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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Rome in late May?

29 replies

Mountaina · 28/08/2023 08:15

Is Rome worth visiting in late May?

We are considering taking DM to Rome for her 65th retirement gift.

Will late May be too hot for walking around? We can also go late April as a second option?

Also, is it a walkable city? Where should we stay? I looked at AirBnBs near the Vatican, which seem like a good price.

It will be me, DH and DM.

OP posts:
sashagabadon · 28/08/2023 08:17

May will be lovely. It’s walkable but hilly and also uneven cobbled streets so depends if mum can manage that?
we did 40,000 steps per day on average and it was exhausting, lots of hills.

Clowninja · 28/08/2023 08:21

It was very hot (heatwave) when I last went mid-May. A week earlier I'd have been fine but difficult planning for the weather in advance

AnnaMagnani · 28/08/2023 08:24

Late April would probably be better.

It is a very walkable city (with occasional help from bus and metro) but everywhere is cobbled so practical comfortable shoes are a must.

GoodVibesHere · 28/08/2023 08:24

It will be lovely. I'd avoid the last week of May as it's usually half term so prices will increase (although it's not a typical family holiday destination I guess).

inloveandmarried · 28/08/2023 08:24

I have a friend who married a man from Rome and they now live there.

On her recommendation we did late April into May and weather was hot (compared to normal uk summers) but bearable for walking. We walked most places or popped on the metro to get to the Vatican.

It was a lot of walking as there is lots to see, but most things are close in the centre of Rome.

The food was outstanding. I tried pizza traditional to Rome which is thinly sliced potatoes in place of tomatoes. Well worth trying.

AnnaMagnani · 28/08/2023 08:27

It is quite spread out - plus there are more than 7 hills!

I got a guidebook and planned our itinerary out area by area to cut down on walking and travel.

The Vatican is near nothing but the Vatican so you would be very out of the way. Trastevere is a popular area to stay as it is pretty, lots of restaurants. We stayed near the Piazza Navona which was very convenient for a lot of sights.

ElleDeeCB · 28/08/2023 08:32

We liked Monti, very central and handy to get to the Colosseum, Forum etc with a nice atmosphere for walking around and good places to eat and drink. Some very stylish hotels around there if that’s your thing. Reminded me a bit of Clerkenwell in London.

cherryassam · 28/08/2023 09:10

We were there late May this year and it was absolutely boiling. I think it was 33 in the shade but it felt much hotter. I’d be going late April I think over late May

TiredandLate · 28/08/2023 09:18

I visited in July this year, obviously extremely hot, and we saw the main sights but the rest of the time was spent trying to stay cool, and we've said next time we'll do May. As pp said it's huge, uneven and quite hilly, so wear comfy shoes.

Original poster
Mountaina · 28/08/2023 09:25

Advice so far has been so helpful. 33 will be far too hot for us (we are rubbish in the heat), so I think we will opt for late April.

She would like to go to Italy, is Venice a bit easier to walk around? Sorry if this is a silly question, I've never been to Italy.

She isn't the steadiest on her feet so I'm worried about the cobbles.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 28/08/2023 09:29

There’s a lot of walking in Venice too but not as much as Rome I’d say. And you Could have a less walky day eg Burano. There’s lots of bridges to go up and over so a few steps but most (apart from Rialto).

both Rome and Venice Are absolutely splendid.

cherryassam · 28/08/2023 09:30

To throw another option in the mix, Florence is an incredibly walkable city

Original poster
Mountaina · 28/08/2023 09:33

Florence is a good shout. She hasn't been abroad in 30 years though, and I personally feel like Venice or Rome would be top choices over Florence, if you are someone who hasn't been able to go away for a long time. However I could be wrong so will check Florence out!

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 28/08/2023 09:46

Florence is much much smaller and very easy to walk about. You really can't tell from the map how small it is, we would say today we have to walk out to San Marco, then actually do it and find it was round the corner.

However I'd still advise late April!

We did 2 weeks April to May. 1st week - tourists all determinedly wearing short sleeves despite it honestly being too cold as they were on holiday. 2nd week - like a switch was flipped and it suddenly became boiling.

ElleDeeCB · 28/08/2023 10:31

Venice has lots of little bridges but I think it’s far more manageable because you are immersed in the experience of being in Venice. You can just be stood in one spot and don’t need to walk far. Also water buses and taxis are a fun way to get around. Just have a good think about how you will arrive and get your luggage to the hotel so you’re not relying on carrying it too far. Otherwise Florence is easier than Rome for sure.

ElleDeeCB · 28/08/2023 10:32

If she hasn’t been to Venice I think it’s just one of those places you have to experience in your life, there’s nowhere else like it.

Hbh17 · 28/08/2023 10:35

You could try staying somewhere like Verona or Padua and just do a day trip into Venice (on the train, which is cheap). The other two cities are smaller and more "livable", but still enjoyable and very Italian. Also, not as overwhelmed with tourists as Venice, which is becoming a bit of a theme park.

AnnaMagnani · 28/08/2023 10:35

Venice is great once you realise it's designed to be travelled by boat and not foot. It can take ages walking from one place to another because the main entrance is on the canal front and historically no-one would have walked round the back, they would just boat from the canalside.

Yes, I went with my skinflint DH who refused for us to pay for daily Vaporetto passes.

SoIinvictus · 28/08/2023 11:59

Rome and Florence are both totally walkable.
Florence is more expensive.
Bear in mind the following Italian public holidays rather than UK ones for the crowds:

April 25th Festa Della Repubblica. It falls on a Thursday next year so most people who can will make it a long weekend. Our school will be closed on the Friday for example.

May 1st- a Wednesday so not too bad.

May could be roasting, it could be fairly cool. This year the heat didn't hit until well into June.

I'd stay (and do) near the Vatican. Easy to walk into the centre from there and it's lovely to pootle round St Peter's in the evening and onto Trastevere for food (v cheap also) (the Vatican area finishes and Trastevere begins) It's also the Vatican, so goes without saying security is high. I've never seen so many police and soldiers on every street corner anywhere. Feels incredibly safe.

Florence- obviously much smaller, you'd probably want to do a train trip out to Pisa for the afternoon or Siena. Or both. Stayed in a lovely hotel on the banks of the Arno.

Both cities worth a visit. ❤️ Now Venice I doubt I'll ever go back to. 😂

RatSalad · 28/08/2023 15:33

Although I’d always choose Venice as it’s just so magical and like nowhere else, and the main sights aren’t far off the main water is route, you can easily get taxis and even golf cart tours in Rome to help with the distance between sights.

I’d suggest staying somewhere more central than the Vatican area though, or you’ll be getting taxis everywhere.

GoodVibesHere · 28/08/2023 15:36

I have been to Rome and Venice, Rome is much more spread out so you have to do more walking to see the sights, plus it is a bustling modern city with all the noisy traffic, honking horns, mopeds and crazy zebra crossings (alongside ancient architechture of course). So I'd choose Venice for her walking abilities and for the fact that there is no traffic and it is so unique.

Original poster
Mountaina · 30/08/2023 09:07

Folks, someone at work suggested Sorrento? 👀 anyone been?

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 30/08/2023 09:09

It’s half term for much of the UK at the end of May, I’d avoid that week for sure if you’re not travelling with children

ElleDeeCB · 30/08/2023 09:19

Sorrento is very hilly - you’re better off with Venice and doing things like taking the boat over to see glass blowing in Murano, that sort of thing.

ElleDeeCB · 30/08/2023 09:22

You could stay in Canareggio in Venice which is a bit less hectic than around San Marco and has a bit more space. I once stayed in a hotel there which had a little garden, was lovely.