Our recent article on what to do on a rainy day in Florence has proved enormously popular. That, combined with the fact that (much to our annoyance) it still seems to be raining outside the Bookings For You offices, has inspired us to also share our top tips on what to do in Rome when it rains. Yet again, whilst we would love to pretend that the sun shines every day in Italy, unfortunately it’s not always the case! And when it does rain in Rome, it can sometimes pour down. Big puddles can quickly appear in the streets and open air sightseeing can become quickly rather unpleasant.
But, the good thing is that there is so much to see and do on a rainy day in Rome that a few raindrops don’t need to spoil your stay. Whilst we do admit to starting to lose count, by our reckoning there are over 120 museums in Rome to discover and a staggering 900 churches, all of which offer the opportunity to explore Rome whilst keeping nice and dry. So, sit back, relax and enjoy our list of the top things to do in Rome when it is raining.
The Pantheon dates back to 120 AD and is arguably the best surviving Roman monument anywhere in the world. It is home to the tomb of Raphael along with the tombs of several Italian Kings and poets. Even today, its impressive dome is still the largest unsupported dome in the world, measuring over 43 metres in diameter with a large hole in the ceiling (oculus) letting in the only source of light.
Interesting, it’s this hole that is in part the reason we recommend you visit in the rain. After all, as well as letting in light, it also lets in rain. But learning (and seeing at first hand) how Roman engineering ensured that the rain gets drained away is truly fascinating. Just one word of warning – whilst the area that gets most wet tends to be cordoned off when it rains, the rest of the floor can still get very slippy as wet footprints become more and more frequent, so do just watch your step.
The good news is that entry to the Pantheon is free and most of the time, there aren’t big queues to enter. At most, you should only need to wait five minutes. However, should you want to learn a bit more about this Roman Temple, then we can thoroughly recommend booking a guided tour of the Pantheon. It’s well worth listening to an expert relate the engineering feats that went into its construction or hearing someone describe its history not just as a Roman temple but later as a Christian church and resting place.
Admire the artwork in the Vatican museums
The Vatican Museums are most famous for being the home of Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’ fresco on the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel. However, the museums are actually home to 70,000 artworks including sculptures, tapestries and paintings by many other world renowned Renaissance artists including Raphael, Bernini, Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio.
All indoors, the Vatican Museums is the perfect place to spend a few hours if you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day in Rome. That said, it is one of Rome’s most popular and busiest attractions so we do advise you book Vatican Museum skip the line tickets in advance to avoid finding yourself queuing for hours in the rain.
Marvel at the masterpieces in the Borghese Gallery
The Borghese Gallery is one of the world’s most famous art galleries, home to works of art by painters such as Caravaggio, Bassano and Raphael. There are also some incredible sculptures too, such as Bernini’s David and his Apollo and Daphne or Canova’s neo-classical portrait sculpture of Paolina Borghese. Many of the rooms of the villa are also covered in beautiful frescoes providing a stunning backdrop to the artworks on display.
Book a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery and make sure you’re not queuing outside to get in. Or book Villa Borghese skip the line tickets if you just want to admire the artwork on your own. If the rain does dry up, then do take the opportunity to enjoy a walk around the Borghese gardens which surround it. These are free to enter.
Visit Rome’s others museums
With over 120 museums in Rome, it would be impossible to list them all in our guide on what to do when it is raining in Rome. However, if you’re looking for last minute attractions in Rome, you may find that tickets are all sold out to Rome’s most popular museums. So it’s worth looking at discovering some of Rome’s lesser known museums instead. Some of our favourites worth a special mention include Centrale Montemartini. The contrast between the Roman statues and mosaics which are on display with the old power plant in which they are housed is beautiful in itself. If you prefer something a bit more contemporary then Rome’s Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM) is definitely worth a trip. It is home to the largest collection of modern art anywhere in Italy. Or if you’re more of a history buff, then make a beeline for the Capitoline Museums instead.
Here, an impressive collection of arts and artefacts all tell the history of Rome. The Museo di Roma is also a favourite of ours. This is situated in the Palazzo Braschi which overlooks Piazza Navona. As well as housing an interesting collection which documents the history of Rome, it also boasts some wonderful views over the piazza below.
And a couple more that definitely that shouldn’t be missed are the Welcome to Rome multimedia experience and Le Domus Romane. The latter is a chance to view ancient Roman remains whilst also using 21st century virtual reality technology to truly bring it to life. The former is described as an edutainment experience. It’s certainly another incredible way to bring the history of city to life. Visit this come rain or shine!
