Rome in January: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

11.8 °C

Nighttime low

3.6 °C

Monthly precipitation

67.7 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

10.7

Daylight

9.5 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Rome, Italy. In january, the average daytime high is 11.8 °C and the night-time low is 3.6 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

There are 10.7 wet days on average, with about 67.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

Average daylight is 9.5 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.

What to pack

Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — 13.6 °C, January — 11.8 °C, next month — 13.8 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 10.5, 10.7 and 8.9.

Things to do

Rome reads along the Tiber: the ancient centre with the Colosseum and the Forum, squares with fountains, and the Vatican on the right bank. Only two metro lines cross the city, so build each day on foot within one district and use trams to move between them.

Colosseum and Forum

Begin at the Colosseum, then follow the ancient Via Sacra through the Forum up to the Capitoline Hill. Mornings are cooler, and the worn stones turn slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.

The Vatican

Reach the Vatican Museums near opening time: long galleries lead to the Sistine Chapel and on to St Peter's Basilica. Cover shoulders and knees, and rest on the square behind the colonnade.

Fountains and squares

Walk from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, then to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. The route is short but dense, and these lanes are noticeably emptier in the morning.

Where to stay

Centro Storico

The historic centre suits a first visit: Pantheon, Navona and Trevi are all walkable. Rooms are expensive and evenings noisy, but everything sits outside the door.

Trastevere

Trastevere draws people for narrow lanes and trattorias on the right bank. It stays lively until late, so choose a room deeper in the quarter away from the square.

Monti

Monti lies between the Colosseum and Termini station, handy for early starts at the ruins. Its bar streets fill up in the evening, yet the metro is five minutes away.

Getting to and around Rome

The Leonardo Express runs from Fiumicino Airport to Termini station in about half an hour. Two metro lines, trams and buses serve the city, though the historic centre is easier on foot because the stations sit at its edges. Between the Vatican and the Colosseum, the metro with a change at Termini does the work.

Three days in Rome

Ancient Rome

The Colosseum and the Forum take the morning, then climb the Capitoline and eat lunch in Monti. In the afternoon see the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, and finish at the Trevi Fountain.

Vatican and Prati

Be at the Vatican Museums for opening, then visit St Peter's Basilica. After lunch walk through Prati to Castel Sant'Angelo and the bridge over the Tiber.

Borghese and Trastevere

Morning at the Borghese Gallery and through the park to Piazza del Popolo. Cross the river to Trastevere in the afternoon and have dinner in a side-street trattoria.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions