Rome January: January in Rome is the ideal time for museum-goers and cheap shopping. The winter sales begin at the end of the Christmas season on January 6th. Whether luxury brands or inexpensive goods, you will find the latest fashion at greatly reduced prices. Temperatures are mild and frosts are rare, usually at the end of the month only.
Roman home cooking tastes particularly good in the cold season. You can get to know many delicious specialties.
In winter, be sure to try the fried artichokes. They come fresh from the field and are freshly prepared every day.
If there are restrictions due to the coronavirus, you will find the relevant information on our page on the corona crisis. There have always been fewer cases in Rome than in other regions of Italy. If you follow the rules, you can be confident that you will be safe in Rome. Read what is planned in Rome in January and how you have to organize yourself.
Avoid queues
Basically, one of the COVID precautionary measures is to avoid crowds and queues. You can find the current regulations in our article on Coronavirus in Rome.
You should therefore book everything on the Internet as far as possible.
You risk queues at the airport if you have not arranged the trip to Rome in advance, as well as with public transport.
More information about Ciampino
More information about Fiumicino
Public transport
The public transport in Rome is hopelessly overwhelmed and there is no working timetable. Only a few lines, such as lines 40 and 64 between Termini and the Vatican, run regularly. Take this into account when planning and choosing your accommodation. Book your accommodation in the city center, in Monti near the Colosseum or in the vicinity of the Vatican.
The hop on hop off buses circulate very reliably. When the weather is nice, you can rent a bike. You can also find electric scooters in the center.
Accommodation
The Roman center is not very big and you can walk to many attractions. Read in our article Hotels in Rome which neighborhoods are best for your accommodation.
St. Peter's Basilica opening times in January
For St. Peter’s Basilica, we have put together extensive information in our articles on entry to St. Peter’s Basilica and the history of St. Peter’s Basilica.
There are hardly any queues at St. Peter’s Basilica in January. Nevertheless, we recommend the Skip-the-line ticket with audio guide.
St. Peter’s Basilica is closed during the Pope’s celebrations on 1st and 6th January. The opening times are:
St. Peter’s Basilica 7am-6:30pm – dome 8am-6pm – Cathedral Treasure 9am-6:15pm
Opening times of the museums
All information on opening times and tickets can be found on our page on the opening times of the museums.
Reservation is compulsory for the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery and all museums in the Municipality of Rome. With the reservation you will receive an entry time that you should adhere to as closely as possible.
The Colosseum in January
You have to make a reservation for the Colosseum.
Opening hours: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm closing at 4:30 pm. It is closed on January 1st.
The Vatican Museums
They are closed on Sunday and, due to the Corona emergency, until January 15th
Opening hours 8:30 am – 6.30 pm
Vatican gardens
You can only visit the Vatican Gardens by reservation. There is a bus tour that departs to the left of St. Peter’s Basilica and a guided tour on foot.
Events
Papal audiences in January
General audiences of the Holy Father take place on Wednesdays at 9:30 am with the exception of January 6th. The audiences are expected to be closed to the public and will be streamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace on the Internet. Current information can be found on our page on the papal audience. You can follow the broadcast live on our Papal Audience page.
There are papal masses on January 1st and 6th. These celebrations are not public and are broadcast on the internet.
The Pope’s Angelus prayer takes place on Sundays and January 6th at noon in St. Peter’s Square. On January 1, 3 and 6, the Angelus prayer will be broadcast from the library of the Apostolic Palace.
24.1. Traffic-calmed Sunday – driving ban for private vehicles with combustion engines in the city center
7:30 am – 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Sports
6.1. Corri per la Befana – races and games in the Ippodromo delle Capanelle https://www.romaroadrunnersclub.it/
31.1. 9:30 La Corsa di Miguel 10 km final at the Olympic Stadium https://www.lacorsadimiguel.it/
Concerts
Rome has a lively music scene. Many pubs and music venues offer live music, especially on weekends. Classical music can be found in many churches and palaces.
