Rome in August may test the mettle of those who can’t stand the heat and stuffiness. However, August is not considered a high season in Rome, as it is in August that many Italians take vacations and leave the cities for the coast or the mountains to celebrate Ferragosto. There can still be a lot of tourists, but in general, due to vacations and heat in the Eternal City a little freer.
August has its pluses: sunny weather with no rain, warm evenings and nights. It is the perfect time for gelato therapy, romantic walks under the stars, picnics, summer concerts and open-air workshops, unusual excursions and photo shoots.
Table of Contents:
1. What’s the Weather in Rome in August?
2. How to Dress in Rome in August?
3. Holidays in Rome in August
4. What to Do in Rome in August?
1. What’s the Weather in Rome in August?
Rome in August is like a sauna, impossible to get out of. High humidity, stuffiness and very, very hot, so it is necessary to take into account the rules of staying in the sun.
It is dangerous for your health to stay under direct sun rays for a long time (you can get a heat stroke), so it is recommended to choose the right time for walks, excursions and photo shoots. It is better to start early in the morning (at 7 AM – 9 AM) or in the afternoon at 4 PM – 5 PM. And the most reasonable thing you can do from 12 AM to 4 PM is to take a siesta.
August is perfect for beach vacations. You can go to the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is only 40 minutes from Rome. To relax on the beach and cool off in the sea water after the excursion program is even necessary to start exploring the Eternal City with renewed vigor. Water temperature in the Tyrrhenian Sea in August reaches +26° C/80°F.
- Average daily temperature in Rome in August: +24° C/75°F
- Maximum daytime temperature in Rome in August: +32° C/90°F
- Minimum daytime temperature in Rome in August: +18° C/64°F
2. How to Dress in Rome in August?
August is a full-fledged hot summer in Rome, so you can safely leave your warm clothes at home. Put only summer clothes in your suitcase: shorts, T-shirts, T-shirts, dresses, sundresses, skirts. In the city on 7 hills, of course, will come in handy and comfortable shoes, in which you can walk for a long time and not rub your feet.
Please note that when visiting iconic places, you must comply with the dress code. No beachwear, micro tops and shorts that cut into the body. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and flip-flops are completely inappropriate if you decide to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
So, what to take with you to Rome in August:
- Shorts, skirts, t-shirts, tank tops, etc. (preferably made of lightweight breathable natural materials)
- A hat with wide brim that casts a shadow on the face.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- A light cotton scarf for women (in case you need to cover your shoulders)
- Comfortable flat-soled shoes (leave heels for social outings)
- A swimsuit for a beach vacation on the Tyrrhenian Sea. On a hot day, escape to Fregene or Ostia for a swim, sunbathing and seafood.
Rules for staying in the sun:
- Drink plenty of water, and sodas and coffee will not do – just plain water. Take a water bottle with you and fill it up at one of Rome’s many drinking fountains (they’re marked on the free offline map on maps.me)
- Try to wait out the sun in a cool room, but avoid direct air-conditioning to avoid catching a cold.
- Always bring a hat, sunglasses, a bottle of water and sunscreen. Take care of your head!
- Summer is a good reason to hide from the heat in Roman museums. For example, the Borghese Gallery or the Vatican Museums
- Stay close to fountains, walk in parks, hide in the shade of buildings and trees. It’s always cool and peaceful in Roman churches
3. Holidays in Rome in August
August 5 – Feast of the Snow Madonna (or Virgin Mary of the Snow) / Festa della Madonna della Neve
Snow in August, and not in Siberia, but in Rome – isn’t it a miracle? Every year on August 5, a miraculous snowfall is recreated in the square at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to the Roman patrician John and his wife, who, being childless, prayed fervently for a child. In the dream Our Lady told the couple that the Lord would send them a son if they built a church on the Esquiline Hill, and a sign was given to them where to build the church – snow would fall on that place.
The next day John came to Pope Liberius and told him about his dream. The pope was surprised, for he had had a similar vision. On the morning of August 5 they went together to the hill of Esquiline, where to their joy and amazement they saw snow-white snow falling in the middle of the field at the height of the Roman summer. This was the site on which the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was built.
To commemorate this event, every year on August 5, white rose petals are showered on parishioners during the morning of the festive Mass in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. And in the evening, between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., there is a concert in the square outside Santa Maria Maggiore. The culmination of the celebration is a “snow” of soap foam that beautifully swirls over the crowd of parishioners and tourists, recreating the miracle of 17 centuries ago.
August 10 – St. Lawrence Night, Night of the Shooting Stars or Night of Wishing / La Notte di San Lorenzo
The Night of St. Lawrence is the most romantic night in Italy, when thousands of Italians gather outside the city to watch stargazing and make a wish.
From an astronomical point of view, stargazing is a bright trace of meteors burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Thus, in July and August you can observe the Perseids meteor stream, which appears from the side of the constellation Perseus. I
Why is the night named after St. Lawrence? Legend has it that St. Lawrence was brutally tortured and, after refusing to worship the pagan gods, was roasted alive on an iron grate. Hot coals were placed under the grate, which reminded the believers of shooting meteor stars.
