How to celebrate Easter 2026 and the Holy Week in Rome
Looking for the best things to do at Easter in Rome in 2026? From Holy Week celebrations to Easter lunch, spring exhibitions, and Easter Monday day trips, Rome offers countless ways to experience the holiday.
Whether you want to attend the Via Crucis at the Colosseum, enjoy a traditional Easter meal, visit museums and major art shows, or plan a relaxing Pasquetta escape, here’s your guide to spending Easter weekend in Rome.
INSPIRATION
Things to Do in Rome this April
Traditional Easter lunch in Rome
After the morning Mass, Italian families always reunite for a traditional lunch. The more traditional will stay home preparing typical foods, others, instead, prefer to go to a restaurant in Rome. Whatever your decision is, the variety of typical foods will amaze you.
Easter dishes vary across Italy: each town has different traditions! However, there are some universal and must-have dishes shared all over the country: handmade pasta, torta pasqualina, lamb, colomba pasquale, and the chocolate eggs.
Check out our proposals for a typical Easter lunch in Rome.
Rome Cavalieri
Via Alberto Cadlolo, 101
romecavalieri.com
For Easter 2026, Rome Cavalieri welcomes spring with an elegant program of special events. The celebrations begin with Awaiting Easter at La Pergola on April 3 and 4, featuring two fine-dining dinners by Heinz Beck with a choice of 7- or 10-course tasting menus. On Sunday, April 5, the traditional Easter Brunch brings the Garden Lobby to life with live music, a refined culinary selection, and a Kids Club with a flower workshop for children. On Monday, April 6, Uliveto Restaurant welcomes guests for an Easter Monday lunch with an à la carte menu, alongside family-friendly activities including chocolate decorating and an Easter egg hunt. Completing the experience, The Art of Tea Time returns to the Tiepolo Lounge from March 30 to April 6, while the Cavalieri Grand Spa invites guests to enjoy a moment of wellbeing during the holiday season.
Unique al Palatino
Via di San Teodoro, 48
alpalatinoristorante.it
€85 per person, all included
Unique at Palatino Garden Restaurant is organizing a special fixed-price lunch for Easter Sunday. The menu is complete and includes appetizer, first course, second course, dessert, and beverages at a cost of €80 per person.
47 Circus Roof Garden
Via Luigi Petroselli, 47
47circusroofgarden.com
€100 per person, drinks not included. Wine pairing €50
47 Circus Roof Garden is the terrace of the 47 Boutique Hotel, one of the greenest hotels in Rome and the only one in the city with Green Globe certification. For Easter, chef Maurizio Lustrati has created a special four-course menu to enjoy on the panoramic terrace.
The menu begins with Torta Pasquale served with extra virgin olive oil, includes costolette di abbacchio, and ends with a French toast made with artisanal colomba and served with pastiera ice cream. A vegetarian version is also available.
Hotel Eden
Via Ludovisi, 49
dorchestercollection.com
€180 per person, wines not included
This year, at Il Giardino Ristorante, on the top floor of Hotel Eden, you can celebrate Easter with a special menu inspired by Easter traditions. Chef Salvatore Bianco has curated a seasonal five-course menu brimming with fresh spring ingredients and classic Italian dishes. From a traditional Easter pie made with buttery pastry to handmade raviolo stuffed with savoury oxtail stew, enjoy a Sunday feast either al fresco in the warm sunshine on our terrace, at our lively sharing table or in the serene main dining room.
Terrazza Les Etoiles
Via dei Bastioni, 1
terrazzalesetoiles.com
€100 per person, wines not included
The panoramic Terrazza Les Etoiles at Hotel Atlante Star in Prati proposes a special menu for Easter lunch including steamed white asparagus, tortello with goat ragù, sheep and vignarola, Iberian pig and fried artichoke, and, finally, pastiera.
Anima at Rome Edition
Salita di San Nicola da Tolentino, 14
animaristoranteroma.it/it/
€95 per person, drinks not included
Celebrate Easter lunch at Anima, the signature restaurant of The Rome EDITION, with a specially curated menu that brings together Italian tradition, seasonal ingredients, and contemporary refinement.
Elio at The Hoxton
Largo Benedetto Marcello, 220
thehoxton.com/it/italy/rome
For the long Easter weekend, Elio restaurant’s à la carte brunch will be served across three days: Saturday, April 4 in its classic format, and Sunday, April 5 and Monday, April 6 with several seasonal specials added to the menu. Dishes range from avocado toast with poached egg, pastrami sandwiches with sweet potato fries, and lamb with artichokes in cacio e uova sauce, to berry or Nutella pancakes, including gluten-free options, and the ever-popular tiramisù. The beverage selection, curated by bar manager Simone De Luca, includes signature cocktails as well as a range of alcohol-free drinks.
