This week, from Monday to Sunday in mid-June 2026, Rome heads straight into summer. Although the event calendar is quieter than at other times of the year, you still have three great options to plan your days and avoid the hottest hours. Walking through the streets in the middle of the day is starting to get tiring, so the best strategy is to plan your activities for early morning or take advantage of evening openings.
We have selected three specific activities for these days, perfect for those traveling with children and for anyone wanting to see the most famous monuments in a different light.
Creative workshops for children on weekends
If you are traveling with children, you know how difficult it can be to balance classic museum visits with activities dedicated entirely to them. During the weekends of June 2026, the city museum network offers specific activities to engage young visitors in hands-on crafts, drawing, and discovery.
These sessions, called Smartlabs, take place on weekends and require booking in advance. You can find details about the venues and how to register by visiting the page dedicated to laboratori creativi per i più piccoli on the official tourism portal. Activities usually run in the morning, leaving your afternoon free to rest before evening walks.
Evening openings at the Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are among the busiest sites in the city, and visiting them during the day in summer requires a good deal of patience. A great alternative is to take advantage of the special evening openings, which run every Friday and Saturday during the summer season.
An evening entry allows you to walk through the galleries in much more pleasant temperatures. For the latest evening opening hours, please check the official Vatican Museums website. Keep in mind that entry is only allowed if you buy your ticket in advance. You can check available dates and purchase tickets directly on the sito ufficiale dei Musei Vaticani. To get there, you can take the metro, checking the most convenient stop on the official website.
The Colosseum under the moon
Another option to avoid the daytime heat is a night tour of the Flavian Amphitheatre. This initiative lets you enter the monument after regular closing hours, once the sun has set and the ruins are lit up by spotlights.
Guided night tours usually run in small groups and allow you to go down to the arena floor, an area that is highly exposed to the sun during the day. Spots for these evening visits are limited and sell out quickly. Tickets and the official opening calendar are managed by the portale di Coopculture, where you must book well in advance. The metro stop is located a short distance from the entrance to the archaeological site.
How to get around and manage your travel
To move between these activities without suffering too much from the heat, it is important to know the public and private transport options available in the city. Here are the practical details to plan your journeys:
- Rome Metro: Managed by the local public transport company, it includes several lines connecting key areas. For up-to-date information on ticket prices, please check the ATAC website. For the latest metro operating hours, please check the ATAC website. It is the fastest way to reach the city's main points of interest.
- City buses: Also run by ATAC, they cover the entire urban area; for updated fares, please check the ATAC website. During the summer, routes may change or be detoured due to roadworks or temporary events. To check the status of the lines in real time, we recommend checking the information on the sito ufficiale del Comune di Roma before you set off.
- Official taxi service: Official Rome taxis are white and have a sign on the roof. Fares vary based on the taximeter, which must always be turned on at the start of the ride. If you need to travel at night or have a lot of luggage, you can find taxis at designated ranks (such as at Termini or Largo di Torre Argentina) or book them through the main mobility apps active in the city. For details on official city fare limits, refer to the official guidelines on the city council portal.
How to get there and opening hours
- Smartlabs: Morning activities on weekends. For exact locations and transport, refer to the booking forms on the official portal.
- Vatican Museums evening openings: For updated hours and directions on how to get there, check the official website.
- Colosseum at night: For updated hours and directions on how to get there, check the official website.
Practical tips for the week
To make the most of your days in mid-June, we recommend always carrying a water bottle. Throughout the city, you will find the historic cast-iron drinking fountains, known as nasoni, which provide free, fresh drinking water. You can easily locate them during your walks. Avoid planning walks between 12:00 and 16:00, choosing air-conditioned museums or resting at your accommodation during those hours.