Rome 1st Week in September or 1st Week in November

If you don't mind the possibility of rain, the first week in November is likely to be much less crowded than the beginning of September. When I've been in Rome during the winter, the weather has been mild, with some rain – very similar to the San Francisco bay area.

September for a sun loving Australian such as myself. It's still nice and warm, but the crowds thinning out. November is pretty miserable everywhere in Europe. Ten days in Rome, or other places as well?

I have been both months and had great weather in November. As well as fewer tourists, but no guarantees. Still very hot in sept as well as crowded. Benefits to either time.

looking for more recommendations...thanks....

Last year we took our first trip to Italy in September. Weather was great and not to crowded.

It's a matter of weather.
Early November is generally rainy, the rainiest time of the year in fact. Not particularly cold yet, but likely wet.
Early September is still Summer weather, therefore likely warm to hot. Summer storms with short heavy downpours are very possible also.
In terms of crowds November will likely be less crowded. However September is not as crowded as late spring or early summer.

While weather is unpredictable, 1st week in September is still summer. Sounds hot to me. I just looked at the Weather Underground website. For the years 1996-2014, from Sept 1-12, high temps were usually from low 80's to low 90's. Keep in mind that it will feel hotter in the sun and if you're outside, there's not a lot of shade. Also, Rome's high humidity makes warmer temps more uncomfortable.

Then I looked at Nov 1-12. From 2000-2014 there was some rain on about 30% of the days (my guess is that even if it rains, there are often long dry periods during the day, or maybe it just rains at night sometimes). High temps were usually in the 60's.

November would likely be less expensive for flights and lodgings, and less crowding at tourist sights. That's what I would choose, knowing that there are lots of indoor sights for rainy days.

If you're planning a day trip to Pompeii - tough choice. Hours are shorter in November, probably not many tourists. In September, the heat and sun (not much shade there) can be strong, and probably lots of tourists.

We were in Rome last Sept 8-12...and it was plenty hot and humid! We were lucky to have a very centrally located apartment (just steps from the Colosseum) so almost every afternoon we went back to the apartment from about 2-4pm to cool down...I guess it depends on how well you handle the heat (and yes - the crowds- the subway was beyond hot and crowded) I've never travelled in Nov, but I would be more worried about the shorter daylight hours...our other visit to Rome in 2008 was the third week of Sept and I remember the weather being less humid...you can never predict weather of course...and a few more years (and...ahem...pounds) on the old body probably made things a little less tolerable...

We were in Rome last fall for a week the last week in October and it was pleasant. Some rain but mostly sprinkles on 2 days and not driving rain. We used an umbrella and didn't need a coat, just a sweater.

We were there the first week of November 2012. The weather was perfect. The daytime high was right at or above 70 degrees F with nighttime lows in the low 50's. We did not experience any rain in our 5 days there, but it rained just after we left. And the crowds were very manageable. We had no difficulties getting reservations for any sites.

I would not take daylight hours much into consideration. You aren't going to Rome for scenic vistas. With earlier sunsets, you'll have more hours to enjoy the illuminated sights after dark - fountains, buildings, the Colosseum!

November without any doubt. Sept. is still hot and very crowded. I have been there in winter before and weather is not bad. If you go in Sept. be prepared for long lines, crowded -VERY crowded - city with hoardes of Chinese tourists who don't think anything of pushing and shoving and cutting in line in front of anyone. I just returned from there. Thought early April would still be ok, but it was not. I am not exaggerating about the pushers and shovers. I asked nationality regularly and was told Chinese. I believe it is cultural. They do not have the personal space westerners have. Repeatedly, I turned to people behind and asked them to please stop pushing - it would not get them in any faster - but before long they were pushing again. We also regularly told them that the line was behind us, and we would turn around and they would have moved in front again. If this had happened once or twice, I would have just thought they were rude people. It happened several times in every line we stood in. We finally stopped using the lines and booked tours to avoid the lines. The crowds were massive, though. Other times I have visited the Vatican museum, I was able to stroll through the museum and spend a full day there. This time there was a massive crowd pushing everyone along. I don't think I will go back to Italy. I am pleased I was able to experience it in the winter though. Much nicer then!

Oh, poor Mary. What an awful time you had. I think you need to give the rest of Italy a chance though. I've only been in Rome in February (once in short sleeves, once in snow). I've been to quite a few other places in Italy, February, AprilMay and October and never had similar experiences. Florence did seem to have a lot of tourists already in early May, but no crowds and no hordes of unpleasant tourist groups anywhere. Even Venice during Carnevale, when there are lots of crowds in the streets (not at the sights), was quite manageable.

I don't know....we were in Italy the first few weeks of Sept last year and the only 'Chinese' hordes I noticed were on the vaporetto to Murano/Burano and in Venice. They were very respectful...one girl was even asking us about the best way to get to Burano and which stop to get off in Murano - she was quite pleasant, even tho she didn't take our advice about which stop to get off in Murano ;) I honestly can't think of any issues at all in Rome for the 5 nights we were there...

My visit to Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India was spoilt by an obnoxious American woman. Like neighbours, there are good and bad travellers. To label one group serves no purpose except to show prejudice.