August is the classic month of summer holidays in Rome and it has a particularly relaxed atmosphere. Combine sightseeing and relaxation, dolce vita and a trip to the sea or the mountains. Rome has a lot to offer in August.
What’s on?
Most of the offices and businesses are closed in the two weeks around the middle of the month “Ferragosto” and many Romans leave the city. There is little traffic and no waiting times. It is very nice to ride through Rome by bike or Vespa.
Rome offers an extensive summer program, the “Estate Romana”. There are numerous concerts, many of them with free admission. The schedule of the Roman Opera ends in the first week of August. Restaurants set up their stands on the banks of the Tiber River near Tiber Island. In many places in the city there are outdoor film screenings, most of them free.
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August in Rome
Rome in August is a city for individualists. There are no crowds on the streets or at the sights and you can enjoy the city in peace.
So that you can sleep well, your accommodation should have air conditioning. Find out in our information on hotels in Rome how to find an affordable room and which areas are best.
An inviting breeze blows into the city from the sea. Enjoy the approaching summer in one of the Roman villas and visit a lookout point. A trip to the sea with a visit to the excavations in Ostia Antica is nice. It is also very pleasant in Villa D’Este in Tivoli.
How warm it is
In August, the maximum temperatures in Rome are practically always above 30° C / 86° F and the minimum temperatures never below 20° C / 68° F. You should choose your accommodation with air conditioning. There is a regular breeze through the city and the temperatures are not uncomfortable in the shade. In the middle of the month, the weather changes in some years and it can be stormy for a few days.
Climate data August
| Tmax Ø | 31°C/87.8°F |
| Tmin Ø | 20°C/68.0°F |
| Sunshine hours Ø | 10 |
| Days with rain Ø | 2 |
Source: www.wetter.com
You definitely need sun protection. Bring sunscreen, a hat or a parasol with you. You will also need comfortable shoes.
When visiting sacred sites, including the catacombs and the Vatican Museums, your shoulders and knees must be covered, even on hot days in summer. If you are going strapless, take a shawl or pareo with you.
Don’t walk around in the greatest heat in the afternoon and take a break in an ice cream parlor. Visit a park, a swimming pool or take a trip to the sea.
Take the hop on hop off buses, visit air-conditioned stores and enjoy the peace and coolness of the churches and the museums.
For more tips, see Heat in Rome.
Welcome to Rome Multimediashow
In the center of Rome, between the Vatican and Piazza Navona, a 30-minute multidimensional film show and an exhibition with interactive models await you.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 203 
Bus 46, 62, 64, 916 C.so Vittorio Emanuele / Navona
Avoid queues
2023 is a wicked year. The rush at the sights is so great that tickets are sold out weeks in advance. At the museums without a reservation requirement, you often have to stand in line for hours at the ticket office if you haven’t bought your tickets in advance on the Internet. It is to be expected that this will also be the case in August.
But you don’t necessarily have to visit the Colosseum and the museums. In our category 3 days in Rome you will find many suggestions for interesting places and routes that are also not so crowded.
Arrival
Organize the journey from the airport to the hotel in advance and read our information about the metro and how you can get tickets quickly and easily.
Museums
Many museums can only be visited by reservation. These include the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Borghese Gallery and the museums of the Municipality of Rome. You can find information about the museums on our pages
A time-saving way to book the Colosseum and Vatican Museums together is with the Rome Tourist Pass.
St. Peter’s Basilica
Admission to St. Peter’s Basilica is free of charge. However, there can be quite long queues when there are many visitors.
Unfortunately, there is currently no preferred entry skip the line. If you don’t want to wait long, you should be there early in the morning. Also, if you book a guided tour for the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, you won’t have to wait in line.
