In the rose garden between the Circus Maximus and the Aventine Hill, the roses are in full bloom. In the cafes on the squares of the city no chair remains free. The sky is outrageously blue. Sometimes the wind blows a light sea breeze from the west, and the seagulls caw to match it as they circle around the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. If the weather cooperates, May in Rome is just wonderful! The promise of summer and long days at the beach is in the air and lifts the spirits of many Romans. The following nine tips, inspirations and suggestions should ensure a good mood on your trip to Rome in May.
Of course there is much more to see, experience and taste in the Eternal City. So I recommend you to have a look at the links at the end of the article. I have collected some Rome ideas here, from which you can put together your very own individual travel program off the beaten track.
Nine experiences in Rome in May:
#1 Visit a Street-Food-Festival In an Unusual Neighborhood
Unusual architecture and street food – this interesting combination awaits you from 01. to 05. May in the traditionally left leaning working class neighborhood of Garbatella. At 25 trucks, ApeCars and food stalls will be cooked and eaten for five days. Plus music, circus and lots of real Romans.
Daily from 13 – 24 in the Piazza di Sant `Eurosia. Metro B to Garbatella stop, then walk a bit more.
By the way, really good street food can be found all year round at the Nuovo Mercato in the Testaccio district.
#2 Admire art on house walls
In the south of Rome, in the Tor Marancia district, 20 street artists from 10 different countries have transformed the walls of a social housing estate into oversized works of art. The trip with bus line 714 (direction Palazzo dello Sport) from Termini central station is worthwhile for all Murales fans. After ca. 30 minutes bus ride, get off at the very wide Via Cristoforo Columbo at the Rufino stop. From there it's a few meters walk to Via Valeria Rufina/ corner Viale Tor Marancia. The art project "Big City Life is hard to miss.
#3 Drinking cappuccino in the trendy Monti district
The Piazza season in Rome starts in May at the latest. With the glorious temperatures, everyone wants to sit in the city's squares and enjoy the Roman open-air flair. The seats in Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori are very popular with tourists. If you like it a little quieter and more romantic, then I recommend a morning cappuccino break in the trendy Monti district. Very close to the Colosseum is the Piazza della Madonna dei Monti. The seats of the only cafe on the square are under ivy vines and you can have a sweet croissant with your cappuccino. If you prefer to drink your caffe in a typical Italian way at the counter of a lively bar, just go a few meters further to La Licata.
Bottega del Caffe, Piazza della Madonna dei Monti 5
La Licata, Via dei Serpenti 165
#4 At Night Through Roman Museums Strip
At 18. May the Roman museums open their doors again from 20 – 02 o'clock. The Capitoline Museums, the Forum of Trajan, the Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi in Piazza Navona and the Centrale Montemartini, for example, are all part of the nightly party.
The entrance costs in the Nachr of the museums by the way only one 1 euro.
Here are two museums that are open to visit beyond Museum Night in the evening:
Vatican Museums
Until October, the famous museums welcome every Friday evening from 7 to 11 pm (last admission 21.30 o'clock) Visitors. Book your ticket in advance online through the official website http://www.museivaticani.va/
Palazzo delle Esposizioni
The museum on Via Nazionale is hosting the World Press Photo Exhibition until the end of May. On Fridays and Saturdays, the impressive photos are on display until 22.30 o'clock to see. www.palazzoesposizioni.it
#5 "Prendere un Aperitivo" – Have an aperitivo with a view
From 6 pm starts the aperitivo time in Rome. Depending on the location, you can enjoy a wine, cocktail or spritz with culinary delights ranging from small bites to sumptuous buffets. At these three locations, particularly beautiful views await you at aperitivo hour:
Baja – Houseboat on the Tiber
"See and be seen" is the name of the evening on the houseboat called "Baja", anchored near the Piazza del Popolo. Tasty snacks are on the menu here to go with the cocktails. Great sunset atmosphere!
www.bajaroma.it
Hotel Atlante – roof terrace with dome view
The tourist density on the roof terrace of the Hotel Atlante is quite high. A circumstance that is easy to get over with the fabulous view of the dome of St. Peter's with a cocktail.