Head to St Peter’s Basilica and dome
The good news is that a visit to St Peter’s is free. The bad news is that, at certain times of year, you can expect long queues to get in simply because of the sheer numbers of people wanting to visit. This won’t be much fun if it’s a rainy day in Rome. Instead, your best bet may be to consider booking a guided tour of St Peter’s Basilica. This is a way of guaranteeing a visit with a fixed time slot.
However you choose to access it, the dome of the basilica is certainly its most striking feature and, if the rain isn’t too heavy we would definitely recommend also taking the time to climb up to the dome and to walk around the roof. From here, you will enjoy some terrific views of the city of Rome. To access it, head towards the right hand side of the portico where you will find the ticket office and the lift that leads to the roof.
Visit Rome’s other churches
We’ve already highlighted that there are more churches in Rome than in any other city in the world. Arguably, there is no better time to start ticking these off your list that on a rainy day in Rome. Some of the most important that you may wish to prioritise when you’re looking for things to do when it is raining in Rome include the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary), San Giovanni in Laterano (which, believe it or not, is actually the official cathedral of Rome and the seat of the bishop of Rome (who is the Pope!)) and Santa Maria in Trastevere which was probably Rome’s first church.
Also of note is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, which is arguably the finest Gothic churches anywhere in Italy, and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, which contains some incredible artworks.
Discover Rome’s hidden courtyard
The Galleria Sciarra is possibly Rome’s best-kept secret. Just a short walk from the Trevi Fountain, it is one of the most beautiful courtyards in the world and yet most people will just pass by without even knowing it is there!
The Galleria Sciarra is a spectacular example of Art Nouveau design, covered in incredibly beautiful frescoes by Giuseppe Cellini, most of which are a celebration of women in their various stages of life. The courtyard dates back to the 19th century. It was originally intended as a shopping mall and was built for the wealthy Sciarra family. The glass and iron ceiling will protect you from the elements on a rainy day in Rome but will ensure that plenty of sunlight can still spill into the courtyard, illuminating the frescoes that adorn the walls.
Go underground!
Surely there is no better suggestion for what to do in Rome when it rains than to head underground to escape the elements? There are a few great opportunities to do this. The first is to visit one of Rome’s largest Mithraic temples situated next to the Circus Maximus. Once a space dedicated to the mystery cult of the god Mithras, this temple lay undiscovered for centuries until it was discovered in 1931. Little is known about the Mithraic Mysteries but they gained popularity in Rome between the 1st and 4th centuries, eventually dying out as Christianity grew in popularity.
The other opportunity to head underground to Rome’s catacombs. The largest of these are the Catacombe di San Callisto, a spectacular network of early Christian cemeteries. As part of a Rome catacombs tour, you can also include a visit to the rather morbid Santa Maria della Concezione crypts. The crypt is filled with the skulls and bones of deceased Capuchin friars. It was created after 1631, when the capuche friars left their friary near the Trevi fountain and instead came to live at Santa Maria della Concezione. They were told by Cardinal Antonion Barberini to bring the remains of any deceased friars with them to their new home so that they could all be in one place together. But rather than burying them as you may have expected them to, they instead lavishly decorated the walls of the crypts with the bones, as an important reminder that death can come at any time.
And finally, Nero’s Domus Aurea is also underground. Once the lavish palace of the Emperor Nero, it now sits completely underground.
Go shopping!
Whilst many of Rome’s shops would require you to dodge the showers as you go in and out of various stores, if you want to spend more time out of the rain, head to La Rinascente. They have a number of stores in Rome but the flagship store on Via del Tritone is the best option. Shop until you drop and then relax in their top floor bar and restaurant and take in the impressive views which it boasts over Rome. Alternatively, head to the Galleria Alberto Sordi. The latter is a stunning building dating on the Via del Corso back to the early 1900s.
Alternatively, if haggling (and food) are more your thing, then opt to head to one of Rome’s indoor markets. These include the small Mercato dell’UnitĂ , the Mercato di Testaccio (which also sells clothes as well as food) and the Mercato di Campagna Amica. Booking a Rome market tour can be a really good idea if you want to learn more about Rome’s food heritage (and enjoy the chance to sample some of the most delicious foodstuffs from the best market stalls.
Last but not least on our list of top 10 things to do in Rome when it’s raining is a cookery class in Rome. One of the reasons we love Italy so much is its food and there can be no better way of avoiding the rain for a few hours than by learning to cook from Italians.
Hopefully we’ve convinced you that you don’t need to worry about what you’re going to do when it’s raining in Rome. There is so much to see indoors in Italy’s capital city that a few rain showers certainly don’t need to spoil your stay! However, whether it’s rain or shine in Rome, we always recommend you book your Rome tickets and experiences in advance through Get Your Guide.