Proloco Trastevere
via Goffredo Mameli, 23
prolocotrastevere.com
€70 per person, drinks not included
To celebrate Easter with great taste, Proloco Trastevere is offering a special seven-course Easter menu — a tribute to tradition and local products. The menu includes appetizers, a first course, a main course, and dessert. Each dish is made with carefully selected ingredients from small producers in the Lazio region.
Adelaide – Hotel Vilòn restaurant
Via dell’Arancio, 69
hotelvilon.com
€130 per person, drinks not included
Adelaide, the restaurant of Vilòn Roma, will be serving an Easter lunch prepared by Chef Gabriele Muro. Among the dishes on the menu, you’ll find grilled asparagus with parmesan foam and saffron, stuffed ravioli with sweet pecorino cheese and wild herb extract, fettuccine with rabbit, artichokes and Roman wild mint, smoked lamb with spring vignarola and potatoes, chocolate with eggnog and almonds, and a selection of traditional desserts.
Chocolate Eggs, Colombe and Traditional Easter specialties in Rome
It is not Easter in Rome (and Italy) without an Easter egg or a Colomba. Apart from being able to purchase famed chocolate eggs from more commercial brands at the grocery store, you can also try some of the best Easter eggs in Rome from the following pasticcerie and bakeries!
Eataly Rome
Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492
Easter has already arrived at Eataly. In store and online you’ll find many different types of chocolate eggs and colombe, the best traditional products, unique meats and cheeses, excellent wines… and many other quality products for an Easter to remember. Eataly’s colombe are available in two versions: the classic and the three-chocolate. Eataly’s Easter eggs are made with bean-to-bar chocolate, natural Madagascar vanilla, and 100% Italian sustainably sourced sugar, with no preservatives or hydrogenated fats. For Easter 2026, the range includes four main versions: milk, 70% dark, and two hazelnut eggs in milk and dark chocolate, plus new mini eggs with pistachio or raspberry crumble.
Walter Musco Bompiani
Largo Bompiani
For over a decade, Walter Musco has interpreted Easter through his iconic chocolate eggs. This year, he presents “Ovo Sapiens. Origins: on the essential, the necessary, the silence”, his new Easter egg collection, on display from March 20 throughout the Easter season at his Pastry Lab in Largo Bompiani. Featuring 25 unique creations, the 2026 collection offers a journey between taste and art.
Alongside the exhibition, the shop also offers a tempting selection of Easter specialties available for purchase, including the classic colomba as well as several creative variations, such as the one with white chocolate and wild strawberries, gourmet chocolate eggs, casatiello, and pastiera.
Grezzo Raw Chocolate
Via Urbana, 130 – Piazza Mattei, 14 – Piazza Euclide, 39
At Grezzo Raw Chocolate, Easter is all about indulgence with a healthier twist. This raw vegan pastry shop offers a collection of vegan and gluten-free chocolate eggs made with raw cacao, sourced from sun-dried cocoa beans harvested in the heart of South America. In line with Grezzo’s philosophy of taste and longevity, the eggs are designed to be both satisfying and mindful. Starting from €35, you’ll find eight different types of chocolate eggs, including sugar-free options, available both in store and online.
Le Levain
Via Luigi Santini, 22
Try Le Levain’s classic colomba, one of the city’s best, starting from €18. It is made with natural yeast, artisanally candied Sicilian oranges, and topped with a crunchy glaze of sugar granules and bitter almonds.
For Easter, Le Levain also presents the UNICO Dulcey & Coffee Egg, made with Unico coffee by Picapau Coffee, coffee cremino, and hazelnut. It is available in a large 250g and small 150g version, and can be purchased at the Trastevere and Sallustiano shops or through the online store. Pre-orders can also be placed by phone.
Antico Forno Roscioli
Via dei Chiavari
Antico Forno Roscioli is one of the most famous places for food delicacies in Rome. Buy their classical artisanal colomba or the version with pear and chocolate. Try also their casatiello, a special savory bread originating from Naples.
Fabbrica Giuliani
Via Paolo Emilio 67
The Fabbrica Giuliani, established in 1949, produces chocolate and sweets, and at Easter the much-loved eggs, using high-quality chocolate. They also offer colomba, available gluten and lactose-free, and even with Marrons Glacés. Their store on Via Paolo Emilio 67 and online shop feature beautifully decorated eggs as well as those adorned with dried fruits like walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts.
Gabriele Bonci
Via Trionfale, 36 – Via della Meloria, 43
For Easter 2026, Gabriele Bonci’s celebrated colomba returns in two versions, classic and chocolate, both made with sourdough starter, high-quality ingredients, and a long artisanal leavening process for a light and digestible result. Both 1 kg versions are priced at €38. Traditional Easter specialties such as casatiello and cheese cake are also available. Bonci’s Easter products can be purchased at Il Forno Bonci, Pizzarium, and online at bonci.it.
Holy Week in Rome 2026
The Vatican has released the official calendar of liturgical celebrations for Holy Week 2026. Let’s take a closer look at the schedule of events.
