As someone who studied abroad in Rome during college and returned several times since, I wanted to put together another post about this amazing Italian city. After covering tips to traveling Rome on a budget, my favorite Rome neighborhood of Trastevere and taking a day trip to Siena from Rome, I knew there was another topic that I hadn’t covered that is important for travelers visiting the city… The best things to do in Rome at night!
One thing that visitors to Rome should remember when it comes to determining their evening plans is that Italians eat dinner late – much later than the typical dinner time in the United States (U.S.). While restaurants are open around 7:00 pm, most Italians don’t start eating dinner until at least 8:00 pm. This means that enjoying a traditional Italian dinner at a local restaurant is always an option when looking for things to do in Rome at night, but that there are also a lot of other things that can be experienced. So, I collaborated with some of my favorite travel bloggers to put together this extensive list on all there is to do in Rome at night. Enjoy!
Wine Tasting Tours
Some of the best wine in the world can be found in Italy and it would be a shame to miss out on tasting it while there! While I typically enjoyed Italian wine at meals, I had never been to a proper tasting, so I found a wine tasting via Viator that took place during the evening in Rome.
My husband and I participated in the tasting, along with a few other couples, making the entire experience very intimate and enjoyable. We learned about the different Italian wine regions and the history of the various varietals, which can differ from what we are used to in the U.S. The entire tasting was not only educational but also gave us the opportunity to drink amazing Italian vino!
Below are my recommendations for some of the evening wine tasting tours in Rome offered through Viator. The tours range in price (to make sure that is one for every budget), length and location, so take a look at the different options to determine which is the best for you!
Now on to other things to do in Rome at night, contributed by my fellow travel bloggers!
Rome by Night – Walking Tour
By Sara at Journey of Doing | Follow on Instagram
There is nothing like Rome after dark. The city becomes less frantic and the floodlit monuments leave one awe-struck, every time. With decades of history at your fingertips, it can be difficult to decide where to go first. This 3-hour evening walking tour is the best introduction to the Eternal City.
With kids playing soccer as the afternoon sun begins to fade away, this tour begins at the Piazza del Popolo. From there, you’ll make your way to a few viewpoints over the city for sunset. Descending the Spanish steps, you’ll learn about the origin of their name and begin making your way towards the more iconic monuments of the city. You’ll learn about Baroque architecture, rivalries between Roman artists, and marvel at the origins of ancient Rome in the most unlikely places. The tour ends near Campo dei Fiori with numerous recommendations for how to continue your evening in Rome, as a Roman would.
While on the Rome by night walking tour, you will notice as the lights come on, Rome immediately becomes more romantic. Each small alleyway might lead to an unexpected square. Musicians play in the piazzas. The sound of rowdy apertivos will give way to delicious dinners. And, at the end of the night, you’ll make your way back to your hotel, in complete disbelief that others have been walking these same roads for almost 2,000 years – and the Colosseum was there, too.
Things to Do in Rome at Night – Campidoglio Viewpoint
By Wendy at The Nomadic Vegan | Follow on Instagram
After you’ve enjoyed dinner at one of the many incredible restaurants in Rome, walk up to the Campidoglio (the Capitoline Hill) for a breathtaking view of the Roman Forum lit up at night. The elegant scalinata staircase designed by Michelangelo will lead you up to the Piazza del Campidoglio, where you will see the equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the City Hall building behind him.
Walk around the right-hand side of the City Hall building, and you will come to a lookout point with sweeping views of the ancient Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The large temple right in front of you, with its eight-columned portico still standing, is the Temple of Saturn. This is one of the oldest temples in the Forum and is thought to date from 497 BC.
Also visible are the three remaining columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the small circular shrine at the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Septimius Severus, the imposing brick Senate building, and the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina, later converted into a Renaissance church. The Colosseum is visible in the distance, beyond the Forum.
But even if you don’t know what any of the individual buildings are, it’s magical just to look out at the city center of ancient Rome and imagine what life was like here 2,000 years ago. Most of the ruins are floodlit at night, creating a great photo opportunity.
