April - June : The BEST Period To Go To Rome
Rome Is a magical city, you don’t want to waste your shot by going there during the wrong period. It is tricky between bad weather, Catholic Holidays and so on … This article will tell you everything you need to know to spot the best period to visit Rome!
Weather
Hot & Sunny
One of our main concern. Perfect temperatures in order to walk all day long in the city and to enjoy the numerous terraces. A low average of precipitation, rain is our « worst enemy » when traveling, especially in cities like Rome where you will spend all your days (and nights) outside! We went in May and the conditions could not have been better in order to visit the city from top to bottom and to chill during the late afternoon in our private outdoor hot tub! May and June are ones of the months that have the most hours of sunshine as well.
CROWDS
Quite Busy
Quite busy months. If you plan your trip in advance you may be able to find some good deals. Except for Easter Week it won’t be too difficult to find a room. There are already big lines for the Vatican Museum or the Colosseum, but with your Roma Pass, you will manage to avoid the waiting (but not the crowd, even with the Roma Pass, the Inside of the Vatican Museum will be really busy…).
Price
Quite Pricey
and even 1/5 on Easter Week when every hotels are fully booked
Bonus
Blooming Season
The season is perfect because all the flowers are blooming everywhere in the city (wisteria, azaleas, roses,…) spring is obviously the best season for visiting Rome.
Be aware that during these months there are many catholic holy days so choose carefully the dates you plan to go! If you are catholic or want to feel the devotion of many catholics traveling from all around the world in order to listen to the Pope during these celebrations bear in mind that the sites would be more crowded than other « regular days ». If you want to avoid the crowd, don’t go in Rome during the catholic celebrations like Easter or Pentecost…
Spring blooming season in Rome…Lots of flowers… I am allergic to Pollen and for me it was a nightmare :O!
Special Events
Open House Roma (May first or second week end’s) : It is the only week end during the year where you can visit for free public and private buildings in Rome that are normally off limits. The diversity of the type of things is astonishing, from modern architecture to ancient Rome buildings… Be aware you need to make reservations through Open House Roma.
The Pentecost Mass at the Pantheon : If you arrive really, really, really early (because you won’t be the only one who wants to look at the show), you will have the chance to see firefighters on the roof dropping through the oculus thousands and thousand rose petals!
Saint Peter and Paul Day (June 29) : Special masses at Saint Peter’s Basilica and what is call the Infiorata Floral Display composed by several pieces of art made on the ground with thousands and thousand of petals, colored dust and salt. The firework over the Castel Sant’Angelo is the highlight of the day (a good vantage point to enjoy the show would be Janiculum Hill)
Rock In Roma (late June) : One of the biggest event in Rome, it is a musical event lasting a month where several groups perform.
Many other events, depending of what you are addict for, from the International Horse Show in the Villa Borghese Gardens to the Italian Open of Tennis, the Roma Summer Feast, these months are very busy on the cultural level!
Crowds at the Trevi Fountain
July - August : Hot & Overcrowded Period
Not the ideal season for us. Usually we try to avoid the summer holidays in Europe as it is super crowded and expensive.
Weather
Hot & Sunny
With sometimes temperature reaching more than 40°C, it can be really hard to really enjoy walks in the city. But on the bright side, the probability of rain is really low.
CROWDS
Too Crowded
July and August are usually very busy with many tourists, finding a room could be challenging, lines are even more endless (for everything!) and places super crowded. Also, when cities like Rome are busy with so many tourists, you kind of lose the authentic mood of some of the coolest Roman neighborhood …
Price
Pricey
Obviously not the cheapest season… Hotels in Rome are already quite pricey so don’t expect to find good bargains!
Special Events
Festa di Noantri : The procession of Madonna del Carmine, an event with many open air concerts, art..
Lungo Il Tevere : A festival that will last all the summer, along the banks of the Tiber. It is full of live music, arts, pop-up restaurants…
Opera at the Caracalla’s Baths : the ancient ruins become during these months an incredible stage for Ballet and Opera performances
L’isola Del Cinema : An open air Cinema with recent and vintage films set on the Island.
The summer is full of cultural events or celebrations, you still can enjoy Rock In Roma, the feast of San Giovanni, Corpus Domini, and many others!
September - October : The 2nd Best Period to visit Rome
There is a good balance between nice weather and crowds, so for us is a very good choice to go to Rome in September or October!
Weather
Mild & Low Rain
Temperatures starts dropping by the end of September but they are most of years still pleasant at this time of year. The risk of rain increases as you get further into October, but again most of the time it is ok at least in the first weeks of October.
CROWDS
Not Too Busy
Early September is still quite busy but as you get into October it is less and less. Most schools starts between the first and third week of September so it is gently tapering down.
Price
Regular
Price are a bit more attractive as it becomes less crowded.
Bonus
Autumn Colors
Autumn could be great with the yellow and red leaves everywhere in the streets and parks. Autumn could be a great alternative for your pics with more chances of dramatic skies!
Special Events
Rome Art Week (late October) : 150 museum and private galleries open freely their doors. An amazing way to discover Rome through its local art
The Rome Film Festival (late October) with pop-up events across the city
EurHop Beer Festival : More than 400 beers, 50 Italian Brewers, gathered around a common passion : very good beers!
November - March : The Season to AVOID In Rome
It is the rainy season in Italy and it’s not like in Vienna where there is snow and it is kind of romantic… it is mostly rain and grey skies. This is why for us it is THE season the avoid if you wish to visit Rome.
Weather
Rainy Season
For us the risk of rain, the coldest temperatures, the less longer days, with less hours of sunshine make it less attractive especially for a destination where you will be always outside walking in order to enjoy the show the city has to offer.
CROWDS
Clear
Clearly (except for Christmas holidays) the best months regarding the crowd. Less lines, less people on your photos…
Price
Cheaper
Less people bring best deals, during these months you will find cheaper hotel prices (except for Christmas holidays)
Special Events
Christmas : Christmas in Italy clearly means something! With its Christmas market in Piazza Navona and Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican, Christmas seems to bring some kind of magic in the Eternal City.
Sales Season: If you are in Rome in between January and March and if you are a shopping addict… bear in mind that there are huge saldi where you can have impressive discounts on clothes and accessories! It could be dangerous for your bank accounts though : with so many good deals, for some of us it really could be difficult to stop shopping!!!
Carnavale: In February or March it is a two weeks festival in order to feast before Lent. It begins With its parade on Via Del Corso, many animations in the Piazzas, its ice rink at the Castel Sant’Angelo, its equestrian shows, but, like in Venezia, the most impressive features would be the amazing masks and the wonderful costumes!
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