Expertly-crafted interior walls of the Pantheon

Rome in May

By Robert Heaney

As Rome waltzes toward the coming summertime rush, May offers a unique window of idyllic Mediterranean weather, delectable Italian cuisine and the last remnants of a somewhat quieter capital. If you’re looking for the best combination of circumstances to visit the eternal city, a trip to Rome in May is truly the one to beat.

Visiting Rome in May

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Average Temperature: 55 - 75°F • Average Rainfall: 7 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day

May is perhaps one of the most idyllic periods in which to visit Rome. As spring begins drawing to a close, so too does the spring shoulder season as visitors begin flocking to the Italian capital in force for their own brief piece of Mediterranean paradise.

This is typically the final hoorah before the coming peak season of tourism, which makes it prime time to experience the best that the city has to offer while it’s still comparatively quiet. Come early enough in the month, and you’re likely to still benefit from off-peak airfare and accommodation rates, with prices not quite as low as winter and early spring but often significantly lower than summertime rates.

With summer just around the corner, Rome in May well and truly embraces its renowned Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures range between mild and very pleasantly warm, complemented by regular sunshine ideal for exploring the city or relaxing on a traditional Italian terrace. That being said, at least one day of rainfall per week isn’t yet out of the question, so it’s always wise to pack an umbrella just in case.

Things to do in May

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Just about any visitor to Rome is sure to be keen to tour some of the eternal city’s poster-boy landmarks and attractions. Of course, taking pride of place is the Colosseum, renowned UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest standing amphitheater on Earth. Following closely behind, the Pantheon temple offers a remarkably intact insight into ancient Roman social and religious practices and pastimes.

Whether you’re a devout Catholic, an architectural enthusiast or simply a keen traveler looking to tick off the smallest country in the world, Vatican City is certain to be of interest. Home to the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, the vast historical collections of the Vatican Museums and, of course, the famous seat of Roman Catholicism, the Vatican is truly one of Europe’s greatest marvels and a real bucket-list destination.

Among the most attractive places throughout Rome to take a break from wandering the busy city streets are the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Popular with many tourists for their incredibly photogenic qualities, these are often some of the most crowded places during peak times, so be sure to arrive early enough in the day if you’re looking to snap that perfect shot.

For an alternative way to explore the Italian capital and a chance to rest your feet between attractions, a Big Bus Rome tour passes by many of the city’s top landmarks and offers audio insights into their cultural and historical significance. Those looking to discover an otherwise untold underworld of Rome can explore the macabre underground passages of the Rome Catacombs, lined floor to ceiling with the skeletons of a civilization long since passed.

If you find yourself in Rome for more than just a few days, why not take advantage of the idyllic weather to experience more of what Italy has to offer? Just over an hour away by train, the likes of Naples, Florence and Pompeii each offer a unique blend of Italian culture, history and cuisine ideal for a delightful day out.

What's On in May

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Primo Maggio

May 1 marks a rather important day for Italy, with a national holiday for Primo Maggio, or May Day, offering many businesses and services the opportunity to take the day off. Running in conjunction with the holiday, the Festa dei Lavoratori, or Worker’s Day, commemorates the efforts of the working population and the social and economic achievements of trade unions on behalf of their members.

While much of the country takes the day to rest, Rome’s trade unions famously host the annual Concerto del Primo Maggio outside the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, just a short walk from the Colosseum. The concert typically begins in the late afternoon and continues right into the late hours of the night, with performances from a variety of established and upcoming Italian artists.

With many stores and services closed for the day, May 1 is an ideal day for outdoor excursions. If the weather’s in your favor, the likes of Palatine Hill, the Botanical Garden, the Orange Garden and the Rome Rose Garden are fantastic for a relaxing day out beneath the sun with a picnic of traditional Italian meats and local wine.

Rome Outdoor Festival

For the best part of a month in late spring, Rome’s Mattatoio Testaccio museum comes alive as it hosts Italy’s largest annual metropolitan culture festival. Through a vast program of events, the Rome Outdoor Festival serves to celebrate Italian art, music and pop culture in all forms, centered around a different theme each year.

