What’s on in Rome this month?
A miraculous snow in the middle of the Summer, relaxing atmospheres by the river, secret terraces, ancient lights and more. There’s so much to do in Rome this August 2026!
Without wasting a lot of time, let’s dive into these super exciting things to explore in the city! 🤩
Things to do in Rome in August 2026
The miracle of the snow in Santa Maria Maggiore – August 5th
This is one of the most evocative events of the Roman tradition: the Madonna of the Snow!
Everything started with a legend, which you can read here.
Celebrations will start inside the basilica on August 5th at 10AM with the Holy Mass, which includes white rose petals falling down the ceiling, to remind of the snow. Same will happen after the Vespers at 5PM.
Later that day, at 9PM, the show will start in the square outside the basilica. Light, music and holograms shows, together with opera singing. The grand finale will be at midnight, when snow flakes will softly fall onto the square and the basilica, turning everything in white!
Caracalla Baths by Night – special opening on August 2nd
This Summer you have the chance to visit the ancient Baths of Caracalla by night! This ancient Roman bath complex was a gigantic structure able to accomodate up to 1500 people at the same time.
It was an ancient “spa”, where the Romans would experience a sequence of rooms at different temperatures, just like our modern spas today! Caracalla’s baths are the biggest thermal bath ruins in Rome. And the magical atmosphere of the ruins illuminated at night is so special that in the Summer it also becomes the background of concerts and ballets.
On specific dates you’ll be able to access the magic of Caracalla’s baths illuminated at night. The dates are:
- July 23rd
- August 2nd
- September 19th
- September 26th
- October 15th
You can find all the details and tickets at this link: https://portale.museiitaliani.it/b2c/buyTicketless/c763f66b-8295-4800-a92d-b96a26659396
Colosseum by night on Tuesdays and Thursdays
This Summer the Colosseum reopens his gates to special visits under the moonlight. Night visits include the underground and arena section of the Colosseum and tickets also allow you to visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill the day prior, the same day or the following day.
Availability is limited, so book in advance. We are also available for private tours of the Colosseum by night, so if you wish to have this magical experience with us, just get in touch through the video chat on the bottom-right corner!
More info on the Colosseum website here.
Pantheon by Night
This August, you can discover the secrets of the Pantheon.. by night!
In fact the Pantheon opening times are being extended for the month of August, to give you the chance to visit until late, every day except Thursdays, from 7pm to 11pm (last entry 10:30pm).
And you can also do it with us, because we just added a special-edition evening walking tour called “Pantheon by Night with City Center Hidden gems”, where you can enjoy Rome when it’s cooler and the crowds of the day have dispersed. Learn more about the tour here.
Vittoriano by Night
This is one of the most beautiful terraces of Rome, with breathtaking views over the city. You can get to the top of the Vittoriano all year long, but in the Summer, on specific dates, you can stay until late and watch the city changing color through sunset!
You can stay upstairs until 11:30PM! (Last entry 10:45PM – always check the official website for the most accurate info)
- July 24th
- August 7th
- August 21st
- September 11th
- September 26th
This means you’ll be able to watch the sunset and then the stars, over the skyline of Rome. 🧡
Piazza Venezia is currently under construction, but the 360° views are still going to be super amazing.
Lungo il Tevere (Along the Tiber) – markets and bars along the river
From beginning of June until end of August, “Lungo il Tevere” returns! The Tiber river banks illuminate with lights, music and entertainment.
From 7PM stands of food, drinks and little markets make a really cool background to your stroll along the river. You can find pizza, burgers, seafood and bars.
Free entry, no ticket required. Stands are located between Ponte Sisto (access by Piazza Trilussa, in Trastevere) and Ponte Sublicio.
For more info: http://www.lungoiltevereroma.it/
Are you looking to make your August Rome trip special? Are you looking for something fun, unique, personal? Our in person experiences grew from the legacy of our media content online. We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Check our private and semi-private experiences here
Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit at the Ara Pacis
Robert Mapplethorpe once said that, had he lived centuries earlier, he would have been a sculptor rather than a photographer. In fact, the feeling you get when looking at his photographs in this exhibition is that you are looking at sculptures rather than pictures.
The muscles, curves, and torsions of the bodies he photographed recall those of Michelangelo’s sculptures, of which Mapplethorpe was a great admirer.
This exhibition at the Ara Pacis is a journey through Mapplethorpe’s creative evolution: from his early collages made from found images (because he could not yet afford photographic equipment) to his use of himself as a model while developing his photographic style. It also explores his relationship with the musician and poet Patti Smith.
The two met as struggling young artists in New York and inspired each other’s careers. Mapplethorpe famously photographed the cover of Smith’s iconic 1975 album Horses, one of the most recognizable album covers in music history.
The exhibition also includes several ancient statues of athletes, referencing the classical sculpture that inspired the work of this iconic photographer.
The exhibition will run until October 4, 2026. More information is available here.
Summer sales – from July 4th to September 3rd
When we say that sales in Italy can get you real deals, we mean it. In the Lazio region (hence Rome too) the Summer sales start on July 4th. All the shopaholics of Italy look forward to the sales, which usually take place in January (winter sales) and July (summer sales) for a period of 6 weeks.
At the beginning the discounts will be lower, starting from around 20-30%. it is good to shop at the beginning of the sales if you already know exactly what to get and you don’t want to risk not finding it anymore.
But the more you wait, the more the discounts increase, leaving the last weeks of sales with discounts as high as 50-60-70%. Of course in that case you’ll have a limited selection of sizes and colors. But that is also when the best bargains can be made.
Where to shop in Rome city center? There are many places such as Via del Corso, via Cola di Rienzo, Monti district, in the little streets near Campo de’ Fiori, and many more.
Happy shopping!
Planning a last-minute trip to Rome and didn’t have time to book a tour? Check our remaining availability in the next 20 days here 😉
Discover Rome “behind-the-scenes” with us!
If you want to make your August Rome trip special and looking for something fun, unique, personal… you’re in the right place!
Our small group walking tours grew from the legacy of our media content online, meaning that we focus on showing you Rome “behind-the-scenes”.
We explore the iconic neighborhoods of Rome where you get to discover lots of hidden gems and secrets hiding in plain sight, that most tourists miss.
And we do it in small groups only, to keep the experience personal and interactive 😊
Discover more about how our Rome tours work, the best Rome tours or browse all our small-group tours to see the experiences currently available.
