Rome April, here you will find information about April in Rome. April in Rome is high season and it takes a little preparation to enjoy your stay carefree and without long waiting lines.
Italians love this period because they can go on vacation without losing many working days. After the Easter week from April 5th to 13th, on April 21st Rome’s foundation is celebrated. Then, April 25th is a national holiday followed by the 1st of May.
In April the hotels in Rome are heavily booked. To find out how to find a reasonably priced room and which areas are suitable, read our information about hotels in Rome.
April in Rome is climatically very pleasant. If you have some time, visit one of the Roman villas and of course a lookout point. If you can reserve a day for a trip, there are destinations in the area surrounding Rome such as the excavations in Ostia Antica or the Villa Adriana and the Villa D’Este in Tivoli.
But you can also reach more distant destinations such as Pompei, Naples, Florence or Venice in one day with the high-speed train.
After an intense day, you can experience Rome’s culinary offerings in the evening. Whether light Mediterranean cuisine or hearty Cucina Romana, you can eat very well in Rome. You can find out more in our category Food in Rome.
Avoiding queues
There are queues everywhere in Rome in April. The purchase of the bus ticket or train ticket in the airport can take a quarter of an hour. There are queues for luggage storage in Rome and at car rental companies.
At St. Peter’s Basilica, waiting times at the security checkpoint can take up to an hour, and it can take even longer at the ticket offices of the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums.
You can avoid the queue at St. Peter’s Basilica by booking a tour or an audio guide.
You can also book a tour of the Vatican Museums with direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica. You then go straight through a passage reserved for guided tours from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica.
You can avoid the queue at the Vatican Museums by booking your ticket online or with a guided tour.
There are also queues at the ticket offices at the Capitoline Museums. Unfortunately, there is no way around it.
Museums opening hours
Reservation is mandatory for the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery. Reservations are recommended for the Vatican Museums.
The Roma Pass is not valid for the Borghese Gallery. You must reserve well in advance for the Borghese gallery.
Colosseum Rome April
Opening hours:
8:30 – 18:15 closing 19:15
On Good Friday April 10 the closure is at 13:00
More details about Colosseum Tickets>
Tickets to the National Museums
You can book tickets for the National Museums online. Tickets to the National Museums in Rome>
Vatican Museums Rome April
For the Vatican Museums, you should buy tickets in advance. Otherwise you risk long waiting times at the cash register. Details about the Vatican Museums>
The Vatican Museums are closed on Easter Monday April 13th and every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month.
Opening hours
9 – 16 closing 18.
Free entry to the Vatican Museums is on Sunday, April 26, 2020. However, there are long lines and it gets extremely crowded.
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Closing 2 p.m.
The Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo is open on weekdays in April 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. closing 2 p.m., on Saturdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. closing 5:30 p.m., on Sunday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. closing 3 p.m. Closed on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Tickets to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's opening hours
Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free of charge.
In any case, we would advise you to take a guided tour, because otherwise you will not be able to capture many of the details of the basilica with its more than 1,500-year history. If you book the tour in advance on the Internet, you can pass the queue at the security checkpoint with priority granted by the visitor service of St. Peter’s Basilica.
More information about St. Peter’s Basilica.
Opening hours:
St. Peter’s Cathedral 7-19 – St. Peter’s Dome 8-18 – Treasury 9-18:15
When is St. Peter's Basilica closed in April
St. Peter’s Basilica is closed during the Pope’s celebrations, for which you need invitation cards.
The dates for April are:
Pope masses on Palm Sunday 5.4., Maundy Thursday 9.4., Good Friday 10.4., Holy Saturday 11.4., Easter Sunday 12.4., with invitation cards.
The exact dates can be found in our article Easter in Rome.
General audiences every Wednesday morning, with invitation cards
Events
Cirque du Soleil – Totem
The Cirque du Soleil is in Rome in April with the show “Totem”. Do not miss this impressive spectacle!
2.-5.4. Romics International Festival of Comics, Animation, Cinema and Games
Fiera di Roma – Rome fair Train FL1 direction Fiumicino airport
4.4. 7th Formula E race of the 2019/20 season
07:00 Allianz E-Village opens
08:00 – 08:30 Formula E Free Practice
08:45 – 09:15 Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy Qualifying
09:45 – 10:50 Formula E Qualifying
14:00 Rome E-Prix 2020 (45 min + 1 lap)
15:00 Formula E Podium Ceremony
16:20 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Race
5.4. Pope mass in St. Peter’s Square with advance booking, blessing of palm branches (usually olive branches)
5.4. 12:00 Angelus Prayer of the Pope
5.4. Free entry to the National Museums and the museums of the municipality of Rome
9.4. Holy Thursday, April 10th Good Friday with the Way of the Cross, 11.4. Holy Saturday with mass of the Easter night and 12.4. Easter Sunday. Details in the calendar of our article Easter in Rome.
