Rome in June is practically perfect for visiting. The warm, dry weather lends itself to sightseeing and long outdoor excursions. It’s a great time for photo shoots and strolls through Rome’s many parks – the rains are unlikely to interfere with your plans. And some will even want to bask in the sun by the sea, which is only a 40-minute drive from Rome.
Rome in June will delight you with cloudless skies and sunny summer weather, but without the stifling heat that happens in July and August. June is the start of school vacations and vacation time, so be prepared for a lot of tourists in the Eternal City. It also means that flight and hotel prices are higher than at other times of the year. But the tourist crowds won’t bother you if you plan your trip wisely.
Table of Contents:
1. What’s the Weather in June in Rome?
2. How to Dress in June in Rome?
3. Holidays in Rome in June
4. What to Do in June in Rome?
1. What’s the Weather in June in Rome?
The weather in Rome in June is beautiful. There is a lot of warmth and sunshine, and on the contrary, there is little rain. The daylight hours are as long as possible, up to 13 hours. The temperature rarely drops below 20° C and can reach at its maximum +36° C.
Towards the end of the month, the temperature gradually rises and in the middle of the day it can be quite hot and stuffy. Therefore, it is recommended to choose the right time for walks and excursions (i.e. try to wait out the peak of summer heat from 11-12 to 14-15 in an air-conditioned room).
In June, you can safely go to the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is a 40-minute drive from Rome. Relaxing on the beach and cooling off in the sea water after a sightseeing program can be quite pleasant. The water temperature in June reaches +22° C.
- Average daily temperature in Rome in June: +23° C/73° F
- Maximum daytime temperature in Rome in June: +36° C/97° F
- Minimum daytime temperature in Rome in June: +17°C/63° F
2. How to Dress in June in Rome?
In June, the weather is favorable for long walks outdoors. There are practically no cool days in June, so you can safely stuff your suitcase with typical summer clothes – T-shirts, shorts, skirts and sundresses.
However, in the evenings it can still be fresh, especially at the beginning of the month, so a long-sleeved sweater and jeans or pants will not hurt. And of course, must have in the city of 7 hills – comfortable shoes, in which you can walk for long periods of time on the cobblestones.
A bottle of water, sunglasses, a hat with fields and sunscreen will be useful not only in June, but throughout the summer in the sunny subtropics where Rome is located. You can also bring a swimsuit, because 30-40 minutes by car or train from the Eternal City is the Tyrrhenian Sea with its sandy beaches. On a hot day, escape to Fregene or Ostia for swimming, sunbathing and seafood.
In hot weather, remember that open legs above the knees and bare shoulders are inappropriate for visiting Vatican museums and churches, and flip-flops, ultra-short tops, skirts and shorts, slightly covering the body, are appropriate only on the beach.
3. Holidays in Rome in June
June 2 – Republic Day / La Festa della Repubblica
Republic Day is an official public holiday and a day off in Italy. It is a major national holiday with which Italy celebrates the birth of a new united country after World War II and the fall of fascism. On June 2, 1946, a referendum was held in which all residents, including women for the first time, expressed their opinion on the state structure. 55% of citizens voted in favor of a republic, after which Italy finally abandoned the monarchy and switched to a republican form of government.
On Republic Day, military parades, official ceremonies and festive processions take place all over the country. In Rome, the big parade is held on the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Columns of all branches of the military march from the Colosseum to the foot of the Capitoline Hill. The parade usually starts at 10:00 and lasts 50 minutes.
Officials, headed by the President of the Italian Republic, lay flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier on Vittoriano (Altar of the Fatherland monument). And in the sky over the historic center of Rome will fly fighter jets that will spray in the air the colors of the Italian national flag (Frecce Tricolori).
The Quirinal Gardens will be open to the public. There will be military bands performing classical music.
Be aware that on June 2, Republic Day, there may be street closures in places where celebrations are taking place (via dei Fori Imperiali, Piazza Venezia). The Colosseum and Vittoriano are closed to the public in the morning.
June 24 – Birth of John the Baptist / La Festa di San Giovanni Battista
It is one of the Christian feasts celebrating the birth of John the Baptist (or John the Baptist) to the righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth. In Rome, the main celebrations of the Nativity of John the Baptist take place in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
The day of the summer solstice and the shortest night of the year have had magical and mystical significance for people since ancient times. According to urban legend, on the night of June 23-24, the ghosts of Herodias and her daughter Salome, who caused the beheading of John the Baptist, roam Rome. This night is also called the Night of the Witches (La notte delle streghe, analogous to the night of Ivan Kupala in the Eastern Slavs), when all sorts of evil enters the world of mortals.
In order to scare away evil forces it was customary to burn fires and torches, sprinkle houses with holy water, hang crossed brooms on the door, put St. John’s wort under the pillow. And young girls on this day guessed at the future groom
Traditionally, the holiday includes eating snails (which symbolizes protection from misfortune and strife). It is also the night to gather herbs, which have special healing and protective properties, and nuts to make the very popular Italian homemade liqueur Nocino. It is believed that this is the time when the fruit concentrates the greatest amount of beneficial substances.
June 29 – Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul / La Festa dei S.S. Pietro e Paolo
The apostles Peter and Paul are the patron saints of the Eternal City, so Rome organizes large-scale celebrations in their honor on the occasion of the feast. It is also a day off for the citizens of Rome.
