Italy, Europe

Rome in March

Spring arrives. Watch the Easter calendar: when Holy Week falls in March, crowds and prices jump early.

GoodMild, highs near 62F (17C), changeable

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

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Rome. Spring arrives. Watch the Easter calendar: when Holy Week falls in March, crowds and prices jump early.

Weather: Mild, highs near 62F (17C), changeable
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Rome

March is when spring shows up. Highs climb to around 62F (17C), though the weather swings between sunny afternoons and cool, rainy spells. Crowds and prices are still moderate for most of the month. The big wildcard is Easter: when Holy Week falls in March, the city fills fast and hotels jump.

This is a smart month for travelers who want mild weather without peak crowds, especially early in the month. Check the Easter calendar before you book. If Holy Week lands in March and you do not want the crowds, aim for the first half of the month or wait for May.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Rome this month.

Early spring in the parks

Villa Borghese starts to green up, and it is pleasant to rent a rowboat or a bike cart with kids on a sunny afternoon.

Holy Week, in some years

When Easter lands in March, you can see papal masses and the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum. Book far ahead if you want to go.

The Appian Way by bike

Mild March Sundays are great for cycling the ancient road, which closes to cars on Sundays. Pair it with a catacomb tour.

What to pack for March

Layers you can add and remove: a sweater and a light jacket
A packable rain shell
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunglasses for bright afternoons

Our timing tip

Look up the date of Easter before you book, because a March Easter can double hotel prices that week while the week before stays calm.

Book Rome for March.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Rome
Opens a hotel search for Rome in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
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 March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

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.

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.