Italy Travel Forum

we may have a chance to go on a Rome-Florance-Venice with some friends in December/January What kind of weather can we expect and what kind of "off-season" things might we find in these lovely cites?

Due to extreme climatic changes the World is experiencing at the moment, trying to predict the weather can be difficult because of local, on the day variations.
Most places now are seeing weather conditions well outside the norm.
The information below should be used as a guide only.

Here is the average weather for Rome, Florence and Venice for this time of year.
Enjoy your holiday.

Rome
December.
High 55f / 13c
Low 39f / 4c
Rain 3.90in / 98.0mm
Rain days 14
Hours of sun 4
Daylight hours 9
UV level 1 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in December

January.
High 54f / 12c
Low 37f / 3c
Rain 3.30in / 83.0mm
Rain days 14
Hours of sun 4
Daylight hours 10
UV level 2 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in January

Florence
December.
High 49f / 10c
Low 36f / 2c
Rain 3.00in / 76.0mm
Rain days 12
Hours of sun 3
Daylight hours 9
UV level 1 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in December

January.
High 48f / 9c
Low 34f / 1c
Rain 2.70in / 69.0mm
Rain days 13
Hours of sun 3
Daylight hours 9
UV level 1 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in January

Venice
December.
High 45f / 7c
Low 32f / 0c
Rain 2.70in / 69.0mm
Rain days 10
Hours of sun 3
Daylight hours 9
UV level 1 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in December
Sea temp 57f / 14c

January.
High 43f / 6c
Low 31f / -1c
Rain 2.30in / 58.0mm
Rain days 10
Hours of sun 3
Daylight hours 9
UV level 1 = Low
Humidity = Frost may occur in January
Sea temp 53f / 11c

Hi! I've been in Venice for the past three Christmases-If you arrive in Venice before 23rd December you can enjoy the Christmas Markets in San Stefano and Murano.Restaurants are open, Vaporettos are running. I'd recommend San Marco Basillica for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Lots of street stalls sell hot mulled wine-Vin Brule, which is a nice warming treat!
One of my favourite memories of Venice has to be after the service, having time to take photos inside the Basilica, before leaving, and entering Piazza San Marco at 01.30 hours, then wandering along the waterfront into the early hours.
The weather has been variable -usually blue skies, quite warm in the day time, but very cold at night. Bring a warm coat, scarf/hat/gloves.
Last Christmas, I arrived in Venice from Treviso to thick fog - couldn't see to the banks of the Grand Canal, but Christmas Day, it was blue skies and sunshine. Later on my trip, I experienced rain.So I'd come prepared for all weathers!
Have A Great Trip,
Please feel free to contact me for more information.
Best Wishes,
Sue

We spent January/February of this year in Venice. We had some lovely days, some foggy days, some darned cold days and some just okay days! Oh yes, and one day of torrential rain. As Venice is on the water you should remember that the cold will be "damp", so if you're not used to that it will seem very cold and penetrating. Hot chocolate is a great warmer-upper! Despite the weather (after all, that's a very small consideration when one is talking about Venice!), we had a wonderful time. Venice is extremely expensive (we had an apartment which works out very much cheaper). Nothing, as far as we could gather, was closed in the "off season". Oh yes, the Libreria Sansoviniana was closed until after we had left; however, even those who are supposed to be in the know didn't know why! As I said, we were there for January and February, not during December and the "festive season", so it may well be that there are closures over Christmas and New Year. The Campanile of St Mark's is closed but that's indefinitely for major structural repairs. Lots of the churches have large "home made" Nativity scenes, which we found charming and interesting, as each one is different and varies considerably as to structure and technical ability.

Trips to Italy at that time of year is much like packing for the UK at any time of year.

Clothes you can layer (several thin layers are warmer than one thick one), warm outerwear (rain-resistant if poss, but bring umbrella too), sensible footwear, hat/scarf/gloves.

Once the sun sets temperatures can drop quite quickly.

But (unlike the UK) you need your sunglasses too. It can be very bright!

The point about Venice feeling colder then the temperature suggests is very true. Damp chill really does penetrate, and there can be a very cold wind form the surrounding water.

One further point: remember your slippers. Marble hotel floors are lovely in warm weather, but horrible in cold!

we were in florence the november before last and although the weather was cold and damp we loved the fact the streets were almost empty of tourists

a friend had recently told me she was never going to florence again because you could not even walk down the road because of the tourists -

and also florence was kicking back a bit it seemed to me - the waiters in the restaurants were taking it a bit easy etc etc

the line at the uffizi wasn't worth mentioning - we had the best time

except it was too cold for ice cream