The festival spreads itself across several key festival zones. Taking pride of place, the Art Pavilion is home to a variety of engaging and often interactive art installations from both established and rising international artists. The Television Section offers a program of screenings and events dedicated to entertainment, science, culture, sports, TV and movies.

Guest speakers and organizations hold performances, debates and lectures on a variety of topics in the Conference Section, while the Market Area offers local and international artisans and designers the opportunity to exhibit and sell their wares. The market typically introduces a new theme each week, making for a rolling catalog of vendors and products, while the city’s best bartenders offer attendees a specialist menu of beverages and refreshments in the food area.

Open House Roma

In celebration of Rome’s world-class architecture and design, Open House Roma invites the public to explore some of the city’s most lauded buildings for one weekend each spring. The event aims to feature a balanced mix of architecture, from small-scale to large and ancient to contemporary, typically opening the doors to more than 200 sites dating back throughout the vast history of the city.

Venues are spread across various categories, including private residences, buildings little known to many of Rome’s residents, hospitality establishments, key locations from throughout various historical eras and a collection of institutes dedicated to knowledge, culture and research.

As an Open House event, visitors have a rare opportunity to discover some of Rome’s more exclusive architectural marvels free of charge. For those with more of a specialist interest in the design, heritage and preservation of the venues, the festival also features various talks, tours and special events hosted by experts throughout many of the buildings.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Adventurous Things to do in Rome

If you're bored of the landmarks, why not get the blood pumping with some engaging activities such as thrilling skydiving, a vespa ride around the streets or a spooky ghost tour?
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Market stalls on Campo dei Fiori in Rome
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Best Markets in Rome

