Rome comes to life in summer – the sun shines almost every day and there’s a buzz about the city you won’t find at any other time of year. Loads of summer-only events, concerts and open-air shows will keep you entertained. And, the weather is perfect for near-constant gelato consumption. Win.
Here are our top tips on how to spend summer in Rome…
Take a gelato tour
There are gelateries on almost every corner of the city in Rome, giving you the perfect excuse to eat gelato every day. If you love unusual flavours, head to San Crispino, which featured in the Julia Roberts film Eat Pray Love. Ginger, cinnamon and wine are some of the unique flavours on offer here, along with loads of fresh and fruity sorbets - yum.
Otaleg! is another firm favourite, which is ‘gelato’ spelt backwards. You can watch the magic happen here, with the ice cream-making process on display. Then take your pick from over 60 flavours.
Colosseum in the dark
Rome boasts unbeatable weather over summer, which is why we love it. But, if you’re doing a lot of city sightseeing, it can get uncomfortable in the heat. Luckily, the city’s most famous attraction keeps its doors open until after the sun goes down. You’ll get to explore all the impressive bits of the building, including the underground section and top tier, all while staying cool at the same time.
Catacombs & Caracalla Circuit – Purple Route, Stop: Colosseum
Weekends – Blue, Stop: Colosseum
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Opera in the baths
Opera season starts from around mid-April in Rome, so summer is the perfect time to catch a show. If you fancy an outdoor performance on a balmy evening, head to the Baths of Caracalla, where opera and ballet shows are staged throughout the summer. The illuminated Roman ruins make the perfect dramatic setting for a show.
Catacombs & Caracalla Circuit – Purple Route, Stop: Terme di Caracalla
Music at the Vatican
The Vatican is another top tourist spot that opens its doors at night, giving you the option to explore when it’s nice and cool. You can visit the Pope’s museums on selected evenings, enjoying the magnificent collection of Renaissance art and classical sculptures by night. Every Friday, the venue also put on a special outdoor concert in the courtyard, where you can sip sundowners and listen to live music. It’s not often you get the chance to party at the Pope’s residence, after all.
Weekdays – Red, Stop: Vatican
museivaticani.va
Festivals and events
Time your trip to coincide with these top events…
Estate Romana festival, which translates to Roman Summer, is all about food, music and film. It takes place in various venues across the city throughout summer and includes film screenings, food pop-ups and live music. Best of all, most events are free.
Gay Village is a mammoth ten-week party that runs from June until September. Events take place in restaurants, bars, cinemas and sports grounds, and there are plenty of open-air performances and theatre shows to keep you entertained too.
Foodie festival, Taste of Rome, is where you can sample the best of Italian cuisine from the city’s top chefs. They descend upon the Auditorium Parco della Musica for one weekend in September and offer food and beverage samples from their top dishes.
Festa della Repubblica is a national Italian holiday celebrated on the 2nd of June across the country. If you’re in Rome at this time, you can catch military parades, jets, concerts and live shows.
Ready for Rome? Grab your shades and enjoy this iconic city in the sunshine. Summer is the perfect season for sipping an Aperol Spritz at an al fresco café, and ticking off these top events and festivals. Perfect.
