, and the city begins to light up for the holidays.

Did I mention how un-crowded it is?

December in Rome - at a glance

Here's what you need to know about coming to visit Rome this time of year:

• Where to stay in Rome in December?
• What's the weather like? Does it rain or snow in December in Rome?
• What to pack for visiting Rome now?
• What to wear in December?
• Is December a good time to visit Rome? 
• What food is in season in December in Rome (hint - artichokes!)
• What are some things to do in Rome in December?
• Looking for holiday-specific info? Here are some things to do (further down this page), or, visit my pages about Rome at Christmas and New Years in Rome.

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Where to Stay in Rome in December

As the weather becomes cooler and rain becomes more frequent in December, we recommend staying in Centro Storico to minimize travel.

Most of the major sites are within walking distance of Centro Storico, and for longer trips you’ll have easy access to public transport.

The best thing about staying in Centro Storico in December is getting to see the Christmas lights; the festive atmosphere in Rome during December really is magical.

Visiting the lights and decorations in major piazzas are a lovely way to spend winter evenings during your trip.

In this area you’ll find Piazza Navona which is home to Rome’s most famous Christmas market.

Weather in Rome Italy in December

The first day of winter is December 21.

So actually, most of December is an autumn month (yeah, that seems weird to me too).

It seems to rain a little less in December than in November, and the days can be clear, sunny and crisp.

And they are short, of course. 

The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, is on December 21/22 so December does have some pretty short days.

In December, the sun is already low in the sky by 4pm and sunset is around 4:45pm.

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We don't really get snow in Rome, but once every decade or so, there might be a bit, although typically not in December (in recent years, when it's snowed in Rome, it's snowed in January or February).

During the day it's in the low 50's °F/low teens °C, and in the evenings it can still be quite chilly, in the mid 30's °F/single digits °C.

Click here for more about Weather in Rome.

What to pack for Rome in December

When packing for Rome in December, the key thing is to bring layers.

If the sun is out, it can feel pretty mild during the day, but once the sun goes down it will feel much colder.

Think long sleeved t-shirts, heavy pants/jeans, warm pullovers or cardigans, and a good, waterproof jacket/coat.

And don't forget the scarf!

Visit my dedicated page all about what to pack for Rome in December for more details and specific recommendations.

I have more general tips for packing for Rome on this page.

My Amazon shop also has lots of Italy-related picks!

See also my general page about What to Pack for Rome, with downloadable packing list.

What to wear in Rome in December

My number one rule for sight-seeing in Rome, any time of year: be comfortable.

This especially pertains to shoes.

Sneakers, trainers, hiking shoes, good walking shoes: all these are fine and you will fit right in.

And comfortable shoes work even better when you wear quality, comfortable socks.

Check out these Italians at Saint Peter's Square in December, all wearing comfortable shoes and jeans.

Rome in December can be chilly.

But at the beginning of December, there can even be balmy days.

Layering is always a good idea.

Be prepared for changes in temperature between when the sun is out and when it gets dark.

And always wear or carry a scarf with you.

December in Rome - what to expect

This is a great time to come to Rome if you are looking for hotel bargains.

Booking.com

In December, you can expect it to be fairly cold in Rome, with some rain. 

You can also expect it to be mostly uncrowded, except during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

December is a beautiful time of year to be in Rome, because the city starts lighting up with decorations and there is a festive feeling in the air. 

December - low season

December is the beginning of (mostly) low season.

Hotel rates and airfares drop dramatically from around the beginning of November and, other than during the Christmas and New Years holidays, stay low throughout winter.

This is a great time to visit if you want to see all the popular sites and monuments in Rome, with smaller crowds than you find in high season.

Foods in season in Rome in December

By December, you can definitely find Roman artichokes just about everywhere.

Not just fried (alla giudia) which seem to be more and more available during the year, but stewed artichokes.

These are on the menu as Carciofi alla Romana and you can only get them in winter and very early spring when this particular type of artichoke is in season in Rome.

Chicory is now also in season, which means you can find it not just cooked but also raw.

There is a special raw chicory salad that is sort of particular to Rome: puntarelle.

This is raw chicory, cut into thin strips until it curls, then soaked in ice-water until it becomes crispy and crunchy, and then dressed simply with olive oil, garlic, lemon, salt and crushed or chopped anchovies.

If you love puntarelle, or want to try them, now is the time!

December is also the real beginning of citrus season.

Oranges, mandarins and clementines fill the markets now.

What better way to keep cold and flu germs at bay than to have a nice fresh-squeezed spremuta (juice) of Sicilian blood oranges?

Rome in December - things to do

This is a good time to visit monuments and museums, since they will be much less crowded (except during the holidays).

It's also a great time to catch some special museum exhibits indoors.

Several museums stay open later on the weekends.

Here are some special things you can do in December in Rome:

Holiday things to do in Rome in December

As you walk around Rome in December, you will see more and more lights and decorations going up outside people's apartments, storefronts, bars, restaurants, hotels and just neighborhood streets in general.

Here are a few holiday things you can do in Rome in December:

• Visit the Christmas Fair in Piazza Navona - confirmed for 2024!
  
• Attend the Menorah lighting in Piazza Barberini on the 8 nights of Hanukkah
• See the Pope change Mary's wreath at Piazza Mignanelli on December 8, the Immacolata
• Catch the tree lightings in Piazza del Popolo and Saint Peter's Square

For more details visit these pages:

• Rome Events in December
• Christmas Events in Rome
• Christmas in Rome
• New Year's Eve in Rome
• New Year's Day in Rome
• Concerts in Rome

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Christmas Tours to Take in Rome in December

The below tours are available only during the Christmas season.

Some are available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and others are not available those days.

Click each link to see details and more tour options.

Concerts in Rome in December 

With the holidays around the corner, you have a huge choice of indoor concerts to enjoy this time of year.

Visit our dedicated concerts page to find Christmas concerts, New Year's Eve concerts and general music concerts:

Free things to do in Rome in December

On the Free Sunday you can visit Rome's museums for free.

State-run sites like the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo, as well as civic museums such as the Capitoline museums are all free on the first Sunday of the month.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month, for limited hours.

For details, visit my page about December events in Rome.

More ideas for things to do in Rome in December

Maybe it's your 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time in Rome.

Or you have more than 3 days here.

Or you just want to see and do lots of fun things.

Besides the obvious must-see tourist attractions, there are lots of great things to see and do in Rome in December.

Here are some ideas for your visit:

For more information about events in Rome in December, visit the official website of the Rome Tourist Board.

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