Rome in summer???

adub

Hi looking to go to Rome at the end of July/start of August for 5 days as this is the only time my partner has off from work. Would it be complete madness to go at this time? im thinkin that it will be very hot being in a city?? any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Batgurl

Hi op

I was on holiday in Rome at the start of August about 3 years ago for a week as well so here's my advice for what it's worth.

Temperatures are high, they were in the 30's the whole week we were there but it was not unbearably hot as we were walking around alot so there was always shade and street water fountains where you could fill up your bottle for free. It was also a good excuse to visit the ice-cream parlours!

There is an Italian Bank Holiday which falls at the start of August which you have to take into account as alot of places close for the day. For example, we had planned to visit the Vatican that day but it was closed the day of the holiday so make sure to check if places are open well in advance.

The day of the bank holiday we went to the beach instead (Rome is only 15 mins from the sea on the train) but most of the beaches are privately owned and we actually had to pay to get onto them, about €6 each, but that also included a sun lounger.

In August, Rome is mostly tourists as locals spend the month away from the city, so while it's still busy, it's perhaps not as hectic as June or July.

I would recommend a guide for things like the Colleseum, the Roman Forum and definately the Vatican. We got a great English Phd student who was amazing; knowledgable, funny but informative. He was costly-about €30 pp for the vatican but worth it as we learned so much and u would really be lost without it.

We also went on a day trip to Pompeii. We were going to book a private tour with Viator but that was working out at nearly €100 each so instead we got the train from Termini to Naples (about €20 each and goes every 20 mins) and then there is a direct train downstairs at the station from Naples to Pompeii which goes every 30 mins. it cost €15 each but included the entrance to Pompeii.

Try to pick a cool day when you go to Pompeii as unlike Rome, there is very little shade and it is MASSIVE!

Transport is great, we either got the metro or walked everywhere-each train journey costs €1 or you can get an all day card for €4 I think (ps this €4 card can be used to take you to the beach as well so definately buy it that day if you are going).

My god I've really rambled in this message-sorry-Rome is just so amazing, I thoroughly recommend it.

If there is anything else, just ask (I'll try to keep it shorter!)

adub

thanks very much you gave me loads of information there! i was going to ask about pompeii too cause my partner is really interested in all things historic! i think we will chance it as there are great deals and its much cheaper than going on a package holiday at that time so thanks again for the valuable advice!:D

mzoe

Make sure that the hotel you book has air-conditioning. But not only on the hotel website, but read the reviews on the travel forums. It's not unheard of that they advertised A/C but it didn't work.
The best location to choose a hotel is in the Historic Center: Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi.
The Termini area is convenient because of the train station and airport shuttles, and hotels are cheaper, but the location is not as charming. But the Termini is just as safe as other central districts.
Prati and around Vatican is also cheaper, but it's too far from the center for my liking.

Kewreeuss

Hi,
I'm not sure that taking one day out of your five to go to Pompei is a good idea. You will be shattered after the travelling and the heat and all the walking around. As a previous poster said Pompei is huge and there is NO shade. I know the pull of Pompei is very strong, so go only if you don't think you will come back to Italy. You can always go another time to Sorrento or Amalfi and do it then. Otherwise, why not get the metro to Rebibbia and get a bus to Tivoli to visit Villa D'Este and then on the way back down go to Villa Adriana.
You are going to spend a day doing the Coliseum and the forum.
Another in the Vatican Museum and you might squeeze in St.Peters and the dome at the same time. The Museum is overpowering, there is just so so much to see. You will find yourself whizzing through sections that interest you less than others so that you will have time to see the things that do interest you and still not see all you want to see. Frustrating!
You can't not visit the two galleries up on the Campidoglio, the capitoline museams,one on either side of the piazza. They are full of fantastic stuff and not as frenetic as the vatican museums. you will have time also to go up to the top of the Vittoriano which is beside it and see the magnificent views from there.
You need to make time to walk Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Trevi fountain, all those little streets in front of Piazza di Spagna. You have to walk around the area behind the government buildings. It's a maze of alleyways, gorgeous, leading over to the Panteon, the most amazing building in the world with a fantastic gelateraia close by and on then Piazza Navona, and you will not whizz around that. Then you can cross over to Campo dei Fiori, stroll down Via Giulia and who knows where you will end up. Between an ice-cream here, pop in there, peer in to that courtyard overthere, one thing and another, there's another day gone.
If you want to go shopping, it takes half a day to do Via del Corso and if you are seriously shopping and not just skimming along, those streets I mentioned earlier in front of Piazza di Spagna merit a closer inspection.
You also might want to visit the catacombs, you might like to take a look at the Appia Antica, you might like to visit Trastevere. What about the Terme di Caracalla? How about stroll along the Tiber, see the Isola Tiberina? Do something different, visit Verano the monumental cemetery, the tram passes by. See the Capuchin bones at the church on Via Veneto at the Piazza Barberini end. Cross the Piazza and go up to see the fountains on Via Quattro Fontane. There's another gallery in Palazzo Barberini on the way up. You can also jump on bus and see where it goes, just keep a grip on your handbag and have nothing sticking out of your pockets. If you are from Dublin you'll be just fine!
Wear comfortable shoes, tight denim jeans will kill you, sweat will roll down and gather round the waist band too. Cotton, cotton and more cotton. Wear a hat. Females in the party, no tight underwear, it's just so bloody uncomfortable. If you must drink cappucino, it will cost more if you sit down. Non Potabile on the fountains means the water is not drinkable, but these are rare enough. You may find the heat too much for all that walking. You know yourself what you can put up with. Drink lots so you don't get headaches. Luckily you will sweat if off because public toilets are few and far between. It's the humidity that's the killer, but Oh, the blast of heat when you step off the plane. just heaven.
I think I've said enough. I'm sure you'll get lots of other posts. Have a ball.

