More about: Opening Hours of the Rome Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums in Rome are one of the city's most interesting and important cultural institutions. In fact, they are considered the oldest museum in the world and exhibit pieces of great historical and artistic value.
It is undoubtedly one of the tourist attractions you must visit during your trip to Rome, but do you know when they open their doors and how long it will take you to visit them? And the best time to go? I'll tell you this and much more below!
What are the opening hours of the Capitoline Museums?
The Capitoline Museums are open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day of the week.
These museums are also open on special dates such as Christmas Eve (4 December) and New Year's Eve (31 December), although with reduced opening hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What time is the last admission to the Capitoline Museums?
The last admission of visitors to the Capitoline Museums is one hour before closing time, i.e. at 6:30 PM.
However, I do not recommend visiting these museums if you are short on time because if you want to get the most out of your visit and make the most of the price you paid for your tickets to the Capitoline Museums, you will need to spend more than 45 minutes inside to get a general and complete idea of all the collections that this institution houses within its walls.
If you are interested in visiting the Capitoline Museums, it is best to set aside part of the day to visit them at your leisure, otherwise it will not be worth buying a ticket because you will hardly get to see anything.
When do the Capitoline Museums close?
The Capitoline Museums are open every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December), New Year's Day (1 January) and Labour Day (1 May).
Keep these holidays in mind when planning your trip to Rome if you plan to visit these museums during your holiday. However, if you visit Rome at Christmas, there are many other things to do on 25 December and 1 January.
How long do visits last? And how long can I stay in the Capitoline Museums?
On average, a visit to the Capitoline Museums takes about 2 hours, although depending on how interested you are in the Capitoline Museums' art collections, you may want to stay longer.
The ticket is valid for a period of 4 hours and you will not be able to enter after the time has expired, but once you enter the Capitoline Museums, you can stay inside as long as you like.
When is the best time to visit the Capitoline Museums? And the best time of day?
The best time to visit the Capitoline Museums is early in the morning or at lunchtime on a weekday if you don't want to encounter large crowds in the museums.
The Capitoline Museums are most crowded on weekends, especially during high season. During the mid or low tourist season in Rome, crowds are not usually a problem.
Are there any days when it is free to visit these museums?
Yes! If you want to visit the Capitoline Museums without spending any money, the first Sunday of every month is free for all visitors.
So if you want to visit the Capitoline Museums for free on this day, I recommend getting up early and going first thing in the morning, as places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Otherwise, you could end up queuing for longer than you'd like!
Opening hours of tourist attractions near the Capitoline Museums
After exploring the Capitoline Museums, you may want to take a stroll around the area to see other nearby tourist attractions. Take a look below at the opening hours of some of the most popular sites near the museums.
- Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Monument to Victor Emmanuel II: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Palazzo Venezia: Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Roman Forum: Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.