BrowsingRome Blogging about my experiences and sharing my thoughts about Rome, Italy and beyond
While I personally love spending August in Rome, I wouldn’t recommend friends to visit us during this period. Not only because it’s hot but most shops are closed.
Yes, it’s true that there is less traffic and you can find parking everywhere but on the other hand, some shops are closed for almost the entire month. However, bigger supermarket chains remain open so you can still do your groceries but I see that a lot of mom and pop shops are closed.
When we were on vacation for 3 weeks, many people thought how fortunate but here in Italy, it’s more the norm rather than the exception. Look at the sign below – can you imagine anywhere else in the world where a shop can close for more than 3 weeks.
Most of them take advantage of the fact that most people are not in Rome so they are not losing that much business. In August, there is an exodus of people out of the city headed to either the beaches or mountains. The last two weekends, traffic has been rather intense on the highways.
Note that some pharmacies are also closed, but there is usually a paper posted outside providing you with information as to the other pharmacies that are open around the area.
So when is the best time then to visit Rome? I would say Spring (end of April/early May) or Autumn (end of September/early October). The weather is much cooler and the shops will have regular hours. And yes, traffic will be back to normal too.
P.S. This is such a quiet time in Rome that I wish it was like this year round. Plus this summer, the weather has been bearable.
Hey BR (Briefs that is)
I hadn’t been on here in a while so I just read this now. Getting back from vacation in the middle of the August Ferie is always a little strange especially if you live out of the Centro. The first time I experienced it I thought we were under a zombie invasion…. http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/2011/08/21/where-to-eat-in-rome-during-a-zombie-invasion/
It’s dead quiet in August and there are the pros and cons. Pros -.there’s barely any traffic and plenty of parking. Cons – almost everything is closed! Thanks for sharing your post. P.S. On August 15th (Ferragosto) Taverna Trilussa was closed. We were looking for a place and if you think August was bad, August 15th is a really challenge.
Now that the traffic and commotion has returned I kind of miss that quiet, desolate feeling from just a few weeks ago.
Hi Kenny,
It was tough to find things open in Rome in August but I absolutely love the quiet and calm that you experience during that time. So much so that I usually plan my holidays so that I back in Rome in August.
Hi Diana,
I’ve been reading your blog for the last couple of weeks and I’m loving it! Thank you for your time and effort.
Considering this is the quite period but “peak” holidays, are the tourist levels dead too or sky rocketing?!
Grazie mille,
Fiona.
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog 🙂 While most Romans leave the city to get some relief from the heat at either the seaside or the mountains, there are many tourists that time of the year. It is after all peak travel period for most people 🙂
yes, that’s my experience. i was getting confused at the whole “exodus of people”/”quiet time in Rome” when there’s a mass entrance of tourists.
*sigh* i will never understand why Italian business owners would want to close during peak season when there’s thousands of tourists with lots of money to spend, especially in these times.
i will be spending my 2013 jul/yaugust between Roma and Venezia! i can’t wait!
With the “economic” crisis, maybe more shops will be opened in August. It’s also puzzling to me why you want to close when business is knocking at your door!