newbie!

Kewreeuss wrote: »

Hi,
I'm not sure that taking one day out of your five to go to Pompei is a good idea. You will be shattered after the travelling and the heat and all the walking around. As a previous poster said Pompei is huge and there is NO shade. I.

There is another place about a 15/20min train ride from Rome, called Ostia Antica. It is so peaceful and quite and the ruins have been incredibly well preserved. Defo worth the visit. I think its better than Popeii. Google it and get other peoples reviews.
http://www.ostia-antica.org/

Agricola

If your partner is abit of an ancient history nerd like me, he'd really enjoy the Musuem of Roman Civilisation.
Its just over 4 miles outside Rome and can be reached by the metro.
It has a really imposing entrance of enormous collumns and inside its packed with plastercasts of Ancient Roman architecture, models of the many weapons of war, absolutely massive statues of all descriptions.

Its kind of like a collection of stuff that has been left over by a major Hollywood studio after filming an historical epic! It is, like Il Duce himself, abit tacky, but a nice alternative to the high art of the other museums you'll see.

http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/museodellaciviltaromana.htm

UpCork

I've been to Rome both in the summer and off peak. I am not a sun lover so I found it tough in the summer - thankfully we had a hotel with a good aircon and in the afternoon we'd always have to go back to the hotel and just lie on the bed with the aircon up full to cool down. This wasn't an issue of course in the summer. It was late July I went. I know Milan closes down for August, so not sure if the same happens in Rome.

Having said that though Rome is a beautiful city and you'll enjoy it no matter what.

Einhard

adub wrote: »

Hi looking to go to Rome at the end of July/start of August for 5 days as this is the only time my partner has off from work. Would it be complete madness to go at this time? im thinkin that it will be very hot being in a city?? any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I was in Rome a few years back, and enjoyed it so much I'm travelling again this summer. Just to get the odd spot I missed out the last time!:D

The first trip was part of an interrailing holiday, so there was absolutely nothing planned. We just wondered around the place, and got one of the hop on/hop off buses. They were good, but in a city like Rome, you want to know what the buildings are, and their history etc. that's why, this time, I'm booking a few tours. I'm looking at these guys: http://www.darkrome.com/skip_the_line_ancient_rome_in_one_day_colosseum_roman_forum_capitol_museums_walking_tour.aspx?id=53 . That tour looks pricey enough at €89 at first, but when you consider it's 6 hours of a guided walking tour, I think it's well worth it if you want to get an appreciation of what you're looking at. Plus you save on queueing!

The first time I was there, there were free tours of St Peter's. The idea was that they'd give the initial tour free, and then if you wanted to continue, they'd charge for one of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. if you can get one like that, go for it. It's way cheaper than a fully paid tour and, because the guide wants you to stump up for an extended tour, the quality is excellent.

If you decide against Pompeii, there's always Ostia Antica, which is the ruins of the ancient Roman port town. Not been there myself, but from what I hear, it's a miniature Pompeii, and exceptionally well preserved. It's also a 26 minute ride on the metro from Rome, which makes it handy. Lot's of people do it instead of Pompeii if they're stuck for time. (Edit: Damn you newbie!!:pac:)

Having said that though, I'm getting to Pompeii this time around, even if it costs my arms and legs!

nancy121

Summer is one of the best time to explore Rome as it is the party time. Summer is the season of parties and festivals in Rome. You will find Romans eating, drinking and socializing in the Piazzas and cobbled alleyways of Rome. Life in summers is bright, vibrant and exciting. People tend to move towards beaches in summers. So don’t worry you will have great time there.