10 Things to Do in Rome in October

If you decide to visit Rome in autumn, and specifically in October, you’ll be able to admire Rome’s sights without the crowds. At your own pace and in your own time. You no longer have to wait in a huge queue to explore the Trevi Fountain or to enter the Colosseum.

It’s a month when the weather isn’t as sticky as in summer nor as freezing as in winter, but somewhere in between. In short, a delight! Do you like the cinema? Well, this October you’ll have the chance to attend one of the world’s most famous film festivals.

If one of your motivations for travelling to Rome is to tuck in and sample the delights that Italian cuisine has to offer, October opens up a whole new world of possibilities for you to try. In Italy, this month is synonymous with seasonal produce such as white truffles, pumpkin, persimmons and mushrooms. Rome’s restaurants take the opportunity to incorporate these delicacies into their menus.

The white truffle is the delicacy of delicacies. A rather expensive treat that isn’t usually cooked, but rather grated over any pasta dish for a truly exceptional result. How can you tell if you’re looking at a quality white truffle? Because the price of the dish will be around €40. As for pumpkin, you can find it in the fillings of gnocchi. Yum-yum!

Whilst it’s true that mushrooms, or funghi, are available on restaurant menus in Rome all year round, in October you can be sure they’re 100% fresh. Finally, persimmons are the fruit of the season. There are salads featuring this fruit that are simply to die for!

Best restaurants in Rome in October

• If you’re looking for good food at a more than reasonable price, I recommend the Broccoletti restaurant. It’s a tiny but very charming place known for its home-style cooking and, above all, its seasonal dishes.

• For pumpkin enthusiasts, Colline Emiliane is a restaurant in Rome just a few blocks from the Trevi Fountain. Don’t miss the tortelli di zucca, ravioli stuffed with sweet pumpkin. I can’t find the words to describe how delicious they are!

With autumn just getting underway, Rome’s parks and gardens are beginning to take on a kaleidoscope of colours. Shades of yellow join the reds and browns, enveloping the landscape in a blanket of colour. I’m sure you’d already included a visit to the gardens of Villa Borghese, the Italian capital’s most popular park, in your travel plans. This place is worth a visit at any time of year, but in October it is at its most photogenic.

The charming gardens and neoclassical buildings invite you to take a stroll, offering a chance to switch off for a moment from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. One of Rome’s most splendid and picturesque views is that offered by the Lake Garden with the Temple of Aesculapius.

How to get to Villa Borghese?

The best way to get to Villa Borghese is by the Rome metro. You can get off at Spagna station. If you’re in the city centre, you can also reach the park on foot, as it won’t take you more than 20 minutes.

Although Rome isn’t particularly known for Halloween, the celebration is gradually gaining popularity in the city. You can make the most of the spookiest night of the year by taking a night-time tour of Rome to discover some of the secrets and curiosities of the Italian capital. This type of tour offers a different perspective on the city, one that’s quieter and more peaceful.

Even more spine-chilling are the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. If you want to add a touch of horror to the occasion, join an underground tour of Rome’s streets. Rome’s catacombs are underground galleries that were used for centuries as cemeteries, so you can imagine just how spine-chilling they are.

The Rome Film Festival has been held annually in the Italian capital since 2006. Its main venue is the Auditorium Parco della Musica, although screenings also take place at other locations around the city. It usually takes place in mid-October and lasts for around 10 days. Did you know that the red carpet laid out there is one of the largest in the world? No less than 1,300 m²!

As a fun fact, the design of the award is inspired by the silhouette of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. If you’re visiting Rome in October, check the festival dates and have a look at the programme, as you might be able to find time to attend one of the film talks with guest actors.

Rome’s Opera House resumes its programme of performances and concerts in October, making it an exceptional plan for any rainy autumn day. Ballet and opera performances take place in two separate venues. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to visit the Teatro Constanzi, which is the main venue. The National Theatre is another of the venues belonging to the Rome Opera.

The former hosts the famous opera La Traviata, which dates back to 1853. There’s no better plan than this iconic opera during your trip to Rome, in a historic theatre like the Teatro Constanzi, which will make you feel as though you’re in the 19th century.

