Rome, and the Vatican City within its walls, sets its watches to Italian time: one hour past UTC from autumn to spring and two hours past it in Italy’s summer (CEST). The switch happens on the EU-wide weekends in late March and late October.
Time zone facts
- IANA time zone: Europe/Rome
- Country: Italy (IT)
- Coordinates: 41.9028°, 12.4964°
The rhythm of the Roman day
Many shops and smaller businesses in Rome still close for a long lunch break and reopen until 19:30 or 20:00, while offices and large stores work through the day. Dinner is rarely before 20:00.
Rome and its neighbours
Rome shows the same time as Paris, Berlin and Madrid; London is an hour earlier and Athens an hour later. Italy’s main stock market, Borsa Italiana, is in Milan and keeps a 9:00–17:30 session.