Both apostles were martyred in Rome during the anti-Christian persecution of Emperor Nero. According to legend, Peter was crucified on an inverted cross at what is now the Vatican, and Paul was beheaded in what is now the Three Fountains neighborhood.
There is no 100 percent proof that the apostles died on the same year and day. Some researchers link the date of June 29 to an ancient Roman feast dedicated to the twins Romulus and Remus, which the Church, as it often happened, adapted to its needs. Either way, today Saints Peter and Paul are especially honored in Rome and the Vatican.
Celebrations for the Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul begin on the evening of June 28 at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the statue of Peter, considered the founder of the Catholic Church, is vested in the robes of the Pope. A Solemn Mass is also held at the papal basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul’s Basilica outside the wall), which is built on the site of the supposed death of the Apostle Paul.
On June 28, master florists flock to Rome from all over Italy and meet in St. Peter’s Square to create paintings on the theme of the feast out of flowers and wood chips. On June 29, the faithful, tourists and Romans will enjoy an open-air exhibition of their work. The most anticipated moment of the feast for everyone, however, is the stunning pyrotechnic show that has been taking place on Piazza del Popolo since 2019.
4. What to Do in June in Rome?
Visit a Museum for Free
From 2023, Rome’s museums will open their doors free of charge to the public on June 4, the first Sunday of the month. The free day to visit the Vatican Museums in June 2022 will be June 25 (the last Sunday of the month). When planning your visit on free days, keep in mind that summer is the peak tourist season in Rome and you risk wasting time standing in long lines under the sun.
- First Sunday of the Month: Similar to May, many museums, monuments, galleries, archaeological sites, parks, and gardens in Rome offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month as part of the “Domenica al Museo” program.
- June 2nd: In addition to the first Sunday, June 2nd is also a free museum day in Rome, as it is Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) in Italy. This is a public holiday, and Italian state museums, archaeological parks, and other cultural sites are open for free to the public.
- Last Sunday of the Month: The Vatican Museums are open and free on the last Sunday of the month, with opening hours from 9 am to 2 pm, and the last entry at 12:30 pm.
Visit Rome’s Public Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale)
The Rose Garden is a green oasis near the historic center of Rome, where 1,100 varieties of roses are planted! But for obvious reasons it is only open for 2 months a year (from April 21 to June 12, 2023, every day from 8.30 AM to &.30 OM, free of charge). So hurry up to see this beauty in June, because it will be gone in July! In addition, from the Rose Garden you can enjoy a magnificent view of Circo Massimo and the Palatine Hill.
Walk along the promenade along the Tiber
The annual outdoor festival Lungo il Tevere Roma takes place on the Tiber embankment from early June to early September.
As part of the festival, exhibitions, concerts, design fairs, and master classes are organized. In short, a pleasant atmosphere is created for a pleasant vacation overlooking the ancient river.
Entrance is free, but concerts and movie screenings may be charged. Also here you will find numerous restaurants and discos.
Where does it take place? On both sides of the Tiber River near the Ponte Garibaldi and Ponte Sublicio bridges. Entrance is from the Ghetto and Trastevere districts.
Visit a Wine Festival and Taste the Best Wines from All Over Italy
From June 17 to 23, 2024, Rome’s Parco di Tor di Quinto will host a unique event, the VinoForum wine festival, which brings together wine experts and chefs from all over Italy. The festival takes place outdoors and includes presentations of wine brands from 500 wineries, wine tastings, master classes and much more. Italy’s best restaurants will present samples of their dishes paired with different wines.
Cost of attendance: 20 euros.
Festival opening hours: Sunday-Thursday from 19.00 to 24.00, Friday-Saturday from 19.00 to 01.00.
Visit the multimedia light show at the Roman Forum
The season of multimedia light shows at the Roman Forum in 2023 is from June 10 to October 2. The ruins and stones will literally come to life before your eyes: with the help of a sophisticated system of projectors and audio system with headphones (including Russian language) you will travel back in time, see pictures of everyday life of the Eternal City during the reign of Caesar and the first Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus.
The show takes place in the evening and lasts 40-45 minutes. Price: 16 €.
Taste Seasonal Roman Products and Dishes
Be sure to try some unusual Roman dish with zucchini flowers (fiori di zucca). You can order them on pizza or fried in breadcrumbs and stuffed with mozzarella.
Have a Picnic in One of Rome’s Parks
Rome in June offers plenty of days with clear, sunny weather. Try spending one of them in the same place where the Romans themselves relax – in nature, in one of Rome’s many parks. There are many ideas: you can rent bicycles or a whole bicycle for the whole family, take a boat ride on a picturesque lake, have a picnic, or delight the children with a visit to the amusement rides in Villa Borghese Park.
What else to Do in Rome in June
- Learn the secrets of making Italian ice cream at a master class
- Take a tour of the Colosseum with the kids and then give them a training adventure at a real gladiator school.
- Visit the picturesque national park near Rome, Castelli Romani, to enjoy strawberry Prosecco and scenic views of ancient volcanic lakes
- Walk around the filming locations of famous movies shot in Rome, visit secret corners and picturesque streets on our unusual tour “The Eternal City and the Magic of Cinema”.
- Cook authentic Roman pasta at the Italian’s house