Rome's Music Park
A jewel is the Parco della Musica, built by the internationally known architect Renzo Piano, in northern Rome on Via Flaminia. See all events here. Events and tickets
Tram 2 
There are several auditoriums and an open-air stage in the Parco della Musica. There are performances in all styles.
Exhibitions
until January 10th, 2021 Per Gioco
The toy collection of the Sovrintendenza Capitolina in the Museo di Roma
Piazza Navona
until January 11th, 2021 Il tempo di Caravaggio
Exhibition in the Capitoline Museums of the works of the world-famous painter
Capitol Hill
until June 27th, 2021 I Marmi Torlonia. Collezionare Capolavori
The legendary marble collection of the Torlonia family, exhibition in the Capitoline Museums, Villa Caffarelli
Capitol Hill
Cinecittà si mostra Visit the dream factory of Roman cinema, Metro A Station Cinecittà Tickets
Stadium of the Domitian The stadium under Piazza Navona
Via di Tor Sanguigna 3 Tickets
Galleria Colonna – one of the largest ancient private palaces in Rome. The most beautiful rooms of the palace and the art collection of the family with artists from the 15th and 16th centuries such as Pinturicchio, Cosmè Tura, Carracci, Guido Reni, Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, Bronzino, Guercino, Veronese, Vanvitelli
Via della Pilotta 17 (near Piazza Venezia) Bus 51, 60, 63, 80, 83, 85, 160, 170, H, n5, n8, n11, n90, n543, n716 (Piazza Venezia) Tickets
Capuchin Crypt – Museum and Crypt of the Capuchins
Via Vittorio Veneto 27 Bus 52, 53, 61, 63, 80, 83, 160, n90, nMA (Barberini) Tickets
The Colosseum tells of itself, permanent exhibition in the Colosseum – with the support of Heinz Beste, DAI Rom
Piazza del Colosseo Metro B Colosseo Tickets
FUORI – Quadriennale d’Arte
Contemporary Italian art in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni
Via Nazionale 194 Bus 64, 70, 71, 117, 170, H
Banksy A Visual Protest
Over 90 works tell the world of Banksy. See the works of the unknown artist Banksy, who conquered the world with irony and sharpness, in the monastery built by the Italian architect Bramante in the 16th century.
In the Chiostro del Bramante (Zone Piazza Navona) Via Arco della Pace 5
Practical tips
Weather and clothing
According to statistics, the maximum temperatures in Rome in January are 13° C / 55° F, the minimum temperatures 3° C / 37° F. January is the coldest month in Rome.
In January it can rain occasionally. The rain usually doesn’t last long and you can look for a shelter. After 15 or 30 minutes, it’s usually all over again.
It is memorable when there is snow or frost in Rome. That only happens once in three or four years. This particular spectacle then goes through all the newspapers.
Since you spend a lot of time outdoors in Rome, you will need warm clothing and rain protection. Comfortable shoes are also important in Rome, as you will be walking a lot and the sidewalks are often bumpy.
Rome for early risers
Of course, it takes some overcoming to get up in the dark. Nevertheless, I would like to recommend that you start a day early in the morning. There is very little traffic in Rome until six o’clock in the morning and you can take beautiful photos of monuments and squares undisturbed. With a little luck, you’ll find a misty morning that offers beautiful and unique photo opportunities. The sunrise is in Rome in January between 7:38 and 7:24.
The early morning is also the best time to jog.
Mid season in Rome, what you should consider
As soon as the Christmas holidaysare over on the 6th of January, the sights in Rome will be quieter.
There are fewer visitors to Rome in January because it’s pretty cold.
If you would like to visit the museums in Rome and the Vatican, January is one of the best months for you. You are almost alone in the museums and benefit from shopping in the winter sales.
Eating
The heavy Roman cuisine goes perfectly with the cold season. In our Food category you will find tips on street food, pizza, the best ice cream parlors that offer creations to match the winter, but also on very elegant restaurants.
Excursion tips
When there is snow, the Romans ski in the nearby Appenines.
Other interesting excavations can be found in the nearby Ostia Antica or on a day trip to Pompeii.
A day trip to Florence is also very interesting. Various organizers offer day tours in minibuses or by express train.