After Hours Tours of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel
By Claudia at My Adventures Across the World | Follow on Instagram
Rome is packed with things to do at any time of day and night. Most attractions close after 5:00 or 7:00 pm, depending on the season, but the good news is that there are ways to have a very private, intimate visit if you decide to invest a bit extra money to do a night tour. Visiting a famous tourist attraction at night (that is normally packed during the day), when you can have it almost all to yourself is highly recommended.
One of the places that allow doing that is the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.
Night visits to the Sistine Chapel are seasonal – they are only allowed between the very end of April and the end of October – and only on Fridays, when the museum is open until 11:00 pm and the last access is at 9:30 pm.
If this is something you would like to do, you have to plan your trip to Rome accordingly, opting to spend at least one night there (the Friday, obviously) and booking the tickets well in advance.
Tickets to visit the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum at night start from €35 and include a guide.
Things to Do in Rome at Night – Trastevere
From Danila at Travelling Dany | Follow on Instagram
If you are planning to visit Rome with your significant other, make sure to add Trastevere to your itinerary. While many tourists know about the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps, this romantic neighborhood is not widely known, therefore it’s much quieter.
The locals know that Trastevere isn’t only one of the areas where you can find the best Italian food in Rome: it’s also a super romantic location, especially at night.
Via Del Moro is the street where you’ll find tiny, independent shops and lovely cafes, open until late at night. Walk around the cobblestoned side streets hand in hand with your significant other, enjoying the Italian Dolce Vita: you might even be able to buy something since the shops in Italy close at 8:00 pm.
Once you’re done taking pictures of the traditional houses full of flowers, head over to Da Corrado. This family-run restaurant specializes in local dishes with farm-to-table ingredients. It’s one of those places for the locals, not a tourist trap, so you can make sure to taste the real Roman recipes, without breaking the bank.
The locals also go to Trastevere to enjoy a nice pint of beer, especially in summer. The best brewery, with Italian craft beers and pub food, is Ma CheSiete Venuti a Fà (“Why did you come here?” in Italian): they also serve Italian aperitivo!
Twilight Trastavere Tour with Eating Europe
By Michele at A Taste for Travel | Follow on Facebook
Exploring attractions such as the Trevi Fountain and Colosseum are top things for visitors to do in Rome by day, but nightfall is the best time to experience Rome like a local. There’s no better way to dive into Rome’s most atmospheric side than by taking a guided evening food tour. Eating Europe offers several walking food tours in Rome and one of the best is their Twilight Trastevere Rome Food Tour, a culinary romp through the trendy neighborhood of Trastavere, a bohemian neighborhood filled with bars, narrow cobbled streets, outdoor restaurants, and cafes.
With your local guide, you’ll learn about the history of Rome, discover regional dishes and meet local producers. From carciofo alla giudia (artichokes served Jewish style) to underground wine cellars, it’s one memorable and tasty experience. You’ll even score entry to restaurants where you’d need to make a reservation weeks in advance — all part of this delicious evening walking tour. At the end of the tour, you’ll get an insider’s list of Rome’s best restaurants and bars so you can visit them independently on another evening.
Lungo il Tevere
By Maureen at Life on The Mediterranean | Follow on Pinterest
If you are in Rome during the months of June, July and August, you are in for a treat at the Lungo il Tevere summer festival.
Lungo il Tevere has been going on since 2003, and it’s Rome’s biggest annual summer festival that flanks the Tiber River, or il Fiume Tevere.
You can experience dance, music, and theatre in venues along the river, most of which are free. It’s located near the Trastevere side, and you can’t miss it if you head toward Ponte Sisto, the Sisto Bridge in Rome.
There are numerous artisans selling their crafts, foosball tables to entertain yourself, locales with craft beers, places to dine… It’s a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy Rome’s summer evenings near the Tiber.
The festival opens at 6:00 pm every day and goes until nearly 1:00 am. It will get super busy after the Italian dinner hour, so try and go between 6:00 – 9:00 pm. You will love the buzz.
