Why You Should Visit Rome in Winter

Classic must-see attractions

Visiting Rome in winter means experiencing all the must-see attractions with fewer crowds and more time to enjoy and explore:

• The Colosseum & Roman Forum: With shortened daytime hours, I planned my visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum early in the day.

• The Basilica of the Pantheon: The Pantheon has been an active place of worship since the year 609, so, with a little planning, you can attend Mass for a special experience. I visited during regular hours and did the audio tour, which is highly recommended to get an interesting history of this fascinating building.

• Vatican City: The Vatican museums are an excellent cold or rainy day plan. The best way to see the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, is an early access tour to get you in before everyone else. If you love art and history, you could spend days admiring the impressive 70,000 works. Even if you don't, a good tour to point out the highlights is a must-do! St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City is a must-see anytime, but especially during a trip to Rome in winter. The square has a beautiful, large Christmas tree and nativity to observe for free. Since 2012, the nativity has been donated from other regions of Italy so each year is a fresh take on the first Christmas.

• The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps: These can be enjoyed anytime. I recommend going both day and night to get a different experience.

If you’d like more information on visiting these must-see sights, check out my guide, Best 1 Week Itinerary for Rome, Italy.

Special winter experiences

In addition to all the must-see attractions, there are many wonderful winter experiences to be had in Rome. Ice skating, enjoying holiday light displays and visiting Christmas markets make Rome in winter especially festive.

• Ice skating: Head to Grinzing Village at Piazza Adriana, next to Castel Sant’Angelo, for ice skating from December through February. After the ice rink, stop by the adjacent market to enjoy the magical atmosphere created by the holiday lights, Roman holiday treats and mulled wine.

• Christmas markets: Several Christmas markets throughout the city offer local artisan-made souvenirs, good food and good cheer. Festa della Befana, a Christmas market honoring La Befana and held in Piazza Navona throughout December, is one of the best! Stroll around to enjoy the children’s carousel and stalls selling handicrafts and sweet treats. Bernini’s right on the piazza is a good option for lunch or dinner. They have heaters on their enclosed patio for enjoying al fresco dining year-round.

• Christmas light displays: For the best Christmas light displays, head to Via Condotti to do some window shopping. There's a great mix of high-end names like Hermes and local Italian brands with beautiful window displays for Christmas. My favorite souvenir to bring back is always food! Find a local market to pick up some great olive oil, fun pasta and yummy snacks. If visiting in January, head here to take full advantage of Rome’s epic month-long deals that get better throughout the month!

With all the sightseeing, you’re sure to work up an appetite. Luckily, Rome is the perfect place to be when hungry. Rome is a city that loves to eat seasonally, so Rome in winter is all about hearty stews, braised meat and rich egg pasta. See my Foodie Guide to Rome for all my best recommendations organized by neighborhood. Some of my favorites include stuffed artichokes from Ditirambo, lobster linguine from La Tavernetta 48, Suppli-Roma for amazing fried arancini and cheese balls and Flavio al Velavevodetto for the BEST tiramisu.

My best dining tip is to get into a local's home for a home-cooked meal. The least awkward way to do that is through a cooking class! I booked a cooking class with Debora and Fiamma, a mother-daughter duo, for a lesson on cut pasta, ravioli and tiramisu made from scratch. Everything was delicious and the best tiramisu I had all week! The best part is bringing home the recipes so I can continue to relive my time in Rome.