Christmas weather in Rome

The Christmas tree at the Colosseum. Photo by Jakob Montrasio via Flickr.

When imagining a holiday in Rome, the most popular image is that of a warm Mediterranean climate with an occasional cool summer breeze sweeping through the historic city center. With this in mind, visiting Rome in december doesn’t seem so appealing as it will obviously be colder than in the summertime.

What most people don’t know, however, is that Rome sports very mild winters. Imagine temperatures around 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime (4° to 15° Celsius) and 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 4 degrees Celsius) during the nighttime. The Roman winter climate is actually very much comparable to, let’s say, the average Philadelphian november. Nothing a good pair of gloves, a jacket and a warm scarf won’t hold up against.

A generous appearance of the sun might make it possible to eat outside even on the coldest days, and some restaurants and bars offer outdoor heating for customers so you’ll still be able to enjoy some warm chocolate while enjoying the scenery.

However, be aware of rain and pack an umbrella or something else to keep dry. You can experience a lot of downpours in the Roman wintertime if you’re unlucky. A waterproof windbreaker or jacket and some sturdy shoes will also keep you dry.

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• The Piazza Navona Christmas market