What Time Does the Pantheon Open and Close on Weekdays?

On weekdays — and in fact every day it operates — the Pantheon in Rome is open from 9:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening (19:00), with the last entry at 6:30 pm (18:30). The on-site ticket office and vending machines stop selling roughly an hour before closing, so don’t leave buying a ticket until the final hour. The monument is closed entirely on a couple of major holidays, and its hours can be shortened or interrupted by religious celebrations, which we’ll cover in detail below.

Pantheon opening hours on weekdays

From Monday to Friday the schedule is straightforward and consistent: doors open at 9:00 am and the building closes at 7:00 pm. There’s no afternoon siesta closure on normal weekdays, so you can visit at any point across those ten hours. Because the Pantheon doesn’t publish a separate seasonal timetable, these hours stay the same in January as they do in July — what changes dramatically with the season is the crowd level, not the opening times.

That consistency makes planning easy. Whether you’re slotting the Pantheon into a packed sightseeing day or building a relaxed morning around it, you can rely on the 9-to-7 window on any ordinary weekday.

Last entry and when ticket sales stop

Two times matter at the end of the day, and they’re easy to confuse. The last entry is 6:30 pm, half an hour before the 7:00 pm close — after 6:30 you won’t be admitted, even though the building is technically still open. Separately, the ticket office and automatic machines stop selling about an hour before closing, around 6:00 pm. So if you plan to buy on the day, aim to be at the machines well before 6:00, or you may find sales have already ended for the evening.

The simplest way to avoid this trap is to book a timed ticket online in advance. Then the only deadline you need to respect is the 6:30 pm last entry, and you walk straight past the purchase queue.

Do the hours change on weekends?

Saturdays follow the same 9:00 am to 7:00 pm pattern as weekdays. Sundays are also open, but with an important caveat: as a working basilica, the Pantheon holds Mass on Sunday mornings at 10:30, and tourist visits are suspended during the service — with access typically interrupted from around 9:30 am while the church prepares. A few listings also cite slightly earlier Sunday closing times, so if a Sunday-evening visit is essential to your plans, it’s worth confirming the hours for that specific date.

When the Pantheon closes early or fully

The hours are reliable, but there are exceptions worth knowing before you build your day around them:

• Closed on 25 December and 1 January — these are the two consistent full-closure days.
• Possible closures on 1 May and 15 August (Ferragosto) — some official notices list these, so double-check if you’re travelling on those dates.
• Reduced hours on some midweek public holidays — on certain holidays the Pantheon may close early, around 1:00 pm.
• Interruptions for religious services — Mass and major religious celebrations pause tourist access (more below).

In short, the 9-to-7 weekday schedule is dependable, but holidays and ceremonies are the things that can catch you out. When in doubt, confirm the day’s hours before you go.

How much time the hours actually give you

There’s no time limit once you’re inside, so the hours are generous relative to what you need. Most visitors spend 30 to 75 minutes in the Pantheon — half an hour is enough to take in the dome, the oculus and the main tombs, while an hour or more lets you absorb the architecture and history at leisure. If you’re folding it into a historic-centre loop with the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona, budget two to three hours for the whole circuit.

Best weekday times to visit

If you can choose your hour, the first hour after the 9:00 am opening is the calmest, before the tour groups and day-trippers arrive. Late afternoon, from around 5:00 pm, is the second-quietest window as groups depart — just don’t gamble too close to the 6:30 pm last entry. The one period to avoid for a relaxed visit is the late-morning to mid-afternoon peak, and you should also steer clear of arriving right before a Mass.

Planning your weekday visit

• Book a timed ticket online to lock in your hour and skip the buying queue.
• Arrive a few minutes early for your slot to allow for the entrance check.
• Keep your ticket on your phone — staff can ask to see it inside, not just at the door.
• Pair it with nearby sights like Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain or Sant’Eustachio for coffee.

Visitor rules that affect your timing

A few practical rules can slow you down if you’re not prepared. Large bags, backpacks and umbrellas aren’t allowed inside, and there’s no cloakroom, so travel light. As a consecrated church, the Pantheon also expects modest dress (shoulders covered, no very short shorts or skirts), phones on silent, and no eating, drinking or smoking inside. Factoring these in keeps your entrance quick and trouble-free.

How the Pantheon’s hours compare to other Rome sights

One reason the Pantheon is so easy to fit into a Rome itinerary is its long, simple opening window. While the Colosseum and Roman Forum adjust their closing times by season — finishing as early as mid-afternoon in deep winter — the Pantheon keeps the same 9-to-7 schedule all year. The Vatican Museums close on Sundays (apart from the free last Sunday) and require timed entry, and the Borghese Gallery runs on strict two-hour slots. Against all of these, the Pantheon’s all-day, every-day access is refreshingly flexible, which is part of why it works so well as the anchor for an afternoon in the historic centre.

Getting there and fitting it into your day

The Pantheon sits in Piazza della Rotonda, deep in Rome’s pedestrian heart, so there’s no metro station right outside. The nearest is Barberini (Line A), about a ten-minute walk away, and numerous buses stop at Largo di Torre Argentina a few hundred metres off. Most visitors simply arrive on foot while exploring the centre. Because it’s a short visit — half an hour to an hour for most people — it slots naturally between other nearby highlights: the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the famous coffee bars around Sant’Eustachio are all within a few minutes’ stroll, which makes a Pantheon stop the easy centrepiece of a walking route rather than a separate expedition.

A quick recap of the weekday timings

• Opens: 9:00 am daily, including all weekdays.
• Closes: 7:00 pm.
• Last entry: 6:30 pm.
• On-site ticket sales stop: around 6:00 pm.
• Closed: 25 December and 1 January (possibly 1 May and 15 August — confirm).
• Interruptions: during Mass and major religious celebrations.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Pantheon open?

It opens at 9:00 am every day it operates, including all weekdays.

What time does the Pantheon close on weekdays?

It closes at 7:00 pm, with the last entry at 6:30 pm.

Is the Pantheon open every weekday?

Yes, Monday to Friday, except on 25 December and 1 January (and possibly 1 May and 15 August — confirm those dates).

Can I still get in at 6:45 pm?

No. The last entry is 6:30 pm, so you need to arrive before then.

Does the Pantheon close for lunch on weekdays?

No, not on ordinary weekdays. However, some midweek public holidays bring reduced hours with an early close around 1:00 pm.

Are weekday mornings less crowded?

Yes — the first hour after opening is the quietest time of the day.