Italy, Europe

Rome in April

Peak spring. Holy Week and Easter pack the city when they land in April, and April 25 (Liberation Day) closes some sites. Still worth it.

BestLovely, highs near 68F (20C)

Colosseum, Rome — RomePhoto: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5

The straight answer

April is one of the best months of the year to visit Rome. Peak spring. Holy Week and Easter pack the city when they land in April, and April 25 (Liberation Day) closes some sites. Still worth it.

Weather: Lovely, highs near 68F (20C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What April is like in Rome

April is peak spring and one of Rome's best months. Highs sit near 68F (20C), the light is soft, and wisteria hangs over the walls in Trastevere. It is also busy. When Holy Week and Easter fall in April, the city is packed, and Liberation Day on April 25 closes some sites. Rome's birthday on April 21 adds parades and costumed legions.

It suits nearly everyone: first-timers, families, couples, and walkers. Just book early and plan around the holidays. If you want the same weather with fewer people, go in late April after Easter or pick October instead.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about Rome this month.

Rome's birthday on April 21

Natale di Roma brings costumed legions and historical parades around the Circus Maximus. Kids love the gladiators and chariots.

Easter at the Vatican, when it lands in April

Papal masses and the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum draw huge crowds. It is moving to see, but book far ahead.

Wisteria in Trastevere

Purple blooms cover old walls and doorways, and it is the prettiest time for an evening walk across the river.

First outdoor dinners of the year

Evenings get warm enough to eat outside in the piazzas. Book a table in Trastevere for a classic Roman night.

What to pack for April

A light jacket for cool evenings
Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes
A small umbrella for spring showers
A scarf or cover-up for shoulders in churches

Our timing tip

Book the Vatican Museums and Colosseum at least four weeks ahead in April, and check which sites run holiday hours on April 25.

Book Rome for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Rome
Opens a hotel search for Rome in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Rome
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Rome
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Rome for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

Holy Week and Easter

Late March or April, varies year to year

Papal masses, the Colosseum Good Friday procession, and the year's densest pilgrimage crowds. Book far ahead.

Natale di Roma (Rome's birthday)

April 21 every year

Costumed legions, historical parades, and events around the Circus Maximus for the city's founding.

Liberation Day

April 25 every year

A national holiday; some sites and shops close or run holiday hours.

Things to do in Rome

Full guide

Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine

One combined ticket, best booked weeks ahead in season. Enter at opening or book an evening slot in summer; the Forum has almost no shade.

Tickets and tours →

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Closed Sundays (except a free final-Sunday opening with huge lines). Book the earliest slot and walk directly to the Sistine Chapel first.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

St Peter's Basilica

Free entry but airport-style security; the line is shortest before 8am. Papal events on Wednesdays and Sundays reshape the square.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Pantheon

The best-preserved ancient building on Earth. Now a modest timed-entry ticket; go early or near closing for the light through the oculus.

Tickets and tours →

Trastevere at dinner

Cross the river for the classic Roman evening. Book the well-known trattorias; walk-ins work on the side streets.

Tickets and tours →

Borghese Gallery

Strict timed entry with capped visitors, which keeps it civilized even in May. Reserve well ahead; Berninis alone justify the trip.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Book the Vatican Museums' first entry, skip the audio-guide shuffle, and go straight to the Sistine Chapel, then work backward through the collections against the flow.
Do the Colosseum at opening and the Forum in late afternoon; midday is the worst of both heat and tour groups.
The famous fountains and piazzas cost nothing and close never: see them before 8am, then spend the crowded midday hours inside booked, timed-entry sights.
In summer, flip your day Roman-style: sights at dawn, long lunch and rest, back out at 6pm. Evening openings at the Colosseum and Vatican are the season's best-kept tickets.

Know before you go

August around Ferragosto (August 15): many family-run trattorias and small shops close for two to four weeks. Major monuments, the Vatican Museums, and big restaurants stay open. Check any specific restaurant before building a night around it.
The Vatican Museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, which is free and ferociously crowded. St Peter's stays open daily but closes to visitors during papal events.
Papal audiences (typically Wednesday mornings) and Sunday Angelus reshape St Peter's Square; visit the basilica on other mornings for the calmest access.
Fixed holidays to plan around: January 1 and 6, April 25, May 1, June 2 (Republic Day), June 29, August 15, November 1, and December 8, 25, and 26. Museums vary between closed and holiday hours on each.

Rome in April, quick answers

Is April a good time to visit Rome?

April is one of the best months of the year to visit Rome. Peak spring. Holy Week and Easter pack the city when they land in April, and April 25 (Liberation Day) closes some sites. Still worth it.

What is the weather like in Rome in April?

Lovely, highs near 68F (20C).

Is Rome crowded in April?

Rome is busy in April, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Rome in April?

Holy Week and Easter (late march or april, varies year to year); Natale di Roma (Rome's birthday) (april 21 every year); Liberation Day (april 25 every year).