Terrazza Les Etoiles, Hotel Atlante, Via dei Bastioni
Freni e Frizioni – Hipster watching in Trastevere
Admittedly, Freni e Frizioni is not an aperitivo secret tip. The bar near Piazza Trilussa has been a popular meeting place for casual Romans and hip tourists for years now. For apertivo, not only are cool cocktails shaken by even cooler barmaids and barmen, but vegetarian treats are also on offer.
Via Politeama 4, from 18.30 o'clock
#6 Take a shopping tour through Rome
May is traditionally the time for the cambio di stagione in Roman closets. The spring and summer clothes are brought out and the boots and down jackets disappear for the next months. If you want to give your closet a change of season, I recommend a shopping tour through Rome. The matching blog article with the most beautiful shopping districts in the eternal city can be found here.
#7 Licking gelato with a true ice cream master
For what feels like an eternity, gelato from the OTALEG ice cream factory has been at the top of the Roman ice cream rankings. On the one hand there are the unusual ice creations like Cacio e Pepe (pecorino cheese and pepper) and on the other hand the sensational classics like pistachio, which the ice creator Marco Radicione has been making at a high level for years. Some time ago the best ice cream parlor in Rome moved to the center, to Trastevere. In the reduced premises near Piazza Santa Maria Trastevere, the ice cream lover rather imagines himself in a reduced, modern art gallery. With no visual distractions, the focus is all on the delicious ice cream! Enjoy it!
Otaleg, Via di San Cosimato 14 a, Sun – Thu: 12 – 22 h, Fri – Sat: 12 – 24 h
#8 Bringing the Caracalla thermal baths to life
Although the Baths of Caracalla are a short walk from the Colosseum, few tourists make it as far as the ancient remains of the once magnificent bathing baths. In the all-around wellness facility, the stressed-out Romans stood from 216 n. Chr. Fitness rooms, libraries, relaxation rooms and, of course, bathing halls are available for your relaxation. Thanks to modern technology and 3-D glasses, you no longer have to use your imagination, you can see the incredible luxury with your own eyes.
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Tue – Sun: 9 to 19.3 p.m
#9 Spending a wonderful morning in TRastevere
Tourists from all continents meet in Rome! I always find it remarkable how similarly these different people spend their time in the eternal city. Most of you flock to either the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, the Colosseum, in front of the Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps in the morning. Meanwhile, the rest of Rome is free, as in Trastevere in the morning. I have long harbored with this district. In the evenings and on Sundays, when the narrow streets are overflowing with people and the hustle and bustle from the tourist places puts the whole neighborhood into turmoil, the charm of Trastevere is lost. In all the hustle and bustle, there is not much to be seen or felt of the urban romance and the Italian small-town flair with plenty of patina. In the morning, however, Trastevere shows itself pure, sleepy and heart-stoppingly beautiful. What you should see on a morning walk through the cobblestone streets, I wrote down in this blog article.
**Rome in May – My Two Restaurant Tips**
If the weather is good, in May you can enjoy the fresh air not only at noon but also in the evening. However, a glance at the weather forecast suggests that, at least in the first days of May, a warm seat won't hurt after sunset:
#Piacere Molise – Italian country cuisine in the shadow of the Vatican Museums
My very first favorite restaurant in Rome is still close to my heart and palate. The small ristorante celebrates the simple, honest and delicious cuisine of Molise. My husband's family comes from this rather internationally unknown Italian region. But Italians know: Qui si mangia bene. Eating well here. And in the case of the Piacere Molise also warmly! Hopefully, the family atmosphere will warm your heart as well.
Via Candia 60
#Retrobottega – Culinary back-to-the-roots avant-garde
The restaurant near the Pantheon is a must for foodies whose palates are looking for that "something special" in Rome are. Behind the concept of Retrobottega are Alessandro Miocchi and Giuseppe Lo Iudice. What sets these two young gentlemen apart from other chefs in Rome? They are conservative keepers of good taste, but in an innovative way. They question traditional cuisine, get to the bottom of each ingredient. Then they compose a new, exciting dish that focuses on just a few ingredients. This reduction to the essentials in terms of taste is not only well received by restaurant critics.