Italy, Europe

Rome in January

The emptiest Rome of the year after Epiphany on January 6. Vatican lines shrink dramatically.

Quiet valueCool and often bright, highs near 55F (13C)

Colosseum, Rome — RomePhoto: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Rome. The emptiest Rome of the year after Epiphany on January 6. Vatican lines shrink dramatically.

Weather: Cool and often bright, highs near 55F (13C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in Rome

January is Rome at its calmest. Days are cool and often bright, with highs near 55F (13C), and the low winter sun turns the ruins gold by midafternoon. The holiday rush ends with Epiphany on January 6, and after that hotel prices and Vatican lines drop to their lowest of the year. Everything stays open, just on shorter winter hours at the outdoor sites.

This is a great month for budget travelers, museum lovers, and anyone who hates lines. Families on a winter break will find the big sights easy and uncrowded. If you want long outdoor evenings and warm piazza dinners, wait for May or October.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Rome this month.

The Befana market in Piazza Navona

The Christmas season runs through Epiphany on January 6, and the Befana market fills Piazza Navona with sweets and toys. Kids love the witch who brings candy.

The emptiest Vatican of the year

After the first week, the Vatican Museums feel almost roomy. You can actually stand and look at the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Winter light on the Forum

The low sun makes the Forum and Palatine glow in late afternoon. Go around 3pm and stay until the gates close.

Cheap, cozy trattoria season

Warm plates of cacio e pepe and carbonara taste best on a cool night, and you rarely need a reservation.

What to pack for January

A warm, water-resistant jacket for chilly evenings
Comfortable waterproof walking shoes for damp cobblestones
A light scarf and layers for cold churches and warm museums
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

Book the first Vatican Museums slot on a weekday after January 6, and you will reach the Sistine Chapel before the tour groups do.

Book Rome for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Rome
Opens a hotel search for Rome in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Rome
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Rome
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Rome for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Christmas and Epiphany season

Early December through January 6

Nativity displays, papal Christmas liturgies, and the Befana market in Piazza Navona.

Things to do in Rome

Full guide

Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine

One combined ticket, best booked weeks ahead in season. Enter at opening or book an evening slot in summer; the Forum has almost no shade.

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Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Closed Sundays (except a free final-Sunday opening with huge lines). Book the earliest slot and walk directly to the Sistine Chapel first.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

St Peter's Basilica

Free entry but airport-style security; the line is shortest before 8am. Papal events on Wednesdays and Sundays reshape the square.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Pantheon

The best-preserved ancient building on Earth. Now a modest timed-entry ticket; go early or near closing for the light through the oculus.

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Trastevere at dinner

Cross the river for the classic Roman evening. Book the well-known trattorias; walk-ins work on the side streets.

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Borghese Gallery

Strict timed entry with capped visitors, which keeps it civilized even in May. Reserve well ahead; Berninis alone justify the trip.

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Beat the crowds

Book the Vatican Museums' first entry, skip the audio-guide shuffle, and go straight to the Sistine Chapel, then work backward through the collections against the flow.
Do the Colosseum at opening and the Forum in late afternoon; midday is the worst of both heat and tour groups.
The famous fountains and piazzas cost nothing and close never: see them before 8am, then spend the crowded midday hours inside booked, timed-entry sights.
In summer, flip your day Roman-style: sights at dawn, long lunch and rest, back out at 6pm. Evening openings at the Colosseum and Vatican are the season's best-kept tickets.

Know before you go

August around Ferragosto (August 15): many family-run trattorias and small shops close for two to four weeks. Major monuments, the Vatican Museums, and big restaurants stay open. Check any specific restaurant before building a night around it.
The Vatican Museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, which is free and ferociously crowded. St Peter's stays open daily but closes to visitors during papal events.
Papal audiences (typically Wednesday mornings) and Sunday Angelus reshape St Peter's Square; visit the basilica on other mornings for the calmest access.
Fixed holidays to plan around: January 1 and 6, April 25, May 1, June 2 (Republic Day), June 29, August 15, November 1, and December 8, 25, and 26. Museums vary between closed and holiday hours on each.