August 15 – Ferragosto
Ferragosto (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is a national holiday in Italy that marks the beginning of summer vacation. Italians take a vacation and rush en masse to coastal resorts or to the mountains to relax away from the stuffy stone jungle of big cities. Many official institutions, banks and businesses close for the vacations, but this does not usually apply to cafes and stores in tourist areas, which continue to operate as usual. There are plenty of tourists in Rome on Ferragosto, but few Romans themselves, who try to take at least a week of vacation and go to the coast.
If you are planning to be in Italy on Ferragosto and, for example, to get out to the resort towns close to Rome, try to book all the necessary services and tickets in advance. By the way, during Ferragosto since the times of Mussolini there is a tradition to make discounts on tickets (on the other hand, the cost of all other services increases significantly). And by September 1, Italians will return from vacation, and the frenzy will subside.
As for the origins of the holiday, they date back to the times of ancient Rome. The first Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus established a festival called Feriae Augusti to celebrate Augustus’ victory over his rival Mark Antony, which ended the civil wars in Rome. Also in August were the consualia, celebrations in honor of Cons, the god of harvest and fertility. During this period, both people and animals rested from agricultural work, and horse races were organized throughout the empire.
As with other ancient Roman feasts, the church adapted the consualia and Feriae Augusti to suit its needs. Today, on August 15, Catholics celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast commemorating the death of Jesus’ mother and her ascension to heaven.
Please note that the Vatican Museums will be closed to the public on August 14 and August 15. All other museums are open as usual.
4. What to Do in Rome in August?
1. Rome Museums Free Day is the first Sunday of the month, falling on the 4th in August 2024.
2. Vatican Museums Free Day is the last Sunday of the month, August 25, but you can’t book a visit (unless in an English- or Italian-speaking group), you have to stand in a general line. You can also visit the Vatican Museums for free on Friday evenings from 7PM to 11PM.
3. Take a walk along the promenade along the Tiber – from early June to early September, the annual outdoor festival Lungo il Tevere Roma takes place along the Tiber promenade. During the festival you can visit exhibitions, concerts, hand-made goods fairs, workshops, and entertainment for children.
Admission is free, but concerts and movie screenings may be charged. You will also find numerous restaurants and discos.
Where does it take place? On both sides of the Tiber River near the Ponte Garibaldi and Ponte Sublicio bridges. Entrance is from the Ghetto and Trastevere districts.
4. Multimedia light show at the Roman Forum
The season of light multimedia shows at the Roman Forum is late spring, summer and early fall. Ruins and stones will literally come to life before your eyes: with the help of the most complex system of projectors and audio system with headphones (including Russian language) you will make a journey into the past, see pictures from everyday life of the Eternal City during the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar and the first emperor Octavian Augustus. The show takes place in the evening and lasts 40-45 minutes.
5. Picnic in one of Rome’s parks
Let yourself relax in Rome the way the Romans do! We invite you to a picnic in a secret but no less beautiful Roman park, which not all tourists know about. This huge green oasis is located between the Vatican and Trastevere district, not far from the historical center of the Eternal City. Locals love the Doria Pamphili Park and consider it the ideal place for walking and outdoor sports.
Discover what it means to relax in true Roman style: in the lap of nature, with fruit and champagne, with birds singing and under the shade of slender Roman pine trees. We will take care of all the organization of the picnic. You will only have to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature, delicious Italian food and pleasant company.
6. Go on a shopping spree
Sales in Italy are quite official and always take place at the same time. In winter it is in January-February and in summer it is in July-August. The sales start on the first of July and last for 6 weeks. So if you come to Rome in the first half of the month, you will still catch them. You can buy really good branded items at very attractive prices.
7. Visit the Estate Romana Summer Festival
Estate Romana is an annual summer festival of music and theater arts in Rome. In 2023, it takes place from June 15 to October 15. Concerts and performances take place at venues such as the Marcello Theater, Janiculum Hill, Castel Sant’Angelo, Basilica di Santa Maria in Araceli, Villa Celimontana and others. Some of the concerts are free to attend.
For a detailed schedule of events, please see here: http://estateromana.comune.roma.it/
8. Listen to Italian opera under the stars in the Thermae of Caracalla
Want to feel like the beautiful Anita Ekberg in Fellini’s immortal movie La Dolce Vita? Head to an open-air opera at the Thermae of Caracalla. August 2023 features timeless classics like Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata and Rigoletto.
View the schedule and buy tickets here https://www.romeing.it/festival-caracalla/
9. See Shakespeare at the Globe Theater in Villa Borghese Park
Rome’s Globe is built after legendary Shakespeare Theater in London. On stage in August 2023, “Thunderstorm,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Othello,” “Venus and Adonis” and “Shakespeare’s Case.
Buy tickets here https://www.ticketone.it/en/artist/globe-theatre/
What Else to Do in Rome in August:
- Take a tour of the Colosseum with the kids and then give them a training adventure at a real gladiator school
- Visit Castelli Romani, a picturesque national park near Rome, to enjoy strawberry Prosecco and scenic views of ancient volcanic lakes
- Travel to Tivoli and the Villa d’Este, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Relax in one of Italy’s best theme parks Zoomarine (water park + rides + beach area)
- Walk around the filming locations of movies shot in Rome, visit secret corners and picturesque streets on our unusual tour “The Eternal City and the Magic of Cinema”.
