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Rome, the Eternal City, is a veritable open-air museum. With more than 2,700 years of history, the Italian capital offers an invaluable cultural and artistic heritage, ranging from Roman times to the contemporary age.
Visiting it is a journey through time, history and art. But did you know you can do it without spending a single euro? There are many free museums in Rome and they include both permanent collections that are always accessible and large institutions that open for free on specific dates, such as the first Sunday of the month.
In this detailed guide we will show you all the free museums in Rome, dividing them into two main categories: those always free and those with free access on specific dates, with a focus on places to visit if you have a limited budget but a great desire to discover. Let’s get started!
Always free museums in Rome
The city provides history lovers or the merely curious with several state museums that have free admission all year round.
Casal de’ Pazzi Museum
Lesser known, but fascinating: this is a prehistoric museum that preserves the remains of an ancient Aniene riverbed and artifacts from 200,000 years ago. Ideal for families and schools.
Address: Via Egidio Galbani, 6.
Hours: daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with reservations required at 060608.
Museum of the Walls
Want to explore the city’s ancient defenses? The Museum of the Walls is located inside Porta San Sebastiano and also allows a scenic walk along the Aurelian Walls.
Address: Via di Porta San Sebastiano, 18.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Villa of Maxentius
Located along the Via Appia Antica, this imperial villa is one of the most fascinating and peaceful archaeological sites in Rome. It includes a palace, a mausoleum and an ancient Roman circus that is still clearly visible.
Address: Via Appia Antica, 153.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Giovanni Barracco Museum
A little gem in the center of Rome, it houses a precious collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Assyro-Babylonian sculptures. It is one of Rome’s most amazing free museums, perfect for a dip into antiquity.
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 166/A.
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Pietro Canonica Museum in Villa Borghese
In Villa Borghese, this museum is dedicated to sculptor Pietro Canonica. The atmosphere is intimate, and you can admire sketches, statues and period furnishings in what was his home-studio.
Address: Pietro Canonica Avenue, 2.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday), Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Napoleonic Museum
Located near Piazza Navona, the Napoleonic Museum tells the story of the Bonaparte family through portraits, furniture, paintings and personal objects. Perfect if you love history and want to discover a lesser-known side of the capital.
Address: Piazza di Ponte Umberto I, 1.
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Museum of the Roman Republic and Garibaldian Memory.
A must-see place for fans of the Risorgimento. Located on the Janiculum Hill, it recounts the events of the Roman Republic of 1849 and Garibaldi’s exploits.
Address: Largo di Porta San Pancrazio.
Hours: 10am-2pm (Tuesday-Friday), Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm.
Carlo Bilotti Museum Orangery of Villa Borghese
Inside Villa Borghese, this contemporary art museum houses works by De Chirico, Warhol and other 20th-century artists. A modern art break in the green heart of the city.
Address: Fiorello La Guardia Avenue, 6.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Alberto Moravia House Museum.
Overlooking the Tiber in the Flaminio district, this house museum preserves rooms, furnishings and original objects of the writer Alberto Moravia. An intimate and evocative place where you can breathe in the culture of the twentieth century among books, photographs and testimonies of his literary world. Admission is free, but the visit must be booked in advance.
Address: Lungotevere della Vittoria, 1 – 00195 Rome.
Hours: Visit available on the second Saturday of the month by reservation only.
💡An extra tip: If you live in Rome or in the municipalities of the Metropolitan City, consider the MIC card: for only 5 euros it gives you free access for 12 months to all the museums of the Sistema Musei di Roma Capitale and entitles you to reductions for exhibitions hosted in exhibition spaces with separate ticketing. A small investment that opens big doors!
Major museums in Rome free on the first Sunday of the month
Thanks to the #DomenicalMuseo initiative, renewed also in 2025, you can visit some of Rome’s main historical attractions for free every first Sunday of the month:
Colosseum Archaeological Park
The heart of ancient Rome opens for free on the first Sunday of the month. You can stroll through the ruins of the Roman Forum, climb the Palatine Hill, and admire the world’s most famous amphitheater-the Colosseum. One of the most iconic cultural experiences among Rome’s free museums.
