What to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve?

For those who are planning the New Year in Rome today we will give you some tips on where to go and what to see. I can tell you that it’s an amazing, unforgettable and super different experience! If you still don’t know which city to go to for New Year, read our Special Post on Where to go on New Year’s Eve in Italy? Now let’s get to know what to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve! Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!” Read also: Examples of Itineraries in Italy!

Introduction

The New Year in Rome is always very busy: the city is very lively, full and the cold doesn’t scare anyone away. Preparations start early and Rome soon takes on a very festive atmosphere! First thing to do: book the supper (cenone) and the hotel in advance, because, with a busy city, it is very difficult to find a restaurant that serves without reservation and it is very common to find closed restaurants, so plan ahead . Clicking here on this post you will find some tips to book a supper for the New Year in Rome. Read also What to do in Rome at Christmas time?

1) What to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve? PIAZZA DELL´ EMPORIO AND PIAZZA BOCCA DELLA VERITÀ

The party in Rome is well distributed and there are many attractions throughout the city! You can find very nice parties in several squares; among the liveliest, those in Piazza dell’Emporio and Piazza Bocca della Verità. Discover our Section on Festivities in Italy!

2) What to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve? CIRCUS MAXIMUS

The maximum concentration of people in the New Year, however, is at Circus Maximus, which is a very spacious are, formerly dedicated to horse racing and which today hosts several events: get ready for the crowd! It gets CROWDED! It’s not difficult for people to start meeting very early, around 6 pm, so if you want to go there, don’t go so late, OK?!

The party there starts at 9:00 pm and goes on until 3:00 am. The program includes a show with a DJ, concerts with music and dance performances and, at midnight, the traditional fireworks display; then again a DJ to cheer the crowd on! The official website of Capodanno Di Roma presents the FULL schedule of the party that lasts, practically, 24 hours! Yes: it starts on the 31st and only ends on the night of the 1st of January.

Tip

For those who like nativity scenes, a very nice tour is to visit the Vatican’s 100 Nativity scenes. It runs from December 9th to January 12th, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and it’s FREE! On the 24th and 31st of December, reduced hours, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The event takes place at Sala San Pio X, located in Via dell’ospedale, 1 – Vatican. Find out how to visit the Vatican Museum by clicking here!

3) What to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve? PRIVATE PARTIES

If you want something more ‘calm’, you can choose to spend the New Year’s Eve at closed parties. Several hotels, especially luxury hotels, offer great options for those who prefer to stay indoors. Hotels like Le Meridien, Mercure Roma, Hotel La Griffe and Sheraton offer great programming and also welcome non-guests, but reservations are required. Discover our Section on Accommodations in Italy!

Golden Tip

If you want a list of ALL New Year’s Eve parties in Italy, you can access the website Capodanno 31, which offers excellent options for all tastes, budgets and audiences. You can choose by location, type of party and in several cities the party that best fits your profile.

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Useful information

But once in the eternal city, what to do while waiting for the countdown? Well then: Rome works (almost) normally until 06:00 pm on December 31st, as they do not ‘stop’ on New Year’s Eve; so shops, lunch restaurants, museums, monuments and churches are normally available – always check the times of the chosen destinations.

There is, however, an important place that closes on December 31st and January 1st: the Vatican Museum. That’s because they need to prepare the New Year’s Mass and, for that, they also close St Peter’s Square, from midday onwards! Therefore, I don’t suggest that you choose this day to go to the Vatican. On January 1st, public holiday, museums and monuments DO NOT WORK, including the Colosseum. So try to plan to visit some places on December 31st.

Attention

Around 02:00 pm on December 31st, some central streets start to have traffic closed, as it is at this time that they begin to build structures for shows and for fireworks. So, if you can, avoid circulating around the Roman center at these times, as the police may not let you pass some places!

Fireworks

Speaking of fireworks: don’t expect a huge fireworks display! In Italy, everything is much more modest, but it is still beautiful!

Public Transport

Public transport works at alternative times and the metropolitan line (subway) works until 2:30 am on January 1st, but it only reopens at 8:00 am, so make arrangements if you are far from your hotel! On the other hand, buses, trains and trams operate only until 9:00 pm on December 31st, and will also circulate again on January 1st, at 8:00 am. Learn here How to use the subway in Rome? and How to Get Around Rome with Public Transport?

Tip

December 26th is the day of St Stephen, that is, it is a HOLIDAY IN ITALY! Some museums and monuments function normally, some don’t! Of course, when you buy your ticket online, the calendar will inform you of the closing and opening days, so be aware, OK?

