This post provides a list of fun and interesting activities in Rome during the month of March.
We include family-friendly, nighttime activities, and free things to do, all updated for 2023.
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
TOP EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN ROME THIS MARCH
The following list includes several popular activities and events taking place in Rome this March.
We’ll cover a variety of festivities, free admission days, tours, attractions and more.
If you’re looking for even more great ideas, make sure to check the following posts for some of the most popular attractions.
- The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
- Things to Do at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Plan Your Visit to the Pantheon
- Things to Do in Rome (any month of the year)
Don’t forget that admission to many of these locations is included with various Rome tourist passes.
1. Attend a Sporting Event
Rome has two very popular football teams, and both of them will be having games at Stadio Olimpico (Olympic Stadium) this month.
Football
Rugby
In addition to these games, there will also be a chance to see one match of Six Nations Rugby in Rome this month.
None other than Italy vs Wales will be competing on March 11th, also taking place in the Stadio Olimpico.
This is sure to be one of the most hyped games of the month (and perhaps even the whole year).
So, if you’re interested, make sure to get your tickets well in advance!
If you're interested in visiting Stadio Olimpico for a behind-the-scenes tour, tickets can be found here.
2. Take a Walk Down Via Appia
With spring right around the corner, this is the perfect time to stroll down one of the most ancient roads in Rome – Via Appia.
If you’re worried that you might miss something by going alone, there are some bike tours and even walking tours with catacomb and aqueduct access that you might want to consider.
That said, it’s actually entirely free to walk down Via Appia, and we have a guide covering what to see on Appian Way.
Even if you’re not interested in walking the whole way, there are also bike rentals you can use to make your journey on this historic road easier and more enjoyable.
Whether you’re looking for a fun activity that won’t cost a dime or you really want to learn as much as possible about this ancient highway on a guided tour, this is an excellent activity for families.
Check our post about things to do with kids in Rome for even more family-friendly activities.
3. Make Authentic Italian Pizza
Everyone loves Italian food, but most people never get the opportunity to learn how to prepare a meal the way an Italian would.
If you're interested in learning how to make an authentic Italian pizza, there are several classes that you can take in Rome this month.
Here are a few of the best pizza-making classes available in this ancient city:
- Make Your Own Pizza | Eat & Walk Italy
- Pizza and Gelato Making Class | Walks Inside Rome
- Pizza Making Class For Children | Rome 4 Kids
- Best of Rome Walking Tour + Master of Pizza Class
4. Go on a Free Walking Tour
There are several pay-what-you-wish walking tours available in Rome.
With spring right around the corner, this is the best time to enjoy one of these outings.
Here are a few of the best tours available at this time of year:
In addition to these options, there are also free self-guided walking tours of Rome which cover a variety of subjects such as the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Jewish Ghetto.
Alternatively, you may also want to consider one of our GPS-enabled audio tours of Rome!
5. Head to Cinecitta World
Cinecitta World is one of the premier amusement parks in all of Rome, and it's a popular destination for families.
As you might imagine, there are a lot of great rides and rollercoasters to enjoying here, including 4D simulations, a haunted house, bumper cars, and more.
In addition to these options, there are also themed rides based on franchises such as Assassin's Creed and War of the Worlds.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
6. Attend a Live Concert or Music Festival
There won't be many modern musicians performing in Rome this month, but that doesn't mean there are no concerts to attend.
Perhaps the biggest event will be the Roma Music Festival, a choir and orchestra festival, taking place from March 8th - 12th, 2023.
You can also visit the Cotton Club to enjoy a Jazz concert.
Here are a few other options to consider:
- Great Opera Arias at Santa Chiara Palace
- La Traviata in St. Paul's Within the Walls
- Friar's Choir Concert at Capuchin's Crypt
7. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Although Rome doesn't typically celebrate this holiday in any big ways, that doesn't mean you can't take time to honor a few traditions!
Mass is usually held at 10 am on March 17th marking Lá Fhéile Pádraig (St. Patrick's Day) at St. Isidore's Church.
It's also a tradition to light up Trajan's Column in green for the holiday.
If you're looking for other fun activities, consider visiting the Shamrock Pub, an Irish themed pub in Rome that will no doubt be taking part in the festivities.
There are many other pubs in the city, so you might want to consider going on the tipsy tour and bar hop to become more acquainted with these establishments.
8. Take a Night Tour of Rome
If you’re looking for something to do when the sun goes down, there will be multiple tours to take, including some at the most historic landmarks in Rome.
Here are a few of the best night tours available this month:
For more great nighttime activities, check our post covering things to do at night in Rome.
9. Save Money With a Tourist Pass
Admission to some of the most famous attractions in Rome is included with at least one tourist pass, allowing you to save up to 50% off general admission prices.