On March 29, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, the commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem and Holy Mass will take place at 10am.
On Holy Thursday (April 2nd), the Chrism Mass will take place at 9.30am in Saint Peter’s Basilica, while the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will take place at 5:30pm in the Basilica of St John Lateran.
One of the most important religious events in Rome is the traditional Via Crucis, or “Way of the Cross,” led by Pope Leo XIV . The procession, which retraces Christ’s path to his crucifixion, will begin at the Colosseum at 9pm on April 3rd. The Rome Via Crucis draws thousands of faithful, making it a very crowded event.
If you are looking for something smaller and more intimate, there are alternatives too; the night of Good Friday, the small town of Bracciano commemorates the Via Crucis throughout the alleys of its medieval center. The town, located only 40 minutes north of Rome, will host a religious reenactment composed of more than 150 performers. Every year, the actors’ old traditional costumes and Bracciano’s enchanting medieval atmosphere attract people from all over Italy. The procession of Good Friday is also celebrated in many neighboring towns such as Albano Laziale, Castel Madama, and Nerola.
On Holy Saturday, April 4, the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night will take place at 9pm in St Peter’s Basilica.
And on Easter Sunday (April 5th), the celebration of the Holy Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord will take place at 10.15am at Saint Peter’s Square. Once the mass is over, the Holy Father will impart the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing at 12pm.
Holy Week 2026 Schedule
- 29 March 2026 (Palm Sunday)
– 10am Mass at Saint Peter’s Square. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Commemoration of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem and Holy Mass. - 2 April 2026 (Holy Thursday)
– 9.30am Chrism Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Chrism Mass concelebrated with the Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests (diocesan and religious) present in Rome.
– 5.30pm The Lord’s Supper at Basilica of Saint John Lateran. The Holy Father will preside over the Vespertine Mass of the “Lord’s Supper”. - 3 April 2026 (Easter Friday or Good Friday)
– 5pm Passion of the Lord at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
– 9pm Via Crucis at the Colosseum. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the pious exercise of the “Via Crucis”, at the end of which he will impart the Apostolic Blessing. - 4 April 2026 (Holy Saturday)
– 9pm Easter Vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Easter Vigil of the Holy Night. - 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday)
– 10.15am Mass + Urbi et Orbi Blessing at Saint Peter’s Square. The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Mass of the day.
Experience Rome Beyond the Usual Easter Plans
Easter weekend can also be the perfect excuse to experience Rome in a more vivid and memorable way. Beyond Easter lunch and museum visits, you could spend an afternoon wandering through the historic center on a small group walking tour that takes in some of the city’s most iconic sights before ending inside the Pantheon. For something more cinematic, a vintage Vespa tour offers a wonderfully Roman way to see the city, gliding past grand monuments and postcard views in true dolce vita style. Those looking for a more local, creative side of Rome might prefer a photo walk through Pigneto, followed by an aperitif in one of the capital’s most characterful neighborhoods. And, of course, if it’s your first time in the city, Easter is also a great moment to revisit Ancient Rome with a guided Colosseum tour including the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Traditional Easter breakfast
On Easter morning, the traditional breakfast is one of Italy’s must-have traditions. This meal, a kind of brunch, consists of cold cuts, hard-boiled eggs, different kinds of cheese, Easter pizza (sweet or savory), fruit, and freshly opened chocolate eggs. This traditional breakfast can also include tasty vegetarian options such as erbazzone, a typical Italian savory quiche stuffed with wild herbs and spices that vary from region to region.
Easter in the Museums of Rome
From April 1 to 6, Pasqua nei Musei returns, a special program organized for Holy Week featuring extraordinary openings, guided tours, workshops, and free educational activities across Rome’s civic museums and archaeological sites.
Throughout the initiative, the Capitoline Museums network will welcome visitors with its rich artistic and cultural heritage and will remain open even on Easter Monday. On Easter Sunday, which coincides with the first Sunday of the month, admission will be free.
For the full program and updates, visit the official website of Musei in Comune Roma and follow the social media channels of the network and the Capitoline Superintendence for Cultural Heritage.
Among the must-see exhibitions in Rome during the Easter period, we recommend:
- Impressionism and Beyond. Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts – Ara Pacis Museum
- From Vienna to Rome. Habsburg Masterpieces from the Kunsthistorisches Museum – Palazzo Cipolla, Museo del Corso
- Bernini and the Barberinis – Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica at Palazzo Barberini
- Hokusai – Palazzo Bonaparte
How to celebrate Pasquetta Italian style
The last day of celebration after Pasqua is Pasquetta. Easter Monday is usually spent by Italians as a day trip to the countryside. Families and friends meet to have a relaxing picnic in some of the beautiful parks of Rome, either organizing a nice barbecue or bringing the leftovers from the Sunday Easter lunch.
Check out some more day trips you can take to celebrate Pasquetta
