Things to Do in Vatican City in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Vatican City
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Easter celebrations reach their absolute peak - if you're visiting Vatican City in April 2026, you're catching the most significant liturgical period of the year. Easter Sunday falls on April 5th in 2026, meaning Holy Week runs March 29 to April 5. The pageantry, from Palm Sunday processions to the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) at the Colosseum on Good Friday, is something you genuinely won't experience any other time. Pope Francis (or his successor, given his age) leads these ceremonies personally, and security is tight but organized.
- Spring weather means comfortable walking temperatures for the extensive queuing and outdoor exploration you'll be doing. Those 17°C (63°F) highs are actually ideal - warm enough that you're not freezing in line at 7am for St. Peter's Basilica, cool enough that climbing the 551 steps to the dome doesn't feel like a sauna experience. The 7°C (45°F) morning lows mean you'll want layers, but by 10am you're typically peeling them off.
- Gardens are in full bloom and actually accessible - the Vatican Gardens open for guided tours in spring, and April hits the sweet spot when roses, wisteria, and Mediterranean vegetation are showing off. The 81mm (3.2 inches) of rain spread across 10 days keeps everything lush without turning your visit into a mud bath. These gardens cover 23 hectares (57 acres) - more than half of Vatican City's total area - and most tourists have no idea they exist.
- Shoulder season pricing on accommodations in Rome, despite Easter crowds at the Vatican itself. Hotels in Prati (the neighborhood just outside Vatican walls) and Borgo are typically 20-30% cheaper than May-June rates. Book 8-10 weeks ahead for April 2026 and you'll find decent three-star options for 90-120 euros per night, versus 140-180 euros in peak season.
Considerations
- Easter week (March 29-April 5, 2026) brings absolutely massive crowds - St. Peter's Square can hold 80,000 people and it fills completely for papal masses. Security lines stretch 2-3 hours even with advance tickets. If you're visiting specifically during Holy Week, accept that you'll spend significant time waiting and plan accordingly. The week AFTER Easter (April 6-12) is noticeably quieter.
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable in April - that 81mm (3.2 inches) of rain doesn't fall steadily, it comes in sudden spring storms that can last 30 minutes or three hours. You might get three consecutive sunny days, then two days of intermittent showers. The 70% humidity isn't oppressive like summer, but combined with variable temperatures, layering becomes essential and slightly annoying.
- Many Romans take Easter Monday (April 6, 2026) as a holiday and head out of the city, which means some local restaurants and shops in the surrounding neighborhoods close April 5-7. The Vatican itself operates on modified schedules during Holy Week - the Vatican Museums close Easter Sunday, for instance. You need to check specific closure dates when planning, as they shift annually based on the Easter calendar.
Best Activities in April
St. Peter's Basilica dome climb and rooftop access
April weather makes this 551-step climb (or 320 steps if you take the elevator partway) actually pleasant rather than the sweaty ordeal it becomes in summer. The dome opens at 8am and the first hour is your best window - fewer crowds, softer morning light for photos across Rome, and those cool 7-10°C (45-50°F) morning temperatures mean you're not overheating in the narrow spiral staircases. The final 320 steps from the basilica roof to the dome top are claustrophobic and one-way, so going early matters. Views extend 20-30 km (12-19 miles) on clear April days.
Vatican Museums early morning or late afternoon reserved entry
The museums span 7 km (4.3 miles) of galleries - you're not seeing it all, so April's mild weather lets you focus on the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms without summer's crushing heat and crowds. Reserved entry tickets (book 2-3 weeks ahead for April) let you skip the general queue, which can hit 2-3 hours during Easter week. The museums open 9am-6pm in April, with last entry at 4pm. Late afternoon (after 2pm) sees 40-50% fewer visitors than morning slots, though you'll feel rushed if you arrive after 3pm.
Vatican Gardens guided walking tours
These 23-hectare (57-acre) gardens are only accessible via official guided tours, and April is when they're most beautiful - roses, wisteria, and Mediterranean pines in full spring display. Tours run in multiple languages (English, Italian, Spanish typically) and last 2 hours, covering about 2 km (1.2 miles) of paths through areas tourists never see. You'll visit the Vatican heliport, see the Vatican Railway station (yes, it has 300 meters or 984 feet of track), and get views of St. Peter's dome from angles impossible elsewhere. The 17°C (63°F) April highs make this comfortable walking.
Papal Audience tickets for Wednesday general audiences
If your April dates include a Wednesday (and the Pope is in Rome, not traveling), the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square is free but requires tickets. April weather means these outdoor audiences are comfortable - you're sitting in the square from roughly 9am-11am, and those 12-17°C (54-63°F) temperatures beat summer's heat. The Pope addresses crowds in multiple languages, offers blessings, and drives through the square in the Popemobile. It's pageantry, but genuine pageantry, and the atmosphere with pilgrims from dozens of countries is worth experiencing once.
Castel Sant'Angelo combined visit
This cylindrical fortress sits 400 meters (1,300 feet) from St. Peter's Square, connected by the Passetto di Borgo (a covered elevated walkway popes used to escape danger). April crowds here are 60-70% lighter than at the Vatican Museums, and the rooftop terrace offers spectacular views back toward St. Peter's dome. The castle spans 2,000 years - built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum in 139 AD, converted to a fortress, then papal residence. You'll climb about 100 meters (328 feet) vertically through spiraling ramps and chambers. Takes 90-120 minutes.
Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) at the Colosseum on Good Friday
If you're in Rome for Good Friday 2026 (April 3), this evening torchlit procession led by the Pope at the Colosseum is one of Rome's most powerful annual events. It typically starts 9pm and lasts 90 minutes, with the Pope leading prayers at 14 stations representing Christ's path to crucifixion. The event is free, outdoors, and draws 20,000-30,000 people. April evening temperatures around 10-12°C (50-54°F) mean you'll want warm layers. The atmosphere - thousands holding candles in silence around the ancient amphitheater - is genuinely moving regardless of your religious beliefs.
April Events & Festivals
Holy Week and Easter celebrations (March 29 - April 5, 2026)
The most significant week in the Catholic liturgical calendar. Palm Sunday Mass (March 29) in St. Peter's Square starts Holy Week. Holy Thursday (April 2) features the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Good Friday (April 3) includes the Via Crucis at the Colosseum at 9pm. Holy Saturday (April 4) brings the Easter Vigil Mass at 8:30pm in St. Peter's Basilica. Easter Sunday (April 5) features papal Mass at 10am and the Urbi et Orbi blessing at noon from the basilica balcony. These events are free but require arriving hours early for decent positions. Security is extensive - no large bags, expect metal detectors and checkpoints.
Easter Monday (Pasquetta) - April 6, 2026
Italian national holiday when Romans traditionally picnic outside the city. Vatican Museums and St. Peter's operate on Sunday schedules (museums closed, basilica open). Many restaurants and shops in Prati and Borgo neighborhoods close. If you're visiting this day, plan accordingly - book any restaurant reservations ahead or expect limited options. The upside is the Vatican area itself is noticeably quieter than the preceding week.