Rome Easter 2020 · up-to-date and perfectly informed in Rome
Easter is high season in Rome. Here you will find all information… ►►►
13.4. 12:00 Regina Caeli of the Pope
15.4. Papal general audience
18.4. 19:00 Oltre la serratura
Concert in the Villa of the Order of Malta
Quintetto di fiati “Santa Cecilia – Concertgebouw”
Andrea Oliva, flauto – Francesco Di Rosa, oboe – Calogero Palermo, clarinetto, Andrea Zucco, fagotto – Guglielmo Pellarin, corno
musiche di F. Danzi, F. J. Haydn, J. Ibert e G. Gershwin
19.4. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
21.4. Founding day of Rome 2,773 years ago
22.4. Papal general audience
26.4. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
29.4. Papal general audience
Exhibitions
Cinecittà si mostra Visit the dream factory of Roman cinema, Metro A Station Cinecittà Tickets
Stadium of the Domitian The stadium under Piazza NavonaVia di Tor Sanguigna 3 Tickets
Galleria Colonna – one of the largest ancient private palaces in Rome. The most beautiful rooms of the palace and the art collection of the family with artists from the 15th and 16th centuries such as Pinturicchio, Cosmè Tura, Carracci, Guido Reni, Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, Bronzino, Guercino, Veronese, Vanvitelli
Via della Pilotta 17 (near Piazza Venezia) 
Bus 51, 60, 63, 80, 83, 85, 160, 170, H, n5, n8, n11, n90, n543, n716 (Piazza Venezia) Tickets
Domus Romane – the Roman houses under Palazzo ValentiniPiazza Venezia, Via Foro Traiano 85, opposite the pillar of the Trajan Tickets
Capuchin Crypt – Museum and Crypt of the Capuchins
Via Vittorio Veneto 27 Bus 52, 53, 61, 63, 80, 83, 160, n90, nMA (Barberini) Tickets
Leonardo da Vinci Museum – in the Galleria Agostiana at Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo 12 Metro A, Tram 2, Bus 61, 89, 160, 490, 495, 628, nMA (Flaminio) Roma – Viterbo Tickets
The Coliseum tells of itself, permanent exhibition in the Coliseum – with the support of Heinz Beste, DAI Rom
Piazza del Colosseo Metro B Colosseo Tickets
until March 1 – Roads Of Arabia – Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia, special exhibition in the Baths of Diocletian via Enrico de Nicola 79 Termini train station, Metro A Repubblica Tickets
19.2.-19.4. – Miresi. Sguardi e strutture. Berlino / Roma / Barcellona
Exhibition by the international artist Miresi
Centrale Montemartini & Galleria d’Arte Moderna
Via Ostiense 106, Metro B Garbatella, Bus 23, 769, 792 Ostiense/Garbatella Tickets
Via Francesco Crispi, 24
I love Lego An exhibition for children of all ages and for Lego lovers
Palazzo Bonaparte – at Piazza Venezia Tickets
Concerts
2.4. Geoff Tate Empire 30th Anniversary Tour
Traffic live club Via Prenestina 738
113, 150F, 313, 314, 501, 508, n075 Prenestina/Tor Tre Teste
Tickets 
6.4. Bohemian Symphony – The Queen Orchestra
Teatro Olimpico, Piazza Gentile da Fabriano 17
Tram 2 Apollodoro, Flaminia/Reni
Palazzo dello Sport
Palazzo dello Sport is a multifunctional hall where concerts are regularly held. It is located in the EUR quarter and is easy to reach with the Metro B station Palasport.
Metro B EUR Palasport
Atlantico
Largo Venue
Largo Venue is a cultural center on Via Prenestina.
Largo Venue, Via Biordo Michelotti 2
Tram 5, 14, 19 Bus 81, 412, n5, n543, nMC Prenestina/Gattamelata
The music park of Rome
A jewel is the Parco della Musica, built by the internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano, in the north of Rome on Via Flaminia. Tram 2
The Parco della Musica has several auditoriums and an open air theater. Here you find performances in all styles.
Some events are organized together with the House of Jazz “Casa del Jazz” Events and tickets Casa del Jazz
Bus 160, 671, 714, 792
Classical music
Pappano – Levit: Respighi, Bach, Busoni
Antonio Pappano direttore
Igor Levit pianoforte
Bach-Respighi Tre Corali
Bach-Stokowski Toccata e Fuga in re minore BWV 565
Busoni Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra con coro maschile
Maurizio Pollini pianoforte
Brahms Intermezzi op. 117
Beethoven Sonata per pianoforte n. 28, op. 101
Chopin Polacca op. 44
Chopin Barcarola op. 60
Chopin Mazurka op. 56 n. 3
Chopin Scherzo n. 3 op. 39
Antonio Pappano dirige Rossini
Rossini Armida: Sinfonia
Rossini Semiramide: “Quali accenti!… Bella imago degli dèi”
Rossini Otello: “E a tanto giunger puote”
Rossini Messa di Gloria
Paganini: Concerto per violino
Rossini Il barbiere di Siviglia: Sinfonia
Paganini Concerto per violino n. 1
Mendelssohn Sinfonia n. 3 “Scozzese”
Haydn 2032 – I giochi e i piaceri
Kammerorchester Basel
Giovanni Antonini direttore
Haydn Sinfonia n. 69 “Laudon”
Haydn Sinfonia n. 61
Haydn Sinfonia n. 66
Beethoven “Imperatore”
Beethoven Concerto per pianoforte n. 5 “Imperatore”
Mahler Sinfonia n. 1 “Il Titano”
Modern music
Practical tips for Rome April
Weather and clothes
In April it is climatically very pleasant in Rome. The maximum temperature is 20° C and there are seven hours of sunshine, the minimum temperature is 8° C. There are an average of five rainy days. As a rule, however, it does not rain for long. As precaution you shall therefore have a light rain cape.
