This post will feature several fun and interesting activities you can enjoy in Rome during the month of February.
We include free things to do, things to do at night, and family-friendly activities, all updated for 2024.
- Top 10
- Free Things to Do
- Things to Do at Night
- Family-Friendly Activities
- How Is the Weather?
- Free Tours By Foot
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY
The following section will include our top ten activities available in Rome throughout the month of February.
Whenever possible, we will note when an event is either free, family-friendly or fun to do at night.
You may also want to consider visiting one of the following historic locations:
Don’t forget that most Rome tourist passes include either hop-on-hop-off bus tickets or free access to the city’s public transport system.
If you’re looking to save money on transportation or tours, this is a great way to do it.
1. Attend a Concert
Rome is a passionate city with a long history of music. You can find just about any genre you're looking for including, of course, classical music and opera.
Classical/Opera Music
- Vivaldi/Bach at St. Paul's Within the Walls | Mondays
- Rooftop Bar Opera Show: The Great Beauty in Rome | Wednesdays
- Capuchin’s Crypt: Sacred Music in the Heart of Rome | Thursdays
- Open Air Opera Concert: Best Arias and Love Duets | Fridays
- Open Air Opera Concert at Terrazza Borromini | Fridays
- La Traviata at St. Paul's Within the Walls | Fridays
- The Three Tenors in Rome | Saturdays
- Gianni Schicchi L’heure Espagnole | February 7th-16th
- Piano and String Quartet in A Minor | February 10th
Note that you can get an Opera Pass which gives you access to multiple opera performances in Rome each week.
Rock/Pop Music
- Jethro Tull | February 11th
TIP: Teatro dell’Opera is roughly a 15-20 minute walk from famous sites such as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.
2. Enjoy a Live Football (Soccer) Game
If you enjoy football, Rome has two teams you can support. This is a great activity for families with sports fans.
And, if you want to see behind the sceens, you can also take a tour of Olympic Stadium,
If football (soccer) isn't of interest, you could instead attend Six Nations Rugby matches. These will also be held at the Stadio Olimpico, on February 5th and 25th.
3. Go to an Interactive Exhibit
Domus Aurea is the Golden House Nero had built as his residence after the great fire of Rome.
It was rediscovered at the end of the 15th century, having been built upon and buried over the centuries.
Artists of the time, including Raphael, lowered themselves by rope into the Domus Aurea, becoming some of the first eyes to see the space in over 1,500 years.
They discovered rather elaborate wall decorations that were labeled groteques.
This was partly because it felt as if they were in a cave or grotto (grottech), and partly because the artwork was wonderful and absurd.
It was a look that influenced Raphal's own future work.
After a long restoration, the rooms are open to visitors. Be sure to dress warmly.
Tickets can be purchased here.
4. Learn How to Make Italian Pasta
Italy is the home of certain types of pasta, and you can actually learn how to make this popular dish the way Romans do at a cooking class.
With the help of a local chef, you’ll learn how to make authentic Italian pasta and get tips passed down through generations of Roman families.
After everything is cooked and prepared, you’ll sit down with your meal and a glass of wine.
This is followed by dessert provided by the chef who helped you prepare your own pasta!
Purchase tickets or learn more.
For more activities you can enjoy after dark, check our things to do at night section.
5. Take a Walking Tour of Rome
It may be a little cold in February, but there are quite a few excellent tours available that you might want to consider.
Here are some of the best outings offered this month:
- Crypts, Bones & Catacombs
- Colosseum Tour w/ Arena Floor
- Early Entrance to the Sistine Chapel
- Complete Vatican Tour
If you’re looking for even more great options or perhaps some pay-what-you-like services, please read our post about Rome city centre walking tours.
6. Celebrate Carnevale di Roma
Carnival will be taking place in late February, and Rome will be celebrating this holiday with a parade and other events in Piazza Navona.
Visitors can expect open-air theatrical displays, performers in full regalia with masks and costumes, and even some comedic performances.
In addition, there will also be a parade featuring the Italian military’s equestrian unit in Piazza del Popolo, which is close to Villa Borghese.
All of these festivities will be free to attend, and in 2024 they take place on February 13th.
