New Year in Rome: where to watch fireworks and how to leave after midnight

New Year's Eve in Rome is celebrated on the streets, not just at the table. By midnight, the city center is closed to traffic, and tens of thousands of people head to the Circus Maximus and Via dei Fori Imperiali to watch the fireworks over the Palatine Hill. If you're planning a trip for December 31, figure out in advance how transport works that night and what will be open on January 1.

The full Festa di Roma program is published late by the city government, often just a few days before the holiday. Everything already confirmed has been checked on the official city and organizer websites: metro hours, the parade start time, and the list of museums open on the first day of the year.

Checked on 09/12/2026 on the official Rome tourism office website and in the Italian edition of Fanpage.

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Where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Rome

💡 In short:

• The Festa di Roma concert takes place at the Circus Maximus, free entry.
• Fireworks are launched at midnight from the Palatine Hill, best viewed from the Colosseum.
• On January 1, almost all museums are closed, and the New Year's parade goes through the center in the afternoon.

New Year's Eve in Rome is celebrated in different ways: at the city festival, over dinner at a restaurant or at home, and then on the streets and in clubs. The evening is easy to combine. Have dinner early, then head out to a square or up to a viewpoint by midnight.

Festa di Roma festival

The main event of the holiday takes place at the Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo). The concert starts on December 31 at 9:00 PM and ends late into the night (as of 09/2026, Turismo Roma). No tickets needed, entry is free.

© Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The venue holds about 40,000 people, with entry through five gates around the arena (as of 09/2026, Turismo Roma). If the venue reaches capacity, new guests are only let in after someone leaves. Glass bottles are not allowed inside: transfer drinks into plastic.

The lineup is announced late by the city government, usually a few days before the holiday, so until Christmas only the start time and location are known. Check the program on the official tourism office website closer to the end of December.

New Year's Eve on the city streets

Even if you're celebrating New Year's Eve at a restaurant or at home, people head outside before midnight. The largest crowds gather at Piazza del Popolo and on Via dei Fori Imperiali, the wide street in front of the Colosseum.

Personal firecrackers and fireworks are officially banned in Rome, but people still set them off on December 31. Piazza del Popolo is especially noisy. Stay away from areas where pyrotechnics are being lit, and don't leave children unattended.

Clubs and parties

Rome's nightclubs host themed parties on December 31, often with dinner or a buffet. Among the city's well-known venues are Shari Vari, Room 26, Goa, La Cabala, Art Café, and Akab. Live music plays at Alcazar Live, and alternatives from reggae to metal are on at Radio Londra.

At the pubs Abbey Theatre, Finnegan's, and Scholars Lounge, the crowd is international, and many expats celebrate New Year's Eve there. Party tickets are almost always sold in advance; they may not be available at the door. Check city event listings for events and prices closer to December.

Fireworks on the Palatine Hill

The city launches fireworks from the Palatine Hill (Palatino). It's a large hill above the Roman Forum, right behind the Colosseum. The bursts are best seen from Via dei Fori Imperiali, the wide street in front of the amphitheater. That's also where the largest crowds gather.

© Lil Herodotus · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lil Herodotus, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The map above shows the area near the Colosseum with the best view. Get to the street early: by 11:00 PM it's already packed.

Even with the ban, many Romans set off their own fireworks. So for a panorama, it's worth heading up to the city's viewpoints. For a good view, go to the Pincio Hill (Pincio) above Piazza del Popolo or to the Janiculum (Gianicolo). Hotels with rooftop terraces are also popular on New Year's Eve: you get a city view right from dinner.

Public transport on New Year's Eve

© E235JREMU · CC BY-SAPhoto: E235JREMU, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Metro, buses, and trams

On the night of January 1, the metro runs later than usual. The last trains on lines A, B/B1, and C leave the terminal stations around 2:30 AM (as of 09/2026, Fanpage). During the day on December 31, the metro opens as usual, early in the morning.

Buses and trams stop running on December 31 at 9:00 PM. This is the time of the last departures from the terminal stops. An exception is made for certain routes that take people to the Big Circus and to the center (as of 09/2026, Fanpage).

From 2:30 AM to 8:00 AM, only night buses run through the city. They duplicate the metro lines and the Rome-Lido railway, so you can still get to a hotel in the center. On the morning of January 1, transit returns to the lines: the metro and buses run from 8:00 AM until about 11:30 PM (as of 09/2026, Fanpage).

