10 things to do in Rome in October

Autumn is the season of the white truffle in Italy, making it an ideal time to savor it in Roman restaurants. In addition, in October the Italian capital celebrates the well-known Rome Film Festival.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

9 min read

10 things to do in Rome in October

Postcard from Rome | ©Sharsharsuisse1

If you decide to travel to Rome in autumn, specifically in the month of October, you have the opportunity to admire the beauties of Rome without crowds. At your leisure and at your own pace. You no longer have to wait in a huge queue to explore the Trevi Fountain or to enter the Colosseum.

It is a month in which the weather is not as sticky as in summer and not as cold as in winter, but somewhere in between. Come on, it's a delight! Do you like movies? Well, don't miss one of the most famous film festivals in the world this October.

1. Taste the seasonal food

Persimmons, seasonal fruit in October| ©John Morgan
Persimmons, seasonal fruit in October| ©John Morgan

If one of your motivations when traveling to Rome is to get your boots on and try the delicacies that Italian gastronomy has to offer, October opens up a whole new world of possibilities to try. This month is synonymous in Italy with seasonal products 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. It is an unaffordable delicacy that is not usually cooked, but grated on top of any pasta dish for a result of another level. How do we know that we are in front of a quality white truffle? Because the price of the dish will be around 40 €. As for pumpkin, you can find it in the stuffing of gnocchi. Rico-rico!

Although it is true that mushrooms or funghi are available on the menus of restaurants in Rome throughout the year, in October you can be sure that they are 100% fresh. Finally, persimmons are the fruit of the season - there are finger-licking salads with this fruit!

Best restaurants in Rome in October

  • If you are looking for good food at a more than reasonable price, I suggest the restaurant Broccoletti. It's a tiny but cute place known for its homemade and, above all, seasonal cuisine.

  • For pumpkin enthusiasts, Colline Emiliane is a restaurant in Rome just a few blocks from the Trevi Fountain. Be sure to try the tortelli di zucca, ravioli stuffed with sweet pumpkin - I can't find the words to describe the taste!

Book a gastronomic tour with wine tasting

2. Admire the colors of autumn

Autumn in Villa Borghese| ©Victoria Vo
Autumn in Villa Borghese| ©Victoria Vo

With autumn just started, the parks of Rome and Roman gardens begin to be dyed in multiple colors. Yellow tones are added to the reds and browns, wrapping the landscape in a blanket of color. Surely you already had in your travel plan to visit the gardens of Villa Borghese, the most popular park in the Italian capital. This place is recommended at any time of the year, but in October it shows its most photogenic side.

The charming gardens and neoclassical buildings invite you to take a walk where you will have the chance to disconnect for a moment from the bustle of the center. One of the most splendid and picturesque views of Rome is offered by the Garden of the Lake with the Temple of Aesculapius.

How to get to Villa Borghese?

The best way to get to Villa Borghese is by Rome subway. You can get off at Spagna station. If you are in the center, you can even access this park on foot, as it won't take you more than 20 minutes.

Book a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery

3. Take a night tour on Halloween

Catacombs of San Sebastiano| ©Cool Daryshoot
Catacombs of San Sebastiano| ©Cool Daryshoot

Although Rome is not particularly known for Halloween, this celebration is slowly becoming more and more popular in the city. You can take advantage of the scariest night of the year to take a night tour of Rome to discover some of the secrets and curiosities of the Italian capital. This type of tour offers a different perspective of the city, quieter and calmer.

Even spookier are the Catacombs of San Sebastian. If you want to add a little terror to this ephemeris, hop on a subway tour of the streets of Rome. Rome' s catacombs are underground galleries that were used for centuries as cemeteries, so you can imagine the chills they give.

Book a ghost tour of Rome

4. Attend the Rome Film Festival

External view of the Auditorium Parco della Musica| ©Matteo Rho
External view of the Auditorium Parco della Musica| ©Matteo Rho

The Rome Film Festival has been held annually in the Italian capital since 2006. Its epicenter is the Auditorium Parco della Musica, although there are also exhibitions in other parts of the city. It is usually held in mid-October and lasts about 10 days. Did you know that the red carpet that is installed is one of the largest in the world? No less than 1,300 m2!

As a curiosity, the design of the award is inspired by the silhouette of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In case your trip to Rome is in October, check the dates of the festival and examine the agenda, because maybe you can find a time to attend one of the film talks with guest actors.

Buy a ticket for Cinecittá World in Rome

5. Go to the Rome Opera House

Teatro Dell'Opera in Rome| ©Matthew Black
Teatro Dell'Opera in Rome| ©Matthew Black

The Teatro dell'Opera in Rome recovers in October its agenda of plays and concerts and becomes an exceptional plan on any rainy autumn day. The ballet and opera performances are held in two distinct spaces. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to attend the Teatro Constanzi, where the main venue is located. On the other hand, the Teatro Nazionale is another of the locations belonging to the Rome Opera.

In the former, the famous play La Traviata, which dates back to 1853, is performed. There is no better plan than this iconic opera on your trip to Rome in a historic theater such as the Teatro Constanzi that will make you feel in the nineteenth century.

