What is open in rome?

So when planning your trip to Rome, it pays to have a basic idea of what day in the week is best for which sight or activity. Here’s help. (In the form of a “rhyme.” Move aside, Shakespeare Keats Dr. Seuss Eddie Mannix).

And here it is… in video form!

The Vatican museums (which include the Sistine Chapel) are open every day but Sunday. On the last Sunday of the month, they are open and free, but it’s not something I recommend if you value your vacation time; the line is often three hours or more (and you can’t book a ticket in advance on the Vatican website). St. Peter’s Basilica is open daily; on Sunday, the Pope appears at 12pm to an audience on the square, and on Wednesday, he has his general audience at 10:30am.

Best time to go to the Vatican: Wednesday morning, as the museums tend to be emptier while the Pope does his audience; otherwise, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, since Saturday and Monday tend to be crowded with people who would have gone on Sunday.

Most churches are open daily in Rome. However, many of the more off-the-beaten-path churches also close midday, some for as long as from 12pm to 4pm, so always check. On Sunday, remember that they may be holding Mass and more ceremonies than usual, which can make it more difficult (or forbidden) to walk around to sightsee.

Best time to go: Morning or evening, except for Sundays (unless you want to see Mass).

Most of Rome’s best museums close on Mondays, but are open every other day of the week. These include the Borghese Gallery, Palazzo Barberini, Palazzo Massimo, Crypta Balbi, MAXXI, Castel Sant’Angelo, and the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Best time to go: Tuesday through Friday; weekends tend to be more crowded than weekdays (not that that’s much of a problem at some of these places, like the Crypta Balbi).

Many of Rome’s restaurants have one “day of rest,” even though this is no longer government-mandated. This day is typically—but not always—Monday, and sometimes Sunday for lunch and/or dinner as well (particularly for restaurants that are more elegant or upscale; since Sunday is a big pizza night, pizzerias are usually open Sunday). Some restaurants, like popular Da Francesco near Piazza Navona, close Tuesday instead.

Best time to show up without a reservation or calling in advance: Wednesday or Thursday. Popular places tend to have a wait on Friday or Saturday nights, and if you’re heading somewhere on a Monday, you’ll want to call in advance (or look it up) to make sure they’re open.

Luckily, no matter what day you’re planning on going, at least one catacomb will be open. Just make sure it’s the right one! The catacombs of St. Sebastian close on Sunday, Santa Priscilla closes Monday, St. Domitilla closes Tuesday, and St. Callixtus closes Wednesday. They also close on most major holidays and over the lunch hour, so double-check the hours on the websites.

Best time to go to the catacombs: When they’re open—and not on the weekend, which tends to be more crowded.

Most of Rome’s most famous ancient sights are open daily, including the Colosseum, forum, Palatine, and Pantheon (although the Pantheon does close slightly earlier on Sundays, at 6pm rather than 7:30pm). The Baths of Caracalla also open daily (but close at 2pm on Mondays).

Best time to go: Anytime—although to avoid lines and crowds at the Colosseum and forum, opt to either be there first thing in the morning (i.e. 8:30am), or later in the day (many people clear out by 3pm).

Shops in the heart of Rome’s center—particularly on Via del Corso, around Piazza Navona, and near major sights—are open every day. Especially the chains. (But we know how I feel about those). More interesting and better Smaller shops, which don’t have the staff to open daily, tend to close one day a week; for many, this is Sunday. Lots of them stay closed through Monday morning. Many of the smaller stores also close midday, like churches.

Best time to go shopping: Monday through Saturday, outside of lunchtime; to avoid shopping crowds in high-trafficked areas, try not to shop in the evening or on weekends.

Last Updated on 12th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Sunday in Rome is a relaxing day of rest for many people, and a religious day of worship for other Romans, as well as within Vatican City. So if you happen to be in the Eternal City during the weekend, then here’s how to spend the perfect Sunday in Rome, as well as what to know before visiting (including monument closures!).