The temperatures are very pleasant during the day and it can get really warm in the sun. For siting outside in the evening, you need a light jacket.
Please note that you must cover your shoulders and knees when visiting sacred sites. If you wear off-shoulder shirts or dresses, you need a scarf or pareo. Comfortable shoes are also important in Rome, as you will be walking a lot and the sidewalks are often bumpy.
Rome for early risers
Of course, getting up very early requires a certain effort. Nevertheless, we would like to recommend that at least once you get up early in the morning.
There is very little traffic in Rome until six in the morning and you can take undisturbed beautiful photos of the sunrise at monuments and places. You may also meet a wedding couple at a photo shoot, at the Spanish Steps, at the Trevi Fountain or at the Colosseum. The sunrise in Rome is at 6:53 a.m. at the beginnin of April and at 6:08 a.m. at the end of the month.
Early morning is also the best time to jog.
High season in Rome, what you should consider
April is high season in Rome. Be prepared to spend many time of your stay in queues unless you reserve in advance. Avoiding queues should therefore be your first priority.
Public transport is overcrowded at rush hour, especially metro line A, but also some bus routes.
The hop on hop off buses give you a very good orientation. It is best to get an overview on the day of arrival and use the hop on hop off buses for the journey from Termini Central Station to the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, to the Colosseum, to the Circus Maximus with the Aventine and to Castel Sant’Angelo with the Vatican.
The best way to get around the city center is on foot. Choose one of the small romantic side streets with less traffic. Read our information about the city center. We have put together some tips with a half-day program in the category three days in Rome.
The Trevi Fountain is another major attraction in Rome. A city police officer told me that the fountain is well attended until 3 a.m. During the day the accesses sometimes have to be closed due to overcrowding.
Our recommendation: Book a hotel in the center and visit the fountains and squares before breakfast when there are few other visitors. It is a unique experience!
Food
Roman gastronomy is usually excellent. Whether you want an opulent dinner, a pizza, a sandwich, an ice cream or something sweet, in Rome you will find a large selection of the best quality. It is therefore not necessary to get roped into the first restaurant that comes along with colorfully printed billboards and plastic models of the dishes. Good restaurants don’t need that.
Rome has an interesting street food scene and of course the best pizza al taglio. The best ice cream parlors in Rome offer flavors for every season.
In April ends the season of artichokes, “Carciofi”, which you can find fried especially in the ghetto. They are very tasty and are called “Carciofi alla Giudia”. The typical Roman pasta dishes can be found all year round. The preparation of Cacio e Pepe with sheep’s cheese and pepper is very tasty; variations are the Gricia, the Amatriciana and the Carbonara. Read more about Roman cuisine and get an overview on a street food tour.
It is also very beautiful by the sea. Many Romans go to Ostia on weekends and if you want to eat by the sea, you should reserve a restaurant.
Shopping
Italian fashion is known worldwide and everyone will envy you for your purchases. Leave enough space in your suitcase for your purchases!
The luxury brands can be found around Via dei Condotti, which leads from the Spanish Steps to Via del Corso. Shops in all price ranges can be found along Via del Corso.
Rome also has art and antiques. Many visitors also stock up on gastronomic specialties. Read Shopping in Rome.
Excursions
In the south of Rome is the Appia Antica Regional Park with numerous catacombs. The “Regina viarum” has been a free open-air museum for more than a hundred years. It is a popular destination, especially on weekends, and you can eat very well here. If you can set it up, you should take a day to explore the area surrounding Rome. 
The trip to the sea to Ostia by local train from the pyramid (Metro B) to Ostia Lido is very popular. On the way you can see the very interesting excavations in Ostia Antica. Here you will find the ruins of a complete ancient commercial city with theater. When the weather is nice, you can take a walk on the beach and enjoy the fresh salty sea air. Also read day trip to Ostia.
A visit to Villa D’Este in Tivoli is fabulous. The numerous fountains and water games that are fed by the Aniene River are an impressive spectacle. There is also an organ fountain that is powered by water.
Also close to Tivoli is Villa Adriana, built by Emperor Hadrian. It is the largest villa ever built by an emperor. It is very pleasant here in April.
Very intersting is the trip to Castel Gandolfo. There you can visit the papal summer residence on the slopes of the volcano lake and have a good lunch with local wine.
A little further away is Assisi, where St. Francis founded his order. You can visit the Basilica of Francis there and enjoy a lunch of the excellent cuisine of Umbria.
