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Original poster

Rome in August - am I completely nuts?

23 replies

PoptartPoptart · 03/04/2018 23:28

Thinking about going to Rome for 3 nights in August, me, DH and DS (age 13).
It’s the only time we can go due to DH’s work schedule.
I know it’s crazy hot there in August but I’m assuming all hotels/restaurants/indoor tourist attractions etc will be air conditioned?
We did Florida last year and managed to walk around theme parks for hours in 32 degree heat and humidity, so I’m assuming it can’t be much worse than that?
I’m told that Rome is actually a bit quieter in August because of the heat - so that could be a bonus?
Any experiences please?

OP posts:

Crispbutty · 03/04/2018 23:33

I’ve been several times but never in August. When I went in June the heat was unreal. No breeze and just too uncomfortable to go out seeing the sights. I would think August would be worse to be honest.

LoniceraJaponica · 03/04/2018 23:38

None of the churches have aircon, and I don't think the Vatican does. Nor does the Colosseum, Palatine Hill or the Pantheon.

MrsPotatoHeadIsMyIdol · 03/04/2018 23:41

I used to work with an Italian guy and I was telling him how hot it was in May. He then told me to avoid August at all costs and yes you're right, the Romans holiday elsewhere because the heat is that bad

Lunenburg · 03/04/2018 23:45

I have experienced Rome in August (albeit 15 years ago) and it was sweltering. Too hot to be pleasurable !!

We coped by going out early mornings and late evenings and finding a cool air conditioned cafe or room in between.

Also you need to be aware that quite a lot of cafes / restaurants are closed or work limited days in August. I suspect because of reduced tourist numbers.

BrieAndChilli · 03/04/2018 23:48

See I went in August about 15 years ago and found it fine, but then remembered we were living in the Italian alps at the time having just come back from 6 months in Thailand and 2 years living in the south of France before that so were probably a bit more than used to the heat!!

Original poster

PoptartPoptart · 03/04/2018 23:49

Oh dear, not what I wanted to hear
Maybe we’ll have to scrap that idea and plan it for next year instead.

OP posts:

Connfusion · 03/04/2018 23:50

Last summer it was 40 degrees in Italy and there were deaths because of it.

aRespectableBureaudeChange · 03/04/2018 23:54

We were in Rome in August four years ago - was too hot middle of the day to be exposed on Palatine say, but go inside to a museum etc.

We didn't find it unbearably hot (eg like Egypt) it was fine, wouldn't say to put off just because hot.

LittleBearPad · 03/04/2018 23:56

I went in August. It was exhausting. I’d avoid it.

SureIusedtobetaller · 03/04/2018 23:56

We did it and it was fine. I wore a hat full time, we took frozen bottles of water everywhere (and there are loads of fountains to top up at) and we took it slowly. It was hot but not unbearable.
We didn’t go to Pompei though as I’d been told it’s like a furnace anyway.
Got bitten badly by mozzies but I always get bitten in Italy...
The Vatican museum has aircon.

Dumbledoresgirl · 03/04/2018 23:59

I've been to Rome twice in August. We managed with a couple of hours each afternoon resting in our aircon apartment. It was very hot - high 30s in the shade last time - but the older I get, the better I cope in extreme heat.

RedWineAllMine · 04/04/2018 00:24

No, we went in August last year! It was fine! You need a air conditioned hotel room, we had to sleep with it on, even then in the morning we were freezing so had to turn it off. It's not too hot. You can straighten hair etc normally, it won't go frizzy. We went when there was a heat wave. Yeah you need suncream but it's not too hot at all. I was very comfortable in my maxi dresses and that was in August during a heat wave. Even in the Vatican crammed in like sardines we wasn't sweating. Be sure to check out Colosseum & Trevi Fountain. I'd give Vatican a miss unless you're really religious and into that kind of stuff. It was so packed and such a long day, seeing stuff that we found boring, we lost our tour guide coz we was packed in like sardines.
But it is good to see St Paul's Basilica in the end, where the Pope does his services & lives etc. You have to go to it once to say you've experienced it I suppose. I loved Rome. We're going back. August was a perfect time to go.

