February keeps January’s biggest advantage – no queues – while adding two degrees, longer afternoons and the first hint that spring is coming. Days average about 14°C, nights stay near 3°C, and it is the wettest of the winter months. Carnival ends on 9 February in 2027, and the Six Nations brings its own kind of crowd.
The weather, precisely
February is marginally warmer than January and marginally wetter – about 73 mm across roughly nine days. The useful change is light: by the end of the month Rome has nearly eleven hours of daylight and the sun sets after 18:00, which adds a genuine extra sightseeing hour compared with early January.
The same indoor-cold warning applies. Churches, in particular, are colder than the street, and you will be in a lot of them.
Carnevale
Italian Carnival runs in the weeks before Lent and ends on Martedì Grasso – Shrove Tuesday, 9 February in 2027, with Ash Wednesday on the 10th.
Rome’s carnival is a modest affair next to Venice’s: children in costume in the piazzas, some parades and horse events around Piazza del Popolo and the Villa Borghese, and school celebrations. The real reason to care is the food – frappe (crisp fried pastry ribbons dusted with sugar) and castagnole (small fried dough balls) appear in every bakery for the few weeks of the season and then vanish for the year.
If you want the spectacle version, Venice’s Carnival runs in the same window and is a three-and-a-half-hour train away.
The Six Nations
Italy plays its home Six Nations rugby fixtures at the Stadio Olimpico, and they normally fall across February and March. On a home-match weekend several thousand travelling supporters arrive, central hotel rates rise sharply, and Trastevere and the Centro Storico are extremely busy on the Saturday night.
It is worth checking the fixture list before booking a February weekend – either to join it or to avoid it. Dates are announced well in advance.
What February is good for
- The Vatican Museums and the Colosseum, still at near-winter emptiness.
- The Borghese Gallery, which is timed-entry and capacity-capped all year – February is when slots are actually available at short notice.
- Roman food in season – artichokes. Carciofi alla romana and alla giudia come into their proper season from February, and the Roman artichoke is a genuine local speciality rather than a menu constant.
- Free museum Sunday on the first Sunday of the month, including the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine.
Prices and crowds
Still low season, and still cheap, with two exceptions: Six Nations home weekends and Valentine’s weekend, both of which lift central hotel rates. Otherwise February is close to January on price with slightly better conditions. See what a trip to Italy costs.
What to pack
A warm waterproof coat, a scarf, and shoes with grip for wet cobbles. Layers to keep on indoors. An umbrella that survives wind. Modest clothing for St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums – shoulders and knees covered, which a winter coat handles for you.
The February 2027 calendar
- Sunday 7 February – free entry to state museums and sites, including the Colosseum and Forum.
- Through early February – Carnival season; frappe and castagnole in every bakery.
- Tuesday 9 February – Martedì Grasso, the last day of Carnival; Ash Wednesday follows on the 10th.
- Sunday 14 February – Valentine’s Day; restaurants book out and central rates rise for the weekend.
- February and March – Italy’s Six Nations home fixtures at the Stadio Olimpico; check the fixture list before booking.
- From February – Roman artichoke season.
- End of February – nearly eleven hours of daylight, sunset after 18:00.
- No public holidays fall in February in Italy.
Read alongside
- Rome in January – colder, cheaper, emptier still.
- Rome in March – Easter arrives early in 2027.
- Italy in February – the country-wide view.
- Rome itinerary – how to structure the days.
- Things to do in Rome – the indoor-friendly list.
- Rome vs Venice – if Carnival is tempting you north.
- Trip to Italy cost – low-season numbers.
Frequently asked
How cold is Rome in February?
About 14°C by day and 3°C at night – slightly milder than January. Interiors are the problem rather than the streets: churches and older buildings stay cold.
When is Carnival in Rome in 2027?
It ends on Martedì Grasso, Tuesday 9 February 2027, with Ash Wednesday on the 10th. Rome’s celebration is modest – costumes, small parades and, above all, frappe and castagnole in the bakeries.
Is February a good time to visit Rome?
Yes, if you want the sites without queues. It keeps January’s emptiness while adding light and a couple of degrees, and it is still low season on price.
Does it rain a lot in Rome in February?
It is the wettest of the winter months at about 73 mm across nine days, though rarely all day. Wet cobbles are the practical hazard.
When are Italy’s Six Nations home games?
Across February and March at the Stadio Olimpico. Home-match weekends fill central hotels and lift rates sharply, so check the fixture list before booking.
Are museums free in February in Rome?
On the first Sunday of the month, yes – state museums and sites including the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine. Arrive at opening.
What food is in season in Rome in February?
Artichokes. Carciofi alla romana and carciofi alla giudia are a genuine Roman speciality and come into proper season from February.
Is Rome cheap in February?
Yes, close to January levels – apart from Six Nations home weekends and Valentine’s weekend, when central rates rise.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
