Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Rome in December
Rome in December suits a city break if you are happy with cool days and a real chance of rain, rather than hoping for winter warmth. Average highs are around 12°C, nights fall to around 5°C, and about 11 days have rain. It is a reasonable choice for exploring on foot without heat, provided you pack layers and keep your plans flexible. The catch is that evenings need proper winter clothing, and daylight is limited.
Long-term climate averages for Rome, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Rome, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Rome.
- Average daytime high
- 12.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 16°C
- Average night-time low
- 5.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 1°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.7°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 16.3°C
- year to year: 16°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.4h
- 49% of 9.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 92 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 80%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 18.9°C
- 2004-12-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- -4.9°C
- 2010-12-17
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 30 min
- 1411 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Rome and ranks 109th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Italy it is 9th of 16 (Italy in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Rome is 4.7°C warmer by day and 2.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Rome peaks at 12.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 15.5°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 5.1°C; one night in ten drops to 1.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 18.9°C (2004-12-02) and the coldest night -4.9°C (2010-12-17).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 92 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2008 with 244 mm, the driest 2015 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 80%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 16.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.5°C to 17.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:31 and sets about 16:40 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 51%.
Is December a good time to visit Rome?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Rome on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable for walking, cold once you stop
The daytime temperature makes walking a more comfortable prospect than sitting outside for long stretches. Wear layers you can adjust as you move between outdoors and heated interiors, with a warm coat for evenings. Milder days can reach around 16°C, but that is not the temperature to build your packing around. At the colder end, nights can fall to 1°C or below, so a scarf and gloves are sensible additions if you expect to stay out late. December works best for travellers who do not mind wrapping up; it is a poor fit if outdoor warmth is central to the trip.
Plan around rain and short daylight
Rain is a practical drawback, not just a remote possibility: about 11 days are wet enough to affect outdoor plans. Bring a waterproof outer layer and shoes that can cope with wet pavements, and leave room to move longer walks around the forecast. There are about 9.0 hours of daylight, with 4.4 hours of sunshine on average, so put your priority outdoor time earlier in the day rather than leaving it until late afternoon. Those sunshine hours offer scope for brighter spells, but they are not a promise of clear weather each day. A flexible itinerary will serve you better than one built entirely around being outdoors.
A little perspective
Rome through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.6°C | 3.7°C | 14.7°C | 4.5 | 63 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 12.3°C | 3.7°C | 13.9°C | 5.4 | 72 | 9 | 0% |
| March | 15.2°C | 5.9°C | 13.9°C | 5.8 | 75 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 18.0°C | 8.6°C | 15.2°C | 6.5 | 78 | 11 | 1% |
| May | 22.4°C | 12.5°C | 18.4°C | 8.0 | 58 | 9 | 23% |
| Junebest | 27.0°C | 16.6°C | 22.1°C | 10.2 | 33 | 5 | 71% |
| Julybest | 30.2°C | 19.4°C | 24.7°C | 12.0 | 22 | 4 | 95% |
| Augustbest | 30.6°C | 20.1°C | 25.7°C | 10.7 | 22 | 4 | 96% |
| September | 25.4°C | 16.5°C | 23.9°C | 7.5 | 81 | 9 | 56% |
| October | 21.0°C | 13.0°C | 21.5°C | 5.5 | 116 | 11 | 7% |
| November | 16.1°C | 9.0°C | 18.9°C | 4.3 | 130 | 12 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 12.4°C | 5.1°C | 16.3°C | 4.4 | 92 | 11 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Rome in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Rome hot in December?
Rome is cool in December: the average daytime high is 12.4°C and nights average 5.1°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Rome in December?
The sea around Rome averages 16.3°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Rome in December?
Rome sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 92 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (244 mm) and the driest was 2015 (0 mm).
How sunny is Rome in December?
Rome gets around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Rome compare with the UK in December?
Rome is on average 4.7°C warmer than London by day in December (12.4°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Rome?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Rome reached 18.9°C on 2004-12-02, and the coldest night dropped to -4.9°C on 2010-12-17.
Is Rome warmer than London in December?
Yes. Rome's average daytime high is 12.4°C, compared with London's 7.7°C, a difference of 4.7°C. That is a useful step up for daytime walking, but Rome is still cool rather than warm, and you will still need winter layers.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The sea averages 16.3°C in December, which is cold for swimming rather than merely bracing. If comfortable sea swimming is part of your holiday plan, December is not a good match; treat this as a city break instead.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 2 h 30 min, making Rome a short-haul option. That makes the journey manageable for a shorter break, but the weather trade-off remains: milder days than London, not dependable warmth or dry skies.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Rome. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 26.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C