Springtime in Rome: 5 activities to explore the Eternal City during the fairest of the seasons
Springtime in Rome is a delightful season for visitors and students alike, offering plenty of unique and unforgettable experiences. The Eternal City is known for its rich history, culture, and art, and spring is the perfect time to explore it all.
The city blossoms in perfect weather and offers a wide variety of activities that can enrich your visit and give you an unforgettable roman experience.
1. Explore the city’s gardens and parks
Rome is home to several stunning gardens and parks: considering its extension, the Eternal City has a remarkable tree cover rate, higher than Paris! Needless to say, in the springtime, all these wonderful, historic parks and gardens are their most beautiful. Aside from the renowned Villas (Villa Borghese and its unmissable museum, Villa Pamphili with its acres of green fields, or Villa Ada with its suggestive lake), the Roseto Comunale, for example, is a beautiful rose garden located on the Aventine Hill that opens to the public for a short period in May. A few steps from the Roseto, still on the Aventine Hill, the Giardino degli Aranci, offers breathtaking views of the city and is filled with orange trees in bloom. Another great option is the Appia Antica Regional Park, located just outside the city and offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of Rome. Finally, if you happen to visit Rome during the tulips’ blossoming season, do not miss the TuliPark, located outside of the city center, in the Casilino neighborhood, but definitely worth a visit.
2. Attend an Italian language course
Yes, we know, there’s a conflict of interest here, as our Italian language School in the center of Rome has been offering lessons to international students for more than 10 years now… but really, For those studying Italian in Rome, spring is the perfect time to learn the language. Whether you are in the city for a short time and need an intensive course or an expat looking for something more extensive, the fair weather and the possibility to enrich your Italian classes with a wide variety of outdoor activities will allow you to fully immerse in Rome’s vibrant culture and history.
3. Attend local events
Springtime in Rome is a time of celebration, with several events occurring throughout the season. From the traditional mass-pic nic of Easter Monday to the national holidays of April 25th (Liberation from Nazi-fascist occupation), May 1st (Labour’s Day), and June 2nd (Republic Day, with the historical army parade), you are spoiled for choice! Alongside these institutional events, in April, Rome hosts a Marathon that attracts runners worldwide.
4. Explore the surroundings of the city
The Italian weather during springtime makes it easier to engage in one-day trips to the stunningly beautiful surroundings of the Eternal City! An example is the Giardino di Ninfa, which is located about an hour south of Rome and is a must-visit destination for nature lovers. This stunningly beautiful garden can be only visited on selected dates and is only accessible through reservation, but it is worth the effort, as it is home to a variety of exotic plants, as well as a medieval castle and a beautiful lake. The Castelli Romani, instead, are a collection of charming towns and villages built alongside volcanic lakes in the hills surrounding Rome. The area is famous for its wines and traditional food and is scattered with traditional restaurants called “fraschette” where you can have an abundant meal of cold cuts for a very cheap price.
5. Rent a scooter and explore the city
Exploring Rome by scooter will allow you to sightsee the city at your own pace, and in springtime, you won’t have to worry that much about occasional showers or cold weather. You can rent a scooter for the day and explore the characteristic vicoli, and charming rioni, which are generally closed to car traffic. Just please be aware of the rules of the road and always wear a helmet! Traffic in Rome can be crazy, regardless of the season.
Springtime is the best (but not the cheapest) season to visit Rome
In conclusion, visiting Rome in the spring is a unique and unforgettable experience. And this is why springtime is now considered high season, if not in terms of the number of tourists, definitely in terms of prices. So if you wish to schedule your trip to Rome between March and June, plan it in time to save money and avoid stress!