Buy a ticket for the opera in Rome

6. Explore the Palatine Hill

Visiting the Palatine Hill| ©Angel Escartin Casas
Visiting the Palatine Hill| ©Angel Escartin Casas

In search of the colors of autumn I found that the Palatine Hill is one of the best pictures of this season. It is one of the oldest places in Rome, a corner where, according to legend, lived Luperca, the she-wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus, founders of the city.

The Palatine Hill hosts an impressive archaeological site that, in the month of October, is adorned with ocher, greenish and red tones. This place is a must-see on photo tours of Rome because the panoramic view is splendid.

Book a guided tour of the Palatine Hill

7. Tour the Trastevere district

Typical streets of Trastevere| ©Unsplash
Typical streets of Trastevere| ©Unsplash

Trastevere is one of the most charming Roman neighborhoods. Crowded with tourists in summer, in the month of October you will see its friendlier side. The streets visibly less crowded will allow you to better appreciate every corner. If there is one reason to like this neighborhood, it is because it preserves the traditional and authentic flavor of everyday life in Rome. And now you can enjoy it without the crowds.

Browse the little shops with curious objects without having to wait in line and fall in love with the colors of the houses. In addition, Trastevere is one of the places where you can explore Italian gastronomy through the trattorias, traditional restaurants serving homemade food.

Book a gastronomic tour of Trastevere

8. Visit a free museum

Discover the secrets of the Colosseum| ©Square Lab
Discover the secrets of the Colosseum| ©Square Lab

Did you know that on the first Sunday of every month a number of Roman museums are free to enter? Yes, yes what you read. The month of October was not going to be an exception, so if you are lucky enough to be in Rome during this weekend, take advantage of it. This first Sunday of October you can visit the Roman Colosseum, the Barberini Palace, the Borghese Gallery, the Baths of Diocletian and a long etcetera without paying a penny.

But the good news does not end here. If the Vatican Museums are among your travel plans, you will be pleased to know that on the last Sunday of each month access is also free. Of course, the queue can be overwhelming, so I recommend you make an effort and get up early. October is no longer high season, but, you know, no one wants to miss the opportunity to save the entrance fee! One last tip: if you want to enjoy even more of the works of art, I recommend a guided tour of the museums of Rome, you'll be amazed!

Book tickets for the Capitoline Museums

9. Go to the Rome Art Week

Visiting Rome Art Week| ©Kou Gallery
Visiting Rome Art Week| ©Kou Gallery

Another event par excellence that takes place in the middle of October is the Rome Art Week (RAW). This event is conceived as a meeting point between artists and citizens. It also aims to spread contemporary art in all its forms through exhibitions, conferences and many other activities.

In the past editions, more than a hundred art galleries and institutions participated, which means there is plenty to choose from. Among them, the Casa Argentina, the Royal Academy of Spain, the University of Rome of Fine Arts and a long etcetera. When the dates are near, I recommend you take a look at the agenda if you are interested in art.

10. Celebrate the day of St. Francis of Assisi in the Church of San Francesco a Ripa

Facade of the Church of San Francesco a Ripa| ©LPLT
Facade of the Church of San Francesco a Ripa| ©LPLT

St. Francis of Assisi Day is celebrated every year on October 4. Because of his passion 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, since he stayed there for a few days when he went to Rome to visit the Pope. Because of its special link with this historical figure, a special event is usually held in his honor every October 4.

Temperatures in Rome in October

Visiting the Trevi Fountain| ©Radek Kucharski
Visiting the Trevi Fountain| ©Radek Kucharski

What will the weather be like in Rome in October, will it be sunny or rainy? Knowing what the weather will be like in your destination is very important to be able to plan your trip to the letter. While in early October you can still feel the last traces of the warmth of September, if you travel at the end of the month you may be surprised by rain and lower temperatures.

In Italy, as in Spain, October belongs to the autumn season. For that reason, it is a convulsive month for which you have to be prepared for everything. The first days of the month can be so warm that you even feel like going to the beach. However, during the night it is already noticeable that the summer is behind us and you can feel the temperatures dropping. Highs can be up to 20ºC, but lows can be as low as 8ºC.

If you plan to travel at the end of October, then the truly autumnal weather will be more pressing. What does this mean? You might need some thicker jackets and even an umbrella. Don't worry if you have a rainy day, because it has a lot of charm too!

The tourist flow in Rome in October

Leaving the Pantheon| ©Christopher Czermak
Leaving the Pantheon| ©Christopher Czermak

I'm not going to fool you. Rome is a very touristy city. In fact, it is one of the top 5 most visited cities in Europe. Therefore, there will always be tourists. However, nothing to do with the influx of tourists in the summer months, where the sweltering heat is compounded by the fact that there are people practically in every corner. In October, the good thing is that the drop in visitors is noticeable, which you can use to your advantage.

October is a great time to visit Rome, not only because the temperatures (finally) have dropped and you can go sightseeing without melting. Another point in favor of this month is that, although it is far from empty, the influx of tourists is low. However, remember that in October we have two spectacular long weekends in Spain (the Pilar and All Saints), so if you travel on these dates there may be more movement in Rome.