Don’t know what to do at night in Rome? Whether you’re a party animal or a quiet night owl, a lover of bars, pubs, concerts and clubs, what could be better than a night out in Rome to feel the atmosphere of a neighborhood where it’s good to go out
Here is my selection of the best places to spend a good evening.
Table des matières
1. What to do at night in Rome? Take a moonlight stroll
Don’t know what to do at night in Rome? Take a stroll through the streets in the evening. Even if you’ve already been impressed by Rome’s historical monuments during the day, discovering them at night will give you a completely different experience. The sight becomes even more remarkable when the buildings are bathed in a soft light.
Walking through the city at night, when temperatures are cooler, will be a pleasant experience, much less exhausting than walking the same route during the day.
Don’t hesitate to stick to the city center for your evening walk in Rome, you’ll have your share of places worth seeing, without spending too much time or money.
Start at the Pantheon, one of Rome’s most impressive ancient monuments, and head to Piazza Navona, just a few steps away. Here you can relax in a beautiful baroque setting.
Stop in front of Bernini’s masterpiece, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and enjoy the spectacle of local artists selling their creations while the voices of strolling musicians fill the air with their sweet melodies.
Then head to the banks of the Tiber River, where you’ll see the silhouette of the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo, and end your journey in St. Peter’s Square to admire more of Bernini’s work.
2. Where to go out in Rome at night? Try the rooftop bars
Don’t know where to go out in Rome at night? Check out the rooftop bars and enjoy the view. Aptly named the “city of seven hills,” Rome boasts a number of picturesque sites from which you can enjoy spectacular views of the city.
Admiring the domes, ancient buildings and other historical monuments with a drink in hand will make your evening unforgettable. So, when dusk comes, don’t hesitate to push the door of one of the many panoramic bars installed on the roofs of the city.
For a breathtaking view of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican, head to the Roof Garden Les Étoiles, the bar of the Atlante Star Hotel. The elegant setting, decorated with flowers and twinkling lights, makes it a popular spot for couples looking for romance, while the reasonable prices attract tourists and locals alike. If you prefer to spend a relaxing evening here on a mild summer evening, blankets are available on loan if you are visiting during a cooler month.
3. Night visit to the Colosseum in Rome
Rome’s most iconic monument, the Colosseum, is a must-see place that you can also visit at night. The imposing amphitheater, the largest ever built, is nearly 2,000 years old and welcomes over 6.5 million visitors a year, fascinated by its macabre and bloody history.
So don’t be put off by the hordes of visitors you’ll be forced to share your experience with.
If you are not an aficionado of the tourist crowds, we suggest you take a more intimate and exclusive tour of the monument. Once the doors are officially closed, you will be taken inside the hypogeum.
This underground level, with its cells, tunnels and trap doors that once housed the machinery necessary for the shows, is also the place where gladiators and wild animals awaited their sad fate. In the moonlight, you can also walk the sandy ground of the arena.
Don’t hesitate to ask your guide, who will be happy to tell you what life was like for the ancient Romans. He will regale you with his anecdotes!
4. Evening activity in Rome: open-air cinema
When the long, hot summer nights arrive, if the storm doesn’t darken the sky, open-air cinemas appear all over the Eternal City. From family blockbusters to classics, including of course the cult films of Italian cinema that you think you know, wrongly, there is something for everyone.
The Isola Film Festival, which takes place on the Tiber Island throughout the summer, offers spectators a wide choice of films, thanks to its three projection screens. The emphasis is on independent films, selected from a wide range of genres, some screened in English, others in Italian.
Across the river, the free Trastevere Rione Film Festival takes place in Piazza San Cosimato during June and July. The program can include retrospectives of great directors, such as Stanley Kubrick or David Lynch, but also Disney classics, or even horror films, in a midnight screening – there will be something for everyone!
The Casa Del Cinema (or “House of Cinema”) is located in the gardens of the Villa Borghese. It is very popular with Roman moviegoers throughout the year. During the summer, their outdoor screen also attracts crowds of tourists.
Admission is free, but seats are expensive, so try not to arrive late. Also be sure to check the broadcast language on the Internet!
5. Top trendy cocktail bars in Rome: discover the “Speakeasy
A trend you may not have known existed, speakeasies, amazing cocktail bars in Rome inspired by the old American speakeasies of the 1920s, are hidden behind the most ordinary doors in Rome.
These underground establishments will offer you some of the most inventive cocktails around. If you’re looking for a gin and jazz night out, read on!
The most famous of these bars, the Jerry Thomas Project, was the pioneer of the genre when it opened in 2010. Reservations and a password are required, but once you step through the door, you’ll be transported back to the Roaring Twenties. Sit back in a leather Chesterfield while the bartender carefully prepares your favorite drink.
For an equally speakeasy but less stuffy atmosphere, Spirito in Pigneto is the place to be. If you accidentally forgot to make a reservation online before your visit, borrow the retro phone from the sandwich shop next door. The bar staff will be happy to accommodate you as long as space is available.
Other options include Niji in the Trastevere neighborhood, Race Club near the Colosseum, and Club Derriere not far from Piazza Navona.
I hope this list of my favorite places will give you some ideas for going out if you don’t know what to do at night in Rome. If you have any other suggestions for bars, restaurants etc. to have a good time, please let me know in the comments.
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