Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Rome in January
Rome in January suits a city break if you are happy to explore in a coat, but it is not a winter-sun choice. Daytime temperatures average around 12°C, falling to around 4°C at night, with about 9 rainy days during the month. Go for walking in cool weather rather than warmth or long outdoor evenings. The catch is that rain and limited daylight make a flexible plan more useful than a packed outdoor schedule.
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
- 11.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 14°C
- Average night-time low
- 3.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -0°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.2°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 14.7°C
- year to year: 14°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.5h
- 48% of 9.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 63 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 80%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.0°C
- 2018-01-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- -3.9°C
- 2017-01-07
- 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 January compares
January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Rome and ranks 109th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Italy it is 8th of 16 (Italy in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Rome is 4.2°C warmer by day and 1.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Rome peaks at 11.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 3.7°C; one night in ten drops to -0.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 20.0°C (2018-01-08) and the coldest night -3.9°C (2017-01-07).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 63 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2010 with 156 mm, the driest 1991 with 10 mm. Humidity averages 80%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 14.7°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.1°C to 15.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:36 and sets about 17:02 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 51%.
Is January a good time to visit Rome?
January 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 when you stop
January is Rome's coldest month, so treat it as a winter trip rather than a chance to leave your warm clothes behind. The average daytime high can be comfortable for walking with layers, but sitting outside or heading out after dark calls for a proper coat. Pack a jumper, scarf and closed shoes that can cope with wet pavements. The coldest nights can dip below freezing, so a light jacket alone is a poor bet. If you dislike heat, the cool conditions may suit you well; if outdoor meals and mild evenings are central to your holiday, January is harder to recommend.
Make daylight count and leave room for rain
Expect about 4.5 hours of sunshine within 9.3 hours of daylight, rather than reliably bright days. Put your longer walks in the middle of the day, when you have daylight and the best chance of comfortable temperatures, and keep indoor plans flexible. With about 9 rainy days, a waterproof outer layer and a compact umbrella are sensible luggage choices. Rain is a meaningful risk, but the monthly pattern does not mean every day will be wet. January works best if you can rearrange outdoor time around the weather; it is less suitable if your enjoyment depends on spending most of the day outside in sunshine.
A little perspective
Rome through the year
January 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+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 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% |
| December | 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 January
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Rome in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Rome hot in January?
Rome is cool in January: the average daytime high is 11.6°C and nights average 3.7°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Rome in January?
The sea around Rome averages 14.7°C in January, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 15°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Rome in January?
Rome sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 63 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (156 mm) and the driest was 1991 (10 mm).
How sunny is Rome in January?
Rome gets around 4.5 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Rome compare with the UK in January?
Rome is on average 4.2°C warmer than London by day in January (11.6°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Rome?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Rome reached 20.0°C on 2018-01-08, and the coldest night dropped to -3.9°C on 2017-01-07.
Is Rome warmer than London in January?
Yes. Rome's average daytime high is 11.6°C, compared with London's 7.4°C, a difference of 4.2°C. That makes it milder during the day, but not warm: you will still need winter layers, especially once the sun goes down.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The sea averages 14.7°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. January is not a sensible choice if relaxed sea swimming is part of your holiday plan. Choose it for a city break, not a swimming trip.
Does January suit a short break from the UK?
It can, particularly if you enjoy walking in cool weather and can adapt your plans when it rains. The flight from London is about 2 h 30 min, making the journey relatively short, but limited daylight rewards planning your outdoor time.
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