The Rome Index
Rome in spring
March, April and May — the season most Romans and visitors agree is the best.
Weather
Temperatures rise from around 12°C in March to 22°C by late May, with increasing sunshine and the occasional shower in March and April giving way to reliably warm days by May. Light layers and a compact umbrella for the first half of spring.
Easter
The single busiest time in Rome's calendar — Papal mass at St Peter's, packed streets across the city, and accommodation prices at their yearly peak. If your dates include Easter, book everything months ahead. If your dates are flexible, the week after Easter is substantially quieter.
What's flowering
The Spanish Steps are lined with azaleas in April — a well-known spectacle. The Villa Borghese gardens and the Orange Garden on the Aventine are also at their best in April and May.
Layering for genuinely variable days
Spring in Rome can shift from a chilly 10°C morning to a warm 20°C afternoon within the same day, particularly in March and early April — dressing in easily removable layers rather than committing to either a heavy coat or light clothing for the whole day handles this variability far better.
Pollen and allergies
Rome's abundant spring flowering (particularly plane trees, common throughout the city's streets) can trigger seasonal allergies for sensitive visitors — packing any usual allergy medication rather than assuming you won't need it in an unfamiliar climate is a sensible precaution for anyone prone to hay fever.
