This Is Italy
We just got back from a week in Rome, the Eternal City. It's always wonderful, of course, and traveling outside the summer months is definitely a good idea. Although Rome is always busy, the tourist flow does dry up a bit between November and January. And Rome is just as beautiful, perhaps even more so, in the winter! But you also run a greater risk of rain during these months. Here are our top tips for a bad-weather itinerary when you're in Rome.
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Preparation
Of course, it all starts with good preparation. The weather forecast can look excellent. For example, in December it could easily be 15 degrees Celsius with sunshine. We experienced that kind of weather during our trip. But you also know how the weather goes: it can change suddenly and last longer than you think.
So it's definitely wise to bring a good jacket that can handle rain. Nothing is more annoying than walking through those beautiful streets of Rome while wet and cold. Also, consider your shoes. You probably already know that you'll be walking a lot in Rome. But you also need to wear shoes that keep your feet dry—that's something to keep in mind when packing. Especially because the streets in Rome might not be as straight as you're used to at home. And then you might just step in a big puddle.
Good shoes and a good winter coat or raincoat are essential. While there are plenty of activities you can do indoors, you can't avoid the occasional rain shower.
Metro
It's also good to know that you can easily use the metro during rain showers. There are three lines with branches, and the third line (Line C) is currently being further expanded. The brand-new metro station at the Colosseum was recently completed, and the exhibits alone make it worth a visit. You can see what you can see there in the extended video below.
Another relatively new feature is the "Tap & Go" system introduced in the Rome metro. This allows you to check in with a debit card or Google Pay/Apple Pay on your mobile phone. For journeys under 100 minutes, you pay just €1,50. For longer journeys, you pay the daily rate of up to €8,50. The system automatically calculates the best price. It works really well.
What to do in bad weather in Rome?
Back to the activities you can enjoy during bad weather. Many people only spend a few days in the Italian capital. So, of course, you want to make the most of it and not just sit in your hotel room.
Major attractions like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are best visited on a day when it's not raining. You'll be walking around largely exposed, and large puddles of mud quickly form on Palatine Hill.
However, there are also plenty of other attractions that you can definitely enjoy.
Vatican City and St. Peter's
One of those tips is Vatican City. St. Peter's Square is uncovered, but you can easily spend a few hours in the free St. Peter's Basilica. It opens at 7:00 a.m., and it's recommended to arrive there shortly after. After 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., the lines of tourists start forming, and everyone has to go through security to get in.
For a fee, you can also climb the dome, which is highly recommended. With 550 steps, it's quite a climb, but at the top, you'll have a fantastic view of the city. You can also pay to go the other way, into the crypt beneath the basilica, where you can see the tomb of St. Peter.
If you'd like to stay in Vatican City longer, you can also visit the Vatican Museums, with the Sistine Chapel as its highlight. Please note that a visit here requires careful planning, preferably by booking tickets in advance through the official website. When it rains, these museums are often even more crowded than usual.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is a gigantic, circular church that was once a Roman temple and a marvel of architecture. Its roof has a hole 9 meters in diameter. When it rains, it pours in. But the Romans already had a solution for that. The floor slopes downward from the center, allowing water to be channeled through gutters to the drains. It's especially beautiful to see this 2-year-old drainage system in action during rain.
Time for gelato!
Since 1900, you'll find Rome's most famous ice cream parlor, Giolitti, on Via degli Uffici del Vicario. Here you'll find a huge selection of Italian gelato flavors. Why not enjoy an ice cream when it's raining? It's also a great place for a husband and a nice cup of cappuccino.
The Castel Sant'Angelo
One of those top Roman attractions that's perfect for visiting in bad weather is Castel Sant'Angelo. Originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, it later served various other purposes, which you can learn all about in the museum. Inside, you can also see the site where the urns from the 2nd century AD were kept. You can easily spend a few hours here, as there's so much to see.
Did you know that Piazza Navona was built on a Roman stadium, the Stadium of Domitian? You can still find its remains underground if you visit the excavations. This is a perfect excursion for a rainy day. The current surface of the square clearly shows the vast area where the chariots of the various factions would race, cheered on by their fans from the stands where houses now stand.
Piazza Navona above ground is, of course, also perfectly manageable in a bit of rain. In November and December, you'll find a charming, small-scale Christmas market here with food stalls and a merry-go-round.
Domus Aurea, Nero's megalomaniac palace
The "Golden House," commissioned by Emperor Nero, is now largely underground. This megalomaniac palace was never finished and, after the unpopular emperor's death, was covered with thick walls and sand. The first excavations weren't conducted until around 1600.
You can now visit it with a guide. It's chilly underground, but you're well sheltered from a heavy downpour. You do need to book a guided tour, which is best done through the official website. A visit to the Domus Aurea can easily take up to two hours.
The Crypt of the Capuchins
Cappuccino is named after these Capuchin monks, but they are known for even more, especially this "bone crypt" located near the Barberini (Trevi Fountain) metro station. Beneath the Capuchin Church lies a crypt containing the skulls, shoulder blades, vertebrae, and bones of some 3.700 monks. Some rather macabre artwork has been created from them. This is an ideal excursion if you're a bit spooky. Fortunately, there's also a museum before the crypt that explains why the dead are displayed this way.
An extensive lunch
Rome is of course also a paradise for foodies. No problem at all if it rains, you can still enjoy a leisurely lunch. You'll find plenty of options on every street corner, just beware of the well-known tourist traps (The menus with pictures of the food are well-known; it's best not to go inside.) You can't go wrong with pinsa or pizza.
Shopping paradise Rinascente
On Via del Tritone in the center of Rome, there's a seven-story branch of Rinascente, an Italian premium department store focusing on fashion, design, beauty, and gastronomy. It's somewhat similar to what Lafayette in France, KaDeWe in Germany, and De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands have to offer. But with a lot of Italian flair, and all the expensive Italian (fashion) brands are represented.
It's clear that Rinascente caters to the more affluent, but they're perfectly accustomed to tourists who are just window-shopping. Rinascente in Rome is housed in a historic building, where you can even explore authentic Roman walls in the basement (near the Lego Store).
In the food court on the top floor you will be served at your table and can enjoy a (not cheap) lunch while having a view over the city.
Or visit one of those many lesser known museums
It goes without saying that when it rains, the flow of tourists largely moves indoors, but they mainly go to the more well-known museums, such as the Vatican Museums and the Capitoline Museums.
However, there are also dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of museums in Rome that are much less well-known. Below are a few lesser-known museums that still attract many visitors for their interesting offerings.
- Museo Nazionale Romano: Palazzo Massimo al Terme
- Colonna Gallery
- Galleria doria pamphilj
- Villa Giulia: National Etruscan Museum
- Palazzo Barberini
- Museo Nazionale Romano: Baths of Diocleziano
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Museum of the Imperial Forums
- Villa Farnesina
- Montemartini
- Ara Pacis Museum
- MAXXI
- and many others…
What do you do when the weather is bad in Rome?
As you can see, even in bad weather, there's plenty to do. Of course, much more than we've briefly mentioned above. With a little preparation and a bit of flexibility, your long weekend or week in Rome will go ahead.
Have you been to Rome in bad weather and have tips on what to do? Leave a comment below this article and help other Italy lovers.
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