Easter Monday in Italy (2026)
Last updated on March 26th, 2026.
Easter Monday (Pasquetta) falls on April 6th, 2026. It’s a national holiday where almost all retail shops, banks and government offices close. While major state museums remain open, the Vatican Museums are strictly closed. Traffic is usually heavy, especially on provincial roads. Public transport runs on limited 'festivo' schedules throughout the day.
The most common mistake travelers make on Easter Monday in Italy is trying to treat it like a sightseeing day.
I learned this the hard way when I first moved to Italy.
The truth about Pasquetta (Easter Monday in English) is much simpler. We show up at a friend's house around 12:30pm, eat leftovers, and stay until the wine runs out.
In my home city of Vicenza, Pasquetta is probably the most relaxed day of the year. But for a traveler, it can be a logistical minefield if you don't know what is closed.
In this travel guide, I’ll be guiding you through everything you need to know about Easter Monday in Italy.
From activities and food to closures and transport, use this resource to plan your Easter trip to Italy.
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Is the day after Easter a holiday in Italy?
Yes, Easter Monday is a national public holiday in Italy, officially known as Lunedì dell’Angelo. It’s a giorno festivo, meaning workers are off, schools are closed and the country runs on a Sunday schedule. For 2026, this falls on April 6th.
Across many cities across Italy, the morning of Pasquetta is eerily quiet. Unlike Easter Sunday, there are no bells or big processions.
Most locals are either sleeping in or preparing their contribution to bring to a friend's lunch. If you need supplies, make sure you buy them by Saturday.
By Monday morning, even local grocery stores (alimentari) will likely have their shutters down.
What is open in Italy on Easter Monday?
On Easter Monday (Pasquetta), Italy’s major museums, archaeological sites like Pompeii and the Colosseum and most restaurants remain open. However, the Vatican Museums, banks, schools and almost all retail shops and supermarkets are closed. Public transport operates on a limited festivo (holiday) schedule, so pre-booking trains and dinner reservations are essential.
While bigger attractions may be open, smaller neighborhood shops will be firmly shuttered for the day.
Smaller towns and residential areas will likely 'come to life' around lunchtime as locals go about their Pasquetta plans.
| Category | Status on April 6th 2026 | My tip |
| Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) | CLOSED | This attraction is never open on Easter Monday |
| Museums | CLOSED | Popular museums are generally closed on Mondays. Easter Monday is no exception |
| Supermarkets | OPEN (reduced hours in big cities), CLOSED elsewhere | Stock up on groceries and essentials on the Saturday before Easter |
| Restaurants | OPEN | Some may only offer a fixed-price menu (menu fisso). Check with the restaurant beforehand |
| Trains | LIMITED | Sunday schedule applies. Check Trenitalia or train apps for the relevant festivo times |
| Gas stations | SELF-SERVICE | Attendants will likely be off |
Italy Easter Monday 2026 map
I’ve updated my Easter in Italy interactive map with a specific layer for Pasquetta.
Use it to find the picnic spots mentioned above and the major transit stations that are usually busy with holiday traffic
What do Italians eat on Pasquetta?
Many of the dishes on Pasquetta are comprised of leftovers. Common dishes include frittata di pasta (pasta omelet made from Sunday's leftovers), torta pasqualina (savory spinach and egg pie) and cold cuts. It’s an informal, potluck-style meal focused on clearing the fridge after the Easter feast.
In our house, Pasquetta isn't about cooking a new three-course meal, it’s about making the most of the leftovers. Depending on how much there is, we might reheat dishes or make something like frittata di pasta.
We take any leftover pasta from Sunday, mix it with eggs and a handful of Parmigiano, and fry until golden. It’s something that tastes better cold and is perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
Another Pasquetta favorite is torta pasqualina, a.k.a. savory spinach/greens and egg pie. Like the frittata, it’s better cold and is ideal for bringing on a picnic or to a friend’s get-together.
Should you get an invite to an Italian’s home on Pasquetta, don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine or a tray of pasticcini. It’s a friendly gesture and one that many locals will appreciate.
What to do in Italy on Easter Monday 2026?
Looking for things to do on Easter Monday in Italy? Here are some ideas that will help you make the most of your Pasquetta.
Gita fuori porta
Gita fuori porta loosely translates to 'a trip outside the city gates'. This could be a day trip or a visit to a local park or museum.
In Rome: escape the crowds with a detour to Parco degli Acquedotti. Walk under the ancient aqueducts and bring a picnic to enjoy a relaxed Roman setting.
If you’re in Florence: make the walk up to San Miniato al Monte. The view is free, the church is beautiful and you escape the claustrophobia of the Duomo crowds.
