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Winter in Rome: 5 Things to Do

If you have been to Rome in other seasons apart from winter, it would mean long queues, pushing and shoving and extremely high airfares. But winter in Rome is a whole other experience! Not only is it more relaxed with fewer crowds but it also seems to be prettier and pleasant. Here are 5 things to do in Rome during winter which I highly recommend:

Winter in Rome: 5 Things to do

1. Spend an Evening at the Pincio:

If you’re in Rome during winter, I highly recommend visiting the Pincio Terrace to enjoy exceptional views!! Imagine time of the sunset, St. Peter’s Basilica right in front of you, negligible crowds and light music in the background….. There can be nothing more romantic than that, right?? This is the exact atmosphere at Pincio, which is a 10 minutes climb from Spanish Steps and 5 minutes from Piazza del Popolo. The best part of visiting Pincio is that you can view all the layers of the gorgeous city of Rome. Spend an evening on the terrace at Pincio and thank me later!

Fun Fact: Pincio gets it’s name from the Pincii family that occupied the area in 4th century A.D. 

 
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View from Pincio Terrace

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The Spanish Steps

2. Take the Romantic Poets Timeless Inspiration with Context Travel:

One of the most unique ways to celebrate winter in Rome is using tour guides and tours that are otherwise fully booked in summer. I highly recommend using Context Travel to understand a deeper layer of the city. Context Travel graciously offered their “Romantic Poets Timeless Inspiration” tour to our Winter in Rome blog gang. 

We took a long walk at the Non Catholic Cemetery at the graves of writers Keats, Shelley and Henry James’ heroine Daisy Miller. Writers Keats and Shelley spent a lot of time in the eternal city so we also subsequently visited their Home at the Spanish Steps. Context planned for all of us to have a glass of champagne on the private terrace of Keats and Shelley. This made the evening even more magical! 

The Romantic Poets Timeless Inspiration tour was an excellent insight into literary Rome. As you know, Literature and Italy are two of my best friends so it was fun knowing about the two aspects together. 

Fun Fact: Our guide Hillary informed that Mick Jagger read Shelley’s poem “Adonais” in the memory of guitarist Brian Jones in 2014!

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Champagne in Keats and Shelley’s home

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Tour with Context Travel

3. Book a tour with Foodies in Rome:

Another great way to see Rome in winter is to take a cooking class with Dominique from Foodies in RomeOriginally from Canada, Dominique established Foodies in Rome as a way to show tourists the local and delicious side of the city. Dominique is warm and friendly Roman (almost!) who is super passionate about Italian food. Her food tours are customized and curated as per clients needs. Make sure you take a pizza making class with her in the legendary Forno in Campo de’ Fiori.

Fun Fact: Our group learnt how to make the best pizza al taglio with gurus Fabrizio Roscioli and Dino Bartocci!!

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At Forno with the Masterchefs

4. Hop on a Vespa with Scooteroma:

Another interesting thing to do in Rome during winter is to unlock your inner Audrey Hepburn!! Book a vespa tour with Scooteroma and zip past the Colosseum like there’s no tomorrow!! Scooteroma is a Roman company owned by Annie and Giovanni and their super cool and funky team. Together, on a Vespa, they show the lesser known side of Rome to their guests.

My tour guide was a Roman called Michelle who was super fun and passionate. He knew Rome like the back of his hand and we ended up chatting about Italy, cinema and everything in between. I applaud him for his patience and spirit in being patient with my Italian. Grazie mille, Michelle!

Fun Fact: Scooteroma showed our blog gang the historic Appian Way that starts from Rome and goes all the way until Brindisi.

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Vespa Tour with Scooteroma

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Us with the Scooteroma crew (Thanks for the pic Annie!)

5. Go for a Wine Tasting Session with Antiqua Tours:

Another unique thing to do in Rome during the winter is take a wine tasting session with Sarah May Grunwald from Antiqua Tours & Taste Georgia. Sarah is a passionate wine sommelier and the face of Antiqua who has deep knowledge about wines!

