Rome in August

[Devon06]

Hi everyone, my daughter (17) has been wanting to go to Rome for years and we have an opportunity to go mid August as Son staying with his dad, my partner working and I have found a dog sitter. We have 4 nights. We would like to see the main attractions but I would also like to have a couple of days relaxing by a pool. Has anyone stayed in a hotel outside of Rome with a pool and got the metro in for days out? Any tips? Thanks all x

It will be very hot and heaving with tourists, it will be difficult to see the sights due to the mass of people. Best time to go is November, not too hot and far fewer tourists

If you don't have to go in August I wouldn't, frankly. June is sticky enough! Most attractions in Rome don't have a/c. There will be no shelter at the Coliseum or the Forum. The churches might be cool enough, though.

But if you want to it would be possible, certainly. I've only ever stayed centrally but there were hotels further out with pools advertised.

Worth looking up the attractions you want to go to and seeing if you can go there early morning or late evening, and escape back to the hotel at 11 or 12 till about 5pm. Metro maps will be online.

Remember to consider the airport transfer.

I agree with the above, but also worth mentioning that August is holiday month for Italians - many restaurants and businesses close for the entire month as people escape the city for beach/country. And it's generally unbearably hot too.

Sorry same as everyone else - August is awful. And 4 nights is 3 days. Not enough for all the sights and two days by a pool. It's barely enough for all the sights!

Could you go later in the year?

Sorry but I completely agree with above it will be horrific in august. November to feb best time to go to actually get close to attractions. We did stay outside the am it's a couple times and the metro is easy enough to navigate.

We’ve stayed at the Hotel Aldrovandi before which is great and has a pool. They have little golf buggy things to drive you into the centre of town. It is expensive though but great if you have to go in August- get out early for your sightseeing then come back and lie by the pool when you get too hot.

They’re having their hottest summer ever, heatwave has been called “Cerberus”. Temps of up to 48C. Tourists are dying of heat stroke, it was on the BBC yesterday.

Although people have a point, if August is when you want to go, then absolutely it is doable. Just change your natural timings- see everything in the very early morning or in late evening/ night. It’s beautiful and so much goes on into the night- you will find Italian families up and around doing things then.
If I were you. Sleep late, spend your day by the pool and tour the city late into the evenings and night. Enjoy

We had 2 full days of Rome in August a few years ago but staying inside Rome. We booked tours for the first day (Vatican/Basilica/Sistine Chapel during the day and Colosseum at night) and then walked around the second day looking at things like Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps etc.

We landed at 9am and it was already 28 degrees, think it hit 46 when we were in the middle of the first tour. There are aqueducts everywhere so you can fill your water bottle up but like others have said, it was ridiculously hot (esp for sight seeing) and it was SO busy. Because we were only on a 2 dayer as well it did feel like we were clock watching and when we got to something it was more that we could tick it off and move on instead of appreciating it properly if that makes sense? We did have a really good time, DH loved it & we would go again, but not in August and another day at a minimum! ☀️

August will be very hot but try and go out very early or later on. There are hotels near the centre with pools but you pay a premium.

We stayed at an air b and b near the Colosseum and we could walk everywhere. But I think the tube is easy to navigate. There is alot to see and do but I think you need time to do it and appreciate it all. Especially the little known places and all the lovely cafes!

Having said that it's not very far to travel so you could always go again!

don't set yourself up for "days out" - much too long and hot.

Stay in the centre, and go out mornings and evenings. If you must go to Rome in one of the worst heatwaves ever - personally I think you are mad. We went in April one year, it was difficult, but possible to manage the heat.

Have you seen the news about the weather in Italy? It could reach 48 degrees!!
My dd went on holiday to Rome last month and said it was pretty hot. August will be difficult to do touristy things.

Start by booking your Vatican and Colosseum tickets now. Even looking for tickets three months in advance we missed Villa Borghese so now it’s on my bucket list!
If you’re there on 15th August all monuments are closed as it’s a religious and national holiday.

Find a different destination. It's forecast to be 49 degrees in Rome tomorrow.

August will be horrific. At best you will be creeping out at 7am for a couple of hours, retreating to the hotel air con for the day and having another bash at 5pm

Plus some of the best attractions have no shade.

We were last in Rome in 2019. I’m afraid to say, I do agree with others, the heat is difficult. Worse now with this weather happening at the moment. That said, if you can only do those 4 days then I would give it a go. I do agree with the poster who said don’t plan a day out. A full day out in the heat is hard going. Research and try find a hotel with a pool. There are a few. We stayed at the Radisson Blu last time but that’s closed down now. You will struggle with the heat. The attractions are outdoors with little shade.

We did 4 nights and opted for early mornings and early evenings with the middle part of the day at the pool or in the shade under an umbrella. I’ve been back through some photos and we had 3 days at 32/33 degrees and one at 35.

It is doable if you plan but don’t expect to be out all day but that’s just my opinion.

4 nights = 3 days. There is NO WAY you'll be able to see the main sights of Rome and have a couple of days by the pool with only three days. You can spend one day sightseeing, but you will only get the most cursory of impressions of Rome if you do that. I would also caution against going in August. Rome will be BOILING in August, most Italians go to the beach or the mountains for the entire month, so many businesses are closed and what that means is a baking hot city full of huge roaming groups of tourists - the worst of all worlds IMO. So my advice would be go at a different time of year or go somewhere else. You simply don't have enough time to see Rome if you want two days lounging by the pool as well.

Ugh, that's a tough one. It is a little cooler right now in Rome, and I think if you can find (and afford) a hotel with a pool you could stay at the hotel from 11 to 4 and then explore early morning and afternoons? the night tour of the Colosseum is amazing but might be sold out. If it is, visit at sunset and tour the outside by yourself, still very magical. You could also head to the quieter, cooler Capitoline Museums during the day to avoid the heat. Check out my blog for affordable, family-friendly hotels with pools: www.trovatrails.com/blog
Rome is bonkers busy right now so it might be sold out. Otherwise get a cheap apartment and head to Belle Arti pool during the day. IF this is your only opportunity to visit Rome, do it, but plan it well and don't do too much.

And please, skip the Vatican tour. With a 7 year old? "My worst nightmare" is how friends just described visiting the Vatican with kids. There are so many more great museums in Rome to visit where you can actually enjoy the experience without being herded through like cattle. You can spend a week walking around Rome and see amazing historical sites for free. Rome can be fun for kids, but I see too many families dragging their kids around Rome, ticking off sites, and the kids are so bored - what is the point?

Thanks everyone we have decided to postpone to November x