You see quite a hump in the summer temperatures in Rome. It's no wonder Romans leave the Eternal City in August.
Even if the high temperatures don't scare you, let me remind you that with all the asphalt and big stone buildings retaining the sun's heat, hot nights spent in a hotel room that's not air conditioned can feel many degrees hotter than the outside temperature. In July and August, high humidity makes the heat even more unbearable to those sensitive to it.
Without fail, Romans recommend that the best time to travel to Rome is from mid-September to October. Yes, it might rain, but the temperatures turn out to be quite nice, even if it is getting a tiny bit chilly at night. Almost no one recommends November, but I've had very good luck the last few years with weather in the first half of November.
Notice that the most rainfall occurs in the late fall and early winter in Rome.
May has almost the same temperatures as October, and April, while you're likely to feel chilly at night, is almost as good. March weather is really changeable, becoming more stable in April.
Spring and fall are the best times for visiting Rome.
Rome is notorious for unlicensed taxis that'll really take you for a ride. Find out how much a cab ride should cost, and the best ways to avoid unpleasantness: Rome Taxis.
Rome's Main station is called Termini. There is a smaller station called Tiburtina. Lazio is full of things to see, many easily done as a day trip from Rome on the train. See Italy by Train to check train times or purchase point to point tickets for smaller journeys. A rail pass is only worthwhile if your trips are long.
Click on the tabs to see more.
Rome has two airports. The largest is Fiumicino, but Ciampino handles a lot of traffic from inside Europe. The Aeroporti di Roma site gives information on both.
See a Fiumicino Airport Map.
For budget airlines that serve Italy, see: Italy Low Cost Airlines
To get to and from Civitavecchia from Fiumicino, see: Civitavecchia to Rome Transportation
To get from Fiumicino into Rome, see Rome Airport to Central Rome Transportation
Fiumicino Airport Hotels (FCO)
Ciampino Airport Hotels (CIA)
You can get tickets to all attractions when you arrive in Rome, of course. Many people like to have them in advance, thus avoiding long lines, especially in the summer and fall season. Select Italy is a reputable company that sells tickets to many museums and events in Italy. Here are some links for Rome:
One of the most popular things to do in Rome is to enjoy a trip to the Vatican Museums. There are several ways to avoid the ticket lines. See: Rome Vatican Museum Tickets.
Map of Rome: Interactive, zoom in and out.
See a Fiumicino Airport Map.
Street Map of Rome: see Rome street by street
Rome Appian Way Map - Walk the interesting Appian Way
Hotels in Rome are Expensive. Our favorite places to stay are the Daphne Inn, for its helpful staff and good location, and the Hotel Residenza in Farnese [read a review] for its quiet location near the Camp di Fiori.
Like inexpensive? Try some Rome Hostels.
Friends back from Rome highly recommend the cheaper Hotel Licrico. Another hotel we like near termini is the Des Artistes.
Another alternative that really appeals to us, is to rent a villa or apartment in Rome. See Select Italy's List for more. It's not as expensive as you might think, and villas don't have to have hundreds of rooms, either. Also see: Rome Hotels - RomeBy.Com