Rome Events in February - Discover the Best Things to do in 2025!

February 10, 2025

Rome events in February include Valentine's Day, Six-Nations Rugby matches, and Carnival.

Whether you are visiting Rome in February for a romantic getaway around Valentine's Day, to take in a Six-Nations rugby match, or to celebrate Carnival, there's plenty happening in Rome this month.

I love being in Rome in February because it's cool and quiet.

But if you're visiting this month, you may want to know what's happening, whether to join in the fun, or to avoid crowds on busy weekends. Yes, even in February, the weekends can be crowded.

Find out why, and what's happening around the city this month.

Rome Events in February 2025 - What's happening

February is a great time to visit Rome for a lot of reasons, whether you're visiting for a romantic getaway, are craving a quieter winter month, or are coming to watch some Six-Nations rugby matches.

I love walking around Rome in February because it's cool.

This means it's comfortable for sight-seeing.

It's also a good time to enjoy some hot Roman lunches and dinners indoors with some good wine.

Check out all the best things to do and Rome events in February 2025:

Holidays and special dates in Rome in February

Probably the date that comes to mind for many in February is Valentine's Day.

There are no other major Rome events in February, but there are plenty of things to do, concerts, exhibits, etc.

February 14 - Valentine's Day

I think Rome is romantic year-round. After all, Rome is where I met my husband and where we got married.

But if you're visiting Rome over Valentine's Day, you may be looking for some romantic things to do, romantic hotels, and romantic places to eat.

I've got you covered.

sunset overlooking saint peter's basilica

Romantic Things to Do in Rome

Romantic Restaurants in Rome

view of rome rooftops from eitch borromini

Restaurants with a View in Rome

Valentine's Day in Rome

Carnival/carnevale

Carnival in Rome is mostly about kids dressing up and throwing confetti everywhere.

Carnival begins the week before Lent, culminating in Fat Tuesday, followed by Ash Wednesday.

In 2025, Lent falls in March but most years February is when Carnival is celebrated.

Dates for Carnival, Carnevale in Italian, in 2025 are:

Fat Thursday: February 27
Carnival Sunday: March 2
Fat Tuesday: March 4
Ash Wednesday March 5

Expect to see kids dressed up and coriandoli (coloured confetti) all over Rome's streets and sidewalks.

While Carnival in Venice is a famous event for grownups, in Rome it seems to be mostly about kids dressing up.

Castagnole and frappe - carnival treats in rome

One of the best things about Rome in February is enjoying these fried sugary treats, castagnole and frappe, here shown at Roscioli bakery.

And of course, the best part about Carnival in Rome?

Eating the fried sugary dough treats, castagnole and frappe.

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Current exhibits and events at Rome's museums in February

The cooler winter months are a great time to take in the arts indoors.

Some museums stay open later on the weekends.

There are several Rome events in February at various museums around the city:

Palazzo Bonaparte

Rome’s Palazzo Bonaparte hosts Munch: The Inner Scream from 11 February to 2 June, featuring 100 masterpieces from Oslo’s Munch Museum. Curated by Patricia G. Berman, the exhibition showcases iconic works like The Scream and Despair, exploring Munch’s psychological themes.

Through June 2, 2025

For details and tickets, click here.

Musei Di Villa Torlonia

Niki Berlinguer - The Lady of the Tapestries

A complete overview of the tapestry production made by the famous weaver and artist. For the first time, the Casina delle Civette hosts an exhibition of 20th-century tapestries that dialogue with the architectural liberty of the windows and the rooms of this Roman jewel.

Through June 4, 2025.

For details and tickets, click here.

Chiostro del Bramante

Flowers

The Chiostro del Bramante in Rome presents Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence, an exhibition running from February 14 to September 14, 2025. Featuring over 90 artworks from global institutions like the Louvre and the Royal Botanic Gardens, it explores flowers’ artistic and cultural significance across five centuries. Curated by Franziska Stöhr and Roger Diederen, the show blends tradition, science, and digital innovation.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Ara Pacis

Rome celebrates the work of Franco Fontana, the acclaimed Italian photographer renowned for his vividly colorful landscapes, with a major retrospective at the Ara Pacis Museum.

