Rome in August - How bad is it?
 

We are staying with friends at their vacation home on Lago Maggiore in August. I was envisioning a relaxing stay there with day trips to Como, into Switzerland, then meandering down to Tuscany for a couple of days before returning to Munich.

Our hosts have decided that they would like to take us to Rome for a few days. An eight hour (?) each way car ride through Italy in August is obviously not what I had in mind.

On the other hand, we've never been to Rome, so I am a little bit intrigued. The kids are studying the Roman Empire in history, so I think they will also get something out of it.

I need help from you Italy experts out there. Would the drive be terrible? (I realize that all of Europe is on vacation in August.) The city? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Rome in August is hell :) But if it's your only chance to see it..go for it, Rome is beautiful anytime of the year :)

Thanks, Kenderina.

Can you define "hell" for me? Hot & Humid? Crowded? Restaurants and shops closed because the proprietors are on holiday?

Very, very hot and crowded :) Also humid, but that's not everyday. On the 15th of August week there can be restaurants and shops closed, but it's not a rule..they also want to take advantage of the tourist season :)
Hell is when you do lots of walking under the sun, the streets got so hot that you can almost fry an egg on them, there's people everywhere (long lines !) and when you get to a bar terrace in the shadow you can't find a seat to rest :))

Hi lvk, I personally would thank my hosts for the thoughts but I would decline the invitation. Sixteen hours of being in the car and the very hot and no doubt humidity as kenderina described is what you can expect.

I would save Rome for another trip when the weather is better and you actually have enough time to enjoy Rome.

lvk, I had family members that were in Rome for a couple of days in August a few years ago. They absolutely hated Rome and refuse to give it another chance as they had such a miserable time due to the weather, the crowds and their lack of time there. I tried to tell them before they left for Italy..I wish they had listened to me.

Anyway, best wishes for a beautiful trip regardless of what decision you make.

Are we assuming their car is not air conditioned? Do they actually drive at the speed limit????

Anyway, I agree that it will be hot and humid and I'll go out on a limb and say in August..ALWAYS...

and I also agree that your best course of action is to be UPFRONT and say you have other plans for your trip and that going to Rome isn't part of them.

I'm curious. Is it like August in New Orleans hot?

Thanks for the replies. I will firmly, but politely (LoveItaly, you are always sooo polite :) ) decline. This will not be our only chance to see Rome. We have done Northern Italy (Dolomites, Venice, Verona, Milan, Lakes), will work our way into Tuscany this time and plan a future trip farther south. Positano is also on my "list" for the future.

kenderina, It was the no seat at the bar terrace thing that clinched it for me! ;)

hahah, lvk :) Actually, that happened to me and I felt sooooo bad I have the need to tell everybody about it :)

the tourist Rome is innundated by invading tourists but in some ways it's a delightful time to be in town:
the usual hectic traffic is way down because most Romans are away on holiday
the usual dense smog abates because of the lack of traffic
riding the metro and buses is much more relaxed as Romans are missing
walking in town is more enjoyable as the noisy dangerous mopeds and cars are largely gone.
But it can also be very hot.

Hi lvk, to tell you the truth if I was "forced" to drive 8 hours each way to spend two days in Rome during the month of August I would probably be the grumpiest and ruddest person imaginable, LOL.

I am glad you have made the decision to save Rome for another trip lvk. Do have a beautiful time in Italy, a vacation home on Lago Maggiore, sigh, it couldn't get more perfect!

IVK-just to give you clue.I fly international for a major US airline and try to bid Rome as much as possible. Starting in July and definitely in August, the Rome trip "suddenly" becomes very junior as most of us cannot stand the heat and humidity along with so many things being closed. Definitely save it for a more enjoyable time of the year-spring,fall or even in the late stages of winter.

I went to Rome for a week in August 1988. It was the only time that work allowed us to visit. We loved our time there - it was a stupendous city.

However, it really was too hot for sightseeing, so if you can avoid it, go earlier or later in the year.

Also, lots of restaurants and bars seemed to be closed.

It's a city I'd love to return to, but not in August.

I have to go in August :(, but hoping for a cool spell. If I had a choice, I'd go another month.

Maire, here is how to handle Rome with hot and humid weather. Get up real early. Get out and see what you want to see. Don't hang around your hotel room! Have a late lunch..find a place that either has a/c inside or an outside cafe that is in the shade..start looking early so the best tables are not occupied.

Do as the Italians do. Go to your room and take a late afternoon siesta. Than have a cool shower. Go back outside and explore Rome early evening and have a late dinner (say figure on eating no earlier than 9:00pm). Then take a lovely stroll after dinner..maybe get a gelato. And do the same thing the next day. Live as the Italians do.

The problem for lvk was the long 8 hours drive to Rome and the 8 hour drive back up north with only 2 days in Rome..no time to make such a long car drive worthwhile.

It's hot as in HOT!!!!!!!!!

I spent 10 days there one summer, and didn't even come out of my hotel room on most days until 5 PM, when I knew I could handle the weather! Luckily, there's a nightlife. (maybe that's how it all got started..!)

Seriously, I just advice against it because if you only have one or two days, you want to see everything and cannot do "italians summer life" , it's the same here is Spain. Of course, I have to live here..so in summer I do what Loveitaly explained so well :) If you are going to be there for a week or more, then you can find time to choose when you go sightseeing and when you don't :)

Dear lvk: I travelled to Rome in August 2005 for 8 nights and had a beautiful trip. No lines for museums, Vatican.. While most smaller shops and restaurants are closed, there is plenty of shopping available (all chains are open: Gucci, Fendi, Max Mara, etc.) Also I went to Caracalla to see the Roma Ballet and it was worth the trip alone! And Romans leave the city so it is more peaceful than any other time of year. I was very fortunate, low to mid 80's, blue skies and the lovely breeze every afternoon about 3pm.. You can also cool off with Gelato and/or sitting by a fountain. Enjoy---

It's so good to hear something positive about Rome in August.

LoveItaly, I think that plan sounds wonderful if it's really hot. We love to be out in the evening and eat late anyway. Arte, so glad you had nice temperatures and a wonderful time.

Maire, I am going to Rome in August too. I would rather be hot in Rome than in New Jersey, even with all the walking I'll be doing.