Viator Rome

Summer in Rome means, for the most part, higher prices, higher temperatures, and larger crowds. The tourist high season in Rome doesn’t actually correspond to just the three months of summer – the high season now lasts from May through September, and even experiences a bit of a dip in August. But despite the drawbacks of a summer trip to Rome, it’s generally the easiest time for people to travel (especially those with kids), and remains the most popular time of year to visit Italy.

Savvy travelers know that the shoulder seasons are usually the best times to visit popular places – and that’s also true in Rome. The city is never really “empty” of visitors, since it’s so incredibly popular, but visiting Rome in the Spring can be a good way to experience a slightly less crowded city that also is neither roasting hot or bitterly cold. Here are some ideas of things to do in Rome in the Spring.

Rome is one of the most popular places to visit in Italy year-round, and with good reason. On New Year’s Eve, the city gets even more popular, with Italians from other parts of Italy heading to the capital for the festivities. If you’ll be in Rome over New Year’s Eve, there are a few events going on that you can attend (most of them completely free of charge), but keep in mind that hotels in the historic center get booked quickly over the holidays – so don’t delay in making your own arrangements.

Outdoor Christmas markets are a common element to many parts of Europe during the holiday season. They’re especially typical of Germanic countries, but their popularity has made other countries adopt the tradition, too – including Italy. In Rome, there are a few places where Christmas markets spring up in the weeks before Christmas.

Rome is fascinating every time of the year, and always for a different reason but Christmas and New Year have a special impact on visitors and will certainly leave you with fond memories.

1. Easter. April 8th is Easter Sunday in 2012 and both Sunday and Monday are public holidays in Italy. Rome is a very religious city and home to the Vatican so it’s a special time here. The Pope says Mass to hundreds of thousands of people who gather in St Peter’s Square at 10.15am on Easter Sunday.

If you’re going to be in Rome during January, there are two dates to put in your calendar. The first is January 6th, Epiphany. This marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the end of the holiday season in Italy. In Rome it’s an important religious day and the Pope leads a morning mass in St Peter’s Basilica.