Rome In October - How To Plan For Your Best Trip

Rome in October is one of most beautiful times of the year.

The weather is mostly warm during the day, and comfortably cool at night.

We get some rain but usually not too much.

The light still casts warming shadows on all the ochre-colored buildings. 

With summer over and the holidays around the corner, October is one of the liveliest times of the year to be in Rome.

---

Watch my video all about visiting Rome in October

Rome in October - At a Glance

Here's what you need to know about visiting Rome this time of year:

• What's the weather like in October in Rome?
• What to pack for visiting Rome in October?
• What to wear in October in Rome?
• Is October high season in Rome? Yes it is! But why?
• What food is in season in October in Rome?
  
• What are some things to do in October in Rome?
  

Weather in Rome Italy in October

The weather in Rome in October can vary a lot from the beginning of the month to the end.

The beginning of October is still close to the very summery month of September.

Days can be really warm, even warm enough to go to the beach.

During the day it's usually sunny and in the low 80'°F/high 20's °C, and in the evenings it can still be muggy and warm, in the mid 60's °F/high teens °C. 

Towards the end of October, we get close to the end of Daylight Saving Time.

And closer to real fall weather.

Closer but not quite there yet.

Just about every end of October, I find myself really ready for fall.

I keep saying, when can I wear my boots?

And it seems, I never really can in October.

What to pack for Rome in October

Packing for Rome in October is all about layers, as temperatures can vary quite a lot across the day and night.

When the sun is shining it will be warm enough for short-sleeved tops, paired with cotton pants or jeans.

It's not really warm enough for shorts, but cropped pants or longer skirts should be comfortable during the day.

It will feel cooler in the evenings or when inside churches/museums so be sure to pack a few jumpers or cardigans that you carry with you and put on when you need to.

The chance of rain starts to increase as October goes on, so a light rain jacket paired with a rain hat or travel umbrella is also a good idea.

You can buy cheap umbrellas from street sellers here, but they aren't always around when you need them so I'd recommend bringing your own just in case.

You do not need to bring gloves (although you can if you want to, as they don't weigh much.)

You can also buy some beautiful gloves here, for yourself or as gifts.

A scarf or two would always be on my packing list, both for comfort and fashion!

For more tips, visit my page all about what to pack for Rome in October for specific recommendations, suggestions on what to wear in Rome in October and more.

My Amazon shop also has lots of Italy-related picks!

For even more packing details, visit my page about What to Pack for Rome, for further ideas and a downloadable packing list.

What to wear in Rome in October

October is a fall month, and in Rome it's just beautiful.

We don't usually get too much rain but some years we can, so you should come prepared. 

Check the weather before you head out each day, but it's almost always a good idea to carry a light jacket, or pullover, and a scarf.

This is true especially for mornings and evenings.

It can be really warm and sunny during the day, but the temps drop a lot when the sun is gone, so layering, and being prepared are always a good idea.

The most important things to wear in Rome in October are comfortable shoes, light layers, long pants or skirts, and a cardigan/pullover and a scarf.

I say this on just about every page where I talk about what to wear in Rome, but the most important thing, and I cannot stress this enough, is to wear comfortable shoes.

You will do more walking than you think.

Don't let painful feet slow you down!

Rome in October - What to Expect

October - high season and busy dates

If you come to Rome in October, you will find lovely weather, not too hot, not too cold.

And this means, you will find Rome packed.

Yes, October is high season in Rome.

Everyone always seems shocked when I tell them this, but it's just the way it is.

Many schools in Europe have a break around the third week of October.

Halloween and All Saints Day (November 1) are now celebrated together, making the these dates in October a fun, yet busy time here, particularly if they fall on or near a weekend.

Fall is harvest season in Italy.

It's a lively time of year with a lot of food and wine festivals all around Italy.

October is a warm fall month, nowhere near winter, and the sun is still out until fairly late in the day.

You can also explore Italy easily, visiting Florence, Pompeii, Naples and beyond is simple.

Perfect!

So is it any surprise everyone wants to come to Rome in October?

Expect Rome to be very busy (see above)

One of the great things about Rome in October is that everything is happening.

All the restaurants are in full swing, fully off their slow September comeback after summer holidays.

It's a great time to visit the outdoor sites, because it's pleasant and comfortable, weather-wise, to walk around them.

Many sites are open later than usual.

