How to Ask When a Site Opens and Closes in Italian
Learn to ask 'A che ora apre?' and 'A che ora chiude?', request the opening hours, and understand the last entry time before you buy tickets in Italy.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you visit an Italian museum, church, or archaeological site, the ticket desk is where you need clear information fast. This lesson teaches you the exact questions for opening and closing times, how to ask for the full opening hours, and how to check the last entry time, which is often earlier than the closing time. You will also learn the difference between singular and plural forms of the verb, so your question sounds natural whether you are asking about one place or several.
By the end, you can…
- ask what time a site opens and what time it closes.
- ask for the complete opening hours of a museum or monument.
- ask about the last entry time and understand the answer.
- use the polite form when speaking to ticket office staff.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
A che ora apre?
What time does it open?
ah keh OH-rah AH-preh
Use with one site, such as a museum or a church. Apre is the third-person singular of aprire.
A che ora chiude?
What time does it close?
ah keh OH-rah KYOO-deh
Chiude is the third-person singular of chiudere. Use it for one site.
Quali sono gli orari di apertura?
What are the opening hours?
KWAH-lee SOH-noh lyee oh-RAH-ree dee ah-per-TOO-rah
Orari is plural, so use sono. This asks for the full schedule, not just one time.
A che ora è l'ultimo ingresso?
What time is the last entry?
ah keh OH-rah eh LOOL-tee-moh een-GRESS-oh
Ingresso means entry or admission. The last entry is often 30 to 60 minutes before closing.
È ancora aperto?
Is it still open?
eh ahn-KOH-rah ah-PEHR-toh
Use aperto for a masculine site such as un museo. For a feminine site such as una chiesa, say aperta.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is A che ora + verb? Use apre for opening and chiude for closing when you talk about one place: A che ora apre il museo? A che ora chiude la chiesa? For a full schedule, use Quali sono gli orari di apertura? The answer often uses dalle ... alle ...: dalle nove alle diciotto, meaning from nine to eighteen. To ask about last entry, use A che ora è l'ultimo ingresso?
When to use it
Use these questions at the ticket desk, at an information point, or when checking a website by phone. Use the polite Lei form with staff: Scusi, a che ora chiude? If you are asking about several places, use the plural: A che ora aprono? A che ora chiudono? Remember that the last entry is not the closing time. If the site closes at 19:00, the last entry may be at 18:00, so always ask A che ora è l'ultimo ingresso?
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, scusi. A che ora apre il museo?
Good morning, excuse me. What time does the museum open?bwohn-JOHR-noh SKOO-zee ah keh OH-rah AH-preh eel moo-ZEH-ohApre alle nove e trenta. Chiude alle diciotto.
It opens at nine thirty. It closes at eighteen.AH-preh AHL-leh NOH-veh eh TREHN-tah KYOO-deh AHL-leh dee-CHOHT-tohGrazie. E a che ora è l'ultimo ingresso?
Thank you. And what time is the last entry?GRAH-tsee-eh eh ah keh OH-rah eh LOOL-tee-moh een-GRESS-ohL'ultimo ingresso è alle diciassette e trenta.
The last entry is at seventeen thirty.LOOL-tee-moh een-GRESS-oh eh AHL-leh dee-chahs-seh-TEHT-teh eh TREHN-tahA little context goes a long way
In Italy, orari di apertura are often posted at the entrance and online, but they can change for holidays, religious services, or restoration work. Many churches close at midday and reopen in the afternoon, so ask Quali sono gli orari? rather than assuming one continuous schedule. Ticket office staff usually expect the polite Lei form, so begin with Scusi or Buongiorno. In some regions, especially in the south, you may hear the plural voi form in informal speech, but standard polite Italian uses Lei.
One thing to watch for
Using A che ora apre? when asking about several places, or saying A che ora è aperto? to ask about opening time.
Try this instead: For several places, use the plural: A che ora aprono? A che ora chiudono? To ask the opening time, say A che ora apre? A che ora è aperto? asks whether it is open now, not when it opens. Example: A che ora aprono i musei? They open at nine.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask what time a single museum closes?
Show a sample answer
A che ora chiude il museo?
Chiude is the third-person singular of chiudere, used for one site. A che ora chiudono? would be correct for several sites.
2You want the full schedule, not just one time. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
Quali sono gli orari di apertura?
Orari is plural, so the verb is sono. You may also hear Qual è l'orario di apertura? for one single schedule, which is also acceptable.
3The site closes at 19:00. What should you ask to avoid arriving too late?
Show a sample answer
A che ora è l'ultimo ingresso?
This asks for the last entry time, which is often earlier than the closing time. You could also ask Fino a che ora si può entrare? meaning until what time can you enter?
Ask A che ora apre? and A che ora chiude? for one site, Quali sono gli orari di apertura? for the full schedule, and always check A che ora è l'ultimo ingresso? before buying your ticket.
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