What to do in Rome on a Monday, when the museums are closed

Monday is the closing day of many state museums in Rome: the Borghese Gallery, Palazzo Barberini, Palazzo Massimo and Ostia Antica all stay shut. But the city does not stop: the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Capitoline Museums and the Vatican Museums are open. Here is what is closed, what is open and a realistic plan for a Monday. Hours checked in October 2026, to be rechecked before you go.

What is closed on Monday

Avoid planning these sites on a Monday:

The Borghese Gallery and Palazzo Barberini.
Palazzo Massimo and the Baths of Diocletian.
The MAXXI and the Villa Giulia.
The Baths of Caracalla, Ostia Antica and the tomb of Cecilia Metella on the Appian Way.
Castel Sant'Angelo, except on the first Monday of the month: until 7 December 2026 it opens from 2 pm to 8 pm for €5, a ticket sold at the ticket office only.
The Domus Aurea, closed Monday to Thursday, and the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone on Piazza Navona.
The Catacombs of San Sebastiano.

What is open on Monday

Site	Monday hours
Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine	8:30 am-6:30 pm in October (Forum and Palatine from 9 am); earlier closing from 25 October
Pantheon	9 am-7 pm
Capitoline Museums	9:30 am-7:30 pm
Trajan's Markets	9:30 am-7:30 pm
Ara Pacis	9:30 am-7:30 pm
Vatican Museums	8 am-8 pm (closed on Sundays)
St Peter's Basilica	7 am-8 pm
Doria Pamphilj Gallery	9 am-7 pm
Spada Gallery	8:30 am-7:30 pm
Capuchin Crypt	9:30 am-6:30 pm, with a midday break

Churches, squares and fountains stay accessible: Santa Maria Maggiore, St John Lateran, San Clemente, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. The Campo de' Fiori market runs on Mondays until 2 pm. The Porta Portese market is closed: it only takes place on Sundays.

A plan for a Monday in Rome

The Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda

Morning: ancient Rome. Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, on a single ticket, from opening time. Book ahead: our guide to tickets to book in Rome explains how.
Lunch near Trajan's Markets or in the Monti district.
Afternoon: the baroque centre. Pantheon, Piazza Navona, then the Doria Pamphilj Gallery or the Spada Gallery depending on your taste.
Evening: the Trevi Fountain, then dinner; see Rome at night.

Variant: the Vatican on a Monday

The Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica are open on Mondays and are a safe bet, outside the remit of the Italian state museums, many of which close that day. Book your slot online on the official ticket office.

Variant: a day trip on a Monday

Monday suits day trips whose site is open: Orvieto, Castel Gandolfo and Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli. The Villa d'Este opens only at 2 pm on Mondays. Ostia is closed. See all our day trips from Rome.