An insider guide to summer in Rome, Italy's eternal city
Rome has been around for almost three thousand years and yet carries all that weight of history with a dolce vita lightness of heart. It's a city that combines the intimacy and human scale of a village with the cultural draws of a historic, art-laden European metropolis.
Classical ruins and early Christian places of worship stand next to – or sometimes lie beneath – Renaissance palazzos and Baroque fountains. But there are also great neighbourhood trattorias, quirky shops and a buzzing aperitivo scene. The golden rule for visitors? Don't try to cram too much in. Rome moves at a slower pace than many northern cities, and to enjoy it you should take time out in pavement cafés as well as ticking off all the big cultural draws.
Explore our in-depth guides to Rome's best hotels, attractions, restaurants, shopping, nightlife and free things to do.
In this guide:
What's new in Rome this summer
New hotel: Orient Express La Minerva opens its doors
The former Grand Hotel de la Minerve has reopened as the Orient Express La Minerva, after a four-year renovation. This is the luxury rail brand's first hotel in the world. The interiors now glow with Art Deco chic, and the rooftop restaurant has reclaimed its place as one of the most spectacular in Rome's centro storico, with direct views over the Pantheon's massive cupola.
Concerts: Rome Summer Fest
Italian and international stars take to the stage for the city's annual music festival, Rome Summer Fest. There are more than 70 concerts scheduled between June and September this year, including A-listers from Sting and Alanis Morissette to Nick Cave. Performances are held in the outdoor Cavea at Renzo Piano's modern Auditorium Parco della Musica, a delight for architecture aficionados, as well as music fans.
Patron Saint celebrations: Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul
Rome's 2025 ecclesiastical calendar is filled with Jubilee-related events, but there's one summer celebration that is uniquely Roman: The Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul, which honours the city's patron saints each year on June 29. People will be out in droves for the Mass at the Pantheon and an infiorata (floral display) in front of St Peter's. The main attraction however, is the Girandola, a spectacular fireworks display over Castel Sant'Angelo that lights up the sky around 10:30pm.
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If you are going to turn the invitation down, it's best to be prompt, concise and kind. Don't: Treat the marrying couple like a concierge Be self-sufficient. Take care of your own logistics unless explicitly offered help (with flight and room bookings, transfers, etc). Do: Book early Secure your travel and accommodation well in advance, especially if the couple has reserved room blocks or suggested travel windows. Can't afford the accommodation that's been blocked? Make plans well in advance to stay nearby, especially if you are keen to make the most of all-inclusive flight and accommodation packages (which often shaves hundreds off the cost). Don't: Ignore the itinerary There's nothing worse than guests who go rogue and ignore the marrying couple's schedule to do their own thing. Stick to the couple's schedule (welcome dinner, group excursions, ceremony timing), show up on time and be present. If you have an issue with any of the activities, ask if you can opt out as soon as you see the schedule. Do: Pack thoughtfully Bring appropriate outfits for each event bearing in mind the climate and any cultural sensitivities, along with essentials for the location (sun cream, mosquito spray, adapter, etc). You don't want to be the guest with the luminous sunburnt face in the wedding snaps. Don't: Invite a plus-one without asking Only bring a guest, or a plus-one, if they are specifically invited. Don't assume (or hide your lover in the bouganvillea bushes). Do: Bring a small gift Even if travel is costly, it's customary to send a small, less expensive gift to a marrying couple, unless the couple has clearly stated 'no gifts'. To cut down on baggage, you can plan to send a gift to them directly when they get back to the UK, or you can offer to contribute towards a set cost on their big day. Don't: Complain about costs If the destination is beyond your budget, it's okay to decline. But don't attend and then guilt the couple about the impact to your wallet, or grumble to other guests. Do: Contribute to the 'group vibe' Yes, it can be wearing to have to perform the conga through the coconut palms with Fred the bore, but that's the whole point of weddings: be sociable, inclusive and avoid clinging to cliques – doubly important with destinations where solo travellers might know few of the attendees. Don't: Post on social media before the couple They might not have sold rights to Hello mag for a cool million, but this is the no-no of the 2020s. Wait for the newlyweds to share online before uploading your photos, especially of the ceremony itself. How to turn a destination wedding invite into a holiday you actually want to take Getting that gilt-edged invitation can be a mixed blessing. Yes, you're flattered to be included but no, you didn't exactly dream of spending your annual leave on a clifftop in Santorini with the bride's uni mates. But if you think of the wedding as an 'anchor' and not the whole show, you can turn the trip into a getaway that works for you. If you are invited to a destination wedding and say you'll attend, says Reading, make the most of it. 'Share accommodation, extend your stay for a proper holiday and look for flight deals early,' she advises. 'With a bit of planning, it can be both a celebration and a smart use of your travel time.' Start by looking at the wedding location creatively. According to American Express, France is the most popular destination for destination nuptials (26 per cent of overseas weddings), followed by Spain, the USA, Italy and Canada. If the wedding is in Cancun but you're not a resort person, tack on a few days in Mérida or Tulum. Friends getting married in Mallorca? Spend a few nights in Palma's old town, then head to the Tramuntana mountains for hiking and slow travel, or fly on to Seville for flamenco, food and Moorish architecture. Heading to a Lake Como affair? Swing through Milan for galleries and aperitivo culture before the Prosecco frenzy begins. Bali wedding? Add a few days in Ubud or hop to Komodo. You can also consider changing hotels. It's rare you are obliged to bunk down in the official guest block if you'd rather have an adults-only boutique or a quiet Airbnb nearby; just be clear and polite about this in your RSVP. Also, consider stopovers and 'mini detours'. Look for layovers in major airport hubs such as Amsterdam, Singapore or Istanbul to explore a city that excites you. Heading to Tuscany, for example? Detour via Rome or the Amalfi Coast. Websites like Opodo and offer multi-city flight search options. Most importantly, always extend the trip. Weddings are short and intense. Adding a few decompressing days can turn a social chore into a holiday of a lifetime.