Described as "a celebration of geometric lines and an explosion of colors," this exhibition is the first large-scale tribute to the 90-year-old photographer from Modena.

A leading figure in 20th-century Italian photography, Fontana is celebrated for his vibrant, abstract style, often referred to as Photographic Trans-avantgarde. His striking images have also graced the covers of jazz albums, further cementing his iconic status.

The exhibition features more than 200 photographs, spanning Fontana's career. Highlights include American landscapes, cityscapes, swimming pools, and his famous depictions of the Appian Way and the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome.

For more details, click here.

Through August 31, 2025

Capitoline Museums - Villa Caffarelli Garden

The Colossal Statue of Constantine

See the striking reconstruction of the Colossus of Constantine, one of the most representative works of late antique Roman sculpture.

Free to enter, follow the path up to the right to reach the garden entrance.

Don't miss my video all about the statue.

Sport/sporting Rome events in February

Catch the Six-Nations Rugby matches in Rome:

Azzurri vs Wales - February 8, 2025

Azzuri vs France - February 23, 2025

Azzurri vs Ireland - March 15, 2025

Buy Tickets

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo, and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.

Rome in January

Rome in March

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Vatican Events in February

On Sunday, February 2 2025, there will be a Papal Mass for the "Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - Holy Mass".

Mass is at 17:30 inside St. Peter's Basilica.

When the Pope is in town, you can attend the Wednesday Papal Audience, or watch the pope give the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

Both are free.

For the Papal Audience, you need tickets. For the Angelus, you don't.

February 11, 2025 is a national holiday in Vatican City it is the anniversary of the foundation of Vatican City, so the Vatican Museums are closed this day.

This does not affect the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica, Saint Peter's Dome, or Vatican Square, which are open normally.

Depending on when Easter falls, February can have a few Vatican-related events, such as Ash Wednesday.

In 2025, Ash Wednesday is March 5th.

You may attend this Papal Mass.

It's free but you need a ticket.

Visit Rome's Parks and gardens

While February can be a cold month, it can still be a beautiful time to visit a park or garden in Rome, and they are all open in winter.

Rome events in February - Free things to do

If you're looking for some fun Rome events in February that are free, the below are confirmed for 2025:

The first Sunday of the month, Rome's Civic Museums are free for everyone.

On Sunday February 2, 2025, you can visit the Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis, Villa Torlonia, Trajan's Market and many others for free. For more details and booking, click the link below to visit the official site.

Advance booking is required.

In 2025 the Vatican Museums will be free and open on Sunday February 23.

Expect large crowds on this day, even in February.

St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square are free and open daily.

You cannot buy tickets in advance for the Free Sunday, but you can book a tour of the museums through the Vatican.

If you don't want to book this tour, just come early.

By early I mean by 8am.

But otherwise I recommend you book your visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.

In February 2025, the Colosseum will be free to enter on Sunday February 2.

You can expect the Colosseum to be pretty much a mob scene.

I'd highly recommend visiting one of the other sites that is also free on this day, like the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, or Ostia Antica.

Does it snow in Rome?

Rome on a rainy day

Winter in Rome

Best time to visit Rome

Nighttime things to do in Rome in February

In Rome in February the evenings can be pretty chilly and of course it gets dark early.

But that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy the city after the sun goes down!

For nighttime tours and Rome events in February, visit Viator.

Ready to plan your trip?

Book your train

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Buy your TurboPass

Purchase the convenient Turbopass and visit all of Rome's top attractions including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Vatican.

With one handy pass, it's all included.

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Rome events in February - Concerts, operas, shows

Enjoy the opera in Rome's beautiful Teatro dell'Opera (Opera House.)

Rome Opera Tickets

At the Rome Auditorium, you can attend wonderful concerts and other events.

Concert tickets

Freddie Mercury Opera Show - Opera da Camera di Roma Hall

Explore a novel interpretation of Queen's iconic tracks, transformed for Italian opera virtuosos from the Opera da Camera di Roma ensemble and piano accompaniment.

Mercury's own passion for opera, famously showcased in his performances with soprano Montserrat Caballé, inspires this unprecedented concert.