Rome has enjoyed a fine marketplace tradition ever since Emperor Trajan first threw open the doors to his vast shopping and entertainment emporium way back in the Second Century. You can still visit the fascinating ruins of this ancient shoppers’ paradise on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, at the opposite end to the Colosseum. It’s well worth checking out for its well-preserved balconies, marble floors and remains of what would have been libraries and concert halls. Alas, Trajan’s Market is now a mere tourist attraction – albeit a very fine one – but most certainly no longer the place to source ancient Roman essentials like wheat, mead, togas, sandals, urns, mobile phone cases and fidget toys. No! For those, we must look elsewhere, so join us on a voyage of discovery through the modern city, as we go in search of the best markets in Rome... Campo dei Fiori Admittedly not quite as old as Trajan’s shopping mecca, Campo dei Fiori does hold the accolade of Rome’s longest-running market. It’s been operating here since 1869, and brings its riot of color, sounds and scents to this popular piazza every morning except Sundays. Back in medieval times, the square was a meadow filled with flowers, and the name Campo dei Fiori is a literal translation of this. Carrying that tradition into the 21st Century, you’ll find flower sellers hawking all manner of vibrant seasonal blooms here, from romantic Tuscan poppies to rainbows of gerbera. Follow your nose to the the foodie stalls where delectable homemade cakes, freshly baked breads and pungent Italian cheeses await. You’ll also discover some of the freshest local vegetables here, with purplish artichokes, huge porcini mushrooms and vibrant puntarelle (a variety of chicory) often the stars of the show. And if you’re not, ahem, in the market for raw ingredients simply grab a sweet cannoli pastry and espresso and enjoy the bustle of the market from the comfort of one of the cafés that line the piazza. Porta Portese Rummagers, get ready! Porta Portese’s Sunday flea market is the biggest in Rome, stretching for around a mile beyond its entrance, the forbidding ancient city gate that lends the market its name. Expect a little bit of everything here and in the surrounding streets and alleyways, from vintage Roma and Lazio soccer memorabilia to old vinyl records and CDs (expect a very strong showing from Italian best-sellers like Pavarotti, Zucchero and Andrea Bocelli). There are also – deep breath – retro comics and old newspapers, antique silverware, leather goods, mountains of clothes, kitsch movie memorabilia and, well, just about everything else you can think of. Sure, you might have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince here but, who knows, you might just walk away with that limited edition reproduction Luke Skywalker lightsaber you always dreamed of owning. Pro-tip: arrive early and bring your best haggling game (in Italian, if you can) to bag the best items at the lowest prices. Fontanella Borghese Bibliophiles, cartophiles, deltiologists and philatelists: this one’s for you. Also known as Mercato delle Stampe, this is the place for antiquarian books, maps, postcards and other printed ephemera. Dodge the tourist traps around the edges (cheap identikit prints from stall to stall are a dead giveaway), plunge in, and you might just strike gold. The piazza itself, tucked between via del Corso and the east banks of the Tiber, is an elegant place to while away an hour or two, with the stately facade of the Palazzo Borghese on one side and the University of Rome’s architectural school in a suitably striking building adjacent. San Cosimato Set on a pretty piazza in Rome’s laidback Trastevere district, San Cosimato is a favorite with in-the-know locals thanks to its farm-fresh produce and long history, with some stalls dating back 100 years or more. Here’s where to stock up on glistening just-caught fish, aromatic cheeses, vine-ripe tomatoes and piquant Tuscan salamis. There’s even a little book stall and a fab playground for the kids. More than just a market, this is a favourite place for Trastevere residents of all ages to congregate and catch up on the latest gossip. Look out for the stall with the longest queues of chattering locals: a sure sign that the produce on that one will be the very best. Borghetto Flaminio Sellers and patrons of Sunday’s Borghetto Flaminio Market would likely balk at their beloved vintage emporium being described as a flea market. And yet that, in essence, is what it is: second-hand goods hawked and haggled for inside an old bus depot. But this is no ordinary flea market, no sir! For here is where you can lay your hands on the finest cast-offs of Rome’s elite: all immaculate vintage fashions, sparkling antique jewelry and pristine accessories such as purses and scarves. So confident is Borghetto Flaminio Market in the quality of its finery that there’s even a small entry charge. And, indeed, once inside it comes over as more boutique pre-loved treasure trove than regular flea market with its associated tat, trinkets and trash. Campagna Amica Situated right next to the Circus Maximus, Campagna Amica Market is easily one of the best food markets in Rome. It trades exclusively in produce sourced from within 100 kilometers, which primarily means goods from local Lazio farmers. Fill your boots and get stocked up on the region’s finest wines and fruity extra virgin olive oils. There’s also pasta, prosciutto, pecorino and pickles galore here, so you’re highly unlikely to go away empty-handed. All this talk of food making you hungry? Grab a porchetta sandwich stuffed with warm, garlicky roast pork shoulder so juicy it fairly drenches the bread, then try telling the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita) round the corner it isn’t the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Go on, we dare you! Christmas! A towering Christmas tree bejeweled with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights, the intoxicating aromas of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts, and the sound of excited young children badgering beleaguered parents for this or that shiny trinket: Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a traditional market. Rome’s contribution – a daily event on Piazza Navona through the festive season – is no exception. In addition to dozens of stalls selling candy, antiques and unique handcrafted gifts, you can expect street performers, a beautiful old-fashioned carousel, sigh-inducing nighttime illuminations, carol singers and oodles of Christmas cheer. Save on things to do in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Couple descending the Spanish Steps in Rome, with the Trinità dei Monti church behind them
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Free Things to do in Rome