Address: Colosseum Square, 1.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. (March 30 to Sept. 30), 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Oct. 1-25)
Borghese Gallery
Among Rome’s most popular free museums, the Borghese Gallery is a riot of classical art. Caravaggio, Bernini, Raphael and Canova meet in an elegant space inside Villa Borghese. Free admission on the first Sunday of every month, but reservations required at a pre-sale cost of €2!
Address: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5.
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
National Roman Museum (all locations)
With its four locations-Palazzo Massimo, Terme di Diocleziano, Cripta Balbi and Palazzo Altemps-this museum offers a journey into antiquity among statues, mosaics and frescoes. One of Rome’s largest and most fascinating free museums to explore.
Address: several locations.
Hours: Palazzo Massimo: Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-19:00; Crypta Balbi: Saturday 10:30-12:30; Baths of Diocletian: Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-19:00; Palazzo Altemps: Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-19:00.
Pantheon
From 2023, access to the Pantheon is charged, but on the first Sunday of the month it remains free for everyone. It is one of the most impressive places to visit in Rome for free: an architectural masterpiece with the world’s largest masonry dome and a mystical atmosphere.
Address: Piazza della Rotonda.
Hours: daily 9am-7pm (last admission 6:30pm).
Castel Sant’Angelo
Fortress, museum, monument and panoramic terrace: Castel Sant’Angelo is perfect for enjoying art, history and breathtaking views of the Tiber River.
Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50.
Hours: 9am-7:30pm (last entrance 6:30pm).
National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM).
If you’re wondering what to visit in Rome for free to discover modern art, GNAM is the answer. It houses masterpieces by Klimt, Van Gogh, Balla and many others. Perfect for lovers of the 20th century, with free admission every first Sunday.
Address: 131 Viale delle Belle Arti.
Hours: 09:30-19:00 (Tuesday-Sunday).
Barberini and Corsini National Galleries
Two spectacular venues to admire the Roman Baroque, with works by Caravaggio, Reni and Guido Cagnacci. They are among the most striking Roman museums for those who love 17th-century art and sumptuous interiors.
Address: Via della Lungara 10 (Corsini Gallery), Via delle Quattro Fontane 13 (Barberini Palace).
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday).
Baths of Caracalla
One of the largest imperial baths of antiquity, surrounded by greenery. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month is an irresistible invitation to walk among columns, mosaics and thermal spaces.
Address: Via delle Terme di Caracalla.
Hours: 09:00-19:15 (Tuesday-Sunday).
Via Latina Tombs.
A little-known but fascinating archaeological park where you can walk among ancient Roman tombs set in greenery. Ideal if you are looking for what to visit in Rome for free away from the more touristy circuits.
Address: Via dell’Arco di Travertino, 151.
H.C. Andersen House Museum.
The Norwegian sculptor’s home-studio in Rome, with sketches, marbles and sculptures. An intimate and free place on the first Sunday, to be included among Rome’s free museums dedicated to 20th-century art.
Address: Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, 20.
Hours: 09:30-19:30 (Tuesday-Sunday).
The full list of Rome’s state museums with free admission every first Sunday of the month can be found here.
Vatican Museums: free admission on the last Sunday of the month.
Another must-see among the places to visit in Rome for free is the Vatican Museums. Every last Sunday of the month (excluding some holidays), admission is free from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, with last admission at 12:30 pm.
You will be able to admire:
- The Sistine Chapel.
- The Raphael Rooms.
- The Vatican Picture Gallery.
- The Egyptian Museum.
- The Courtyards and Galleries.
This is one of the richest art collections in the world, with absolute masterpieces of the Renaissance.
Reservations are not flexible and the line very long, but it is absolutely worth it. We recommend that you arrive early.
More places to visit in Rome for free
In addition to museums, Rome is an open-air museum. Here are some places that don’t require a ticket but offer unforgettable experiences:
- St. Peter’s Basilica (always free).
- Mouth of Truth.
- Giardino degli Aranci and terrace of the Janiculum.
- Coppedè neighborhood for architecture.
- Centrale Montemartini (free at some special events).
- Via Appia Antica, perfect for a walk among aqueducts and Roman tombs.
Visiting Rome for free has never been easier. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore the rich cultural heritage of the Eternal City without spending a euro.
Always check schedules and any extraordinary closures before your visit.