A traditional American holiday, Thanksgiving is a celebration of the fall harvest and blessings of the previous year with a heart full of gratitude. Besides being grateful for small and big things, food - aka Thanksgiving dinner - is a big part of this day. Other highlights are heading to a football game, going camping/hiking and spending time with the whole family. Ringing in the American festivities of Thanksgiving in Rome may seem like a far-fetched dream, but this guide of things to do and places to eat on the special day will have you feeling right at home!
This year, Thanksgiving falls on 25th November, 2021 and here are 8 great ways to spend Thanksgiving in Rome.
Thanksgiving In Rome
Thanksgiving feasts and celebrations aren't a common affair in Rome. In fact, the concept of extended family coming together over an extravagant meal is more of a weekly occurrence in Rome.
Nonetheless, if you so seek the comfort of American tradition with turkey and pie-laden tables, you'd be pleasantly surprised to know that Rome does have spots that cater to Thanksgiving festivities. The city has grown more accommodating of other cultures and festivals over the years and of course, American Thanksgiving had to make it to the list. Read on for all the information on where to celebrate Thanksgiving when in the city.
8 Ways To Spend Thanksgiving In Rome
Spending Thanksgiving in Rome is quite delightful! Of course, being away from family may seem bittersweet at first, but you are still in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Shake off the blues and head out to your favorite places in the city where you can actually enjoy the holiday.
Beat the crowds at Rome's popular attractions
You’re on holiday but the rest of Rome isn’t! Traipse through the must-visit Vatican Museums, walk through the Colosseum, or admire the artwork of Borghese on a regular Thursday in Rome and avoid the crowds. We recommend you visit some of Rome’s most crowded attractions today, if you’re in the mood for a little sightseeing.
Our top suggestions:
Vatican Museums
Together with being one of the oldest and most frequented complexes in the world, The Vatican Museums are home to one of the greatest masterpieces of history - Michelangelo’s fresco at the Sistine Chapel, which also marks the end of the Museum. Besides, the 54 museums at the Vatican Museum and their collections housed in the Vatican Palaces boast of art produced in a span of 800 years! Book your Vatican Museum tickets today!
Colosseum
Rightfully considered a mighty wonder of the world, The Colosseum is one of the most complex man-made structures of the old Roman World that needs to be part of your Roman holiday itinerary. Book your Colosseum tickets right away.
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica is Vatican City's most significant religious and historical structure with its glorious dome dominating over the rooftops of the Eternal City. It is also one of the most-visited pilgrimage sites in all of Rome, both for its artistic beauty and for its importance to Catholic worshippers. If you’re visiting on Thanksgiving day, however, you’re promised relatively thinner crowds since it’s a working day in Rome. Book your Vatican Museum tickets now!
Did someone say Day Trip?
Take a day trip from Rome to Tuscany. All that everybody gushes about Tuscany's everlasting beauty is true and needs to be witnessed to be believed! Enjoy the Tuscan sun and wine on this 1-day trip from Rome that includes round-trip transportation, an expert guide accompanying you, and a 3-course lunch with wine tastings.
Related Read: Discover the other best Day Trips from Rome
Wine Tour with Lunch
Not in the mood for a day trip? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. Drink your way through the day and munch on some yummies while you’re at it. We recommend booking the Frascati's wine tour from Rome that lets you sample street food at several joints and drinking local wine at the Frascati Vineyard. After all, Thanksgiving is all about good food and drinks, right? Replace turkey and stuffing with biscotti, porchetta, and jug wine.
A Spirited Food Tour
The best part about Thanksgiving is the food, after all! Enjoy 10 tastings of Rome’s absolute must-tastes on a food tour. We recommend booking The Big Rome Food Walk, led by a foodie guide who will take you to the best snack spots in the city (including some hidden gems only known to the locals). Enjoy suppli, calzone, pizza, pasta, parmigiana, bruschetta, filetto baccalá, salami with wine, tiramisu, coffee and limoncello. The Italian food coma is real!
Sign up for a Pasta-making class
Would you rather learn to cook than eat out? Consider a pasta-making class while in Italy. Making pasta is therapeutic and even more so when you have the company of an expert local chef! Sign up for a hands-on Pasta Making Class this Thanksgiving and get the chance to learn how to cook and eat pasta like a true Roman. You learn to make pasta from scratch in this class from a professional Italian chef, covering everything from mixing the ingredients to making the sauce.
Craving Some Art?
An iconic landmark to visit to satiate your love for the same is Borghese Gallery. One of the most prominent art galleries in the world that holds illustrious artworks and sculptures, it is rightfully said that if you can visit just one art gallery in a lifetime, let it be Galleria Borghese in Rome. This Thanksgiving, mix things up by hitting this ever-crowded gallery that is definitely a little less crowded during the day (since it’s a working day for everyone else).
Try Some Seasonal Italian Foods
If you’re tired of traditional Thanksgiving food, you might want to give Rome’s seasonal foods a shot! Enjoy Thanksgiving with an Italian twist:
1. Squash/pumpkin: Squash or pumpkin is a classic fall vegetable in Italy and is called Zucca. You can enjoy this typical Thanksgiving ingredient in tortellini, ravioli or check out our recipe for pumpkin risotto.
Chestnuts: Roasted chestnuts are the perfect fall snack in Rome. Get yourself a bag or two from a street side stall to munch on as you explore the city.
Carciofi alla Giudia: Artichokes are in their prime during fall season in Rome and one traditional dish that you must try with this as the star ingredient is Carciofi alla Giuda. Simply put, it is fried artichokes seasoned with the best extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Head Out To Have A Perfect Thanksgiving Meal With Tasty Deals!
