Winter visitors can enjoy Rome & Florence for a song
Rome and Florence, Italy’s two most popular cities for visitors, can be brutal in summer – beautifully brutal to be sure, but hot, crowded and absent of many actual Italians except those in the tourist industries. Winter, on the other hand, is a real joy. Be prepared for chilly (but rarely really cold) weather and probably some rain, and enjoy the absence of crowds. While it might not be the season for outdoor cafes, Christmas markets and holiday decorations abound in December, museums are relatively uncrowded and opera and other performances are in full swing.
Christmastime lights in front of St. Peter's Basilica..
I probably wouldn’t even mention this except that I just got a press release about a well-priced package. TourCrafters is promoting a seven-day, six-night winter package to Rome and Florence, starting at $655 per person if you book by November 10 (a saving of up to $300 per perso). This steal of a deal includes round-trip air via Alitalia from New York, three nights’ at Rome’s three-star Hotel Brasile, three nights at Florence’s three-star Hotel Meridiana, daily buffet breakfasts, an arrival transfer in Rome, a Hop-On-Hop-Off city tour in Rome, a half-day city tour in Florence, a ticket for the “speed train” Eurostar and service charges, plus an aperitivo at Terraza Caffarelli in Rome and a gelato at Vivoli in Florence. Upgrade to the four-star Hotel Oxford and Grand Hotel Cavour starting at $729 or the five-star Hotel d’Inghilterra and Hotel Plaza Lucchesi starting at $1,060. It should go without saying that the deal is at it’s best for those whose schedule permits the lowest-priced periods.
Rome's famous Spanish Steps in winter.
There is, of course, fine print. You can depart from Boston or Miami for a modest surcharge, but otherwise, you also need to add air fare to these Alitalia gateways from wherever you may be. You’ll need to add airport taxes (approximately $105), fuel surcharge (approximately $420) and minimal city taxes which must be paid directly to the hotels. Museum admissions, tickets to the opera or other cultural events, and lunches and dinners are also additional. But remember you’d be paying for these even without such a great base deal. There are daily departures from November 15 to March 15.
That’s almost worth it for the airfare alone! However, I prefer Italy in May or September, since I go there to rock climb. It’s too rainy in winter for reliable climbing weather. I agree – summer is too hot.