Things to Do in Rome at Night – Piazza Navona
By Laura at Travelers Universe | Follow on Instagram
Once a playground for Emperor Domitian’s chariot races, today, Piazza Navona is one of the most charming squares in Rome. And while splendid during the day, this piazza truly comes into its own at night, when it’s engulfed into the most romantic light.
The Baroque Piazza Navona is best known for its Bernini sculptures and glorious fountains that have been dominating the scenery for almost four centuries. But the lively atmosphere and outdoor café scene also play a huge role.
Head to Piazza Navona in the evening and browse all the vendor stalls at leisure and without worrying about the scorching summer heat. If you feel tempted, you should definitely buy a painting or t-shirt as a souvenir.
Then find yourself a table at Bernini and enjoy a pizza and a glass of wine with a view. To wrap it up, grab a gelato from Gelateria del Teatro (a few feet away and a popular gelateria in Rome) and savor it by one of the fountains while admiring the magnificent Sant’Agnese in Agone church facade and soaking up the atmosphere.
Related: Traveling to Venice while in Italy? Check out Laura’s post on Things to Do in Venice!
Colosseum Night Tour
By Katy at Untold Morsels | Follow on Facebook
The Colosseum is one of the most visited sites in the world but many people don’t know that you can visit this iconic monument at night. In the twilight hours, the 2,000-year-old structure is lit up in all its glory and opened for exclusive night tours that take you underground and onto the arena floor. These are experiences that a standard tour or ticket do not offer during the day, so it is a big treat.
As you stand in the center of the arena, your guide tells stories of the stadium and its importance to the culture of Ancient Rome. You’ll also learn about the stars of the Colosseum – the gladiators who fought for glory and often their lives.
During the after-hours tour, the Colosseum is virtually empty so you can experience the monument without the crowds and the heat of the day in summer. Even if you have visited during the day, a night tour gives a whole new perspective. You can just imagine what it would have been like for the gladiators and slaves awaiting their fate below the arena floor. Absolutely terrifying no doubt.
Related: Read Katy’s Rome Travel Guide!
Drinks by the Colosseum at Night
By Hannah at Hannah’s Happy Adventures | Follow on Instagram
While the Colosseum is heaving with tourists during the daytime, it becomes a serene place to be at night. The lit-up Colosseum is the perfect backdrop for an evening out in Rome. Indeed, one of the best ways to enjoy the attraction at night is to have drinks in one of the nearby bars or restaurants.
Aroma is the best place to get stunning views over the Colosseum. The restaurant itself is on the pricier side, but you are paying for the view! It’s advised to visit before sunset to enjoy the beautiful golden light over the colosseum. Be sure to reserve a table online in advance.
If you are traveling on a budget, the Gran Caffe Martini and Rossi is an excellent option for drinks by the Colosseum at night. While you won’t get the same view of the Colosseum as you would at Aroma, you can enjoy drinks with a view from across the road, without the heavy price-tag.
Things to Do in Rome at Night – Trevi Fountain
By Erin at Love to Travel, Stay-Eat-Do | Follow on Instagram
You will find the symbolic Fontana di Trevi, (or Trevi Fountain) in the Trevi district within Rome. The impressive fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city, standing an incredible 85 feet high and 161 feet wide and is one of the most famous and beautiful fountains in the world. The origins of this great city feature date back to the year 19 B.C. and was built during the Renaissance period.
Trevi Fountain is never quiet, it is on the ‘must-do’ list of every traveler to Rome. You will find hundreds of people flocking to the water’s edge to throw a coin over their left shoulder, using their right hand. The myth associated with this action originated from the 1954 movie “Three Coins in the Fountain”. If you throw one coin in – you will return to Rome; if you throw two coins in – you will fall in love with an attractive Italian; and, if you throw three coins in – you will marry the person that you met. It is suggested that approximately one million Euros are collected from the Fountain every year and are then donated to support great causes.
Trevi Fountain is beautiful at any time of the day; however, it is particularly spectacular all lit up at night. Your visit to Trevi Fountain won’t be complete until you are enjoying a gelato from one of the many Gelato shops surrounding this Roman icon.