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the best things in life are free, and perhaps nowhere more so than in Rome, where access to some of the finest churches and monuments on the planet is absolutely gratis. Visiting Insta-perfect attractions like the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon won’t cost you a cent, while many popular museums throw open their doors for nada on the last Sunday of the month. Follow our guide to free things to do in Rome and the only thing you’ll have to pay for is the irresistible gelato. Tick Off the Big Hitters Many of Rome’s most famous monuments are yours to visit for free. Let’s begin with the Trevi Fountain, that gloriously baroque 18th-century water feature where you must face the existential question: can an attraction truly be said to be free if you feel compelled, almost against your own will, to throw a coin into it? As you contemplate this conundrum, remember that must-see attractions with no entrance fees tend to lead to hordes of camera-toting tourists. Night owls can dodge the crowds by visiting during the quieter hours: between 3am and 6am, to be precise. Much like wading in the Trevi Fountain, pausing to sit on the nearby Spanish Steps is no longer permitted, so steel yourself for the 135-step climb up this national monument to the majestic Trinità dei Monti church at its summit. Like all of the Eternal City's near-1,000 churches, this Renaissance confection is free to enter, and has riches inside to rival the very best of Rome's museums and galleries. Expect stunning decorative features including a pair of anamorphic frescoes from the 17th Century that give wildly different perspectives depending on where you stand. The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved examples of Ancient Roman architecture on the planet. Better still, you can visit for free. Step between the iconic Corinthian columns and inside this vast masterpiece of Roman engineering, its vast roof still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, a mere 2,000 years after its construction. Visit during a heavy downpour to experience the column of water that cascades down from the oculus (an opening in the center of the dome) and drains away through discrete holes in the floor 142 feet below. Admission is free from Monday to Friday. Some of Rome’s other bucket-list attractions offer free entry on select days. This tends to be the first or last Sunday of the month for museums including – deep breath – the Galleria Borghese, the Roman Forum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Vatican Museums, the papal audience and the Colosseum, as well as dozens more obscure sites. Dates are subject to change, so do check in with your chosen attraction(s) before turning up on a random Tuesday in August insisting on free entry. Then there are the free walking tours, like this one. Ok, so they’re not strictly gratis in that you’re expected (but not required) to pay your expert guide whatever you think the tour is worth, but they do represent great value and are a fine way to find your bearings among the Eternal City’s cobbled lanes, ancient ruins and baroque piazzas. Get Snap Happy! It goes without saying that romantic Rome is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, so grab your camera, compose your image, and get ready to capture shots that will make you the envy of even the most seasoned Instagram influencer. Quirky Quartiere Coppedè is a photographer’s dream, with fairytale fountains, Moorish arches and a fantastical jumble of architectural styles, from Ancient Roman to Art Nouveau, that just beg to be snapped. Don’t miss the elaborate Fountain of Frogs, and the enormous iron chandelier that dangles over the Via Tagliamento entrance. Hidden away through the unassuming Arco degli Acetari archway just off Campo de' Fiori lies another picture-postcard scene – a tiny medieval courtyard with quaint rust-colored houses festooned with lush green foliage and flower-filled window boxes. Cats snooze on the cobbles in the afternoon sun, providing budding snappers with some fine shots of Rome at its sleepiest. Peep through the otherwise unremarkable Aventine Keyhole at the Villa del Priorato di Malta for one of the most Instagrammable views you’ll find anywhere in Rome. For through that keyhole lies a perfectly framed image of distant St Peter's Basilica flanked by the villa’s manicured cypress trees. It’s not known whether the door and its lock were deliberately designed this way, but it’s an almost unbelievably serendipitous result if not. Parks, Piazzas and Ancient Avenues There are worse ways to while away a few hours than to roam Rome’s stunning parks, or find a spot on a busy piazza to devour a gelato and watch the world go by. There’s plenty of free entertainment to be had in Villa Borghese, where charming tree-lined avenues lead to formal gardens, babbling fountains and grand villas and monuments. View the 18th-century Temple of Aesculapius from the lake shore or pay the nominal fee to rent a boat and get up close. The Carlo Bilotti Museum is also free of charge and contains a collection of works by Italian surrealist Giorgio de Chirico as well as pieces by Andy Warhol and Gino Severini. There’s also an excellent playground where kids can let off steam while parents perk up with an espresso from the café. Don’t miss Rome’s most celebrated public squares. Sprawling Piazzo Navona contains not one but two Bernini masterpieces, including his magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers. Visit in the evening, when its waters are illuminated and the piazza is abuzz with locals out for an evening stroll, or on their way to dinner. Meanwhile, gelato and people-watching is the order of the day on the Campo de' Fiori, where a daily market fills the air with heady aromas of warm bread, farm-fresh cheeses and just-picked flowers. Last but by no means least, a walk on the Appian Way is hands-down one of the best free things to do in Rome. This ancient Roman road stretches south out of the city, with much of it remaining unchanged in centuries. Indeed, some of the views will be much the same as those seen by Julius Caesar and his armies as they marched this strategic route over 2,000 years ago. It’s a superb cobbled avenue flanked by soaring pine trees and fields in which evocative Roman ruins and tombs can often be spotted. Take a bike or take the bus but – most importantly of all – take a camera and a picnic. Save on things to do in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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