Is November a good time to visit Rome?
Picking a destination like Rome has a huge benefit: it’s always a great time to visit Rome, no matter the month. But there are certain times of the year that are more interesting in terms of events and the weather. If you don’t mind rainy weather, November is one of the best times to visit Rome: there are plenty of festivals, it isn’t high tourist season and it’s the beginning of artichoke season! If you’re traveling to Rome in November, here’s what you should expect!
The weather in Rome in November
November is one of the rainier months in Rome but there are some pretty nice days, too, usually at the beginning of the month. During the day average temperatures hit 13°C to 15°C while in the evening they cool down to below 10°C. The days are shorter in November but it’s a great month for budget travellers as it isn’t high tourist season. If you don’t mind the rain, November is a great time of the year to visit Rome.
What to wear in November in Rome?
Temperatures in November are chilly! The beginning of November has some pretty nice sunny days, but from mid November temperatures drop and vary a lot in between the day and night.
- You’ll definitely want to pack a pair of comfortable shoes (remember, Rome is filled with cobblestones). Shoes that don’t get ruined with rain!
- Absolutely dress in layers, especially if you’re out all day long. Mornings tend to be quite chilly in November, with temperatures reaching up to 15°C during the day and dropping to 7°C in the evening. Wear long pants, closed shoes, t-shirts, pullovers, cardigans and a light jacket during the day.
- Jeans and cotton pants
- A heavy jacket or coat for the evening
- Scarves are musts
- Don’t forget a rain jacket and an umbrella
Dress code in Rome
Now that we’ve covered the weather and what to pack for Rome, let me in you on the dress code in Rome! As mentioned above, if you’re visiting religious sites like the Vatican, you need to cover your knees and shoulders. But that shouldn’t be a problem in November! For outings, locals have a smart-casual or smart-elegant dress code. Most restaurants, unless they are very elegant, don’t require jackets for men, but we encourage you to dress nicely, either with a shirt or a polo for men, and a dress or pants and a nice top for women.
Please not that if you are going clubbing, depending on to the club there will be a dress code that’s required. For more stylish clubs, men – make sure you have a shirt, dark pants (not jeans) and nice shoes.
What events are on in Rome in November?
November is a great time in Rome in terms of events. Some of the city’s best exhibitions are on and numerous festivals are in store. There are great events in Rome in autumn:
- The 35th edition of the Romaeuropa Festival–a dazzling array of theatre, dance, circus, art, technology and music performances that will be showcased at 20 different venues throughout the city, continues through November.
- The Roma Jazz Festival, with a lineup filled with an exciting roster of modern day jazz’s most prolific artists and prodigious newcomers. Jazz icons like Archie Shepp, Abdullah Ibrahim, Dave Holland, Ralph Towner, Gary Barts and Dayramir Gonzalez have played, but also contemporary jazz exponents like Kokoroko, Moonlight Benjamin, Donny McCaslin, Maisha and Cory Wong.
- The ballets and operas at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, at Teatro Costanzi.
- The Virtual Reality Experience – VRE is an international festival created to explore the vast world of immersive technologies and their impact on our near future.
- Let’s not forget about Thanksgiving in Rome! There are plenty of restaurants that celebrate Thanksgiving with delicious menus.
- November has some of the best exhibitions in Rome.
- Don’t miss out on the best concerts in Rome in November.
National holidays in Italy in November
Please bear in mind that November 1st is All Saints’ Day and it’s a national holiday, meaning all museums and sightseeing areas will be closed. This includes:
- The Vatican Museums
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- The Colosseum
- The Borghese Gallery
- Museums and Exhibitions
The best things to do in Rome in November
In addition to going on guided tours of the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum and throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, there are plenty of other great activities for you to do in November during the day:
- Go on a shopping spree in one of the best shopping streets in Rome
- Listen to jazz, soul and blues at one of these live music venues in Rome
- Discover the grand palaces of Rome
- Explore street art on a Vespa Tour
- Go on a walking tour of Testaccio
- Grab a drink at one of the best speakeasy bars in Rome
- Learn to make pizza near Piazza Navona
- Explore Trastevere or Villa Borghese with a treasure hunt
- Learn to make gelato in an authentic gelateria
- Explore the best food markets in Rome
- Learn to make pasta and tiramisu in a family owned Roman restaurant
- Indulge in a wine tasting experience in a cozy wine bar near Campo de’ Fiori
- Have colazione at one of the best breakfast spots in Rome
- Take advantage of the national holiday and go on a weekend getaway from Rome!
- Are you visiting Rome with family? Check out the best things to do with kids in Rome
Emergencies in Rome + Essential Info
In case anything were to happen during your stay in Rome, here are some useful contacts:
- Doctors: in case you were to get sick in Rome, MedinAction is an on-demand house call medical service for travelers, expatriates, and students abroad. MedinAction delivers qualified English-speaking doctors in Rome and other cities in Italy (Milan, Bologna, Florence, Venice) to a patient’s doorstep, 24/7.
- Carabinieri: 112
- Police: 113
- Fire Brigade: 115
- First Aid Ambulance: 118
- Police Headquarters: 06.4686
- 24h Pharmacies: 06.228941
