Weather and climate in Rome

Rome is a popular destination for a short city break, not only because of its unique attractions but also due to its pleasant climate. Situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, Rome enjoys a delightful Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. On average, Rome has around 2500 hours of sunshine, making it a very enjoyable city for a city break or vacation.

During the summer months, temperatures in Rome can reach around 30 degrees, but it never gets as extremely hot as in southern Italy. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, Rome has a warm Mediterranean climate (type Csa). Thanks to this climate, summers in Rome are warm and mostly dry, while spring and autumn are mild with pleasant temperatures and sunny weather. Winters in Rome are also mild, with minimum temperatures hovering around 4 degrees and an average of 10 days of rain per month. Snow is rare in Rome, and if it does snow, it’s usually wet snow that doesn’t accumulate.

Climate table Rome

Do you want to know the average temperature in the month you’ve booked a city trip to Rome? Below you can find an overview of the average temperatures in Rome based on weather station data.

Summer in Rome/ Vatican City

Summer in Rome begins at the end of May and lasts until the end of September. During this period, the maximum temperatures typically range between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius. In July and August, the highest temperatures are recorded in Rome and Vatican City. At the beginning of June and the second half of September, it can sometimes still be cool in Rome, but it’s never really cold. Often, during these cooler days, you can still enjoy the sun on a terrace in Rome.

July is the sunniest month with an average of over 330 hours of sunshine and 11 hours of sun per day. June and August are also very pleasant with an average of ten hours of sunshine per day. The summer period is the driest time of the year, with July being the driest month with less than 20 mm of rain on average. June and August also see relatively little rainfall in Rome. By mid-September, the chance of precipitation increases in Rome, and rain showers and thunderstorms become more common.

Spring and autumn in Rome / Vatican City

Spring and autumn in Rome are very pleasant, and for many tourists, this is the ideal time to take a city trip to the Italian capital or Vatican City. From March onward, the sun starts shining more in Rome, and temperatures rise to comfortable values with an average maximum temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius in April and May, and a minimum temperature of 8 degrees Celsius at night. With an average of 7 to 8 hours of sunshine per day, the months of April and May can be described as very enjoyable.

In April, the chance of rain is slightly higher than in May, making May a better month for a city trip to Rome. Especially the latter half of May is delightful with pleasant temperatures and little chance of precipitation. May is still considered a true spring month for Romans because they are accustomed to warmer weather, but for visitors from the Netherlands, May in Rome feels like a true summer month with delightful temperatures.

Autumn in Rome is also very pleasant with average temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius in September and 20 degrees Celsius in October. The chance of precipitation increases slightly in the second half of September, but with an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day, September is still enjoyable in Rome. Even in October, temperatures in Rome frequently exceed 20 degrees Celsius, allowing for many sunny days to be enjoyed.

Winter in Rome

Due to the relatively warm Mediterranean Sea, winters in Rome are quite mild. During the winter months from November to March, it does get chilly in Rome, but not extremely cold. The average temperatures during these cold winter months range between 10 and 15 degrees, with minimum temperatures around 3 to 4 degrees.

If you’re lucky, you can still enjoy a drink on a terrace in Rome in November or December, especially if you find a spot sheltered from the wind and under a terrace heater when the sun is shining.

There is a chance of light frost during the winter months, but the likelihood of snow in Rome is minimal. On average, less than 1 percent of all precipitation in Rome is snow, and if it does snow, it’s usually wet snow that doesn’t last long. The chance of rain is higher during the winter months, with an average of 9 rainy days per month.

Due to the lower temperatures in Rome during winter, this period is an interesting time to visit the city. It’s much quieter because mass tourism is significantly lower in the winter months. As a result, hotel prices and airfare to Rome are lower compared to the busy spring and summer months, making it affordable to plan a city trip to Rome.

If you visit Rome between mid-November and early January, you can experience Rome during the Christmas season. You can explore various Christmas markets or admire the many nativity scenes on display. It’s best to avoid being in Rome on Christmas Day itself, as the city can be very crowded due to the Pope’s Christmas Mass at St. Peter’s Square.

The best time to travel to Rome

There are several periods during the year when it’s best to go on vacation to Rome. You can visit the Italian capital comfortably in the months of April and May when temperatures are pleasant around 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, and there are a maximum of seven rainy days per month. These temperatures are perfect for strolling through the city, enjoying the sun on a terrace, and exploring all the sights in Rome to the fullest.

The autumn months of September and October are also ideal for fully exploring the city. During these months, temperatures are not extremely high, with average minimum temperatures around 20 degrees and maximum temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius, with six to seven hours of sunshine per day. During this period, hotel prices are slightly lower than peak season, and the lines at popular attractions in Rome are shorter compared to the busy summer months.