For more information read our pages on St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square and the history of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Opening hours
St. Peter’s Basilica
Basilica 7 am – 7 pm – dome 8 am – 6 pm – treasure 9 am – 6:15 pm
More information about St. Peter’s Basilica>
St. Peter’s Basilica is closed during the Pope’s celebrations for which you need invitation cards. These are mainly the audiences, but also possible masses of the Pope.
Colosseum
9 am – 18:15 Closing 19:15
On Sunday 6 August admission is free
Details about the Colosseum>
Vatican Museums
Monday – Thursday 9 – 16 closing 18:00, evening opening Friday last admission 20:30 closing 22:30, Saturday last admission 18 closing 20:00, Aug 14 + 17 9 – 17 Closing 19:00, closed Aug 15 + 16.
Free admission on Sunday 27 9 – 12:30 closing 14:00.
Details on the Vatican Museums>
City museums and national museums
In Rome, some of the museums belong to the municipality and some to the state.
The city’s museums include the Capitoline Museums, Trajan’s Markets, Imperial Forums and numerous other museums. National museums include the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Borghese Gallery and many more. For the full list of museums, opening times and tickets, see our Rome Museums page.
Free entry
For all the museums of the Municipality of Rome, such as the Capitoline Museums and the Markets of Trajan, free admission on August 6. Admission to the national museums is also free and no reservations are required with the exception of the Borghese Gallery.
Exhibitions
Cinecittà si mostra Visit the dream factory of Roman cinema, Metro A Station Cinecittà Tickets
Galleria Colonna – one of the largest ancient private palaces in Rome. The most beautiful rooms of the palace and the art collection of the family with artists from the 15th and 16th centuries such as Pinturicchio, Cosmè Tura, Carracci, Guido Reni, Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, Bronzino, Guercino, Veronese, Vanvitelli
Via della Pilotta 17 (near Piazza Venezia) Bus 51, 60, 63, 80, 83, 85, 160, 170, H, n5, n8, n11, n90, n543, n716 (Piazza Venezia) Tickets
Capuchin Crypt – Museum and Crypt of the Capuchins
Via Vittorio Veneto 27 Bus 52, 53, 61, 63, 80, 83, 160, n90, nMA (Barberini) Tickets
The Colosseum tells of itself, permanent exhibition in the Colosseum – with the support of Heinz Beste, DAI Rom
Piazza del Colosseo Metro B Colosseo Tickets
Museo di Roma in Trastevere – Piazza di San Egidio
Peggy Kleiber. All Days of Life (Photographs 1959-1992)
May 19 – October 15, 2023
First monographic exhibition of non-professional photographer Peggy Kleiber.
The Colors of Antiquity. Santarelli Marbles at the Capitoline Museums
In two rooms of Palazzo Clementino at the Capitoline Museums, there is on display a broad overview of the use of colored marbles, from their origins to the 20th century, through a fine selection of pieces from the Santarelli Foundation.
LEX. Law and Justice from Etruria to Rome – until Sep 10
The concept of justice in ancient Rome through more than 80 works, an indispensable heritage for the development of modern legal institutions.
Museo dell’Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta
The Rome of the Republic. The narrative of archaeology
At Palazzo Caffarelli, the exhibition of some 1,800 works illustrates, through a series of archaeological themes and contexts, the characteristics and changes in Roman society from the 5th to the middle of the first century BC.
until October 1st BRONZE AND GOLD. Rome, Pope Innocent III: immersive tale of a masterpiece
Thanks to a 3D modeling and virtual reality installation, the ancient basilica of St. Peter’s materializes on the walls and on the floor as it must have looked at the time of Innocent III.
Vittoriano, Sala Zanardelli – entrance from Piazza Venezia – free admission
until October 15 Osvaldo Peruzzi – Futuristic geometric splendor
Paintings and drawings by the Roman artist in the futuristic panorama of the 1930s. The works are mostly from the Primo Conti Foundation and the State Archives in Milan and some of them are exhibited for the 1st time.