But, you can expect there to be plenty of shop owners selling refreshments and other items related to Carnival in the area.
Needless to say, this is a great activity for kids. You’ll find even more excellent things to do with the children in our family-friendly section.
7. Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Rome is one of the most romantic places to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and there are a lot of interesting things to do on this holiday.
We’ll cover a few of the more popular activities here, but this list only scratches the surface of events and attractions you can visit with your significant other.
- Go stargazing at the Rome Observatory
- Enjoy an Aperitivo with your partner
- See the sunset from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo
- Test your loyalty at the Mouth of Truth
- See St. Valentine’s Skull at the Church of Santa Maria
- Toss a few coins in Trevi Fountain
If you’re planning a full day of fun with your partner, chances are you could fit most (if not all) of these plans on your itinerary. While some of the activities on our list might cost you a bit, others are entirely free to enjoy.
For more ideas that won’t cost a thing, please check our free things to do section.
8. Visit a Museum or Landmark For Free
Did you know that you can visit some of the most popular attractions in Rome without paying for tickets?
The first Sunday of the month brings Rome Free Sunday, when a number of sites and monuments are free to visit. In 2024 that is February 4th.
The following attractions participate in program:
- The Colosseum
- The Borghese Gallery
- Ostia Antica
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Baths of Caracalla
- And more!
For more details about free days at museums and landmarks in Rome, check this list of participating attractions.
If you’re looking for other activities you can enjoy without worrying about your budget, check our free things to do section.
9. Visit St. Peter’s Tomb
This is a great idea no matter what time of year it is, but with February being a somewhat slower month, you probably won’t have as much trouble getting in to see St. Peter’s Tomb.
This site is still considered holy and important to the church, which is why it remains directly underneath St. Peter’s Baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In addition to this tomb and everything in the Vatican Grottoes, the church above also contains some incredible artwork.
One of the more notable pieces is Michelangelo’s Pietà, which is the only piece that the artist ever signed.
For more information on visiting St. Peter’s Tomb, make sure to read our post about St. Peter’s Basilica.
10. Save Money With a Tourist Pass
If you’re planning to see several popular attractions in Rome, a tourist pass can save you anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices.
There are currently two different types of pass in Rome: All-inclusive and prepackaged.
An all-inclusive pass provides admission to dozens of attractions and things to do for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days).
The more you use it, the more money you can save!
Alternatively, the prepackaged pass includes a predetermined set of activities for one flat price.
Any additional attractions or services included will be 10% off.
Here are some of the best attractions included with these passes:
- Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill |
€17.60 - Hop on Hop off Bus Tour |
€23 - Vatican Museums |
€21 - Leonardo da Vinci Museum |
€12 - Gladiator Museum |
€12 - Baths of Caracalla |
€8 - VIGAMUS Museum |
€8 - Capitoline Museums |
€15 - Castel Sant’Angelo |
€15 - And More!
Depending on which pass you choose, you should be able to save anywhere from 20% - 50% off these activities.
For more details, please read our post covering Rome tourist passes.
Or, you can purchase the following passes here: Explorer Pass - Rome Go City | Rome Turbopass
In this section, we will cover some of the more interesting free activities you can enjoy in Rome during the month of February.
If you’re still on the hunt for some fun and free activities after reading this section, please read our post detailing some of the best free things to do in Rome.
See the Pantheon in the Rain or Snow
It’s always a good time to see the Pantheon, but February is a particularly good time for a visit.
Although you wouldn’t think it, a rainy day is actually the perfect time to see this historic landmark.
Thanks to its open dome, all elements of the weather drop down into the building from above.
The Pantheon was actually designed like this intentionally, and you’ll find a drainage area just beneath the dome.
As the water droplets fall in, the light coming through the oculus can make it look like the raindrops are falling from heaven.
This is an even more magical experience when it snows, but that’s a somewhat rare occurrence in Rome – especially in February!
For more details, check our post about visiting the Pantheon.
Go to the Vatican Museums
Although you will need a ticket to enter on most days, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are actually free to visit on the last Sunday of every month.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see various notable historic pieces and artwork from beloved creators such as Raphael and Michelangelo without having to pay for admission.