Crispbutty · 05/04/2018 19:06

Don’t forget that you have to cover your arms and dress modestly in the churches too. The Vatican is very strict on this.

I found when I was there that going out very early in the morning before it got too hot and then resting in the afternoon before going out again in the evening was the best way to cope.

soloula · 05/04/2018 19:22

We were there a few years ago at the end of September and I still found it very hot. Like others have said, you're very exposed at some of the sites and some indoor places like the Vatican have no air con so are so hot and stuffy. Restaurants have air con but most have tiny indoor spaces and large covered outdoor areas so chances are you'd still be sitting out in the heat, albeit in the shade.

notangelinajolie · 05/04/2018 19:53

It's do able but plan well and buy tickets in advance so that you don't have to wait in long queues. Know where you are going - there is nothing worse than wandering aimlessly around a hot city and not knowing where the hell you are. Maps and water are essential.

We went in August and it was very, very hot. We managed by visiting sites early morning and spent long picnic lunches sat in the shade in one of the lovely parks. We also hired a private driver for one of our days and had a pre arranged itinerary. It was lovely being wisked from place to place in an air conditioned black Mercedes complete with chauffeur. He got us to the front of every single queue dropped us off at the entrance and magically appeared within seconds of us leaving. The kids thought it was very cool to have people looking at us wondering if we were famous. Not cheap but oh so worth it and it's the one memory we all agree is our favourite.

musicmum75 · 05/04/2018 19:55

I went during the August bank holiday many years ago. Yes it was very hot but as long as you have cool clothing and drink plenty of water you will be fine. It didn't stop us from doing anything.

walkingtheplank · 05/04/2018 20:03

We went to Rome last August. It was fine. I'm a bit if a sweaty Betty but I was fine. The Vatican museums were definitely air conditioned and remember buildings gave been built with the heat in mind. I wouldn't advise the Forum/ Palatine as the heat bounced off the rocks.
Generally less busy as the Romans are on holiday.
Have fun!

tribpot · 05/04/2018 20:06

We were there at the very end of July 3 years ago. It was 40 degrees.

It was very, very hot. We were lucky to be on a group tour, so an air conditioned bus and fast track everywhere - we went into the Vatican Museum out of hours and it was like a bloody oven with only 50 or so people in the entire building, I can't imagine what it was like during the day.

It was definitely a case of showering twice a day, staying out of direct sunlight and drinking a lot of water.

I would research options for jumping the queues (as these are often out in direct sunlight for hours at a time).

RedWineAllMine · 06/04/2018 02:30

Oh yes it is worth mentioning in holy places you have to have knees covered (maxi dress easiest way) and shoulders covered. So bear that in mind with what you will wear to not over heat.
You won't get in if you don't follow the dress code, they are very very strict on it!

Ancienchateau · 06/04/2018 10:23

I've been a few times in August. Last time was 2 years ago and it really wasn't that hot, high 20s at most. As long as you have air con wherever you are staying and don't go traipsing around the Forum or Palatine Hill (although it does have a nice breeze) at midday you will love it.

Vixnixtrix1981 · 06/04/2018 11:05

I did 4 nights in Rome in August 2 years ago, myself and DS (he was 10). Don't get me wrong, it was hot, we travelled around Italy, Rome was by far the hottest place (for us) but we managed and it wasn't too hot to be unpleasant.
Because we were in Italy a while, we did spend one day at a Water Park, don't know whether the escape from the heat in cold water helped as a break?

HollyBollyBooBoo · 06/04/2018 11:07

Horrific temps at that time of year. Won't be any fun whatsoever.

Star21 · 08/04/2018 22:35

We went last August in the heatwave 45 degrees. It was very uncomfortable, we tended to venture out in the morning and evening and go back to our air conditioned apartment in the afternoon. My teenage DD really struggled on the day we went to the colloseum and roman forum, we froze bottles of water and took them out with us but it was exhausting. It was unusually hot though with the heatwave.

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