Rome in January tends to be cold with brief milder intervals and there will be ample sunshine to explore this ancient city.
HOW WARM OR COLD WILL IT BE?
Daily high temperatures tend to average 12-13 C (the mid 50s F) with a few of the warmer afternoons getting up near 14-15 C (60 F).

Late night and early morning low temperatures tend to be mostly 3 to 4 C (the mid to upper 30s F) with a few of the colder mornings dipping down to -2 C (the upper 20s F).
You can expect about 6-7 days this month when the low temperature dips to freezing (0 C/32 F) or less.
HOW MUCH RAIN OR SUN?
Sunny or at least partly sunny skies can be expected on 16-17 days this month with 14-15 days being mostly overcast.
Daylight gradually increases this month from about 9.2 hours on January 1st to just under 10 hours by January 31st.

Rain falls, on average, on about 9 days in January with 6-7 of these days recording at least 1mm (.04 inches) or more and 2-3 days recording at least 10 mm (0.4 inches) or more.
About 24 days also record some fog.
Snow is rare in Rome but there have been occasional snowfalls, mostly during the months of January and February. The last snowfall occurred in February 2018.
Wind speeds are mostly light (6-19 kph/4-12 mph) to occasionally moderate (21-29 kph/13-18 mph) with higher gusts.
WHAT TO WEAR IN ROME DURING JANUARY
Winter in Rome can range from mild to cold so it would be a good idea to be prepared with clothes that suit both.
We've listed some essentials to pack below:
1. Layers
It is best to dress in layers. A couple of sweaters and at least one warm jacket or coat are recommended.
A nice overcoat like this one by Tommy Hilfiger will keep you warm while looking stylish.
2. Comfortable Footwear
You'll want comfortable shoes and cozy socks to keep warm as you explore Rome in January.
Thicker socks like these wool ones by FUN TOES go great will keep you warm in any shoe.
3. Scarf and Gloves
For colder days, we recommend you add some gloves and a scarf to your outfit.
Cozy gloves like these by Patelai are great for keeping you warm on your walking tour of Rome.
THINGS TO DO IN ROME IN JANUARY
All times of the year, Rome has so much to do from visiting the Vatican, going on a food tour, and going to a sporting event.
Here is a top 10 list of things to do in Rome this month. For more details, visit the full post.
- See a show at Teatro dell’Opera.
- Attend a football game.
- See a musical/opera.
- Celebrate New Year's Day.
- Take a walking tour of Rome.
- Save money with a tourist pass.
- Celebrate La Befana.
- Observe the Epiphany/ Day of the Kings.
- Visit St. Peter's Tomb.
- Celebrate the work of Michelangelo.
If you're looking to maximize your time and money spent in Rome, you should consider utilizing an attraction discount pass.
Fred Pickhardt
Ocean Weather Services