In search of the colours of autumn, I found that Palatine Hill offers one of the finest scenes of the season. It is one of the oldest sites in Rome, a spot where, according to legend, Luperca lived – the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, the city’s founders.

Palatine Hill is home to an impressive archaeological site which, in October, is adorned with shades of ochre, green and red. This spot is a must-see on photography tours of Rome because the panoramic view is splendid.

The Trastevere neighbourhood is one of Rome’s most charming districts. Packed with tourists in summer, in October you’ll see its friendlier side. The noticeably less crowded streets will allow you to appreciate every corner much better. If there’s one reason people love this neighbourhood, it’s because it retains the traditional and authentic flavour of everyday life in Rome. And now you can enjoy it without the crowds.

Browse the little shops selling curiosities without having to queue and fall in love with the colours of the houses. What’s more, Trastevere is one of the best places to explore Italian cuisine through its trattorias, traditional restaurants serving home-cooked food.

Did you know that on the first Sunday of every month, entry to a number of Roman museums is free? Yes, you read that right. October is no exception, so if you’re lucky enough to be in Rome this weekend, make the most of it. This first Sunday in October, you can visit the Roman Colosseum, the Barberini Palace, the Borghese Gallery, the Baths of Diocletian and many more without paying a penny.

But the good news doesn’t end there. If the Vatican Museums are on your itinerary, you’ll be pleased to know that admission is also free on the last Sunday of every month. Mind you, the queue can be overwhelming, so I recommend making an effort and getting there early. October is no longer peak season, but, you know, nobody wants to miss out on the chance to save on the entrance fee! One last tip: if you want to enjoy the artworks even more, I recommend a guided tour of Rome’s museums – you’ll be amazed!

Another of the premier events taking place in the middle of October is Rome Art Week (RAW). This event is designed as a meeting point for artists and the public. Furthermore, it aims to promote contemporary art in all its forms through exhibitions, talks and many other activities.

In previous editions, over a hundred art galleries and institutions took part, meaning there is plenty to choose from. Among them are the Casa Argentina, the Royal Academy of Spain, the University of Rome’s Faculty of Fine Arts, and many more. As the dates approach, I recommend taking a look at the programme if you’re interested in art.

The feast day of St Francis of Assisi is celebrated every year on 4 October. Due to his love for animals, he is considered the patron saint of animals. If you are in Rome on this date, I encourage you to visit the Church of San Francesco a Ripa, located in the Trastevere district.

This basilica is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, as he stayed there for a few days when he visited Rome to see the Pope. Due to its special connection with this historical figure, a special ceremony is usually held in his honour every 4 October.

What’s the weather like in Rome in October? Will it be sunny or rainy? Knowing what the weather will be like at your destination is vital for planning your trip down to the last detail. Whilst you may still feel the lingering warmth of September at the start of October, if you travel towards the end of the month, you might be caught off guard by rain and a drop in temperatures.

In Italy, as in Spain, October is part of the autumn season. For that reason, it’s a changeable month for which you need to be prepared for anything. The first few days of the month can be so warm that you might even fancy a trip to the beach. That said, at night you’ll start to notice that summer is behind us and feel the drop in temperatures. Highs can reach up to 20°C, but lows can drop to 8°C.

If you’re planning to travel in late October, then the truly autumnal weather will be more pronounced. What does this mean? You might need a slightly thicker jacket and perhaps even an umbrella. Don’t worry if you happen to have a rainy day – it has its own charm too!

I won’t sugar-coat it. Rome is a very touristy city. In fact, it’s one of the top 5 most visited cities in Europe. So, there will always be tourists. That said, it’s nothing like the tourist crowds of the summer months, when the stifling heat is compounded by people practically on every corner. In October, the good thing is that you really notice the drop in visitor numbers, which you can use to your advantage.

October is a brilliant time to visit Rome, not just because the temperatures have (finally) dropped and you can go sightseeing without melting. Another plus point of this month is that, although it’s far from empty, the tourist crowds are smaller. That said, remember that in October we have two spectacular long weekends in Spain (the Pilar and All Saints’ Day), so if you’re travelling on these dates, there may well be more people in Rome.