Evening Concerts at All Saints Church
By Taylor at Taverna Travels | Follow on Instagram
Seeing a live performance when visiting Rome should be on everyone’s list, but it can be difficult to find an affordable show. The All Saints Church offers concerts a few times a week with tickets starting as low as 24 euros.
Set in a beautiful church just down the road from Piazza del Popolo, this is the perfect, intimate setting to enjoy a night of music. The concert setting is more casual than shows offered at the opera houses in the city, however, the level of talent is excellent!
Many of the concerts offer a variety of songs from famous Italian operas such as La Boheme, Tosca, La Traviata and more.
Tickets are available for purchase online before the event or can be purchased at the door.
Related: 24 hours in Rome
Things to Do in Rome at Night – Catacombs
By Kate at Our Escape Clause | Follow on Instagram
Behind closed church doors and enclosed in tunnels beneath the city sit Rome’s many catacombs, crypts, and ossuaries.
Plan your trip to Rome right–and in this case, that generally means booking a tour–and you can stroll through the catacombs of Saint Priscilla or marvel at the artwork created from human bones in the Capuchin Crypt under the cover of night.
While these sights are moving and intensely interesting during the day, there’s no denying that there’s something even more special about visiting at night–and let’s be real, something a bit creepier, too.
Remember that all the same rules of respect that you would need to observe during the day apply to private tours taken at night, too–if you’re headed out to Rome’s catacombs or ossuaries, be sure to only photograph what is allowed (restrictions are very common) and that you dress appropriately for religious sights, with your shoulders, knees, and cleavage covered.
Enjoy Night Music for Free at the Piazzas
By Maria at Our City Travels | Follow on Facebook
Summer nights in Rome is probably the liveliest in all of Europe. The many open plazas are home to creative vendors, talented musicians, and witty street performers. Two plazas to enjoy wonderful music for free, either by dining a la carte at the restaurants surrounding the area, or simply admire the buildings are Piazza della Rotonda and Piazza Navona.
PIazza della Rotonda is home to the Pantheon. The massive church will be closed by the time the sun sets, but the plaza will be teeming with life – tourists, buskers, artists, and locals doing about their businesses. There’s a musician who could be playing her guitar while singing to her renditions of Adele’s songs and there could be one just rocking and rolling like Ray Charles to his electric guitar.
Five minutes away from the Piazza della Rotonda is Piazza Navona, a larger and much busier square. There are a number of fountains installed worth admiring at the piazza, but the musicians performing there aren’t to be ignored either. While there are solo performers, there are also bands that add to the busy piazza vibe – one could be singing a Celine Dion ballad, while the others play Godfather’s theme music with their respective instruments. It’s like the music never ends when you walk around at night in Rome, it’s worth spending time admiring and listening to these musicians under the open sky.
Related: Traveling Rome Alone
Rome Rooftop Bars
By Alex at Schimiggy Reviews | Follow on Facebook
It’s recommended to visit all the popular sites both in the evening and during the day. At night, the buildings are lit up with bright floodlights that illuminate the entire city. It looks absolutely breathtaking from both perspectives (day and night). The popular sites are also usually less crowded and sometimes even empty in the evening! Favorite sites to see in Rome at night include the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum and Spanish Steps. The after-hours tour at the Colosseum discussed above should definitely be considered too.
Consider going to rooftop bars to take in a view of Rome at night because the area alone has over 100+ rooftop bars with views won’t disappoint. Two of the best are the Minerva Roof Garden and Feria at Lanificio. Since Rome can get chilly at night, consider wearing faux leather leggings and a white tee that easily transition from day to night.
So whether you’d like to spend your evening out in Rome eating pasta and gelato, taking a self-guided tour of all the flood-lit sites, watching live music or going on a evening tour of the Colosseum, Catacombs or Sistine Chapel, there are plenty of ways to experience Rome at night!
Be sure to check out my other posts on Rome for expert tips on how to get the most out of your trip to one of the most amazing cities in the world:
Cheers!
