There probably isn't anything hotter than summer in
Rome. Italy is already known for its abundant sunshine and its capital city has a lot of it around this time of year. Hence, the season often feels more like a heatwave than a regular summer day. The average high temperature in Rome during summer is around 30°C (86°F), so it gets extremely hot here! Fortunately, you can still cool off in many ways. You can indulge in some authentic gelato, visit the underground sites, escape to a big church, or simply hang out under the shade at the park.
Only Go Out in The Morning
The best time to go out in Rome during summer is in the morning. The city stays relatively cool from dawn (approx. 5:00 to 6:00 am) to a little before noon (10:00 am), with an average low temperature of about 12°C (53°F). So if you want to spend your
day in Rome sightseeing or simply going for a walk, you'll want to do it as early as possible. By 11:00 am, things heat up in the city... literally! The average high temperature in Rome is about 30°C (87°F), so it gets so hot that it's almost unbearable!
Avoid The Sun Midday
As already mentioned, Rome is at its hottest in the midday every summer. Not only is this the time of day when the temperature is at its highest, but it's often the busiest too. Imagine having to contend with intense heat while facing the city's ever-bustling crowds! Sounds like a total nightmare, doesn't it? Well, this is the reality of visiting or
moving to Rome and spending summertime here. The city may be known for its sunny weather, but as the saying goes, “
too much of something is bad enough!”
Go to The Big Churches
What if you have no choice but to go out in the midday during summer in Rome? Perhaps you have visitors and they want to go sightseeing in the Eternal City. How, or more accurately, where can you escape the intense heat? The city's grand churches are a great start. Not only are they already some of the best sights to see in Rome, but most of them allow you to enter free of charge. From the
Vatican to even the outskirts of the city, these places provide the perfect shade for you to cool off while boasting of such awe-inspiring architecture and artistry.
Visit The Underground Sites
Did you know that Rome has many underground sites? It's easy to get distracted by landmarks like the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain, but some of the most fascinating and underrated tourist spots here are located down below. Parts of Domus Aurea, for example, are underground and look straight out of an Indiana Jones film. The Catacombs of Rome are also down below and are just as eerie as its arguably more famous Parisian counterpart. All of these places are undeniably fascinating and they also provide the best shade away from the intense summer heat.
Head Straight Under The Shade
Speaking of shade, there's luckily a lot of it in Rome's most beautiful parks. The city's green spaces are beloved for how green they are. Villa Borghese, for example, has so many trees that it's practically an entire forest in the middle of a
central Roman neighborhood. The same goes for Parco della Mole Adriana and Giardino degli Aranci. Parco Savello atop Aventine Hill also stands out for its sweet-scented orange trees. Not to mention the magnificent city views you'd get to enjoy from here! Any or all of these would provide the right shade for you to cool off during summer.
Dine Indoors
When you
eat out in Rome during summer, you'll want to dine in indoor restaurants instead. Sure, many of the city's most popular hotspots feature al fresco dining, but as already mentioned, the heat in the city around this time can get overwhelming. If you so much as eat lunch outdoors, even if there's a big umbrella shading you, there's still a good chance you'll end up covered in sweat or with a bad case of sunburn. Hence, it's better to dine indoors instead. The silver lining here is that many of the city's best places to eat are already indoors, from traditional trattorias to even
Michelin-starred restaurants.
Eat Some Gelato
Since you're already eating out, why not indulge in some gelato too? It's undoubtedly the sweetest way to stay cool during summer in Rome and the best part? The city serves the most authentic gelato! Where else would you get the most authentic Italian ice cream than in the Italian capital itself? Rome is as famous for its gelato places as it is for its trattorias, pizzerias, and the like. Look out for Fatamorgana, Gelateria Come il Latte, and Gelateria del Teatro. These are some of the
best gelato spots in Rome and are beloved by locals and tourists alike.
Wear Light Clothing
Despite how fussy Italians tend to get about how people dress up and present themselves, even they know that the summer heat requires light dressing. And since it's especially hot in Rome around this time of year, even your boss will forgive you for not wearing a full suit to work. Now, don't take this to mean that you can simply wear anything and look sloppy when you step out during the day. It still pays to look put together and it's not that difficult to still be chic and refined with lighter clothing. Softly tailored separates, crisp linen pieces, and the ever-trustworthy cotton white shirt are some good examples.
Stay at Home
When all else fails, you can always just stay in your
luxury apartment in Rome. You don't have to go out during the weekend, and if you work from home, then you never had a reason to go out in the first place. Sometimes, even when you're in a city as beautiful, vibrant, and lively as Rome, it's better to just stay at home and turn on the a/c. Don't worry! There are many
air-conditioned apartments in Rome too, many of which are also high-quality homes you'll want to get for yourself!
Don't underestimate just how hot summer in Rome can get. If you're in the Italian capital at the hottest time of the year, you'll want to do everything you can to stay cool and feel refreshed. At times, it's practically a heat wave in the city!
