September is a very popular month in Rome. It is high season. If you can have some more days, you can combine your stay in Rome with an excursion to the sea or the nearby mountains.
As there are many visitors to Rome in September, you need to reserve tickets for the most popular sights such as the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums or the Borghese Gallery in good time. Opening times of museums, events and concerts, here you will find all the important information.
Avoid queues
Basically, precautionary measures against the coronavirus are to avoid crowds and therefore queues.
You can therefore book almost everything on the Internet and reservations for many attractions on the Internet are compulsory.
In order to really enjoy your stay in Rome, good preparation is important. Here you will learn everything, that you have to know.
Public transportation
The public transportation in Rome are overburdened and there is no working timetable. Few lines, such as lines 40 and 64 between Termini and the Vatican, run regularly. Take this into account when planning and choosing your accommodation.
Book your accommodation in the center, in the Monti district near the Colosseum or in the Vatican area.
The hop on hop off buses circulate very reliably. A good alternative is to rent a bike.
Accommodation
The Roman center is not very big and you can walk to many attractions. Read in our article Hotels in Rome which neighborhoods are suitable for your accommodation.
Queues at the attractions
Basically, care is taken everywhere that the minimum distances are observed. This applies to the free attractions such as St. Peter’s Basilica or the Trevi Fountain.
Avoid queues at St. Peter’s Basilica by booking a tour or audio guide with the official visitor service Vox Mundi.
The number of visitors to the Vatican Museums has been drastically reduced. You must therefore book the tickets or the tour online.
Due to the distance rules, only a few visitors can enter the Colosseum at the same time. Tickets are often sold out weeks in advance.
Museums opening hours
Reservation is mandatory for the Colosseum, the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican Museums and all museums of the City of Rome.
For the Borghese Gallery you have to make a reservation with the Roma Pass on +39 06 32810. Since the gallery is usually fully booked well in advance, we recommend purchasing the tickets directly.
Borghese Gallery
Colosseum Rome September
Opening hours:
08:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m. Closing 7:15 p.m.
Details on the Colosseum tickets>
Night tours in the Coloseum only by reservation Colosseum Night Tour Tickets>
Tickets to the National Museums
You can book tickets for the National Museums online. Tickets to the National Museums in Rome>
Vatican Museums Rome September
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sunday.
Opening hours
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
There are extended opening hours every Friday and Saturday
10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The free entry to the Vatican Museums on the last sunday of the month is suspended.
The Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo and the Barberini Gardens are open in September Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica opening hours
The entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free.
St. Peter’s Basilica 7-19 – Dome 8-18 – Cathedral treasure 9-18:15
In any case, we would like to advise you to take a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica so that you can properly grasp the many details of the basilica with its 1,500-year history. More information about St. Peter’s Basilica
When is St. Peter's Basilica closed in September
St. Peter’s Basilica is open every day in September.
Events
Papal Audiences in September
General audience takes place on Wednesday, 2 and 9 September excluded. It is not yet known whether the audiences will be public this September. In any case, you can pre-register for participation on our Papal Audience page.
There are no public papal masses in September.
The Pope’s Angelus prayer takes place every Sunday, 6 September excluded, at noon in St. Peter’s Square.
Estate Romana · Roman summer
Concerts
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.
In September there is a colorful mix of contemporary music. Events and 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
The Roman theater of Ostia Antica
Another spectacular venue is the Roman theater in the excavations at Ostia Antica. The theater was built at the time of Augustus with 3,000 seats and expanded to 4,000 seats in the 2nd century.
Events and tickets Ostia Antica
Metro Piramide – Ostia Lido stazione Ostia Antica
Roman nights
Classical music concerts take place every evening at the Teatro di Marcello.
Bus 30, 44, 51, 63, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 160, 170, 628, 715, 716, 781, H, n8, n716, nMC, nME
Traffic live club
Metal in the Traffic Live Club on September 12 Events and tickets
Traffic live club Via Prenestina 738
113, 150F, 313, 314, 501, 508, n075 Prenestina/Tor Tre Teste
Exhibitions
Cinecittà si mostra Visit the dream factory of Roman cinema, Metro A Station Cinecittà Tickets
Stadium of the Domitian The stadium under Piazza NavonaVia di Tor Sanguigna 3 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
Domus Romane – the Roman houses under Palazzo ValentiniPiazza Venezia, Via Foro Traiano 85, opposite the pillar of the Trajan 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
Leonardo da Vinci Museum – in the Galleria Agostiana at Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo 12 Metro A, Tram 2, Bus 61, 89, 160, 490, 495, 628, nMA (Flaminio) Roma – Viterbo Tickets
The Coliseum tells of itself, permanent exhibition in the Coliseum – with the support of Heinz Beste, DAI Rom
Piazza del Colosseo Metro B Colosseo Tickets
Banksy A Visual Protest
Over 90 works tell the world of Banksy. See the works of the unknown artist Banksy, who conquered the world with irony and sharpness, in the monastery built by the Italian architect Bramante in the 16th century.
In the Chiostro del Bramante (Zone Piazza Navona) Via Arco della Pace 5
Colors of the Etruscans, Treasures in terracotta in the Centrale Montemartini, Via Ostiense 106, Metro B Garbatella, Bus 23, 769, 792 Ostiense/Garbatella Tickets
Practical tips for Rome in September
Weather and clothes
In the first half of September it can still be very hot in Rome, even if the maximum temperatures no longer exceed 30° C and the minimum temperatures are often below 20° C. Rain is rare. 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. Since you spend a lot of time outdoors in Rome, you need protection against the sun. A sun hat or a parasol are well suited. You also need comfortable shoes. Attention! When visiting the sacred sites, including the catacombs and the Vatican Museums, the shoulders and knees must be covered.
Rome on hot days
Rome can be very hot, especially in the first half of September. Standing in line in front of the security checkpoint on St. Peter’s Square is not a pleasant experience. You can avoid the queue by booking an audio guide or tour. You will also get a lot of interesting information.
In any case, you should avoid too much effort. The ride on the hop on hop off bus is comfortable.
A trip to the catacombs or the area around Rome is also highly recommended.
Rome for early risers
In the early morning you have most of the places and attractions to yourself.
The best time for the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps is at 6 in the morning. Maybe you will meet a wedding couple at the photo op.
The sunrise in Rome is between 6:36 and 7:06 in September.
Early morning is also the best time to jog.
Shopping
Rome is a shopping paradise. Regardless of whether you want to stock up on fashion, look for vintage or antiques or bring a culinary specialty home with you, you will find the right ideas in our Shopping category.
Food
The Romans hardly eat lunch on hot summer days. In our food category you will find tips on street food, pizza, the best ice cream parlors, but also on very elegant restaurants.
Amusement parks
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 EUR Palasport metro 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. Tickets
Excursions around Rome
Rome has wonderful 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. It is of course more convenient with a rental 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.
Very nice is a trip to Umbria, for example to Assisi or Orvieto, is also nice.
With the high-speed trains you can also take a day tour to Naples, Florence, Milan or Venice.