The festival involves a gathering of family and friends around a sumptuous dinner with roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and so much more! But organizing a Thanksgiving meal can be slightly chaotic. If you wish to take a break from the monotony and want to enjoy dinner without having to cook for long hours, there are numerous restaurants that honor this occasion and offer wholesome Thanksgiving dinner in the country.
#1 Claw BBQ
If You Want to enjoy live American football on TV while munching on your favourite cuisine, then you should feast at Claw BBQ on Thanksgiving. You can enjoy a buffet full of traditional meals like turkey, Pumpkin pie, and much more for only AED 150. If you love American food and crab, then this is the place for you.
Location: Souq Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates
#2 Hell's Kitchen
Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen in Dubai is inspired by his reality TV show and is an ideal stop to dine this Thanksgiving. With world-class cooking, the kitchens are all set to turn up the heat with a three-course Thanksgiving-inspired menu featuring pecan pie, pumpkin pie, candied yam, and of course the famous Turkey Wellington. Guests can enjoy the thanksgiving menu without beverages, which would be approximately AED 300 per head, and with beverages, it would be around AED 395 per head.
Location: Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai, Bluewaters Island, United Arab Emirates
#3 Fuchsia Urban Thai
For those who are urging for a guilt-free and bite-size portion of delicious Thai flavours, you should not miss out on visiting Fuchsia Urban Thai. The restaurant offers a unique Thanksgiving dinner with dishes like pink dim-sum stuffed with minced turkey priced at approximately AED 40.
Location: Shop P-03, Plaza Level, Building 04, Bay Square, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
#4 Brunch And Cake
With an ambiance that makes you want to Instagram everything around, the Brunch and Cake in Dubai’s Jumeirah 1 offers a delicious single-serving turkey with exotic sides. You can enjoy all flavours of the season through this meal and is a go-to spot for Thanksgiving. You can enjoy a platter of roasted potatoes, rainbow carrots along with slow-roasted Turkey. Apart from this, you can enjoy a palette of goat cheese, beetroot, and pumpkin galette for the price of AED 83 per head.
Location: Ground Floor, Wasl 51, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
#5 Culture Café – Dubai Marriott Harbour
Enjoy all the classic favorites during this festive season and feast to your heart’s content with a turkey platter, sweet potato pie, roasted apple, and more at Dubai’s famous neighbourhood café - Culture Café. The two-course meal is priced at around AED 130 per head. If you are heading with a bigger crowd, you can opt for a three-course meal at AED 150 per head. You can enjoy a platter of roasted potatoes, rainbow carrots along with slow-roasted Turkey. Apart from this, you can enjoy a palette of goat cheese, beetroot, and pumpkin galette for the price of AED 83 per head.
Location: Ground Level Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street Dubai, United Arab Emirates
#6 Brasserie Boulud
At Brasserie Boulud, Thanksgiving is celebrated by serving a menu inspired by Daniel Boulud’s signature dishes like Turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, butternut squash soup, and much more. The festive meal will cost around AED 195 per head.
Location: Al Masha Street, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tips on Spending Thanksgiving in Dubai
With notorious transportation delays and travel snags, the Thanksgiving holiday is the busiest time of the year to travel. This holiday season, we are here to ease some of those travel headaches to escape for a drama-free adventure. You’ll surely be thankful for these Thanksgiving travel tips!
Travel Light
If you have family in Dubai, consider shipping some of your belongings, especially presents, bulky items, and extra clothes to lighten your traveling load.
Shop Till You Drop
For all the shopaholics who are in search of great deals, Dubai is the one-stop destination. The Dubai Mall is one of the biggest shopping malls in the world with excellent views of the city and offers attractive deals during this season. With about 1200 shops, shoppers can shop using a special coupon code and buy gifts for their loved ones. Since you are already here, don’t forget to check out the dancing Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Aquarium - the largest indoor suspended aquarium in the world hich is housed inside the mall.
Beaches During Winters? Yes!
People around the world are forever delighted when the beach season arrives. Unlike other places in the globe, the beach season in Dubai is enjoyed during the winters. Usually, it is too hot in Dubai to venture outside during the summers.
International travellers looking to spend their Thanksgiving in a winter destination, where you need not wear gloves and heavy coats, Dubai should be your go-to hub. Imagine spending winters in a pair of swimsuits! Cool, isn’t it?
Related Read: Best Beaches in Dubai – Your Guide to the Best Outdoor Beach Activities In Dubai
Visit Dubai Global Village
Known to be the leading festival park, the Dubai Global Village is known to host numerous events every year from October till April beginning. Since the country experiences a drop in temperature, large-scale events are usually held during this time.
This Thanksgiving, you should schedule a visit to the Global Village in Dubai and attend the series of festivals that are planned. Enjoy various cultural, shopping and entertainment activities.
Enjoy Water Sports and Water Parks in Dubai
Wondering how chill the waters are going to get during this season? 22 degrees Celsius! Yes, that’s right. The residents of Dubai are accustomed to the high desert temperatures and might find it to be quite cold, but it isn’t the case for visitors from Europe.
The waterparks in Dubai operate during the better part of the year but they may not be functional during the heights of the winter season. During Thanksgiving, the weather will be beginning to get slightly chill, so you can always check the closure dates before heading to the destination. If not waterparks, you can always enjoy a dip at resort swimming pools as they are open even during the coldest days since the pools are temperature controlled.
Related Read
Water Sports in Dubai – An Extensive Guide
The Ultimate Guide to the 5 Best Water Parks in Dubai
