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.
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.
