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Rome In January – Your Guide For Things To Do On Vacation

ByBeppe Castro

Rome in January is an amazing time to recover from the holidays and this guide will give you travel tips to avoid the large crowds and unpredictable weather.

Rome In January - Artichokes

Artichoke Season

Why Is Rome In January A Good Time To Visit?

Now that Christmas is behind you and Rome is mostly returning to normal, visiting Rome should be on your short list of things to do on your winter vacation. For me, the autumn and winter seasons are the best times to visit Rome because as you might expect the crowds are much more manageable and the weather is not too cold which will allow you to walk around all day without freezing. For example, when we first moved to Rome, we were able to eat outside all through the winter and most notably, even in late January. It can easily be done!

How Cold Does Rome in January Get?

The weather in Rome in January is about as cold as it gets, which as someone who moved here from the northeast of the US, isn’t very cold. The winter is still my favorite weather of the year and a great temperature for layering up and walking around.

The average low temperature in Rome in January dropped only 2 degrees from December, 37°F (2.8°C) and the average high temperature only dropped 1 degree to 54°F (12.2°C). These are great temperatures for walking around all day, but be sure to layer up, including a hat, because the winds can be cold walking around all day.

Rome In January - Fish Season

Fish Is Always In Season

How Much Daylight In Rome In January?

Since December includes the shortest day of the year and it gets better from there, January is slightly better than December, but the amount of daylight isn’t great. This is really a big deal for me because I much prefer going out when I can see things. There are about 9.4 hours of daylight in January, with sunrise at 7:37 AM and sunset at 4:51 PM.

What Time Of Year Is Rome Least Crowded?

Now that Rome is mostly past the holidays, the crowds are the most manageable they will ever be. After a slight boost for Christmas and New Years, the city starts returning to normal off-season levels. This is perfect for a visitor, in my opinion, because all the amazing sites are still open, and while dining al fresco might be limited, all the great restaurants are still available. The truth is there are always tourists in Rome, but January is about as good as it gets if you want to avoid them.

Rome In January - More Artichokes

More Artichokes

January Seasonal Produce Is How Good?

Seasonal produce in January is of course limited and the selection hasn’t changed much from the previous couple of months. Some fruits that are no longer available include Chestnuts and Persimmons, with nothing new to replace them. There is only one new addition to your choice of vegetables: Artichokes, but even though January begins their season, in Rome they have been available for a few weeks having been grown in other areas. Here is a more complete list of the fruits and vegetables you should be able to find in Rome in January:

  • Fruits: Oranges, Clementines, Kiwis, Lemons, Tangerines, Apples, Pears, Grapefruit.

  • Vegetables: Beets, Artichokes, Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Chicory, Fennel, Potatoes, Radicchio, Turnips, Spinach, Pumpkins.

January Italian Holidays Of Which To Be Aware

As I have described the feeling in Rome in January as being “mostly past the holidays” there is still one event that remains. On January 6th the Feast of the Epiphany (La Befana) is celebrated and while it is important to those of you who celebrate it, the more practical implication is that this is the official last day of the Christmas season, so decorations are removed and the Christmas markets are no more. It is time to start thinking about Spring!

Rome In January - Night Tours

Tours Even At Night

Events In Rome In January 2024 That Are Worth It

Post-holiday winter season is a transitional period for events in Rome. There are many interesting events in January 2024 that are a continuation from the previous month, but some new ones. A very good list of cultural events can be found on the RomeToday website. Here are some events in January that you might also want to be aware of:

  • Plunge Into The Tiber – January 1st begins the new year with some curious traditions and one of them is the annual tradition of the plunge into the Tiber river from the Ponte Cavour bridge, which is the one closest to the Ara Pacis museum. If the jump is successful, then good fortune will be bestowed onto Rome for the year.
  • Indoor Art Exhibits (All Month) – For the entire month of January there are some art exhibits that started in the previous months and run through March, so if you missed these or weren’t in town, you might be interested in these:
    • Escher – This exhibit is held in Palazzo Bonaparte (Piazza Venezia, 5) and celebrates a brilliant Dutch artist, Escher, with his engravings and lithographs, that had and continues to have the unique ability to transport us into an imaginative and impossible world, where art, mathematics, science, physics mix and planning. Escher has won over millions of visitors around the world thanks to his ability to speak to a very large audience because he is loved by those who know art, but also by those who are passionate about mathematics, geometry, science, design and graphics.
    • Van Gogh Experience – This is at the Next Museum (Corso d’Italia, 37) and it is a multimedia exhibition dedicated to the great Dutch painter with reproductions with virtual reality that accompanies the public in a real journey through time.
    • Warhol Universe – The Museo Storico della Fanteria (Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme) hosts this exhibition which brings to the public’s attention various aspects and artistic themes of the genius of Pop Art, through a large collection of silk-screen prints and ceramics, legendary vinyl and magazine covers, the famous Polaroid photographs, advertising posters and photographic documents of the Warhol’s filmmaking activities.
    • Tolkien. Man, Professor, Author – Taking place at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (Viale delle Belle Arti, 131), this exhibition is dedicated to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, creator of the famous epic of Middle-earth who shaped a new mythology for the contemporary world and made him one of the most read authors on the planet.
    • Escher – This exhibit is held in Palazzo Bonaparte (Piazza Venezia, 5) and celebrates a brilliant Dutch artist, Escher, with his engravings and lithographs, that had and continues to have the unique ability to transport us into an imaginative and impossible world, where art, mathematics, science, physics mix and planning. Escher has won over millions of visitors around the world thanks to his ability to speak to a very large audience because he is loved by those who know art, but also by those who are passionate about mathematics, geometry, science, design and graphics.
    • Van Gogh Experience – This is at the Next Museum (Corso d’Italia, 37) and it is a multimedia exhibition dedicated to the great Dutch painter with reproductions with virtual reality that accompanies the public in a real journey through time.
    • Warhol Universe – The Museo Storico della Fanteria (Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme) hosts this exhibition which brings to the public’s attention various aspects and artistic themes of the genius of Pop Art, through a large collection of silk-screen prints and ceramics, legendary vinyl and magazine covers, the famous Polaroid photographs, advertising posters and photographic documents of the Warhol’s filmmaking activities.
    • Tolkien. Man, Professor, Author – Taking place at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (Viale delle Belle Arti, 131), this exhibition is dedicated to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, creator of the famous epic of Middle-earth who shaped a new mythology for the contemporary world and made him one of the most read authors on the planet.
Rome In January - Escher Exhibit

Escher Art Exhibit

More Information On Things To Do In Rome In January

If you need help planning a trip to Rome, but you aren’t sure if January is a good time to visit Rome, check out some of these other posts that can assist you with your planning:

More Information On Things To Do In Rome All Year

You should never hesitate planning a trip to Rome in January, or any time of the year, but if you are uncertain which month would be right for you, check out some of these other posts that can assist you with your planning.

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