Rome, the Italian capital city, is renowned for its illustrious history and cultural richness. With a storied past dating back to April 753 BCE, the city was once the beating heart of the Roman Empire.

Ancient Rome was the driving force behind much of Western civilisation’s development, spreading its reach to vast regions of Europe, the Mediterranean, and even parts of Africa and Asia.

Rome’s beauty and awe-inspiring architecture are reflected in its many historical landmarks, such as the magnificent Colosseum, the grandiose Roman Forum, and the Pantheon, to name just a few. Rome is also home to Vatican City, one of the smallest self-governing states in Europe.

The legend of the birth of Rome stems from the myth of the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. According to ancient Roman mythology, they were abandoned as helpless infants and taken in by a compassionate she-wolf.

The twin brothers grew to become strong and brave young men, with Romulus eventually founding the city of Rome in 753 BC. The iconic image of the nurturing she-wolf, cradling the two baby brothers, has become a revered symbol of Rome, scattered in numerous museums and public spaces throughout the Italian capital.

As you might imagine, Rome can get pretty busy on the weekends when many people traditionally have the day off work and so are out enjoying the city, on top of the usual tourist crowds.

If you want to visit somewhere particularly popular, such as the Trevi Fountain or the Colosseum, then you’ll want to visit as early in the day as possible (and for Trevi Fountain, visit at sunrise if you can get yourself up that early).

The majority of major tourist attractions are open in Rome during Sunday, with a few notable exceptions (which you should plan to visit during another day of your trip instead). Some important spots which remain open to visit on a Sunday include St Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum.

With this being said, one of the most important sites in Rome is closed on Sunday due to religious reasons: Vatican City. The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, as well on religious Catholic Holidays. The sole exception to this is that the Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of every month.

Much like during Paris on certain Sundays of the month, many top Rome attractions are free on a certain Sunday of each month. In Rome, on the first Sunday of the month, a number of museums and monuments are open to free for absolutely everyone.

Free Sundays happen all across Italy, including in cities such as Florence and Naples. Not all museums and monuments are free on free Sundays. Some state run museums and private-run sites are not free, including Domus Aurea and Doria Pamphilj.

Some of the most popular attractions that are free to everyone on the first Sunday of the month in Rome include (just be warned that they are particularly popular on this day and so you’ll want to arrive just prior to opening to avoid having to queue for too long):

Over the past few years, brunch has become quite an affair in Rome, just like in many other major cities in Europe. Though most places continue to serve up traditional Italian fare, even on a Sunday, other cafés and restaurants have embraced dishing out dishes like eggs Benedict and fry ups.

Some of the best brunch spots in Rome include Coromandel (who sell, pancakes and pastries, among other breakfast goodies), Marigold Roma (expect all of your usual breakfast staples here), and Barnum Roma (they boast speciality coffees on the menu).

If you’re looking to learn even more about Italian food, then a great way to indulge in some local cuisine is by taking a cooking class. From learning how to make pizza just like a Neapolitan to discovering the secrets of pasta making, you’re sure to come away having learnt a new technique or two.

One of the best ways to fully immerse in the spirit and local vibe in Rome is to get away from its most touristic spots in order to discover a different atmosphere. If you’re ready to leave the chaotic Roman traffic behind to embark on a journey of discovery and exploration, here are some of the best day trips from Rome.

Though there is far more to see in Rome than you would have time to visit in a day, or even a week or month, sadly sometimes all you have is a short time to enjoy a city. If you’re planning a trip to the Eternal City, be sure to check out our guides for spending one day in Rome and spending 3 days in Rome.

One of the more important things to bear in mind when dining in Rome is that the coperto (cover charge) is actually illegal in the Lazio region, where Rome is based. This means that, if you see it added onto your bill, it’s not meant to be there! the cover charge is not a tip and should not be confused as such.

Enjoyed reading about how to spend the perfect Sunday in Rome? Pin this article now, read it again later: