Rome March, here you will find information about March in Rome. Escape the Nordic cold and enjoy spring in Rome in March. Rome offers you an extensive program with museums, exhibitions and concerts and you can enjoy the excellent Roman cuisine.
Rome has quite a few visitors in March who take advantage of the pleasant weather to visit the archaeological sites and take a trip to the sea. March is not yet high season and there are affordable hotel rooms. Please also read our information about the hotels in Rome.
March in Rome offers you a variety of options. Nature is green and blooming. It is particularly beautiful in the Roman villas and on the Palatine Hill. In the Rome area there are destinations such as the excavations in Ostia Antica or the Villa Adriana and the Villa D’Este in Tivoli.
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 Eating in Rome.
Rome Museums opening hours in March
Also in March you have to reserve the entry time at the Colosseum, at the Vatican Museums and at the Borghese Gallery, otherwise there may be waiting times.
For the Borghese Gallery you have to make a reservation with the Roma Pass on +39 06 32810. Since the gallery is usually fully booked well in advance, we recommend purchasing the tickets directly.
Colosseum Rome March
The Colosseum is the most visited museum in Italy. It can only be visited with reservation.
Opening hours:
until March 15 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. closing 5:00 p.m.
16-28 March 8:30 am – 4:30 pm closing 5:30 pm
from March 29 8:30 am – 6:15 pm closing 7:15 pm
More details about Colosseum Tickets>
Free entry on the first Sunday of every month
Entry to the Colosseum is free on March 1st and reservations are not possible. On the first Sunday in January, more than 24,000 people wanted to go to the Colosseum and many of them had to give up. It can take several hours before you have the free tickets and have passed the security check.
Sunday March 1st, entry to all National Museums is free. The museums of the municipality of Rome also offer free admission on March 1st, with the exception of the special exhibitions.
There are many interesting museums where the crowds on the days off are not as great as at the Colosseum and Castel Sant’Angelo. When the weather is fine, the excavations at Ostia Antica are worth seeing. Likewise the Villa Adriana and the Villa D’Este in Tivoli.
All information and opening times can be found in the list of museums in Rome.
Tickets to the National Museums
You can book tickets for the National Museums online. Tickets to the National Museums in Rome>
Vatican Museums Rome March
The Vatican Museums are among the most visited museums worldwide. The Vatican Museums are always very busy during normal opening hours. It is much quieter before the official opening in the early morning.
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 March 19 and every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month.
Opening hours 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closing 6 p.m.
Free entry to the Vatican Museums is on Sunday, March 29, 2020. However, there are long lines and it gets extremely crowded. 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Closing 2 p.m.
Tickets to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
When is St. Peter's Basilica closed in March
St. Peter’s Basilica is closed during the Pope’s celebrations, for which you need invitation cards.
The dates for March are:
General audiences every Wednesday morning with the exception of March 4, with invitation cards
Angelus prayer every Sunday at 12 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square. You do not need invitation cards for the Angelus.
Events
1.3. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
8.3. Huawei Half Marathon Roma – Ostia 21 km
Via Cristoforo Colombo – Piazzale dello Sport → Via Cristoforo Colombo – Lungomare (Ostia) 9:15
https://www.romaostia.it/
8.3. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope – See the Angelus prayer live on the internet
11.3. Papal general audience See the audience live on the internet
postponed Rugby Six Nations
Italy – England
Olympic stadium Tickets
14.-16.3. Rome Bridal Days
The best collections of bridal fashion from the most famous brands
Fiera di Roma – Rome fair train FL1 direction Fiumicino airport
15.3. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
15.3. 13:30 – 16:30 The Ides of March
Performance of the Gruppo Storico Romano on the murder of Julius Caesar 44 BC
Largo di Torre Argentina 
18.3. Papal general audience
19.-22.3. Roma Expo Salus and Nutrition
Health fair
Fiera di Roma – Rome fair train FL1 direction Fiumicino airport
22.3. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
25.3. Papal general audience
28.3. 19:00 Oltre la serratura
Concert in the Villa of the Order of Malta
Grazia Raimondi, violino – “I Solisti del Festival”
Elena La Montagna e Ingrid Belli, violino – Carla Santini, viola – Luigi Piovano, violoncello
Antonio Sciancalepore, contrabbasso – Carlo Gargiulo clavicembalo
“Le quattro stagioni” di A. Vivaldi
29.3. Traffic-calmed Sunday – driving ban for private vehicles with combustion engines in the green zone
7:30 – 12:30, 16:30 – 20:30
29.3. Free entry to the Vatican Museums
29.3. 12:00 Angelus prayer of the Pope
canceled Rome Marathon
The biggest Marathon in Rome
Via dei Fori Imperiali (between Colosseum and Piazza Venezia)
8:40 a.m.
