Rome's Best Travel Routes

January – La Befana and the Quiet City

The year begins softly, with crisp skies and fewer tourists. On January 6, Piazza Navona transforms for the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating La Befana—the good witch who brings gifts to children. Stalls sell sweets, toys, and roasted chestnuts. It’s also the best time to visit major sites like the Vatican or the Colosseum without queues or heat. The rest of the month is a quite dull moment for tourism, so it’s the absolute best if you can stand cold air.

📝Local Tip: Romans say “Chi visita Roma a gennaio, la trova tutta per sé.”—Whoever visits Rome in January finds it all to themselves.

February – Carnival and Winter Light

Rome’s Carnevale doesn’t rival Venice’s grandeur, but it’s lively and local. Piazza del Popolo hosts small parades, while pastry shops fill with frappe and castagnole.
Weather is mild and light turns golden early—perfect for photographers and quiet wanderers.

📝Local Tip: February sunsets at the Pincio are some of the most poetic of the year.

March – The Marathon and Spring Blooms

Early spring brings energy back to the city. The Rome Marathon takes place mid-March, with runners passing through the Forum and along the Tiber. Even if you’re not running, it’s worth watching—the city feels alive in motion. The orange trees in the Aventine gardens begin to blossom, and café terraces reopen.

📝Local Tip: Expect some road closures during the race; use the metro or walk—it’s part of the spectacle.

April – Easter and the Eternal Renewal

April is sacred and cinematic. The Holy Week and Easter Sunday celebrations draw pilgrims from around the world. The Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) at the Colosseum, led by the Pope, is moving even from afar. The birthday of Rome, Natale di Roma, on April 21, fills the Circus Maximus with costumed parades reenacting ancient rituals.

📝Local Tip: This is when Rome feels most like herself—sacred and pagan, side by side.

May – Roses, Music, and Open Doors

Rome smells of roses in May. The Roseto Comunale on the Aventine Hill opens briefly, displaying over a thousand varieties. Many churches and palaces join the Open House Roma initiative, granting free access to normally closed architectural treasures. Outdoor concerts begin at Villa Ada and Villa Borghese, marking the start of the summer rhythm.

📝Local Tip: Bring a picnic blanket—every park becomes a living room.

June – Saints, Fireworks, Long Evenings

June 29 honors Saints Peter and Paul, the city’s patron saints, with fireworks along the Tiber and festive processions at St. Peter’s Basilica. Street life stretches late into the night, and locals flock to the Lungotevere summer festivals—open-air bars, food stalls, and craft markets along the river.

📝Local Tip: June evenings are made for wandering. No schedule, just light.

July – Outdoor Cinema and Summer Heat

The city slows under the sun, but the evenings come alive. Cinephiles gather for Il Cinema in Piazza, open-air screenings hosted by independent collectives in Trastevere and Tor Sapienza. Opera lovers head to the Baths of Caracalla, where the ancient ruins become a stage. 

📝Local Tip: Romans disappear to the coast on weekends—follow them to Ostia for a sea breeze and grilled fish.

August – Ferragosto & The Sleeping City

During Ferragosto (August 15), Rome empties. Many shops close, locals leave for the beach or countryside, and the city takes a collective breath. It’s hot, yes, but also magical—monuments glow in silence, and streets belong to you. Some museums and restaurants remain open; those that do feel like sanctuaries.

📝Local Tip: August Rome is a ghost city with golden bones.

September – The Return of the Romans

By early September, the city wakes again. Cultural events restart, terraces fill, and art exhibitions open. The Settembre al Parco festival brings music and theatre to Villa Pamphilj. It’s also grape harvest time—Roman wine bars feature Frascati novello and autumn flavors.

📝Local Tip: The light in September is perfection—softer, slower, cinematic.

October – Film Festival and Autumn Walks

October belongs to art lovers. The Rome Film Festival at Auditorium Parco della Musica draws international attention, while museums host new exhibitions. Leaves turn gold in Villa Borghese, and evenings call for a glass of red wine in Monti or Testaccio.

📝Local Tip: October is when locals fall in love with their city all over again.

November – Museums and Intimate Rome

Tourism fades, rain arrives, and the city exhales. It’s the best month for museums—no lines, no crowds. Cafés feel warmer, churches quieter, and markets more local. The All Saints’ Day (November 1) fills cemeteries with flowers and remembrance.

📝Local Tip: Bring an umbrella—and patience. Rome in the rain teaches stillness.

December – Lights, Markets, Midnight Mass

December glows. From Piazza Navona’s Christmas Market to the Vatican’s Midnight Mass, the city feels both solemn and joyful. Streets fill with lights and roasted chestnuts, and nativity scenes appear in nearly every church.

📝Local Tip: End the year with a walk through St. Peter’s Square—even the cold feels gentle there.