Why Rome
Few cities layer history like Rome, where a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre sits a short walk from baroque fountains and buzzing piazzas. It’s a place to pair big monuments with unhurried meals and evening strolls through floodlit squares.
01 Best time to visit
Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal — warm, but before or after the summer heat and peak crowds. August is hot and many locals leave; winter is mild and quiet.
A timed Colosseum ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill within 24 hours — do the Forum and Palatine first while it’s cooler, then the Colosseum.
02 Weather & climate
83°
71°
☔ 53%
81°
71°
☔ 51% 
83°
67°
☔ 61%
84°
67°
☔ 36% 
84°
67°
78°
68°
Rome has a Mediterranean climate — hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. July and August regularly top 32 °C, so spring and autumn are far more comfortable for long days of sightseeing on foot.
| Season | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | 55°F 13°C | 39°F 4°C |
| Spring | 68°F 20°C | 48°F 9°C |
| Summer | 88°F 31°C | 64°F 18°C |
| Autumn | 72°F 22°C | 54°F 12°C |
03 Top 12 things to do in Rome
04 Plan your Rome trip by theme
Short on time, travelling with kids, counting the pennies or dodging the rain? These curated guides pull together the right things to do for how you travel.
05 How long to stay in Rome
Short on time? See the Colosseum from the outside, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, stand under the Pantheon’s open dome and eat gelato on the walk between them — the historic core is compact, walkable and mostly free.
06 Where to stay
07 Food & drink
Roman cooking is simple and hearty: cacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana, thin pizza al taglio and supplì from a hole-in-the-wall, and gelato on a warm evening. Eat where the Romans do, a little away from the big monuments.
08 Day trips
09 Getting into Rome from the airport
Fiumicino (FCO) is Rome’s main international airport, with direct US flights on Delta, United, American and ITA Airways; Ciampino (CIA) serves budget European carriers.
| From the airport | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Leonardo ExpressNon-stop FCO → Termini station | 32 min | ~$16 |
| Shuttle busTerravision/SIT to Termini | 45–60 min | ~$7 |
| Taxi (flat fare)Fixed €50 to the historic centre | 40–50 min | ~$55 |
Rome taxis have a fixed €50 fare from Fiumicino to the centre (inside the Aurelian walls) — insist on it rather than the meter.
10 Entry & visa for US citizens
- Passport
- Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the EU (6 months recommended).
- Visa
- No visa for tourism — up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
- Cost
- Free. ETIAS — a roughly €7 online travel authorisation — is expected to launch in late 2026; it is not yet required, so check whether it applies to your travel dates. The EES biometric entry system is already in use at borders (no fee).
- Good to know
- The 90-day clock is shared across all Schengen countries; have proof of onward travel and accommodation ready.
Last checked 2026-09-08. Entry rules change — always confirm with the official government source before you book.
11 Getting around Rome
Fly into Fiumicino (FCO) — the Leonardo Express train reaches Termini in ~32 minutes — or Ciampino (CIA) for low-cost flights. The centre is best explored on foot; the Metro and buses cover longer hops.