Castel Sant'Angelo Opening Hours 2026
Quick answer: Castel Sant'Angelo is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, with last entry at 6:30 PM. The castle is closed on Mondays, on 25 December, and on 1 January. The ticket office closes one hour before the site itself. These are the official hours published by the Direzione Musei Nazionali di Roma.
Regular opening hours
The schedule below applies throughout the year. Opening and closing times are the same in summer and winter — unlike many Roman museums, Castel Sant'Angelo does not operate on a seasonal timetable.
| Day | Opening | Last entry | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | ||
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
Source: Direzione Musei Nazionali di Roma and CoopCulture. Last checked on 12 June 2026.
Temporary notice: ground-floor works
Since December 2025, the ground-floor ambulacro is partially closed for PNRR accessibility works, expected to last around 14 months. The visit now begins directly at the Dromos, the Roman entrance corridor, and continues along the usual route. Opening hours are not affected. Extraordinary closures for maintenance or state events are announced on the official CoopCulture website; it is worth checking a few days before the visit.
When the castle is closed
Castel Sant'Angelo is closed on a small number of fixed dates each year, in addition to its weekly Monday closure:
- Every Monday, all year round.
- 1 January — New Year's Day.
- 25 December — Christmas Day.
On other Italian holidays — Easter, 1 May, 15 August (Ferragosto) — the castle remains open on its regular schedule, and these are often among the busiest days of the year.
The best times to visit
Crowd patterns inside Castel Sant'Angelo follow the rhythm of the wider Vatican area. The hours immediately after opening and the last two hours before closing are consistently the quietest. The window between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, especially on weekends, is when the castle fills up.
Quieter
- Tuesday to Thursday, first hour (9:00–10:00 AM)
- Weekdays after 5:00 PM
- Low season: November, January, February
Busier
- Weekends 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- First Sunday of each month (free entry)
- April to October, especially near Easter and in July
Visitors who want to photograph the Angel's Terrace at golden hour often plan their arrival for 5:00–6:00 PM in spring and summer. This gives enough time to walk through the papal apartments at a reasonable pace before reaching the terrace as the light softens.
How long to allow for the visit
A standard visit to Castel Sant'Angelo takes between 90 minutes and two hours, following the full route across the six levels. The building is compact in plan — a single cylindrical core — but vertically dense, with stairs and the original spiral ramp connecting the floors.
- Short visit (90 minutes): spiral ramp, Sala delle Urne, papal apartments, terrace.
- Standard visit (2 hours): all levels at a relaxed pace, including the prisons and armoury.
- Full visit (up to 3 hours): adds the bastion walk and, where accessible, the Passetto di Borgo.
Arriving less than two hours before closing is possible but rushed. The ticket office stops selling at 6:30 PM, and staff begin clearing the upper levels from 7:00 PM to allow the terrace to empty by 7:30. See the level-by-level floor plan to plan your route in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What are Castel Sant'Angelo's official opening hours in 2026?
Castel Sant'Angelo is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, with last entry at 6:30 PM. These are the official hours published by the Direzione Musei Nazionali di Roma, and they apply year-round with no seasonal changes.
What time does Castel Sant'Angelo close?
The castle closes at 7:30 PM. The ticket office stops selling at 6:30 PM, which is also the last entry time, and staff begin clearing the upper levels from around 7:00 PM so the terrace is empty by closing time.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo open on Mondays?
No. Castel Sant'Angelo is closed every Monday throughout the year, as well as on 1 January and 25 December. On other Italian holidays, including Easter and Ferragosto (15 August), it remains open on its regular schedule.
When is the last entry to Castel Sant'Angelo?
Last entry is at 6:30 PM, one hour before closing. Arriving at the last entry time leaves enough for a shortened visit only; for the full route across all six levels, plan to arrive at least two hours before closing.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo free on the first Sunday of the month?
Yes. Under Italy's Domenica al Museo initiative, entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, on standard opening hours. These are among the busiest days of the year, with queues forming from mid-morning.
Do the opening hours change in summer or winter?
No. Unlike many Roman museums, Castel Sant'Angelo keeps the same 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM schedule all year. The only exceptions are special evening openings announced by the museum for events such as the European Night of Museums.