Rome’s summer season generally kicks off in June and lasts until September. The summer is hot and dry, receiving more than 9 hours of sunshine a day, and brings in visitors from all over the world who come to explore ancient sites, take in the beautiful architecture, and soak in the festive summer atmosphere.
Plan Your Trip
Rome can get quite busy in the summer months, so it’s advised that you plan your trip ahead of time, especially if you want to get good deals on accommodation, transportation, etc. One of the perks of visiting Rome is its location; you can easily set up camp in Rome, and take day trips out to other cities. Pompeii, for example, is only 3 hours away by train. (A rail pass is good option if you will be doing a lot of travelling around). Consider renting a holiday apartment; Oh-Rome offers some beautiful self-catering accommodations that will make you feel right at home in the Eternal City. Keep in mind that Rome can become sweltering in the summer months, so it’s recommended that you get up early to see the sights before mid-day. It’s hottest between 11:30am-2:30pm, so take this time to enjoy a relaxing, long lunch. In the summer, many cultural sites have extended evening hours; this is another way to beat the mid-day heat.
Festivals and Events
Rome in the summertime plays host to a number of entertaining festivals that travellers don’t want to miss. In July, there is the Festa de Noantri, taking place in Trastevere’s Piazza Santa Maria. The event starts off with a procession dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine. The procession is followed by two weeks of arts events, street performances, and fireworks on the closing night. Also starting in July is the New Operafestival di Roma at Piazza San Clemente. A must for opera fans, this festival brings in talented young musicians from Italy and other parts of the world, and puts on a series of recitals. The biggest festival in Rome is probably the Estate Romana Festival. Referring to the wide variety of music, film, arts, and cultural events taking place during the summer months, the festival season runs from June to September, with events in the city center as well as in outlying districts. Some of the highlights include the bars that open up along the Tiber River, and the “Isola del Cinema”, an open-air cinema on Tiber Island.
Cool Down
When the temperature really starts to rise and you feel the need to cool down a little, head to one of Rome’s many pools. Rome’s pools range from public to ultra-exclusive. Along the Tiber River there are a number of sports clubs open to the public. A local favorite is Piscina della Rose, which has an Olympic-sized pool and reasonable admission rates. Access to pools near the center of Rome tends to be a little pricier. If you’re not a guest of the Radisson SAS Hotel, you can buy a day pool pass for €45. If you don’t mind a bit of travelling, you can also head out to the beach. The Ostia Lido Beach, on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is about 30 minutes from Rome by train. The Santa Marinella Beach is convenient to get to, requiring only a short train ride, followed by a 5 minute walk to the beach. It can get crowded, but it’s free, the sand is soft, and the water is clear. Sperlonga Beach is about 90 minutes by train, but is worth the trip. The beach is considered a “blue flag” beach, and the town itself is quite picturesque.
