6 Great Reasons to Visit Rome in Winter

If you can make it to Rome in winter, you will enjoy the city like most visitors never get to: (almost) all to yourself. But there's more! Here are my 6 top reasons to see Rome during winter:

1. Cheap Flights and Hotels

This one’s pretty obvious but most of winter is low season, meaning fewer people travelling, and so by the law of supply and demand, airfares and hotel prices drop dramatically. 

Check for Cheap Flights to Rome in winter:

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Check for cheap hotels in Rome in winter:

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2. No Crowds! No Lines! No Waiting!

This is the way to see Rome!

Everyone loves coming to Rome when it’s warm and sunny and glowing, and you can sit in a piazza sipping prosecco and people-watch.

While that’s all lovely, Rome in winter is a real treat for those of us who live here, and for anyone visiting then. You can decide to visit things at the last minute and not worry about not getting in.

You can actually enjoy the Sistine Chapel without the crush of people…and you can even go sit down on one of the benches lining the walls. Yes, there are benches inside the Sistine Chapel, something you would not even notice in high season when you are in a swarm of other tourists.

Most of the year, you need to book the Galleria Borghese at least a week in advance (if not farther in advance during really peak season like April-June and September/October.) In winter, you can either book the same day or try going without a reservation (although I never recommend this because you just never know. I’d say to go ahead and pay the 2€ reservation fee and be sure even when it’s low season.)

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3. This is Some of the Best Weather for Sight-Seeing

Yes winter can be dreary. Sometimes rainy and grey.

But Rome is blessed in general with a mild climate, so even in the dead of winter, we often have lots of sunny days. 

While there is plenty to see in Rome indoors, even in icky weather, winter is really one of the best times to sight-see outdoors in Rome.

You will not be suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydrated and melting, the way summer visitors do.

You will always be dressed appropriately for visiting the Vatican and any other Christian sites like the catacombs.

And, if you visit some of Rome’s best underground sites, you will be plenty warm!

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4. Artichokes!

Artichokes, particularly prepared a la Romana, are seasonal and readily available from winter through early spring.

That would be enough for me personally, but there are other great winter seasonal foods too, like Sicilian blood oranges (best fresh-squeezed juice at the bar!), puntarelle and broccoletti.

And somehow I feel much more justified eating a big bowl of pasta in winter than in summer. Like it’s going to warm me up or something (or maybe I’ll just take any excuse to eat pasta!)

Oh yeah, and red wine.

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5. Winter is the Best Time to get Cozy...

...in some of Rome’s best restaurants, café’s and wine bars.

Some of Rome’s best trattorias do not have any outdoor seating at all. In fact, it’s a joy to eat inside, stuffing oneself with all the Roman delicacies while surrounded by a jovial warm atmosphere. Armando al Pantheon, Trattoria Monti, Da Danilo and Arcangelo are just a few such places.

For a really special treat Rome in winter, head to Babington's Tea Rooms next to the Spanish Steps. Spending the afternoon enjoying a Victorian Tea in this warm and welcoming setting will make you forget all about the cold outside.

Then there are the uber-cozy Rome cafe’s like Caffe Greco and Caffe Doria, not to mention one of my secret spots inside the Chiostro Del Bramante.

And how about dimly-lit wine bars like i Colori del Vino, il Goccetto and Da Achille?

Another place I really love in Rome in winter is the lounge inside the Hotel Locarno. 

And while the outdoor patio of the Stravinsky Bar at the Hotel de Russie is a real treat in warm weather, the indoor lounge is sumptuous as well. And in case you just have to be outside like one of my friends who smokes, they have heat lamps!

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6. Shopping

If you are in Rome in December through early January, you can do some shopping at some of Rome’s Christmas markets. Buy Christmas gifts and treats.

And update your wardrobe with some stylish Italian winter fashions. 

You can also stock up on red undies - a New Years’ tradition in Italy!

If you are in Rome in early January, you can take advantage of the winter sales that start the first week in January and go through mid February.

And starting in late January, you can get a head start on all the hot new spring looks!

And a Bonus...

No mosquitoes! Enough said.

Bottom line - winter is a great time to visit Rome! So get on the plane! What are you waiting for??

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