She taught about the wine making region of Lazio (where Rome is) and it’s underrated wines. Our winter in Rome group also learnt how Venetians spread the wines to the Black Sea along with the history of the Etruscans. 

Fun Fact: Do you know all 20 Italian regions produce wine! 

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Wine Tasting with Antiqua Tours

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Learning about wines from Lazio

Hope you enjoyed these unique things to do for your winter in Rome trip. Big thanks to Annie from Scooteroma and Linda & Steve from The Beehive for being excellent hosts! 

Don’t miss having gelato from Gelateria Fiocco di Neve near the Pantheon!

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Further Reading:

Have you read Four Seasons in Rome??

48 Comments

  • […] 5 Things to do during Winter in Rome […]

    Reply
  • Nicky
    September 9, 2018 at 8:35 am

    Great ideas! Rome has to be one of my favourite countries to visit. The food! Oh the food! I love the idea of the Vespa tour too – next time 🙂

    Reply
    • Italophilia
      September 9, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      Yes Rome is a great city and probably my favorite in the world (after my hometown) 🙂 Thanks for reading and stopping by!!

      Reply
  • Kamini Kapoor
    August 14, 2018 at 5:35 am

    Thanks for the info. Will be going to Rome on Dec 3rd.

    Reply
    • Italophilia
      August 14, 2018 at 2:50 pm

      Happy to help!! 🙂 It’s great to visit Italy in the off season

      Reply
  • […] Winter in Rome: 5 Things to Do […]

    Reply
  • simplyfriendlytrip
    February 21, 2018 at 11:34 pm

    Your experience in Rome sounds great 😊👍

    Reply
    • Ishita
      March 8, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Reply
  • Joyce Poggi Hager
    February 13, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    My husband and I took our teenage daughters to Rome in February 2008. It was wonderful. Mild weather, little to no waiting time for anything. We loved it.

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    • Ishita
      February 15, 2018 at 5:13 pm

      I bet! It barely even rained when I was there. Plus the thinner crowds just ups the game. x

      Reply
  • livechicandwell
    February 13, 2018 at 3:38 am

    Well, you’ve sold it to me… just need to find a babysitter now! 🙂
    I’ve only been in the summer, and both times it was sweltering hot and super crowded with tourists.
    Thanks for the great suggestions in your article.

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 13, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Haha! 😉😉 I can imagine it must be difficult with a child. Hoping you visit in the winter x

      Reply
  • aesha thakur
    February 12, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Great article…everything looks like so much fun😍😀

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 12, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Thanks sweetie! Talk to you soon..I’ve been sick since I came

      Reply
  • Manja Mexi Movie
    February 12, 2018 at 4:33 am

    I haven’t been to that terrace yet, so thank you for that, but I noticed that you mention Lord Byron and Henry James in connection with the Non-Catholic Cemetery. I don’t think they are buried there.

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    • Ishita
      February 12, 2018 at 12:48 pm

      No no they aren’t! In fact Byron had drowned so I know he wasn’t. We read passages from their books and James’ Daisy Miller was buried there ..not him. Thanks for telling me to correct!

      Reply
    • Ishita
      February 12, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      Happy to know that I could something to your list!

      Reply
      • Manja Mexi Movie
        February 12, 2018 at 2:34 pm

        Oh, me too! And you have contributed to the list already! 🙂

        Reply
  • jessicaadza
    February 12, 2018 at 1:13 am

    Can’t wait to explore some more of Rome later this week! 🙂

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 12, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      My next post on where to eat will be up in a few days!

      Reply
  • sherylmcdougald
    February 11, 2018 at 9:57 pm

    Ishita, I am sooo into it – I have Pinned this, and I am sharing it all around — I melt in the summer, (haha Canada Lady!) so all of this sounds perfect for me!

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 10:00 pm

      So kind of you! Thank you 💕 haha Canada lady! 😉

      Reply
  • dudeandthefood
    February 11, 2018 at 7:56 pm

    Although my favourite is Number 3 but I am really very excited and keen about Number 4. Zipping across the city on those colourful Vespas. Very exciting

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    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm

      Why am I not surprised about Number 3?! 💕💕 Yes we totally have to do it!