That being said, it is important to note that this is usually the busiest day of the month at the Vatican Museums.
Even though it is the slow season, you should still expect abnormally large crowds.
In addition to all the people who will be there, the museums will be open for a much shorter amount of time than usual.
With that in mind, we recommend arriving as early as possible and planning out your trip ahead of time.
TIP: If you want to avoid the crowds, keep in mind that the Rome Turbo Pass includes admission to the Vatican Museums for free. This is a great way to save money on tickets and get in during a quieter time of the month.
Look For Famous Caravaggio Paintings
There is a lot of notable artwork in Rome, including several beautiful paintings by famed artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
While many of these pieces can be found in museums, others are located in churches throughout the city which are free to visit.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you may want to consider going on a scavenger hunt to find some of these incredible works of art.
You’ll find a few great examples at the following locations:
- Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
- Church of Santa Maria del Popolo
- Church Sant’Agostino
Each of these churches is very close to a hop-on-hop-off bus stop.
If you plan to take a bus tour anyways, you may want to use this service for your Caravaggio hunt.
NOTE: There are even more Caravaggio paintings in locations such as the Borghese Gallery and the Vatican Museums. These sites are free to visit during specific days of the month, but you can also save money on admission with various Rome tourist passes.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN FEBRUARY
The following section will include a few ideas for fun things you can do at night in Rome throughout the month of February.
You can find even more fun activities after dark on our post covering the most interesting things to do at night in Rome.
Visit the Trevi Fountain
If you’ve got a bit of time at the end of the night, consider making your way to Trevi Fountain.
This historic landmark is well-lit after dark, and many visitors indicate that nighttime is actually the best time to see the site.
In addition to being one of the largest baroque fountains in all of Rome, there are also a few great traditions surrounding the history of this structure.
If you want to learn more about this wonderful sightseeing opportunity, make sure to read our post about visiting the Trevi Fountain.
TIP: Many theatres and venues are located just a few blocks from this location. If you’re planning to see a show in the evening, this is the perfect way to cap the night off.
Go on a Pub Crawl
Since the weather in February is still likely to be pretty cold, you might want to consider getting a drink to warm yourself up.
At the very least, you can avoid unpleasant weather by visiting the bars and pubs of this city.
If you need some help finding the most popular bars or figuring out the best drinks to enjoy in Rome, a pub crawl is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area.
Here are a few great options to consider:
Discover the Dark Side of Rome
Most tours of Rome cover the positive history of the city, but there have also been quite a few dark moments as well.
If you want to learn about the mysteries of this ancient city, consider taking the Dark Heart of Rome tour.
This outing covers a variety of notable sites including Campo de Fiori, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Farnese and more.
Guests will learn about both the historic and supernatural history of Rome.
Purchase tickets or learn more here.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY
This section will provide a few fun activities you can enjoy with your family in February.
For more ideas, check this post covering things to do with kids in Rome.
Take the Kids to a Puppet Show
Parents with younger children will be happy to know that there is a wonderful little puppet theatre at the Western end of Villa Borghese, just a short walk from Piazza del Popolo.
Visit their website to purchase tickets.
This is a great place to stop for a break while sightseeing.
In addition to the nearby plaza and its beautiful fountain, you’ll also find the Spanish Steps and the Mausoleum of Augustus nearby.
Head to the Children’s Museum
The Explora Children's Museum is a great place for kids to learn while they play, with plenty of hands-on activities that can help educate younger visitors.
To find out more about opening time, tickets, and special events, visit their website.
NOTE: If you’re looking for something else to do either before or after your trip to Explora children’s museum, you can always enjoy some sightseeing at the nearby Piazza del Popolo and Villa Borghese.
Go to Bioparco di Roma
Although they don’t have it scheduled yet, it’s worth noting that Rome’s zoo has held a special event in honor of Carnival.
This activity is typically scheduled for 1-2 weeks before the parades.
In years past, children up to the age of 12 have been granted free entry provided they were wearing a mask in celebration of Carnival!
Visitors can also expect a variety of activities such as face painting, feeding the animals, and even live theatrical performances.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
Check the Bioparco di Roma calendar for more details about the events taking place in February.
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