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
until March 8 Impressionisti segreti, treasures from private collections, including Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Pissarro, Sisley, Caillebotte, Morisot, Gonzalès, Gauguin, Signac, Van Rysselberghe and Cross Palazzo Bonaparte – at Piazza Venezia Tickets
until March 15 Canova, eternal beauty, an exhibition of international collections, Museo di Roma Tuesday – Sunday 9-19 Piazza Navona The sculptor Canova (1757-1822) with his marble figures is one of the main representatives of Italian classicism. Exhibition at the Museo di Roma Palazzo Braschi in Piazza Navona. Tickets for Palazzo Braschi
until March 29 Carthage – The immortal myth, special exhibition in the Colosseum
Piazza del Colosseo Metro B Colosseo Tickets
Frida Kahlo – Il caos dentro, a documentary Spazio Eventi Via Tirso 16 Tram 3, 19 Bus 63, 83, 92 Buenos Aires
Tickets at 
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
3.-8.3. Pink Floyd Legend – Shine Pink Floyd
Teatro Olimpico, Piazza Gentile da Fabriano 17
Tram 2 Apollodoro, Flaminia/Reni
29.3. Tankard Alcoholic metal
Traffic live club Via Prenestina 738
113, 150F, 313, 314, 501, 508, n075 Prenestina/Tor Tre Teste
Tickets
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
Modern music
Practical tips for Rome March
Climate and clothing
According to statistics, the maximum temperatures in Rome in March are 17° C, the minimum temperatures at 6° C. Skirts and pants are slowly getting shorter. However, keep in mind that your clothing must cover your knees if you want to visit the Vatican, the catacombs, or other religious sites.
It can rain occasionally in March. The rain usually doesn’t last long and you may find a place for a little stop. After 15 or 30 minutes everything is mostly over again.
Since it can be very warm in the sun during the day and very cold at night, you have to be flexible with your clothes. In all cases you should have a light rain cover with you. 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 it takes a certain effort to get up in the dark. Nevertheless, I would like to recommend that you set off 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. If you are lucky, you will find a foggy morning that offers very beautiful and unique photo opportunities. The sunrise is in Rome in March at 6:45 am at the beginning of the month, on March 28th, before the change to daylight saving time, at 6:00 am.
Early morning is also the best time to jog.
Mid season in Rome what you should consider
There are always many visitors in Rome. No matter whether you are interested in archeology, art, churches or culinary art, Rome has something to offer for everyone.
The European Union was founded in Rome; three UN organizations, FAO, WFP and IFAD, are based in Rome. Rome is the capital of Italy and, with the Vatican, the center of the world’s Catholic religion.
There is always a lot going on in Rome and a particularly large number of school groups and students come to Rome in March.
It is therefore advisable to reserve the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums in advance.
Rome is also interesting for shopping in March. Here you will find a large selection in every price range.
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.
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!
Very useful are the Hop on hop off buses, especially between the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum and Castel Sant’Angelo. The buses run at regular intervals and are more reliable than public transport.
If you are walking in the center, choose one of the small romantic back streets with less traffic. We have prepared some tips with half-day programs in the category Three days in Rome.
Food
Romans have an extensive lunch only on Sundays. During the week they take only a sandwich at a bar or a first course in a small restaurant.
In Rome there is an interesting street food scene and of course the best pizza al taglio. Also in March, the ice cream parlors are open. The best ice cream parlors offer flavor variations for every season.
For dinner, the Romans spend more time. It can take several hours between appetizer and dessert. There is a lot of fish and grilled. The heavy Roman Cuisine is very suitable for March. Book a street food tour to get a good introduction.
In March the sea is still rather cold. Nevertheless, on nice days it is a good idea to take the train from the pyramid to Ostia and have a nice dinner by the sea in Ostia.
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.
A special temple of consumption is the La Rinascente department store in via del Tritone. In the basement you can visit the ancient aqueduct that supplies the Trevi Fountain and the fountains in Piazza Navona with water. On the roof terrace you have a wonderful view of the city.
There are also many nice little shops and boutiques in the side streets around Piazza Navona and around Campo de ‘Fiori.
Other shopping streets are Via Cola di Rienzo and Via Appia. Via Marconi and Via Tuscolana as well as the newly built shopping centers are too far away from the center for most tourists. Read Shopping in Rome.
Excursions
It’s a good idea to take a day to explore Rome’s surroundings.
Very popular is the drive to the sea to Ostia with the local train from the pyramid (Metro B) to Ostia Lido. On the way you can see the interesting archaeological excavations in Ostia Antica.
Here you will find a complete trading city with theater. The theater stages some concerts still today.
When the weather is nice, you can take a walk on the beach and enjoy the fresh salty sea air. Read also my Day trip to Ostia
Very interesting is a visit to the Villa D’Este in Tivoli. The numerous fountains and water features fed by the river Aniene provide a cool breeze even on hot days.
Also close to Tivoli is Villa Adriana, built by Emperor Hadrian. It is the largest villa ever built by an emperor. March is a good month to visit Villa Adriana. It is very hot here in summer.
Nice is also a trip to Castel Gandolfo. There you can visit the papal summer residence 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 St. Francis there and enjoy a lunch of excellent Umbrian cuisine.