INFINITY. Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Contemporary art without limits
until October 15, 2023
Fifty works and four large site-specific installations. More than 60 years of art, almost 90 years of life.
An infinity of ways of making art, an infinity of ways of seeing, of changing perspective, of reading reality.
In the Chiostro del Bramante (Piazza Navona area) Via Arco della Pace 5
Palazzo delle Esposizioni
via Nazionale 194
until August 27, 2023 VITA DULCIS. FEAR AND DESIRE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
A juxtaposition of contemporary and ancient art and the portrayal of Roman history in 20th century cinema.
IMAGO AUGUSTI. TWO NEW PORTRAITS OF AUGUSTUS FROM ROME AND ISERNIA until Nov 26
Two marble portrait-heads of the emperor depicting young Augustus after his victory over Antony (31 B.C.) and more mature Augustus. The exhibition compares the young man with the mature man, the expectations and plans of the former with their results and the pragmatism of the latter.
Museo dei Mercati di Traiano
The World of Banksy – The immersive experience
Be captivated by the masterpieces of one of the most enigmatic artists of our time!
Tiburtina station – Shop gallery – until 28 January Tickets
Vis-à-vis. Tenerani Spina. Dialogue in pictures until Nov 12
The exhibition confronts works by sculptor Pietro Tenerani with the artistic eye of photographer Luigi Spina.
The exhibition features some twenty-five models for marble sculptures by Tenerani, representing leading figures of nineteenth-century Italian and international society: elegant ladies, nobles, artists, prelates, and politicians, interpreted and highlighted by Luigi Spina’s photographs.
Museo di Roma, Piazza Navona
Philippe Halsman. Ingenious flash until Jan 7
Exhibition in honor of Philippe Halsman, one of the most original and enigmatic portrait photographers of the 20th century.
Born in Riga in 1906, Halsman began his career as a photographer in the 1920s and became famous in Paris in the 1930s, working for magazines such as “Vogue” and “Vu”. In the 1940s, thanks to his friendship with Albert Einstein, he managed to obtain a visa to the United States. In New York, his reputation as a great portrait photographer was further consolidated.
Museo di Roma in Trastevere
Events
Papal audiences in August
In August, audiences of the Holy Father will be held in the Audience Hall on August 9, 23 and 30. Please register for the papal audiences on our site.
There will be no public papal masses in August.
The Pope’s Angelus Prayer will be held in St. Peter’s Square every Sunday and at noon on August 15.
Open Air Cinema at Villa Borghese
The Casa del Cinema at Villa Borghese hosts free admission screenings during the summer. The events take place at different times. Some of the screenings are in original sound with Italian subtitles. The program can be found at www.casadelcinema.it. Largo Marcello Mastroianni, 1
Summer on the terrace of the Gianicolo
Food, drinks, live music and disco on the terrace of the Gianicolo. Until October daily from 19:00
Piazzale Giuseppe GaribaldiSummer on the Tiber
A fair with shooting galleries and high striker. There is also food and drink. Until 5 September 19 – 24
Exhibitions: Ancient Rome · Ecology and Environment
Ponte Sisto – Tiber islandThis is Wonderland
A LIVING FAIRY TALE
Don’t miss the beautiful “Alice in Wonderland” light exhibition.
There are great bars and tasty snacks in the small furnished squares, in between spectacular performances everywhere.
19:00 – 1:00 Garden of the waterfalls in the EUR quartier Metro B Palasport Tickets
Summer festival at the Railway Museum
https://www.facebook.com/estatealpolo 8/13-17 closed
Concerts
Rome has a lively music scene. Many pubs and music venues offer live music, especially on weekends. Classical music can be found in many churches and palaces.
In the hot season, many concerts are performed outdoors, such as in the Baths of Caracalla or the Circus Maximus. The festival Rock in Roma takes place at the racecourse and the Roman theater in Ostia Antica.
