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.
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
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.
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.
Opening hours
St. Peter’s Basilica
Basilica 7-19.10 – Dome 7.30-18 – Cathedral Treasury 7.30-18.30
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.
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.
August
No Events
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
Amusement parks
Some amusement parks in Rome and the surrounding area offer a welcome change of pace.
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 hours are irregular in winter, mostly Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 18, 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 750 meters to the entrance on Via delle Tre Fontane 100.
Hydromania
Hydromania is an pleasure bath 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