There are two main types of passes in the ancient city: all-inclusive and prepackaged passes.
The amount you save will depend on how you use these services.
All-inclusive passes include admission to dozens of attractions for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days).
If you use the pass for at least 4-5 activities per day, you should be able to save 25% - 50% off.
Alternatively, a prepackaged pass includes a few specific activities for one flat price, and a flat 20% discount on dozens of additional tours, day trips, museums and more.
If you don’t want to get carried away, we recommend choosing a prepackaged pass.
However, if you plan to see and do as much as possible while visiting Rome, the all-inclusive pass will be a great option.
Here are a few of the best attractions, tours and more included with these tourist passes:
- Hop on Hop off Bus Tour |
€32 - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill |
€12 - Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel |
€17 - Capitoline Museums |
€17 - Castel Sant’Angelo |
€15 - Baths of Caracalla |
€8 - Rome Wax Museum |
€9 - Domitian Stadium Underground |
€8.50 - Gregorian Egyptian Museum |
€20 - Leonardo da Vinci Museum |
€12 - Gladiator Museum |
€12 - And more!
For more details about how to save money with these services, please read our full post covering Rome tourist passes.
10. Visit a Museum or Landmark For Free
In years past, Rome held a special event known as Domenica al Museo which provided free entry to several notable museums and historic sites in the city.
During the first Sunday of every month there is an opportunity to visit museums and landmarks in Rome without worrying about tickets.
Here are some of the most popular locations included:
- The Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
- Borghese Gallery
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Baths of Caracalla
- And more!
Even if you miss the free day provided by this event, March 5th, 2023, it’s worth noting that most of these locations are included with at least one tourist pass.
You can also find more affordable activities on our post about free things to do in Rome.
11. Take a Day Trip
Rome isn’t too far from some of the most beautiful and historic locations in Italy, including attractions such as Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
With spring in the air, this might be a good time to take a day trip.
Here are a few options you may want to consider:
- Pompeii Tour w/ Amalfi Coast Drive
- Pompeii & Mt Vesuvius Day Trip
- Pompeii & Sorrento Day Trip
- Amalfi Coast Day Trip
For even more excursions, check this list of day trips from Rome.
12. Experience the Three Tenors
This musical trio performs at least once a week at St. Paul’s Within the Walls, so you should have more than one opportunity to see them this month.
The Three Tenors typically sing a variety of classic operatics and classical music, as well as beloved Neapolitan songs, providing a nice variety for audiences.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
13. See a Ballet or Opera
Teatro dell’Opera is one of the most popular theatres in Rome, and there are typically at least a few shows to see per month.
You can expect the following theatrical performances during March:
- La Bayadere | ends March 2nd
- Clowns | March 12th-19th
- Adams Passion | starts March 31st
Tickets range from €22-€160 on average. Most shows are in the evening, making this an excellent activity to enjoy after dark.
If you’re looking for even more fun nighttime activities, check our post covering things to do at night in Rome.
14. Take the Kids to a Puppet Show
Throughout the month of March, the San Carlino Puppet Theatre will be hosting a production of The Golden Fish (Pesciolino D'Oro).
If you’ve got any young kids in the family, this is an excellent activity that they are sure to enjoy.
When purchased online, you can save €1.50 per ticket, but at the box office, you can expect admission to cost €10.50 for adults and €9.50 for children.
You can also do a family tickets with two adults and one child for €27. Learn more here.
As if that weren’t a good enough reason to go, this puppet show is also located close to Piazza del Popolo and one of the best views in the city at Piazza Venezia.
For even more kid-friendly fun, check our post covering things to do with kids in Rome.
15. See the Trevi Fountain After Dark
Although you could choose to see this landmark at any time during the day, it really shines when they turn on the lights after the sun goes down.
The Trevi Fountain is one of the biggest and most famous fountains in all of Rome, and it’s entirely free to come and see this landmark.
In addition to getting great pictures of the fountain, there are also traditional activities such as tossing in coins, making wishes, and more.
We cover these fun things to do in greater detail on our post about the Trevi Fountain.
For even more activities that won’t cost you anything, please read our post about free things to do in Rome.
16. See the Pantheon in the Rain
Even if you end up visiting Rome on a rainy day in early spring, there are still some activities you can enjoy despite the weather – and in some ways because of it!
With its open roof, the Pantheon was actually designed to let the rain in, and there is actually a drain beneath the dome to collect all types of weather.
One of the interesting effects of this design is the experience of seeing rain fall into the building.
As light from outside reflects off the water droplets, it can create a beautiful visual effect.
Some visitors even suggest that this is the best way to see the Pantheon!
For additional affordable attractions, check our post about free things to do in Rome.
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