Rome in January 2025

Ten years ago visiting Rome in January, we learned the hard way what miuccia is saying about Epiphany (January 6th). We thought January 3rd would be a nice quieter time to visit the Vatican museums and we entered when the doors opened. Turned out that almost all of the museum staff were still on vacation until after Epiphany and every single room we wanted to visit was closed. Instead, a packed crowd of tourists was rushed through the halls and up and down stairs to the Sistine Chapel -- it was actually frightening and just got worse and worse.

We were in Rome again for the first four days of January this year, taking our grandchildren to some of the places we'd visited on previous trips, so we can compare the crowds. Castel Sant'Angelo was enormously and unpleasantly more crowded and even Ostia Antica was busier than we'd seen it before. We didn't even attempt the Colosseum after seeing all the people around it. Buses were always full.

The weather was fine both years. Some on the forum disagree, but we always make reservations at restaurants because we've been disappointed too many times before. Once, we were the very last customers allowed in and we watched a dozen people getting turned away. We do not eat at fancy restaurants, usually lunch, and we go to Italy between September and January, sometimes in early spring.

Anyway, yes, wait until after Epiphany, if you can. And, looking on the bright side, even if crowded at least Rome won't be boiling hot in January. I hope your many times in Rome means you will be visiting mostly the less popular spots!

Miuccia and Nancy, thank you so very much for your responses.

Hi Rick - like you were visiting Rome for the upteenth (23rd) time - but never in January. As long as Trattoria Lille behind the Coronari is open for lunch and La Botticella for a beer, we'll survive. We decided to try January in the hope of avoiding the massive crowds of recent year - really too much to handle. I imagine our usual Caravaggio trail should be quieter, and our ramble through Navona - Campo Di Fiori, the Jewish Quarter and on to the Forum should be easier as well. We'll keep an eye on your blog for recommendations - you've got mine.

...I imagine our usual Caravaggio trail should be quieter, and our
ramble through Navona - Campo Di Fiori, the Jewish Quarter and on to
the Forum should be easier as well...

Danny Kearney---and your Caravaggio trail consists of what...? Inquiring minds want to know. And I imagine you saw the Netflix film noir series Ripley, shot in Atrani and featuring Caravaggio's life & works as a theme.

BTW, we'll be in Rome 2 weeks before Easter, basing around Campo & Navona, heaven help me. Been there a couple times before, so I've got the lay of the land & kinda know what I'm in for. So anything to get me on a trail to something fun is definitely worthwhile!

I was in Rome between mid-Feb and mid-Mar 2023. At 4 PM or so the security line for St. Peter's was so long I just left. Earlier in the day the Vatican Museums were mobbed, though I'm certain not quite as badly mobbed as they are April-October. I think I went to the Vatican near the end of my trip, so it was definitely in March rather than February. But that was 2023, which was not a Holy Year. I would expect the January 2025 situation to be somewhat worse, frankly.

I eat in geographically convenient restaurants when I am hungry, and I managed to do that in 2023 without making reservations. However, it is smart to reserve in Italy when you can. It's possible you might run into more closures in January than I observed in February; I don't recall many places with signs indicating they were not open. I did see quite a lot of that in northeastern Italy during July of this year.

I've been to Rome several times in February, never in January. If your visit is at the beginning of January, there will likely still be lots of holiday travelers. I think the Vatican is always crowded; other sights, not so much, some not at all. Some restaurants with outdoor seating put up tents and have heaters.