      Reply
  • IngridMadisonAve
    February 11, 2018 at 7:33 pm

    Yes, you had me with the glass of wine on the Spanish steps. 🤗 Great post. Thank you

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    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm

      Aww thank you so much! It was heaven!

      Reply
  • Tony Staffaroni
    February 11, 2018 at 7:33 pm

    You know I am sold! Wow, what amazing tours you were able to take, I would be thrilled to do any one, or all of them! 🙂 The photos are awesome too, amazing how much small the crowds are. I cannot wait to experience the bel paese in winter!!

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 9:53 pm

      I know right 🤩 it’s amazing how people want to follow the crowd and go in the summer 😂 now it’s winter baby! Thank you!

      Reply
  • Streets of Nuremberg
    February 11, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    Love your photos, Ishita! Especially the soft winter light in the first images! Marcus

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    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      Thank you Marcus 🙂

      Reply
  • The Wayfarer
    February 11, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    I think winter is the only time I would go to Rome. It just seems too crazy and crowded otherwise! Thanks for the tips 🙂

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    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 5:13 pm

      Pleasure 🙂 how is your travel planning going??

      Reply
      • The Wayfarer
        February 11, 2018 at 5:15 pm

        Right now it’s mostly fantasy… I’m a bit low on funds this year.

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        • Ishita
          February 11, 2018 at 5:16 pm

          I understand! I think I confused your plan with someone else who was supposed to be in Italy in the coming months. Nevertheless always good to know you are dreaming 😍

          Reply
  • Chloe
    February 11, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    Couldn’t agree more about going in winter, I went in November one year and the weather was perfect, not too cold at all. I love the idea of doing a literature-inspired tour. Once on TV there was a great programme about Shakespeare’s time in Italy and Venezia especially – it was so interesting!! Xx

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      Right?? I’m sold. I don’t want to go back in the sweltering heat 😉 how cool! Do you remember the name of the show??

      Reply
  • amindfultravellerblog
    February 11, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    Wow, it’s so much quieter in Winter. Even though we usually travel there around September, there is a noticeable difference. Maybe our next one will be a white Christmas there! Xx

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 5:15 pm

      The Spanish steps are “empty” 😉 you know what I mean?? I’ll pray for you to visit in winter!

      Reply
  • marilyneb
    February 11, 2018 at 4:05 pm

    Your Winter in Rome experience sounds magical. I’ve visited in early January before and it was wonderful – just the right temp for those of us more used to cooler climes 😁. The Keats Shelley house is a lovely little oasis of calm, and I loved seeing all the little artefacts there from poets I’d studied at uni. It must have been magical to have that little private terrace to yourselves. I think I’ve read that it’s also possible to stay there, which must be a treat too!

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      Thank you dear and also for following along all throughout. It was seriously very calm , I’ll have to check about the staying information though. Very neat!

      Reply
  • Kelly
    February 11, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Ditto what Karen said! Years ago I went to Rome in Feb and my hostel had a broken window, cold showers, and I had a cold. Lol but I only remember the magic of Rome. That’s why it’s important to choose good accommodations and it sounds like you had a good one! And then pizza and wine tasting…those sound like great indoor activities to keep you warm during the winter!

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    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      Yeah it is and I think places like The Beehive where the heart and soul is poured in the place, go a long way.

      Reply
  • karenincalabria
    February 11, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    I don’t like crowds or high prices so I’m a fan of any time of the year considered off-season. The only caution is heat or the lack of it. Clearly, you were comfortable at the Beehive and you would be in a 4-star accommodation, but I have literally frozen in Rome staying in local’s apartments on the cusp season, when legally they couldn’t turn the heat on, or in places that just don’t crank it up. So just a precaution that you might need warm clothing, not so much for outside, but for inside…

    Reply
    • Ishita
      February 11, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      Oh I am sorry to know that! Thankfully I haven’t had problems anywhere this time whether at The Beehive or at my friends place or any of the other places.

      Reply

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