Shop opening hours in Rome: Sundays, public holidays and sales

Big chains and shops in central Rome generally open from 10am to 7:30 or 8pm, many of them on Sundays too; small neighbourhood shops often close on Sundays, on Monday mornings and at lunchtime. On Italian public holidays almost everything is closed. The summer and winter sales have dates set each year by the Lazio Region. This guide gives you the landmarks to plan your shopping without finding a closed door. Information checked in October 2026; hours vary from shop to shop.

Usual opening hours

Via del Corso, the main shopping street of the centre

There is no single timetable: each shopkeeper sets their own. Here are the most common patterns, to be taken as rough guides.

Type of shop	Usual hours	Good to know
Big chains and shopping centres	10am-8pm or 9pm	Open almost every day, Sundays included
Shops in the centre (Via del Corso, Via Condotti)	10am-7:30pm	Often open on Sundays
Small neighbourhood shops	9:30am-1pm then 4pm-7:30pm	Often closed on Sundays and Monday mornings
Supermarkets	morning until 8 or 9pm	Many open on Sundays, not on public holidays
Pharmacies	morning and late afternoon	An on-duty pharmacy covers nights and Sundays
Neighbourhood markets	morning until 2 or 3pm	Closed on Sundays, see Rome's markets

The lunch break

Many small shops, craftspeople and independent boutiques still pull down the shutter between about 1pm and 4pm. The main tourist streets (Via del Corso, Via dei Condotti, around the Spanish Steps) are usually open all day. In residential areas and in Trastevere, plan your shopping for the morning or after 4pm.

Sundays

Shops are allowed to open on Sundays, and most chains in the centre do. Sunday is still a quieter day: banks, offices and many small shops are closed. Our guide What to do in Rome on Sunday details what stays open, including the Porta Portese flea market in the morning. On Monday mornings, some clothing shops only open in the early afternoon.

Public holidays: when almost everything is closed

On national holidays, most shops and public services close or run reduced hours:

1 January, 6 January (Epiphany), Easter Sunday and Easter Monday;
25 April (Liberation Day), 1 May, 2 June (Republic Day);
15 August (Ferragosto), 1 November (All Saints);
8 December (Immaculate Conception), 25 and 26 December.

Rome adds 29 June, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, patron saints of the city. In August, around the 15th, many neighbourhood shops close for the holidays ("chiuso per ferie"); tourist shops in the centre generally stay open. Do your basic shopping the day before a holiday, and see the calendar of big events.

The sales (saldi)

The sales are regulated: the Lazio Region sets the start date each year, and their length is limited (six weeks at most for the summer sales). In summer 2026 they began on 4 July; in winter 2026 they ran from 3 January to 15 February. Winter sales therefore fall around Epiphany, summer sales in early July. The winter 2027 dates were not published at the time of writing: check turismoroma.it or the Region's website.

The original price and the sale price must both be displayed. Exchanges are not guaranteed: ask the shop's policy before you buy.

Tax-free shopping for non-EU visitors

Visitors who live outside the European Union can reclaim VAT on purchases in participating shops ("Tax Free"), above a minimum amount per shop. Ask for the form at the till, keep the items unused and have the document validated at customs when you leave the EU, before checking in your luggage. Confirm the threshold and the procedure with the shop and the customs authority.