Taxis

Catching a taxi on the evening of December 31 is difficult. Demand is huge, there are almost no available cars, and some streets in the center are closed, so cars take detours. Order a taxi in advance through the FreeNow app: it shows the car's arrival time.

Uber operates in Rome on a limited basis, with only the expensive Uber Black and Uber Van tiers available. Because of the high price, demand for them is lower, and finding a car is easier. Trips are metered, and there is a fixed fare to the airport.

Attraction hours

On December 31, museums and monuments operate on their regular schedule. Sometimes small private museums close earlier, so it is better to plan your visit for the morning, before lunch. According to the tourist office, almost all museums and attractions in the city are closed on January 1.

Only a few places are open on January 1:

• St. Peter's Basilica (after midday, after the Pope's mass)
• Capitoline Museums
• Trajan's Markets
• Ara Pacis
• Museo di Roma at Piazza Navona
• Museo di Roma in Trastevere
• Museo Napoleonico
• Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco

Check the exact schedule for January 1 on museum websites: it changes during holidays. If museums are not your thing, walk around the center on foot. Rome's churches are open on January 1 the same as on regular days.

Buy tickets to the Vatican Museums for late December in advance: Vatican Museums tickets. Without a time slot on December 31, you risk standing in line for several hours.

Lines during the New Year period

Late December is high season. Rome attracts not only tourists but also thousands of pilgrims: Christmas remains the main Christian holiday for many. Lines at famous attractions stretch for hours.

The Colosseum welcomes tens of thousands of visitors a day, and in late December there are almost no available time slots left: Colosseum tickets. Buy in advance; on site, the line can take several hours.

Other museums operate on their regular schedule, but you should plan your visit time. On weekday mornings there are fewer people than after lunch. On Sundays, by contrast, more locals go to state museums.

High season runs from mid-December to the first days of January. During this time, even popular observation decks operate with time limits, and guided tours are booked in advance. If you only have a couple of days, pick two or three main sites and do not try to cover everything at once.

Restaurants on New Year's Eve

On December 31, almost all restaurants in Rome are open: in Italy, it is customary to dine out on New Year's Eve. Book your table in advance, preferably several weeks ahead. Many places offer a special New Year's menu and a fixed price for dinner.

For booking, it is convenient to browse restaurants on The Fork platform: it lists many places in Rome and shows available tables.

What people eat on New Year's in Rome

Two traditional dishes usually appear on the holiday table in Rome. Cotechino resembles a dense pork sausage, a cross between salami and a cutlet. Zampone is made from a stuffed pig's trotter. Both are served with lentils, which traditionally bring good luck, and washed down with prosecco.

Cotechino is also often eaten on January 1: it is considered the first dish of the new year. It is included in the New Year's menus of many restaurants, and you can buy it ready-made in delicatessens until December 31.

New Year's traditions in Rome

Besides dinner, Romans have other New Year's traditions that are nice to know about.

• Red underwear. Whoever sees in the New Year wearing red underwear will be happy all year. A gift works even better: then the luck is at its maximum. That is why in Rome red underpants and bras are given as Christmas presents and worn for the first time on December 31. It used to be a women's tradition, but in recent years men wear red underwear too.
• A kiss under the mistletoe. A couple who kiss under a sprig of mistletoe will be happy together all year. This is a gentle tradition with no obligations.
• Broken dishes. An old Italian custom: whoever throws dishes out of the window on New Year's Eve drives away evil spirits and attracts good luck. Today people rarely do this, but on the morning of January 1 you can still spot shards on sidewalks in parts of Italy.

Store opening hours

December 31 is a regular working day in Italy, so you will have time for shopping until the evening. Many stores close earlier, between midday and early evening, and supermarkets follow their own schedules. Do your important shopping in the morning.

On January 1, almost all stores are closed. December 25 and January 1 are Italy's main holidays, and almost nothing is open on those days.

Before the holiday, many stores extend their hours on weekends, and on December 31 they close earlier than usual. For urgent purchases, head to small 24-hour shops near the major train stations: they are open even on holidays. Pharmacies in the center also take turns staying open, and the schedule is posted on their doors.

