13 °C / 55 °F highs, 5 °C / 41 °F lows; expect quick showers.
What to eat in Rome in December: Seasonal delicacies
Short days, 13 °C / 55 °F highs, and city-wide Christmas decor give Rome a story-book feel. Arrive at major sites by 9 am for almost queue-free access; shops and transport run holiday hours from 24 Dec, so book tickets and dinner slots ahead.
| Category | November | December | January |
|---|---|---|---|
Weather | 16 °C highs, wettest month; carry umbrella. | 13 °C highs, damp but festive lights brighten days. | 12 °C highs, coldest, chance of frost but clear crowd-free skies. |
Crowds & vibe | Museums busy on rainy days; streets calmer. | Low till 20 Dec, then pilgrimage surge for holidays. | Quietest weeks of Jubilee year; bargains on hotels. |
Key events | Truffle menus & All Saints Day. | Christmas markets, Midnight Mass, NYE fireworks. | Epiphany & winter sales start 4 Jan. |
Best for | Foodies, museum lovers. | Festive seekers, families, photographers. | Budget hunters, pilgrims avoiding crowds. |
Book early? | Moderate—rain deters some. | Yes—holiday stays and Mass tickets go fast. | Last-minute deals possible except Epiphany week. |
Transport notes | Rain may cause taxi shortages. | Metro runs late 31 Dec; some buses on holiday schedules 24–26 Dec. | Strike risk low, but reduced winter bus frequencies. |
Budget | Shoulder-season hotel rates. | Prices spike 22–31 Dec; otherwise mid-range. | Lowest rates after 7 Jan until Carnival. |
| Festivals & Events | Dates | Event type | Location | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vatican Christmas Tree Lighting | 06 Dec 2025 | Ceremony | St. Peter’s Square | Giant spruce and choral hymns launch the Vatican’s holiday season; arrive 30 min early for security. |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception | 08 Dec 2025 | Religious holiday | Spanish Steps (Metro A Spagna) | The Pope lays a wreath on the Colonna dell’Immacolata; streets close from noon—plan alternate routes. |
Piazza Navona Christmas Market | 01–31 Dec 2025 | Market | Piazza Navona (Bus 64) | Carousel rides, artisan ornaments, and torrone stalls fill the baroque square; evenings are shoulder-to-shoulder—shop mornings instead. |
Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s | 24–25 Dec 2025 | Mass | St. Peter’s Basilica | Tickets (free) release in mid-October and vanish fast; arrive by 7 pm for security. |
Urbi et Orbi Papal Blessing | 25 Dec 2025, 12 pm | Religious ceremony | St. Peter’s Square | Arrive before 10 am to clear security; translation screens help non-Italian speakers follow. |
La Festa di Roma NYE Concert & Fireworks | 31 Dec 2025 | Concert & fireworks | Circo Massimo | Free mega-concert followed by fireworks; metro runs all night yet packs by 1 am—walk or taxi back. |
Reserve Midnight Mass tickets by 15 Oct. Applications via Vatican Prefecture fax fill fast; collect passes 21–23 Dec 8 am–7 pm.
Carry a compact umbrella. Rain comes in spurts; museums allow small collapsible models but larger ones may need locker check.
Plan holiday transit. Metro runs all night 31 Dec; buses shift to reduced schedules 24–26 Dec—check ATAC app.
Dress codes matter. Shoulders and knees covered in churches—even a puffer jacket over shorts won’t pass security. Pack a scarf.
Avoid purse-snatchers. Festive crowds attract pickpockets, especially at markets; use cross-body bags and keep phones zipped away.
Daytime highs hover around 13 °C; with a warm coat and café breaks you’ll tour comfortably. Rain is brief, not constant.
Most sites shut 25 Dec and 1 Jan; Vatican Museums also close 26 Dec. Otherwise, normal hours apply with earlier last entries on 24 Dec.
Expect €5–€15 for ornaments, €4 mulled wine. Haggling isn’t common at licensed stalls. Cash moves faster in crowds.
Yes—Leonardo Express trains run hourly 1 Jan, but book online to avoid kiosk queues.
Smart casual: long sleeves, trousers or knee-length skirt, closed shoes. Large backpacks are banned.
Many close 24 evening; 25 Dec lunch menus fill early. Reserve by mid-December or choose hotel dining rooms.
If you plan two paid sites in 48 h plus transit, savings still apply; shorter museum lines make skip-the-line less critical.
There are many options for how to spend the day. Attend Christmas Mass at Vatican City, shop at Christmas markets, and enjoy a traditional Roman Christmas lunch that goes on for 3 hours at numerous restaurants in the city. Top it all off with a Christmas concert in the evening!
Rome City card offers entry to top attractions and a 48-hour Hop‑on Hop‑off bus ticket with audio commentary.
Yes—Hop‑on Hop‑off buses operate year-round, with regular schedules even in winter
Airy brioche studded with candied citrus, best warmed slightly.
Where to eat : Roscioli Caffè, Via dei Giubbonari 21.
Slow-braised oxtail in cocoa-hinted tomato sauce, perfect cold-weather comfort.
Where to eat : Flavio al Velavevodetto, Testaccio.
Street vendors near the Pantheon sell paper cones of smoky caldarroste—ideal hand-warmers.
Where to eat: Pantheon square stalls.
Winter chicory curls dressed with anchovy-garlic emulsion bring crisp freshness amid rich dishes.
Where to eat: Da Enzo al 29, Trastevere.
