All those of you looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve 2024 in Rome might be in need for some useful information about celebrating the new year in Rome. These might include tips on how to enjoy the 31st of December to the fullest and whether locals have any particular traditions on that day.

Also, it is important to know what you can do on New Year’s Eve in Rome, whether museums and attractions are open and whether you can go shopping on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Last but not least, many Rome visitors wonder, whether there are going to be fireworks in Rome. And where there is the best view on these very fireworks. I am going to answer all those questions in this article!

New Year’s Eve Rome 2024: Tips & info about New Year’s Eve in Rome

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Rome is an awesome idea! The Italian capital offers everything you need to experience an unforgettable New Year’s Eve: nice restaurants, great settings, concerts for free and a terrific firework display to celebrate the old year and welcome the new one. I probably don’t need to tell you that a vacation on New Year’s Eve in Rome needs to be planned in advance. Restaurants and parties are much sought-after in Rome on the 31st of December. And so are hotels for the turn of the year. That’s why you should plan and book your Rome stay for New Year’s Eve early to avoid horrendous hotel prices at that time of the year.

An enormous free New Year’s Eve concert takes place on the Via dei Fori Imperiali from 9:30pm onwards on New Year’s Eve. Afterwards the countdown will be started which will be followed by fireworks at midnight.

Opening Hours: Are attractions and museums in Rome open on New year’s Eve ?

To most museums and attractions normal opening hours apply on the 31st of December. However, some monuments and facilities might close earlier that day.

On New Year’s Day almost all museums and facilities are closed. Therefore, on the 1st of January the the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, the Vatican Museums and the Galleria Borghese will also be closed to the public. St Peter’s Basilica, however, is open all day long.

That’s when Rome visitors have the possibility to discover the city’s numerous parks, theaters and restaurants or to take a hop-on hop-off bus tour through Rome. An insider’s tip for Rome on New Year’s Day is Piazza Navona according to the Romans. There you can see many street artists and an original carousel from the 1930’s and try traditional candy.

The baths of Carcalla are an exception: They are open to the public on the 1st of January. Easily accessible, popular places like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps as well as many churches can also be visited on the 1st of January.

Are shops open in Rome on New year’s Eve?

Usually shops in Rome are open on the 31st of December. Most of them close early in the afternoon. On the 31st of December shopping is a nightmare because of all the hustle and bustle in Rome. I advise you to finish all your shopping the day before New Year’s Eve to avoid starting the new year in a hurry. On New Year’s Eve, shops, galleries and shopping malls are still decorated with Christmas ornaments and so the post-Christmas shopping still is a lot of fun and turns into a magical experience. On New Year’s Day, however, almost all shops are closed.

Good to know: There are no statutory opening hours in Italy. Like this, plenty of shops are open even on holidays, on weekends and in the evening. It is common for shops to have a big lunch break from about 1pm until 4pm.

Will the metro in Rome be running normally on New Year’s Eve?

On New Year’s Eve the last departure of all public transport is later than usually. On the 31st of December you can take the metro from 5:30am until 2:30am on the 1st of January. The metro is NOT for free on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Day the metro goes into service from 8am until 11pm. Throughout the rest of the year the metro is running from Sunday to Thursday from 5:30am until 11:30pm, on Fridays and Saturdays until 1:30am. You can find further information on mouversiaroma.it (unfortunately only in Italian).

Are restaurants open on New Year’s Eve in Rome?

Most of Rome’s restaurants are open on New Year’s Eve. Since there is a great demand for romantic dinners on the 31st of December, you should book a table in one of the numerous Roman restaurants in advance.

For this special occasion lots of restaurants offer a New Year’s menu. Even though they are not exactly cheap, there is almost no way around it if you plan on having dinner in a Roman restaurant on the 31st of December. The application The Fork allows you to reserve a table in one of the many participating restaurants. Bookings are easy and completely free of charge. You can also find information about the menu via this application.

Italian customs and traditions for New Year’s Eve in Rome

With time many Italian customs and traditions for New Year’s Eve have gone lost. However, two traditions are still carried out today:

• Kissing under the mistletoe for the turn of the year: For New Year’s Eve Italians kiss under a mistletoe. You are supposed to wait until midnight. Place yourself under a mistletoe and kiss the person you love to welcome the new year. Undoubtedly the best way to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
• Wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve: At the time of the Roman Empire the color red meant blood and war. Throughout the centuries the meaning changed and the color red has become a symbol of luck. Mostly women (even though some men do it to) like to wear red underwear for New Year’s Eve. Hence, red underwear is one of the most wished for gifts for New Year’s Eve.

Tips on New Year’s Eve parties in Rome

Many Roman night clubs celebrate New Year’s Eve parties. All those of you who want to celebrate the new year in Rome should ideally book tickets in advance! You can buy tickets for New Year’s parties on the following websites:  capodannoroma.guide, capodannoaroma.it and capodanno.org.

For all those who are looking for an original, crazy and funny New Year’s party, I recommend the following. The company Bus Inglesa Roma offers bus rides through the city in an original British double-decker bus on New Year’s Eve, party on board included! The bus provides a dance floor, karaoke microphones, animation and a DJ. You’ll be served a delicious dinner while enjoying the panoramic view from the bus. A unique experience that will make your New Year’s Eve in Rome unforgettable. More information under +39 3664271867 and +39 0687673283.

Fireworks: The best view onto the fireworks in Rome on New Year’s Eve

Every year on New Year’s Eve there is a big firework display in Rome. The biggest fireworks take place on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, next to the Circus Maximus and on Piazza del Popolo.

Private firecrackers are forbidden in Rome! Information for all car drivers in Rome: The Via dei Fori Imperiali is closed for all vehicles including taxis and busses between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum from 9am until 6pm until the 6th of January.

Several hills in Rome offer a nice view on the fireworks, especially the Gianicolo hill. If you don’t want to miss the parties in the streets and the concerts in the city center during New Year’s Eve you should better stay near the places I already mentioned. You still have a nice view on the fireworks from there!