Seeing the Pope on New Year's

© Aleksandr Zykov from Russia · CC BY-SAPhoto: Aleksandr Zykov from Russia, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

You can start the New Year with the Pope's blessing. In late December and early January, several services and gatherings take place in the Vatican.

On the evening of December 31, Vespers with the hymn "Te Deum" is celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica. Entry is by ticket, which you need to arrange in advance. On the morning of January 1, the Pope recites the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square; no ticket is required to attend.

Both gatherings draw large crowds, so arrive early and take a spot near the barriers. The exact schedule of services is published on the official Vatican website closer to the holiday.

New Year's parade on January 1

On January 1, the Rome Parade New Year's parade passes through the center of Rome. It has been held since 2008, and every year it attracts more and more participants (as of 09/2026, Rome Parade).

The parade starts at 3:30 PM from Piazza del Popolo and proceeds along Via del Corso, Via dei Condotti, and Piazza di Spagna (as of 09/2026, parade organizers). Along the route, marching bands, musicians, and performers from different countries take part, with some bands coming from the USA. Watching the parade is free.

Where to watch the parade best

You can stand anywhere along the route. Near Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Spagna it is always very crowded, so it is better not to stand there. Pick a spot on Via del Corso: it is less crowded than the squares.

If you want to watch comfortably, arrive an hour before the start. As the procession moves along, the crowd thins out, and it becomes less crowded toward the end of the route.

What to do on January 1 in Rome

The first day of the year is quiet in Rome. The city's Festa di Roma entertainment continues, there are almost no cars on the streets, and the center is pleasant to explore on foot. Here are a few options for January 1.

• A walk through the squares. Piazza Navona and the Pantheon are almost empty on this day, without the usual crowds.
• Rome's churches. Almost all basilicas are open as on other days, and admission is free.
• The New Year's parade. The Rome Parade moves through the center from midday, and you can watch it for free.
• A holiday lunch. Many restaurants are open on January 1 too, and cotechino is served as the first dish of the year.

Check the tourist office website to see exactly what is open that day: some museums and venues change their schedules because of the holiday.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

What time does the fireworks start in Rome?

The fireworks are launched exactly at midnight from the Palatine Hill, at the moment the new year begins. The best view is from Via dei Fori Imperiali in front of the Colosseum. Arrive early: by 11:00 PM the street is already packed. The city's Festa di Roma program starts at 9:00 PM in Piazza del Circo Massimo (as of 09/2026, Turismo Roma).

Does the metro run on New Year's Eve?

Yes, the metro runs later than usual. The last trains on lines A, B/B1, and C leave the terminal stations around 2:30 AM (as of 09/2026, Fanpage). After that, until 8:00 AM, only night buses run, duplicating the metro lines. Buses and trams stop earlier, at 9:00 PM.

What is open in Rome on January 1?

Most museums and attractions are closed. St. Peter's Basilica is open after midday, as are the Capitoline Museums, Trajan's Markets, the Ara Pacis, and several museums in Rome. Almost all shops and supermarkets are closed all day, while churches are open as on regular days.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

Yes, late December is peak season. Buy tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum online several weeks ahead: without a time slot, you risk standing in line for several hours. Other museums operate on their regular schedule on December 31, but smaller ones close earlier.

What to do on the evening of December 31 if you don't like crowds?

Book a table at a restaurant and go outside only around midnight. Or head up to a viewpoint: to the Pincio hill above Piazza del Popolo or to the Janiculum. It is quieter up there, and you can see the fireworks over the city from above.

Can you set off fireworks in Rome?

Officially, firecrackers and personal fireworks are banned in the city, but on December 31 many people set them off anyway, especially in Piazza del Popolo. You can be fined for pyrotechnics in the center. It is safer to watch the city fireworks from Via dei Fori Imperiali in front of the Colosseum.

In short: what to book

New Year's Rome is worth planning in advance: tickets, a table, and transport are best sorted out before December 31. Then on New Year's Eve you can simply step outside and wait for midnight.

• If you want to attend the main concert: come to the Circus Maximus in the evening, admission is free.
• If you are going for the museums: buy tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum in advance, as almost everything is closed on January 1.
• If you want to celebrate at a table: book a restaurant several weeks ahead, many offer a New Year's menu.
• If you are booking a hotel: choose a place with a rooftop terrace, from which you can see the fireworks.

Compare options in advance: see hotels in Rome on Trip.com and fixed-time tickets on GetYourGuide.