Italy business hours depend on the season, the kind of business, the season and, sometimes, on the city. Here you can find some basic advice to consider while planning your trip to Italy.
But do not hesitate to write to us in case of any doubt regarding Italy business hours and opening hours.
Libraries
In General, public libraries in Italy are open from Monday to Friday all day (9:00 – 19:00), Saturdays open just until 13:00, and they close on Sunday.
Opening hours may vary depending on the season.
Libraries close on Public Holidays.
Pharmacies
Opening hours are determined by national and regional laws and by the municipality.
Outside every pharmacy, you can find a card with its Opening hours and emergency phones.
Usually, pharmacies are open from 8:30 to 12:30 in the morning and from 15:30 to 19:30 in the afternoon.
Pharmacies may respect the weekly closing days provided by the municipality. However, during public holidays, you can always find one or more pharmacy on duty in every town. And the name and address of this pharmacy are always exposed outside of closed pharmacies.
Anyway, Pharmacies open at longer hours than those indicated by the municipality and
Pharmacies open 24 hours a day, i.e., all year round, are on the rise.
Museums
The majority of museums open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and they close on Holidays.
Opening hours sometimes vary due to seasonal and climate factors.
Anyway, you should always check the scheduled time directly at the museum you’re interested in or visiting its website.
Museums for free
Since 2014 the Italian government (Mibact) has been promoting an initiative whereby, on certain days of the year, admission to state museums is free.
Thanks to this initiative called “Io vado al Museo” (I go to the museum) you will be allowed to visit more than 480 sites including museums, monuments, archaeological sites, palaces and monumental gardens. Usually, this happens on the first Sunday of the month
Religious Services
Opening hours for churches varies throughout the year, and every Church has its own.
So, in this case, it is recommended to check on a case-by-case basis
Offices
Opening hours for public offices are from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 12:30 / 13:00. Some of them open in the afternoon, but again this should be checked case-by-case.
Shops
Shops generally open at 09:00 in the morning and close at 13:00 hours, then after lunch shops open again at 15:30 in the afternoon and close at 19:30 from Monday to Saturday.
Most shops are closed on Sunday, but the number of shops opens on Sundays is increasing, especially during the Christmas period.
In the past, in the cases established by the municipalities, the shops had to respect also a half-day of midweek closure.
However, as a result of the liberalization that has taken place over time, from 2012 commercial activities and food stores, now can operate without time constraints and without the obligation to close on Sundays and public holidays.
However, some shops in Italy may still be closed, particularly on Mondays all day or just half a day (for example hair salons, beauty centers, jewelers)
Supermarkets and shopping centres
As it happens almost everywhere in the world, supermarkets and malls are usually open every day of the year and sometimes even on public holidays. Their opening hours can vary between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and, especially in big towns, you can also find supermarkets open 24 hours.
Banks
With very few exceptions, Banks are usually open to the public between 8:30 and 8:45 and continue until 14:00. After lunch, reopenings are scheduled for 14:45 till 15:45.
There are, however, some institutions that have chosen not to close during lunchtime, and some banks are also open on Saturdays, although it is usually a closing day.
Post Offices
Post offices in Italy work from 08:30 to 13:30 every day of the week except Sundays.
Restaurants
Restaurants generally open at 11:00 and close after lunch, at 14:30; most of the restaurants also open at night, from 18:00 to 23:00 or more, depending on the location (if it is a large city or a holiday location)
Public Holidays
The most important public holidays in Italy are:
- Capodanno – New Year’s Day: 1st January
- Epifania – Epiphany: 6th January
- Pasqua – Easter Sunday: Easter doesn’t have an exact date, it is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox
- Lunedì dell’Angelo, Pasquetta – Easter Monday: It depends on Easter Sunday, it’s celebrated the next Monday after Easter
- Anniversario della Liberazione- Anniversary of Liberation: 25th April
- Festa del Lavoro – Labour Day: 1st May
- Festa della Repubblica- Republic Day: 2nd June
- Ferragosto and Assunzione – Ferragosto / Assumption Day: 15th August
- Tutti i santi – All Saints: 1st November
- Immacolata Concezione – Immaculate Conception: 8th December
- Natale – Christmas Day: 25th December
- Santo Stefano – St Stephen’s Day: 26th December
Many cities in Italy also celebrate the feast of their patron saint. This day is often considered a public holiday for that particular city.
For example, in Milan, the Patron Day is celebrated on December 7, the day of St. Ambrose (Sant’Ambrogio).
Rome celebrates its patron saints, Pietro and Paolo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul), on 29 June.
For more information about public holidays in Italy and Patron Saints celebration, do not hesitate to send us a message.
