Rome In November - How To Plan For Your Best Trip

If you are coming to Rome in November, you will have some of the best of everything:

Still pretty fair weather (sometimes); still nice light during the day; the end of the peak fall season; and, my personal favorite: the beginning of artichoke season!

Rome in November - at a Glance

Here's what you need to know about coming to visit Rome this time of year:

• What's the weather like? Does it rain a lot in November in Rome?
• What to pack for visiting Rome in November?
  
• What to wear in Rome in November?
• Is Rome crowded in November? Is it high season in November?
• What food is in season in Rome in November?
• Things to do in November in Rome

Rome Weather in November

I often hear people ask "Does it rain a lot in November in Rome?"

Yes, it does.

Sometimes

Of course, nobody can predict if it will rain or not during your visit.

But with summer very much over, overall, November tends to be a rainier month than others, with higher average rainfall than in other months.

There are often also a lot of surprisingly beautiful days, particularly at the beginning of November when the average weather is pretty great!

You may come prepared for rain but find cool, crisp sunny days.

The temperature in Rome in November varies a lot between the beginning and end of the month, and between daytime and nighttime.

It's warmer towards the beginning of November and cooler towards the end.

The days are shorter in November, since we move to Standard Time in late October, so there is less of that gorgeous light that makes Rome glow.

During the day it's in the low 60'°F/high teens's °C, and in the evenings it can still be quite chilly, with the average temperature being in the mid 40's °F/low teens °C.

What to pack for Rome in November

Packing for Rome in November is easy, as long as you remember the most important rule for sightseeing - be comfortable.

Good quality walking shoes are top of the list to ensure you can explore as much as you want, for as long as you want!

The Rome temperature in November can change quickly from warm fall sun to chilly rainy days so it’s important to pack plenty of layers, including jackets and a heavier cardigan or pullover.

The average wind speed is higher this month so it's good to wrap up.

It’s also essential to be prepared for rain in Rome in November, so I would recommend including rain-hats and a sturdy umbrella on your packing list.

Visit my page all about what to pack for Rome in November for specific recommendations, suggestions on what to wear in Rome in November and more!

See also my page about What to Pack for Rome, with downloadable packing list.

Visit my Amazon page for all my shopping recommendations!

What to wear in Rome in November

My number one rule for sight-seeing in Rome, any time of year: be comfortable.

The next rule, excellent for November is: dress in layers.

Be prepared for changes in temperature throughout the day, and possible rain.

Bottom line, to sight-see in Rome in November:

wear good walking shoes, jeans or heavy cotton pants, a light cotton shirt plus sweater/jacket and the Italian MUST WEAR - a scarf.

Always a scarf.

(And carry a rain hat and travel umbrella in your bag.)

For more about what to wear and how to dress when you visit Rome in November, visit my page here.

Rome in November - What to expect

The first weekend of November is almost an extension of October:

In Italy, November 1st is a holiday (All Saints' Day), which of course follows Halloween.

Halloween did not used to be much of a big deal in Italy, but every year it is becoming more and more commercialized and celebrated in Italy...not quite as much as in the US but they are catching up.

And since the 1st is a holiday, if it falls anywhere near a weekend, there will be a ponte or bridge (3-4 day weekend). This makes it a pretty busy time to be in Rome.

And lately since the weather has been nice through the first week of November, Rome is pretty crowded even then. 

However, most Rome hotels drop their rates dramatically from the beginning of November.

This is a great time to come to Rome if you are looking for hotel bargains. 

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Rome in November - shifting into low season

A lot of people have caught on that October is peak season, so they are pushing their trip to early November, counting on still pretty nice weather, and hoping for lower hotel rates.

Usually by the second week of November, things have slowed down quite a bit.

You can expect to find smaller crowds, less of a wait to get into museums and restaurants, and the feeling of a city settling in for the beginning of winter and Rome in December well on the way.

Foods in season in Rome in November

In Rome, food is (supposed to be) seasonal.

And carciofi alla romana, or stewed artichokes, are in season from late November through early spring.

Yes, you will find artichokes in Rome before then.

But they are not from Rome, and they won't be made alla romana.

They will be fried (alla giudia), or used in other dishes like pasta or anchovy casseroles. Nothing wrong with those fabulous dishes.

But if you love carciofi alla romana, as I do, you can start indulging in late November.

Fall vegetables in season include: pumpkin, cardoons (not that easy to find, but yummy), cabbage, broccoli, broccoletti, chard, onions, leeks, chicory, carrots, fennel (and more.)

Fall fruit in season include pomegranates, persimmons, chestnuts, grapes, apples and pears (and more.)

Want to know more about Roman cuisine?

Click here.

Rome in November - special dates to note

November 4 - National Unification and Armed Forces’ Day (Giornata dell'Unità Nazionale e delle Forze Armate)

National Unity and Armed Forces Day, or Giornata dell'Unità Nazionale e delle Forze Armate in Italian, is an Italian holiday commemorating the victory in World War I.

It's celebrated every year on November 4.

There are some events around the city, including several flyovers by the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare in Italian, leaving a trail of the frecce tricolore, the green, white, and red contrails, i.e. the colors of the Italian flag.

There will also be a changing of the guards ceremony at the Quirinal Palace.

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NOVEMBER 11 - Armistice Day/Remembrance Day

Armistice Day is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany in 1918, to end the war.

It was meant to take effect "on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", even if hostilities continued. 

Countries around the world mark this day as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, or Veteran's Day.

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Thanksgiving in Rome

Thanksgiving is obviously not an Italian holiday.

Americans celebrate in November but it's not that easy to get into the Thanksgiving spirit if you are living in or visiting Rome.

Luckily, there are a few places where you can get an authentic Thanksgiving turkey dinner in Rome.

Visit my page here for details. Gobble gobble!

Things to do in Rome in November

This is a good time to visit monuments and museums, especially in the later part of November, as it will be much less crowded than in October.

And as the weather cools, it's also a fantastic time to catch some special museum exhibits indoors or a concert.

Some museums may stay open later on the weekends.

Visit my dedicated page Rome events in November.

Free things to do in Rome in November

On the Free Sunday you can visit Rome's museums for free.

State-run sites like the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo, as well as civic museums such as the Capitoline museums are all free on the first Sunday of the month.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month, for limited hours.

More ideas for things to do in Rome in November

Visit my dedicated page with specifics about happenings and Rome events in November.

You may also wish to visit the official website of the Rome Tourist Board.

Maybe it's your 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time in Rome.

Or you have more than 3 days here. Or you just want to see and do lots of fun things.

Besides the obvious must-see tourist attractions, there are lots of great things to see and do in Rome in November.

Here are some ideas for your visit:

For more information about events in Rome, visit the official website of the Rome Tourist Board.

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