Rome Travel Forum

I wanted to go to Rome this year but we couldn't manage so instead we're contemplating to visit it in late Jan 2009 - in time for my 30th birthday :D

What I wonder is if it's a good or bad idea in the sense of:
- not as many sun hours: meaning that maybe we won't be able to appreciate the ruins like we would in, say May.
- not many sights opened due to less tourist being in town?

Now, I live in Sweden so by Jan I'm used to not having a lot of sun hours and to the cold so those 2 wouldn't so much of a change/challenge for me.

Also, is it so noisy in Rome that you hear noise from the street no matter where you sleep (as in a room in the back of a hotel/hostel or a room in the front)?
No matter how luxurious a hotel/hostel is, we always find bad reviews about it on tripadvisor.com and that sort of worries me because I don't want to spend half my budget in accommodations and at the same time I want to have a good night's sleep (Mr. Sweden is a light sleeper). I understand, however, that a big city is bound to be noisy.

Any other tips you can give me are welcome. If there are other locations that suit us best then by all means go ahead and tell us. We're not into winter sports (we can do that here) and I don't know yet but we hope to be pregnant by then (less than 6 months tho! we start working on that later this year :D).

Hi.
We went to Rome this January for 5 days. We were lucky because we had 5 SUNNY days in a row, and not very cold(comparing with Spain, probably warm comparing with Sweden).
Everything is open and working, so you will be able to see everything, and less crowded than in Summer time.
Trafic is busy, but it is not "hell". We slept in a nice hotel in Via Nazionale. Fourth floor, no noises at all. Double glazing at the windows, and very well located. Walking distance from everything. Prices at hotels in January are lower than the rest of the year, that´s why we could aford that nice hotel.(Hotel Eurostars Internacional Palace).

Have fun.

Thank you Miguel.

I've been to Madrid and I come from Dominican Rep so I know warm as much as you do :) I'll check out your hotel tips.

I think January is probably a great time to visit Rome.. all the numbers are lower, including fares, hotels and tourists.

We stayed at a lovely hotel called La Residenza. It was set back away from the main street and the bathroom was enormous!

Winter is my favorite time to visit Rome! I actually recommend it on my Rome page.

January is fine for a visit. First of all, after the New Year’s holiday, prices of hotels (and plane fares) are often the lowest of the entire year.

For those of us who live in colder climates, Rome’s “winter” weather is great! Usually sunny with high temperatures most often between 10-15 C. This makes walking around much more comfortable than the hot, humid summer months.

Don’t worry, all the sights will be open in Janurary…but everything will be wonderfully less crowded. Most ruins, fountains, etc. are artfully lit at night.

Regarding hotel noise, a good, quiet, budget three-star is the Hotel Aberdeen. I haven’t slept in every room, but I’ve never had a problem with noise there. There is very little traffic on Via Firenze.

I definitely agree with everyone else about going in January. For someone used to winters in Sweden, January in Rome will seem like a sun-splashed summer(!).

We were in Rome in February a few years ago. One day the official spousal unit and I were having lunch outside at a restaurant in Trastevere. It was a nice sunny day, although the temps were in the 50sF (12ishC?). There was a row of tables along the wall, with a short fence separating us (by a few inches) from the one lane of traffic that could get through down the narrow street.

When I went inside the restaurant to use the facilities, I realized that everyone outside was a tourist while everyone inside was a local. hahaha...we tourists just HAVE to eat at an outdoor restaurant in Rome, even in February (the locals probably thought we were nuts). Who cares! It's almost summer to you!

Bill