Halloween in Rome: Parties, Macabre Sights and All Saints

Halloween is not a traditional Italian holiday, but Rome has its own version: costume parties in bars and clubs, and above all places that seem made for the occasion, such as the Capuchin Crypt or the catacombs. The real holidays come right after: All Saints on 1 November and All Souls on the 2nd. In 2026, 31 October falls on a Saturday. Here is how to make Halloween a successful weekend in Rome.

Halloween in Rome: what it is

Halloween reached Italy through American culture. Children dress up in some neighbourhoods and bars, clubs and restaurants hold themed parties, but the city does not shut down and no official event marks the day. The dates matter more than the festival itself: 1 November (Ognissanti) is a public holiday, and 2 November is All Souls' Day. It is all detailed in our guide to Rome at All Saints.

Macabre places to visit

The Capuchin Crypt, on Via Veneto, is the best-known visit of its kind: friars' bones, arranged in decorative patterns, adorn several chapels. Plan the visit: photography is forbidden there, and it is best to check the day's hours and price.

On the Via Appia Antica, the catacombs of Rome are visited with a guide; each site has a different closing day. The Via Appia Antica itself, lined with tombs, is a lovely autumn walk. Quieter, the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Testaccio, with its poets' graves, is a place of reflection rather than fright.

Costume parties and nights out

Rome's bars and clubs announce their Halloween parties a few weeks ahead, on their pages and social networks. The liveliest nightlife areas are described in our guide to Rome at night. Saturday parties are often full: book a table or arrive early, and check the entry price or minimum spend. For late returns, see transport in Rome.

With children

Children often prefer an afternoon in a park to a crypt: the Villa Borghese in autumn or the Bioparco (check the winter hours). See Rome with children. A hunt for roast chestnuts and All Souls biscuits in the pastry shops makes a good seasonal snack.

What to do on Halloween weekend 2026

On Saturday 31 October the city is full because of the All Saints holidays; on Sunday 1 November, state sites are free and very busy, and the Vatican Museums are closed. On Monday 2 November, most state museums are closed. For weather and a backup plan, see Rome on a rainy day.

Summary: a Halloween weekend in Rome

Day	Idea	Note
Saturday 31 October	Capuchin Crypt in the morning, costume party in the evening	Book the party
Sunday 1 November	Free state sites, Non-Catholic Cemetery	Crowds, Vatican closed
Monday 2 November	Catacombs (depending on the site), walk on the Via Appia	Many museums closed