You can still eat outside at most restaurants that have outdoor seating.

There are a lot of art and music events starting and happening in October.

And, you can combine a visit to Rome with a visit to another Italian city or area, and get great weather there too.

Book ahead, way ahead!

I always suggest to reserve certain popular Rome things in advance.

This is especially true during high season in October.

Restaurants, especially the ones on all the foodies' blogs and top-ten lists, will be booked out for days (yes, lunch and dinner.)

The Galleria Borghese will be impossible if you don't book at least a week in advance.

And the Vatican will always be crowded.

So if you know what you want to to in Rome, and you can book it ahead, do so.

Food in Rome in October

As you might be able to tell from reading some of the other pages on my site, I love talking about food in Rome (I love eating food in Rome).

And October is definitely a great month for foodies (except artichokes are still not in season).

Caveat - it seems that now you can pretty much find artichokes year-round in Rome.

Just know they are not in season in October, so they won't be Roman artichokes.

And the very traditional Roman trattorias will not serve them out of season (October).

Food in Season in October in Rome

October is a great month for lovers of fall fruits and vegetables.

And in Rome, where we (try to) eat seasonally, you will find these fantastic foods starting to appear in the markets and at restaurants in October:

• White truffles - these are a delicacy and usually only available from September through December. They are never cooked, only served raw, often grated over pasta. They should cost a lot, like 30-40 Euros for a pasta dish. But that's how you know they are authentic.
• Pumpkin - called zucca in Italian
• Mushrooms - Funghi in Italian
• Radicchio, a white and red bitter leaf, which goes so well in risotto with gorgonzola cheese! Oh swoon!
• Persimmons - called cachi (pronounced "kakee") in Italian, there are many types of these and they are in full readiness by November. But in October, I can already start getting them in my market. The vanilla ones are superb to eat plain, as long as they are nice and ripe.

Many other fall fruits and vegetables are available as well of course, such as apples, pears, grapes, plums, figs, carrots, potatoes, beans etc.

---

Rome in Fall
A Romewise Photo Book

Travel to the Eternal City in fall from the comfort of your home with our beautifully designed photo book.

This book comes as a hardback, with a glossy cover finish, ensuring it will look stunning on your coffee table, desk or bookshelf.

Produced in, and dispatched from the United States, this book is available now for worldwide shipping*.

$19.99

*This product is produced in, and dispatched from the United States. Please consider that delivery timeframes may fluctuate based on where you are in the world, particularly while COVID-related disruptions persist. Deliveries outside of the United States may be subject to custom or import fees, which Romewise bears no responsibility for - if you are unsure, please check with your national authorities before ordering.

---

Things to do in Rome in October

October is  a wonderful time to be in Rome.

It's cool enough to really enjoy walking around the city, and to enjoy sight-seeing.

And because it's still nice out and the days are still relatively long, there are some left-over summer events and concerts that you can still attend in October in Rome at night.

Visit my dedicated page, Rome events in October.

Free things to do in Rome in October

On the Free Sunday you can visit Rome's museums for free.

State-run sites like the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo, as well as civic museums such as the Capitoline museums are all free on the first Sunday of the month.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month, for limited hours.

For details visit my page Rome events in October.

Halloween in Rome

Will you be in Rome for Halloween?

This is not an Italian holiday at all.

Originally a Celtic celebration, it later became a Christian holiday, but never really turned into a big holiday in Italy until recently.

If you are in Rome for Halloween, you will see some decorations about, especially in shop windows trying to get into the "spirit" (no pun intended but it works.)

However, there are not really that many Halloween-themed activities . . . unless you'd like to take a Rome Ghost Tour!

Canadian Thanksgiving in Rome in October

If you are Canadian and happen to be in Rome in October and you are looking for a place to celebrate Thanksgiving, check out one of our favorite places to eat in Trastevere, Alle Fratte di Trastevere.

More ideas for things to do in Rome in October

Visit my dedicated page with specifics about happenings and Rome events in October.

You may also wish to visit the official website of the Rome Tourist Board.

Maybe it's your 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time in Rome.

Or you have more than 3 days here.

Or you just want to see and do lots of fun things.

Besides the obvious must-see tourist attractions, there are lots of great things to see and do in Rome in November.

Here are some ideas for your visit:

---

Will you be in Rome October 8-11?

Join me for some art and history informal talks with Aromazzata.

Click the link below for details: