Update 2024: After some confusion and cancellations over the past years, Domenica al Museo is officially back! The Rome free Sunday is on every month and works as detailed below.
The first Sunday of every month, cultural sites run by the state are totally free in Rome. That means that once a month, you have the chance to visit museums, galleries, archaeological sites and monuments without paying anything. (Though keep in mind that while the main sites or permanent collections are free, special exhibits might still require an entrance fee).
However, there are several museums in Rome which are free every day:
Free Museums in Rome
- Casa Museo Mario Praz
- H.C. Andersen Museum
- Museo Napoleonico
- Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco
Known as Domenica al Museo (Museum Sunday), the first Sunday is a wonderful time to visit some of Rome’s top attractions as well as an excuse to seek out lesser-visited spots.
Want to take advantage? Here are all the free openings in Rome for the first Sunday of every month:
Free Rome Museums and Monuments the first Sunday of the Month (owned by the state):
- Colosseum and Roman Forum/ Palatine Hill (though this doesn’t include the Colosseum underground tour). You need to book the Colosseum entrance ahead of time via coopculture, though.
- Galleria Borghese (You must still book in advance and the ticket is free but must still pay the € 2 reservation fee)
- GNAM Galleria Nazionale Arte Moderna
- National Etruscan Museum on Villa Giulia
- HC Andersen Museum
- Museo M. Praz
- Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi per le Arti decorative e il Costume
- Museo nazionale Romano (Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, Terme di Diocleziano)
- Palazzo Barberini
- Palazzo Corsini
- Galleria Spada
- Museo nazionale di Palazzo Venezia
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Museo nazionale d’Arte Orientale “G. Tucci”
- Museo nazionale Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini”
- Museo nazionale delle Arti e Tradizioni Popolari
- Museo nazionale dell’Alto Medioevo
- Museo nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali
- Ostia Antica (which is a great day trip from Rome)
- Museo Ostiense
- Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella
- Baths of Caracalla
- Villa dei Quintili
- Villa Adriana in Tivoli
- Villa d’Este in Tivoli
The MAXXI offers free entrance to the permanent collection (Gallery 4) every Tuesday through Friday and the first Sunday of the month.Free Rome City Museums
Every first Sunday of the month, Rome residents also have free entry to certain city museums. (You must show proof of residency to be able to enter without buying a ticket on this day). The free city museums include:
- Capitoline Museums (but you can go up to the secret terrace bar for free any day)
- Centrale Montemartini
- Trajan’s Markets
- Ara Pacis Museum
- Palazzo Braschi
- Museo di Roma in Trastevere
- Musei di Villa Torlonia
- Museo Civico di Zoologia
- Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale
Domenica al Museo is a great time to get out in Rome to see some of these amazing museums for free (though don’t be shy about going all the other days of the month when the ticket price helps to support these great institutions).
Hoping to see the Vatican Museums for free? They are not a part of Domenica al Museo, but they are free the last Sunday of the month (instead of the first Sunday), up until 1 pm. Good luck. The line will be CRAZY!
Looking for more things to do on a budget? Here are 50 free things to do in Rome.
can i ask you something about the free entrance very first sunday
Sure!
Is there still free entrance on the first Sunday of the month?
Yes, there is!
Hi!
Do I have to book to benefit from free entrance on first Sunday of the month, please?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Ciao! You have to book anything that normally requires a reservation like Galleria Borghese (you pay the booking fee but not the ticket price, in that case). Otherwise, just show up but be prepared to wait in line!
Are skip-the-line tickets available on the first sunday of the month? (Coliseum, roman forum, etc.) Can you still use the Roma Pass advantages?
Hi! You cannot get skip the line tickets on these days. Sorry about that! Best to go the Monday after
Hi! Is the first sunday of marc free? I haven’t read a word about that yet..
Hi Barbi! If you check the top of the post – I added a line that explains the first Sunday of March 2019 is NOT free (this is an exception). Instead, everything will be free from 5-10 March as part of a special culture week
I am confused (apparently I’m a little slow haha). Was the pause just for March 2019 or is that continuing throughout the rest of 2019 through September? I am headed to Italy next week and will actually be in Rome on April 7 (the first Sunday of April). I’m wondering if we can just plan to head to the Colosseum before opening to try to get in line early or if I should be booking something in advance. Thank you!
I am a little confused about what is free from 5-10march. Is it only the first list? Or does it include the second list (the city museums like trajan’s market?) Thanks!
Would you recommend avoiding these sights on the first Sunday as they are a lot busier? We only have three days and are trying to plan things with minimum lines.
YES.
I am confused (apparently I’m a little slow haha). Was the pause just for March 2019 or is that continuing throughout the rest of 2019 through September? I am headed to Italy next week and will actually be in Rome on April 7 (the first Sunday of April). I’m wondering if we can just plan to head to the Colosseum before opening to try to get in line early or if I should be booking something in advance. Thank you!
Hi! Is the first Sunday of May going to be free? On some websites I read that it is only free for Italian citizens, but tourists still have to pay full price.
It is currently suspended. You can check Io Vado al Museo for the specific free dates by site/museum.
You are correct Natalie. First Sunday is not free yet. Today There was a long queue. But finally they charged. I want to know is this continuing for all the state places till September?
Are the first Sundays of the month free to non-residents of Rome (I am visiting from the UK Feb.1st onwards)? Also, does one simply turn up at the monument/museum to gain free entry and if so is a ticket issued that can be shown at participating venues (eg. Palatine/Forum/Colosseum and the four National Roman museums)?
Some of the city museums are only free to residents but major national sites are free to all. You simply show up but the lines can be VERY long and sometimes it is better to buy a ticket the day before or after the free Sunday in order to skip the line and save your sanity.
Hello Natalie, I am planning to visit Rome on 1st March, 2020. It is the first Sunday of the month, so the mentioned museums from your list will be free?
Thank you for your answer
Yes. State museums and sites are free for all, city museums free for residents (as detailed above)
Hello Natalie!
I´m coming Rome on november. Do you think that the lines are going to be very long despite the month of my visit?
It is hard to guess now but the city is extremely full at the moment