October is without exaggeration the best month to visit Rome (along with April and May).
It is still high season, so we recommend booking hotels and excursions in advance. But there are many more advantages of visiting Rome in October. There is no debilitating summer heat, but it is not too cold and rainy yet. Tourist crowds are finally thinning, museums are no longer crowded, and wine, beer and gastronomic festivals are held in Rome and neighboring cities.
If you prefer long walks in the fresh air and a leisurely vacation without fuss, then October and Rome are the perfect combination for you.
Table of Contents:
1. What’s the Weather in Rome in October?
2. How to Dress in Rome in October?
3. Holidays in Rome in October
4. What to Do in Rome in October?
1. What’s the Weather in Rome in October?
October in Rome is a unique month in terms of its warm but not hot weather, with plenty of mild sunshine and without the lingering rains that accompany autumn. It is a time that the Romans themselves are very fond of and call “Ottobrata romana”.
This term dates back to the tradition when in October, after the harvest, it was customary to go to the countryside on Sundays (it was very popular then to rest in the meadows of the present-day Testaccio district) and organize entertaining events with songs and dances.
The tradition was discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century, but to this day, when talking about the good weather in October, you can still hear “che bella ottobrata!”.
The weather is still quite warm in October, especially at the beginning of the month. You can even do without jackets and coats during the day, but the evenings are cooler. Rains are more frequent than in September, but they are not as heavy as summer thunderstorms and are not as prolonged as in late fall.
Since there is no debilitating summer heat, you can walk outdoors all day long. This weather is most comfortable for photo shoots and walking tours.
- Average daily temperature in Rome in October: +18°C/64°F
- Maximum daytime temperature in Rome in October: +23°C/73°F
- Minimum daytime temperature in Rome in October: +14°C/57°F
2. How to Dress in Rome in October?
October in Rome is closer to fall than to summer in terms of weather. If you’re traveling at the beginning of the month, you can grab t-shirts and even shorts: during the day, temperatures reach summer levels. The middle and end of the month will not be superfluous in your suitcase:
- pants / jeans
- a dress made of thicker fabric / floor length skirt
- a long-sleeved sweater / light jacket / jacket / vest
- a scarf or stole that can be quickly thrown over your shoulders in case the weather changes
At the end of the month, a raincoat or an autumn jacket may come in handy, and gloves are also worth bringing just in case – they won’t take up much space.
The ideal shoes for Rome in October are comfortable sneakers or slip-on sneakers, loafers or brogues. Sandals and ballet flats can still come in handy at the beginning of the month.
3. Holidays in Rome in October
October 4 – St. Francis of Assisi Day
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy, much revered by all Italians. In Rome, the day of the saint from Umbria is celebrated by laying flowers at the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (included in the itinerary of the tour “Christian Rome”).
The second epicenter of the celebrations is the Church of San Francesco-a-Ripa in Trastevere. According to legend, St. Francis of Assisi lived here during his stay in Rome: a stone pillow and a crucifix have been preserved in his cell.
October 31 – Halloween
All Saints’ Day (November 1) is preceded by the pagan holiday known worldwide as Halloween, which is celebrated on October 31. The roots of this holiday go back to the traditions of the ancient Celts of Ireland and Scotland, and 20 years ago Italians practically did not celebrate All Saints’ Eve in any way.
But globalization erases national differences, so today in bars and discos in Rome there are costume parties and themed events, and the windows of many stores can be decorated with pumpkins and other attributes of this holiday. However, in Italy, Halloween is celebrated on a much smaller scale than in the UK or the US, and mostly among young people who celebrate.
4. What to Do in Rome in October?
Days of Free Admission to Rome’s Museums in October
On the first Sunday of the month, October 6, 2024, Rome’s museums will open their doors to the public, including: Colosseum and Roman Forum, Capitoline Museums, Trajan’s Forum, National Gallery of Modern Art and many others.
Vatican Museums Free Day is the last Sunday of the month, and in 2024 falls on October 20.
Visit the RomaEuropa Festival
From September 6 to November 19, 2023, Rome hosted the 38th edition of the RomaEuropa Festival. The festival brings together events in the fields of contemporary dance, theater, digital art, film and music. Artists, musicians, artists and photographers from all over the world take part. As of writing this the 2024 dates weren’t available, but you can check out the latest at the official website of the festival at https://romaeuropa.net/en/programme/
Rome Film Festival (Festa del Cinema di Roma)
In 2023 the festival was held at Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30) between October 18 to 29, 2023. The prestigious international competition-cum-exhibition of feature films, both foreign and Italian.
The most anticipated film of the festival in 2023 was “The Zone of Interest” (The Zone of Interest) by British director Jonathan Glazer. The film tells the story of Rudolf Hess, the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, who, along with his wife, tries to build the family life of his dreams across the street from the death camp. “Zone of Interest” won the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Press) Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
As of writing this, the specific dates for the 2024 edition of the Rome Festival are not known. This lack of information is common for festivals in Italy, where dates are often posted online only shortly before the event. For that reason, I would suggest that you regularly check the website at www.romacinemafest.it/en/.
Dress up as your favorite computer game character at Romics Festival (October 3 – 6, 2024)
It may seem unusual, but among Italians there are quite a few fans of comic books (fumetti), computer games, anime and cosplay. In Rome, there is an entire festival dedicated to these phenomena.
Romics is attended by over 200,000 people every year, and you may be among them. In 2023, the festival will be held for the 22nd time! More information on the Romics website at https://www.romics.it/en.
Immerse Yourself in Dreams at the Museum of Dreamers
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit a real Museum of Dreamers! On an area of 4000 square meters, you will be treated to over 20 immersive installations that will transport you to a completely different reality!
Read more on the Museum of Dreamers website at https://museumofdreamers.com/rome-exhibition/.
Taste the Seasonal Food in Rome in October
- Pumpkin (zucca). You can try a purely Roman appetizer fiore di zucca – roasted pumpkin blossoms filled with mozzarella cheese.
- Mushrooms (funghi). What could be better than pasta with mushrooms and sauce?
- Radicchio is an Italian chicory that has red leaves with white veins. It is popular in salads as well as in hot dishes such as risotto.
- Persimmon (cachi). The persimmon season lasts well into winter.
Visit the Colosseum at Night
The Colosseum is open to the public for additional hours from 8 p.m. to midnight (last admission at 10:30 p.m.) on Fridays and Saturdays. Night Colosseum tours are conducted in small groups of 25 people in English, Spanish and Italian only.
Night Colosseum is a tour for those who want to experience Rome’s main attraction without the hustle, bustle and crowds. The tour is unique in that you will see the Colosseum at the most mystical time after sunset and visit those rooms that are closed to the public during regular opening hours.
More Things to do in Rome in October:
- Travel to the Pope’s residence at Castel Gandolfo by train from the Vatican train station
- Take a unique tour and walk through the Vatican gardens, which are not accessible to every tourist.
- Go to Tivoli and the Villa d’Este, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Walk around the filming locations of legendary movies shot in Rome, visit secret corners and picturesque streets on our unusual tour “The Eternal City and the Magic of Cinema”.
- Make delicious Italian gelato at a master class in one of Rome’s best gelaterias