Attempt to see an attraction
If you haven’t booked one of Italy’s top attractions by now, i.e. the Colosseum, chances are tickets are sold out.
And it’s not only the Vatican Museums that are closed on Easter Monday. Other big museums like the Uffizi and Accademia in Florence are also generally closed on Mondays.
However, it’s not all bad news. Sites like Pompeii, Doge’s Palace in Venice and the Roman Forum in Rome are open on Easter Monday. It’s mainly the museums on Pasquetta that you won’t have much luck with.
⏩️ Check tickets for The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
What I wish I knew about Pasquetta in Italy
If you’re planning to drive or take a train on the afternoon of April 6th, 2026, you need a plan B.
The Easter Monday traffic
Many Italians playfully call the return trip the controesodo (counter-exodus). Between 4pm and 9pm, the highways (autostrade) become parking lots as everyone returns from the countryside or friends' houses.
The solution: leave before 4pm or after 9pm to avoid getting caught in a standstill.
Fewer trains running
Regional trains run on a Sunday schedule on Easter Monday. If you’re using a rail pass, make sure you have a seat reservation for any high-speed Frecce trains. If not, you might be standing in the aisle for a very long time.
Another thing to note is the train times on Pasquetta. If you miss the 5:10pm train, the next one might not be until 7:45pm. Always check the Trenitalia timetable specifically for the festivo filter before departing from your destination.
The solution: download one of the best Italy train apps like Trainline or Omio before embarking on your day out.
Supermarkets are closed
One of my biggest mistakes early on was assuming that shops would be open on Pasquetta for last-minute supplies. They aren't.
In most Italian cities and towns, the center looks like a ghost town on Monday morning.
Many are sleeping in, preparing food or already on their way to their friend's house. If you’re staying in an Airbnb or apartment, make sure you’ve bought your Monday breakfast and lunch supplies by Saturday.
I can’t speak for all cities across Italy, but in Vicenza, our local bars and pasticerrias are also closed.
It’s still something I find slightly odd given that many are open on Christmas Day, albeit with reduced hours. Needless to say, we make sure to stock up on any supermarket essentials on the Saturday before Easter.
The fixed-price menus
Pasquetta is a public holiday in Italy and many restaurants capitalize on this by often switching to a menu fisso.
This fixed price menu can be a shock for tourists wanting one dish and instead seeing a €45 4-course feast.
The solution: check menus carefully before entering a restaurant/trattoria on Easter Monday.
What is the traditional food for Pasquetta?
No two Italian homes will serve the same dishes or foods on Easter Monday.
As mentioned above, frittata di pasta and torta pasqualina are traditional Easter dishes made for portability and cold consumption.
Every region will have their own Easter specialty. In Naples, one of their most traditional Italian Easter Monday dishes might include casatiello (stuffed Easter bread).
In the north, weather pending, we’re partial to grilling some salamella (sausages) on the barbecue, accompanied with some creamy polenta.
For dessert on Easter Monday, the meal is always rounded off with the remaining colomba cake and chocolate Easter eggs.
The chocolate Easter egg breaking is a highlight for children (and adults too!). By Monday afternoon, the house is perfumed with the scent of dark and milk chocolate.
If there’s a lot left over, we might use some to make Pasquetta hot chocolate. With a topping of fresh panna, it’s the best antidote if it’s a chilly Easter Monday.
FAQs
Not everything, but your shopping plans will be interrupted. Focus on parks, monuments and pre-booked restaurants instead.
It literally means ‘little Easter.’ It’s a bank holiday in Italy focused on social gatherings rather than religious rites.
Yes. Even though it’s informal, (good) restaurants that are open will be packed with locals who didn't want to host. If you don't have a friend's house to go to, book your table by mid-February.
The most common greeting is Buona Pasquetta! You’ll hear this all day long.
No. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are strictly closed on both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
More Italy in Easter reading
⏩️ How to celebrated Easter in Italy as a local
⏩️ 30 best Easter foods in Italy: appetizers, starters, mains and desserts
Will you be spending Pasquetta in Italy in 2026? What are your plans for the holiday? Let me know in the comments below.
Written by Lisa Rivera: Italy traveler and resident for 10+ years. First-hand researched for 2026.
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This is such helpful advice! Pasquetta can definitely catch travelers off guard if you don’t know what to expect. I love how you explain the local tradition — it sounds like such a relaxed and authentic way to spend the day. Great reminder to plan ahead and not treat it like a typical sightseeing day.
Thank you Agnes! It's a really relaxed day and a unique time to be in Italy for sure 🙂