Rome events in October 2023 - Holidays, exhibits, concerts, and other things to do

Domus Aurea

Domus Aurea 

The beloved Isis. Nero, Domus Aurea and Egypt

150 objects that recount the relationship between Rome and Egypt during the first century AD

from 22 June 2023 to 14 January 2024

Tickets here

Capitoline Museums

A virtual trip into the atmospheres and the lighting systems of the ancient world through more than 180 original bronze exhibits from the cities of Vesuvio and Roma.

from 5 July 2023 to 8 October 2023

Advanced booking is required

Chiostro del Bramante

Infinity. Michelangelo Pistoletto.

Contemporary art without limits.

Through 15 October 2023.

Chiostro del Bramante is just behind Piazza Navona.

Monday to Friday 10 am - 8 pm

Saturday and Sundays 10 am - 9 pm

The box office and show entrance close one hour before.

15€ Weekdays. 18€ Saturdays and Sundays.

Advance booking strongly suggested.

Appia Day

October 1st is Appia Day: an opportunity to celebrate the charm and enchantment of Appia Antica. For more information visit the link.

October 14th and 15th, the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the National Trust for Italy) offers visits to some special places around Italy. For each visit, they request a small contribution.

The places include villas, churches, palazzos, castles, archeological sites and more.

You can see the list of places to visit on their website, which is in Italian only (there is an English language version of the generic portion of the website.)

The first Sunday of the month, Rome's Civic Museums are free for everyone.

On Sunday October 1, 2023, you can visit the Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis, Villa Torlonia, Trajan's Market and many others for free.

For more details and booking, click the link below to visit the official site.

Advance booking is required.

In October, you may visit Rome's catacombs for free. The annual "Day of the Catacombs" offers visitors the chance to visit, and tour, some of the miles and miles of catacombs around Rome.

See their website for the itinerary and booking information.

Saturday October 7th 2023

Rome's special Roseto Comunale Rose Garden, on the Aventine Hill overlooking the Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill, is normally only open briefly in spring.

Since 2016, they open this lovely garden again in October, as the roses are in their second bloom.

Confirmation of dates pending -October 8-22, 2023

Tiber Day/Tevere Day

For 3 years in a row, Rome has celebrated "Tiber River Day", a day in which activities along the river are promoted, in an effort to bring awareness to this important site in Rome. This year the event will be celebrated over three days, October 6-8.

The lifeblood of Rome since long before the Roman Empire, the Tiber River is often neglected and forgotten. "Tevere Day" is an effort to promote and protect the river.

There will be events on October 6th , 7th and 8th all along the river banks. You can learn more on their Facebook page here.

This year for 2023 the events are October 6-8.

In October 2023, the Free Sunday is October 1.

You can expect the Colosseum to be pretty much a mob scene.

I'd highly recommend visiting one of the other sites that is also free on this day, like the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, or Ostia Antica.

In October 2023, the Free Sunday at the Vatican Museums is October 29.

On the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican Museums are open and free. Hours are reduced (9:30am - 2pm, with last entry at 12:30pm). Expect long lines.

If you are on a budget, or have limited time, this can be a great opportunity. 

You cannot buy tickets in advance for the Free Sunday, but you can book a tour of the museums through the Vatican. If you don't want to book this tour, just come early. By early I mean by 8am.

But otherwise I recommend you book your visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.

The Vatican Museums are open Friday and Saturday until 10:30 pm (Mon - Thu until 6:30 pm). Last entry 2 hrs prior to closing time.

The ticket is a regular ticket and must be booked in advance.

Click here to book your tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on Friday night.

When in Rome . . . why not attend a gladiator battle? This fantastic show is produced by the Gruppo Storico Romano, with professional re-enactors, and real weapons and armor.

Take your seat in the re-constructed arena, not far from the Colosseum, and enjoy realistic gladiator fights, and other shows including ancient dances, rites of the Vesta, and more.

At the end of the show, you'll be treated to a small aperitif consisting of food and drink made with recipes from Ancient Rome.

Fridays and Sundays. 25€.

Visit the Colosseum by moonlight!

From now through December 31, 2023, you can visit the Colosseum at night. I'd say this is one of the very best Rome events in October as you get to see the Colosseum lit up at night, and it's much less crowded than during the day.

Entry for night visits to the Colosseum is NOT part of the Roma Pass.

NB - They don't usually open this on Coopculture until right before the event so if you don't see availability for when you want to go, check back.

If you are a movie buff, enjoy the movie-stars and new releases at the Rome Film Festival then this festival is for you! The events are held throughout October.

The festival takes place in many locations around Rome. For details, click the picture to visit the official site.

There is lots of wonderful opera in Rome in October, right in Rome's beautiful Teatro dell'Opera (Opera House.)

The Rome Auditorium is open and you can attend wonderful concerts and other events.

Get your Rome Opera Pass to choose from a number of shows inside a scenic and suggestive setting in central Rome (locations vary).

These wonderful opera singers put on a mini-production of various operas, often in full costume.

Visit the extraordinary Capuchin Crypt, then head into the recently restored church to listen to sacred music in a gorgeous setting.

Wednesday afternoons.

Don't miss this unique opera + aperitivo on one of Rome's most amazing rooftops, the Borromini Terrace. Combine beautiful music, with the stunning baroque setting on Piazza Navona, and a special aperitivo, to make for a fabulous evening in Rome.

There's a maximum 30 people (including an art historian guide), to keep this experience exclusive and special.

Friday evenings.

The Three Tenors - Nessun Dorma

See the "Three Tenors" in a beautiful church setting.

You will be treated to three of Rome's most famous tenors singing some of the best-known and loved songs of Neapolitan opera, accompanied by the Mandolin Orchestra.

Music from La Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, and many others. 

Saturday evenings. From 25€.

Enjoy private access to one of Rome's most exclusive rooftops right on Piazza Navona, while sipping your aperitivo and listening to Italian opera classics from Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini.

Tuesday and Sunday early evenings.