There is no better time for a weekend break in Rome than All Saints’ Day, the festivity that stretches from Friday 31st of October to Sunday 2nd of November.
It’s the first public holiday weekend in Italy after the summer holidays and the last before the Christmas holidays
All Saints’ Day is thoroughly celebrated in Rome, cradle of Christianity. The city takes on a special aura. Borgo Pio, a stone-throw away from the Vatican, is definitely worth visiting in between one religious ceremony and the next; and why not attend mass in St Peter’s? Not to mention the churches of Campo Marzio, among which San Gregorio Dei Muratori, a small gem, definitely worth a peek at this special time; as well as many others.
The less devout can enjoy themselves amidst the monsters that populate the streets on the night of Halloween, which this year falls on Saturday Friday 31st of October.
The city offers during this weekend in Rome plenty to do to families, couples, groups of friends, and even lone travelers looking for adventure. With some luck one can find love even under a zombie costume! There are in fact plenty of bars and other premises organizing fun events.
The temperature in the city at the end of October is usually very pleasant and enjoyable.
Halloween in Rome for children
Family holidays often call for comfortable accommodation, in handy locations for travel and sightseeing. The historic centre is always a good option because attractions are within walking distance. Moreover, it’s one of the safest areas in the city, monitored by law enforcement and residents (in truth this is not a particularly relevant observation considering that Rome is overall very safe, except for some remote areas in the outskirts). Undoubtedly the historic centre, together with the Garbatella and Trastevere neighborhoods, are areas suited to children where one can extensively walk, unhindered by traffic, almost like on a large pedestrian island. This is even truer on Halloween, when from early morning the city is buzzing with a special atmosphere.
In the historic centre, a walk in Villa Borghese park leads to the Civic Museum of Zoology, which organizes events for children of all ages, with challenges, labs, experiments, riddles; coupling science and fun. Many shops will grab children’s attention with disguises and custom-built masks.
It’s also a great occasion to visit Castroni in Via Frattina for local sweets.
Every neighborhood livens up for All Saints’ Day.
- Historic Centre
Villa Borghese
Museo civico di Zoologia (Civic Museum of Zoology) - Flaminio
Museo Explora - Testaccio
Testaccio Market - Trastevere
Azucar Family Lab
Drinking and Eating in Rome during All Saints’ Holiday
Rome has always been a destination for food lovers. Strolling in the city centre on Halloween weekend means bumping into roasted chestnuts sellers, whom Romans call ‘caldarrostai’. They often sit on street corners and in squares, wearing hats and gloves, armed with coals and pans, offering sweet-smelling, yummy, warm roasted chestnuts wrapped in bread paper. As a matter of fact there is no better time to eat roasted chestnuts than an autumn weekend, since it’s an autumnal food.
The city markets burst full of pumpkins. They can be seen in the stalls of Campo Dei Fiori, Monte d’Oro and Testaccio. Pumpkins are not just the symbol of Halloween, they are also a seasonal vegetable that tastes the best around this time of year. So, give a warm welcome to pumpkin gnocchi with plenty of cheese!
If a craving for porcini mushroom fettuccine should arise, this is just the right time to satisfy it. As an autumnal food, porcini mushrooms go well with meat, but they can also be eaten on their own, served perhaps with a side dish of potatoes.
Basically, autumn in Rome is full of tasty dishes dressed with olive oil, and washed down by wine from local Lazio wineries, made just after the harvest.
The city is full of eateries in every area. The historic centre, also because of its size, hosts many quality restaurants, offering not only authentic traditional cuisine. Indeed here you can find also novelties and experimental dishes. Each neighborhood has its hidden gems.
- Historic Centre
Giulio passami l’olio
Roscioli
Il desiderio preso per la coda
Retrobottega - Prati
Matriciano - Trastevere
Elementare
Taverna Trilussa - Testaccio
Felice - Garbatella
La mescita
Il ristoro degli angeli
Clubbing in Rome during All Saints’ Holiday
Where best to celebrate Halloween? There is nothing to stop an evening or night stroll between aperitifs in various parts of the city. One could start with coffee in Bar Peru in Via Monserrato and then have an aperitif at Camponeschi in Piazza Farnese, or a glass of wine in Piazza Campo dei Fiori ; otherwise a nice beer in bar San Callisto in Trastevere, in honor of the Celts whom we owe Halloween to, and who have a long standing culture of brewing excellent beers. The historic centre certainly offers a variety of choices and spaces. Halloween can even be spent in the streets of the Trastevere neighborhood with its dynamic and lively energy.
For those seeking music-based entertainment we have made a list of venues by area.
- Flaminio
Maxxi - Testaccio
Testaccio Market
OFF Living Room - Hisoric Centre
The Sanctuary Eco Retreat
La Ménagère
La Cabala - Trastevere
Ripa Grande
Cultural events in Rome during All Saints’ Holiday
Even though the city has turned into a party venue, let us not forget art. The first Sunday of the month brings with it free entry to museums for everyone. Which, this year, falls on none other than the 2nd of November.
There are also many interesting live events throughout Halloween’s night in Villa Medici.
Roma Europa Festival (Rome Europe Festival) will host contemporary art in different location. Flowers Works of art in the Chiostro del Bramante. Contemporary art populates la Galleria Nazionale di arte moderna e contemporanea.
- Testaccio
Mattatoio - Historic Centre
Galleria Nazionale di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Villa Medici
Chiostro del Bramante
Where to stay in Rome during All Saints’ Holiday
The choice of where to stay in Rome must be made taking into account various factors, like the type of premise, time, favorite neighborhoods, and the value for money factor. The historic centre in this sense offers a wide variety of options: from hotels to apart-ments, to B&Bs, and Guest Houses.
For a fun weekend, a holiday apartment in the city center of Rome as it is Fontana più Stella, is a good option because it doesn’t have the constraints of breakfast time, and rigid check-in/out times; in fact having a whole apartment, with services always available, but in total autonomy, allows great independence in time management. Not to mention that crossing a hotel reception area dressed in a zombie outfit might be quite a challenge, on the other hand it could be fun? B&Bs can offer a nice experience if the space is shared with a welcoming family or with other lodgers like in a Guest House. For young adults traveling with friends hostels are also a fun option, where one can mingle with other fellow travelers.