Rome Airport Weather

Traveling Through Italy: All You Need To Know About Rome’s Climate

Some people visit Rome to admire the Italian capital city’s religious and historical landmarks like the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Others come because they want to enjoy the amazing wines and fantastic pasta for which the country is so deservedly well known. And yet others enjoy shopping at high-end Italian fashion boutiques.

Whatever the reason you might have for visiting Rome, there’s never a bad time of year to visit. Rome is located in the Mediterranean and has a climate that produces dry and hot weather in the summertime, contrasted with mild but not freezing temperatures in the winter. There’s never a month where the weather is so extreme that you should not visit the city.

However, it’s important to know about the different seasons in Rome and what to expect if visiting during those times. Depending on the types of activities you have planned for your Italian trip, you might be looking for a particular warm or cold month to visit. Check out the guide below for some key information about what to expect from Rome’s climate.

Quick Facts About Rome’s Climate

Warmest month: August when the temperature averages 31°C Coldest month: January with an average low temperature of 3°C
Rainiest month: November when you can expect an average 114mm of precipitation

Details On Rome’s Seasons

There’s truly never a bad time to visit Rome, although regardless of climate if you’re looking to avoid massive crowds you should avoid traveling in late March to the middle of April. This is the Easter period and many people come to the city at this time for religious services. But, as detailed below, there are many other factors to consider when choosing which season is right for you that include the potential for rain showers, high humidity levels, and more.

Summer

You can expect high heat during the summer in Rome, along with elevated levels of humidity. If you’re hoping to lap up some Mediterranean sun this would be a great time to visit. It doesn’t rain very often in the summer months, but when it does it can provide a nice break from the constant sunshine. In June the average high is 27°C while the average low is 15°C, increasing in July with its average high of 31°C and average low of 18°C, followed by August with an average high of 31°C and an average low of 19°C. Because the temperatures are high during the summer months you won’t need to pack any heavy clothing like overcoats, and can instead rely mostly on shorts, t-shirts and similar light clothing. Be sure to pack sunglasses to guard against the bright sun, and you’ll also need sun cream to avoid the risk of getting burned. You should check in advance to see whether your hotel or other accommodation has air conditioning, because it is essential for your comfort in the hot and humid summer.

Spring

Temperatures in the spring months will generally be cooler than in the summer, but still pleasant enough for walking around outside. If you are planning a lot of outdoor activities then this is a good season for doing them. Although spring starts out with some colder weather it gets hotter as the season continues. You can expect sporadic rain showers, so it’s a good idea as a backup to pack a jacket or other clothing items to stay warm on the colder and rainy days. But you’ll mostly be fine during the daytime with polos, t-shirts and other items perhaps with a light jacket. If it’s too inconvenient to pack an umbrella in your luggage, ask in advance to see if your hotel will be able to provide one in case it rains. Spring starts in March with an average high of 15°C and average low of 5°C, followed by April with an average high of 18°C and average low of 8°C and finally in May you’ll get an average high of 23°C and average low of 12°C.

Winter

This will be the coldest season for visiting Rome, starting with December’s average high of 13°C and average low of 4°C, dropping in January down to an average high of 12°C and average low of 3°C, before ticking back up slightly at the end of winter in February with its average high of 13°C and average low of 4°C. You can expect rain showers often during this time, so you should pack heavy jackets, umbrellas and other wet weather items in your luggage. Because it will be cold outside even during the daytime you will also want thicker clothing like sweaters, gloves. hats and scarves to help you stay warm. It’s possible that you might see some snow when visiting the winter but if it does it won’t last for long and should melt fairly quickly. One perk of traveling to Rome in the winter is that it won’t be as crowded as the warmer seasons.

Autumn

This season can be an ideal time for your trip to Rome because it’s neither too warm nor too cold, and even though the chance of rain increases compared to summer or spring you still won’t experience frequent torrential downpours. Autumn also has the benefit of generally lower visitor numbers than the warmer seasons, so tourist attractions and other places will be less crowded. The average day in Rome in Autumn features a sunny and warm daytime followed by a cool evening. As a result you’ll want to pack a good mix of clothes, with t-shirts and shorts and other light clothing for the day and thicker items like jackets and sweaters for the evening. The average high at the start of the season in September is 27°C with an average low of 15°C, followed in October with an average high of 21°C and an average low of 11°C and ending the season in November with an average high of 16°C and an average low of 7°C.