Curiosity

The color of the Italian New Year is red! Of course, it is very difficult to find someone in white in the crowd dressed in dark colors, after all it is cold, it often rains, so white is not the most chosen color for the occasion, but a red piece is the rule for Italians; usually use in underwear!

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What do Italians eat on New Year?

Many people ask what is a typical Italian menu at a New Year’s party, well, let’s get to it!

The favorite dish

The most beloved and traditional dish of Italians on New Year’s Eve is lentils and cotechino. Cotechino is a sausage stuffed with pork skin and, despite being very greasy, it’s delicious and, when done well, it’s even light. It is usually cooked and some people cook it with the lentils. Speaking of lentils, they are cooked for forty minutes in an onion, celery and carrot stew, with a little tomato paste and served with a little salt and oil. Another typical dish, cotechino’s “cousin”, is Zampone, which is very similar to the sausage we mentioned above and, of course, also comes with lentils.

The Antipasti

It’s hard to imagine a New Year’s dinner without antipasti, right? In the New Year celebration, they keep the tradition with the table full of delicious antipasti, mainly with cheese and caponatas, as well as olives and bruschetta. As a main dish, risotto with funghi or seafood is very common. As it is winter during the New Year, many locals opt for the delicious cappelletti soup or tortellini with meat broth.

In places close to the sea, octopus, cod and fish stand out. On the dessert table, it is quite common to find dried fruits, pomegranates and grapes, which, like lentils, are reputed to bring luck and fortune for the coming year! Also featured on the sweet table are the splendid tiramiss pane and, of course, the traditional panettone and pandoro. Fruit and chocolate pies are also on the menu: some simpler, others more elaborate, but all delicious! For coffee and after-dinner digestive: cantucci, a kind of almond biscuit!

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Hotel I suggest near the Historic Center

If you are passionate about art and would like to stay in the center where you can move around walking, as well as having countless possibilities for places to have lunch / dinner or a snack, I advise you to stay in the historic center. Regions near the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forum and the Villa Borghese, Piazza Spagna and Piazza Navona can be considered as “historic center”. These are the most expensive areas, but you will be close to everything, literally!

If you want to save a great option is the B&B, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices.

If you prefer a good hotel, I have three options that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels that I suggest near the San Giovanni Region

For those who want to find cheaper alternatives in quiet areas, but at the same time close to the means of transport to the center, I suggest the region of San Giovanni or Monti (near the metro stations San Giovanni, Castro Pretorio and Circus Massimo) – which it is a more residential neighborhood; therefore, more economical and quiet! And with just 15 minutes by subway you will be in the center too!

I have two options for Hotels that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

I have two options of B&B that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels I suggest near Vatican City

An interesting area to stay and a little cheaper than the historic center is the Vatican area (Vatican Museums) which is very well connected with everything.

I have two options of B&B that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer a hotel, I have three options that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotel I suggest near Termini Station

For those who prefer to stay in neighborhoods that have good access to the rest of the city and at a better price, then you should choose accommodation in the surroundings of Termini Station (from where a dense network of public means of transport starts, serving both: the local people and tourists).

I have 3 good hotel suggestions in Termini, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer B&B I have 2 good suggestions, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels that I suggest in Trastevere

For those who prefer to “taste” authentic and characteristic Rome, there is nothing better than booking a hotel in Trastevere (on the outskirts of the city’s historic river), full of typical Roman history and traditions, known for the tortuous streets of sampietrini stones and the centers medieval style housing.

The neighborhood is in the historic center and to the right of the Tevere River, in the midst of a spectacular landscape, where each visitor can observe the countless churches and squares (such as Santa Maria in Trastevere). In addition, this neighborhood offers several local restaurants and canteens for those who want to try typical Roman cuisine.

If you want to save a great option is the B&B, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer a good hotel, I have two options that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

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Conclusion

What to do in Rome on New Year’s Eve? People, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to list ALL the New Year’s Eve parties in Rome. The city is huge, LOVES a party, so it’s not hard to find a cool place to go on New Year’s Eve. Important: wear comfortable clothes, don’t take huge bags and backpacks, and remember to make a reservation for dinner in advance, as well as a reservation for closed parties, if you don’t want to go ‘outdoors’. You can even find out at your hotel what they suggest for the New Year: suddenly they have a special program and you don’t even know! And pay attention to public transport schedules! Taking a taxi back to the hotel can be a problem, very difficult to find, so: make your schedule carefully, OK?

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