Rome’s Music Park
A jewel is the Parco della Musica, built by the internationally known architect Renzo Piano, in northern Rome on Via Flaminia. See all events here. Events and tickets
Summer Festival of Music in the Auditorium Tickets
Tram 2
There are several auditoriums and an open-air stage in the Parco della Musica. There are performances in all styles.
Some events are also organized together with the Casa del Jazz. Events and Tickets Casa del Jazz
Bus 160, 671, 714, 792
Roman Nights – Concerti del Tempietto
20:30
18:30 – 19:30 Rehearsal
19:45 Guided tour of the Teatro di Marcello, 20:30 Concert
Chiostro di Campitelli
Rock in Rome
The Rock Festival in Rome has four venues:
- The racecourse Capanelle Bus 118, 520, 664
- The Auditorium Parco della Musica Tram 2
- The Roman theater in the excavations of Ostia Antica
- The Circus Maximus
The thermal baths of Caracalla
The thermal baths of Caracalla offer a very nice atmosphere. Here are concerts and operas. Events and Tickets Baths of Caracalla
Bus 118, 628, 671, 714, 792
Circo Massimo
As in the previous year, some events will be held at Circo Massimo. Events and tickets Circo Massimo
Metro B, Bus 81, 85, 87, 118, 160, 628, 715
Amusement parks
In Rome and the surrounding area there are a few parks that offer a welcome change.
Luneur
The Luneur Park offers many rides. It is located in the south of the city in the EUR district on Via Cristoforo Colombo. The opening times in winter are irregular, mostly Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in summer daily until midnight. On the Luneur website you can see the calendar with the opening days. Bus connections are lines 30, 170, 714 and 791, Colombo / Agricoltura stop. From there it is 750m to the entrance on Via delle Tre Fontane 100.
Hydromania
Hydromania is an amusement pool in western Rome.
Hydromania is located at exit 33 of the Grande Raccordo Anulare. Unfortunately it is not easy to reach by public transport. The journey by bus 088 from the terminus of Tram 8 near Casaletto is a bit lengthy.
Cinecittà World
Cinecittà World is a theme park about cinema and television. It is located next to the Castel Romano outlet center on Via Pontina between Rome and Pomezia. A shuttle bus runs from the Termini main station. Tickets
Roma World
Roma World is a theme park on ancient Rome. It is right next to Cinecittà World. The program is supported by the Gruppo Storico Romano. Roma World is open in summer. Tickets
Excursions in the area
Rome has beautiful surroundings. In summer the Romans like to escape the heat of the city. You drive to the sea or in the mountains.
You can reach many destinations by public transport. Of course, it is more convenient to rent a car.
Trips to the sea
Ladispoli, Santa Severa and Santa Marinella are very nice seaside resorts in the north of Rome. To do this, take the FL5 train line, which runs from Ostiense, Trastevere and San Pietro stations to Civitavecchia. A 3-zone ticket is sufficient for Ladispoli, and 4 zones for the locations of the two saints.
It is very easy to get to Ostia Lido. A ticket for city traffic is sufficient for the journey and on the way you can visit the excavations of the old port city of Ostia Antica.
Formia is very beautiful in the south of Rome. The journey from Roma Termini takes around 90 minutes.
Trips to the mountains
The most famous summer residence of the Romans in Castel Gandolfo. Here the popes spent the summer at around 400 m. Pope Francis, on the other hand, remains in Rome and the palace and gardens in Castel Gandolfo can be visited.
You can get to Castel Gandolfo by train from Roma Termini or from Ciampino with a 3-zone ticket. The train station is on the volcanic hill between Lake Albano and the village.
Day trips
With the high-speed trains that are punctual to the minute, Florence and Naples are only around 1 ½ hours away. With our tips you can put together your own day tour or book an organized tour. Take a day to stroll around Florence and see the world famous Uffizi Gallery. Or visit the excavations in Pompeii and see Vesuvius, which is still active today and buried the city under its ashes.
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