Rome Colosseum Guide

• The Colosseum, or Colosseo in Italian, is the must-go attraction in Italy.
• The Colosseum was built between 70-80 AD. It held up to 80,000 spectators and hosted events like gladiator battles and animal hunts.
• The Colosseum is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was inscribed on the list in 1980 along with other historic properties in the Historic Centre of Rome.

Ticket

Tips: We recommend to book the Full Experience Ticket instead of Standard Ticket for a complete experience (See section below). Full Experience Ticket is only € 6 more than standard ticket, and it allow to visit plenty of sites in Collosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hills that are not allowed to access for standard ticket.

Standard Ticket

• Reserve the standard ticket
• Standard ticket € 16.00
• Reduced Price for 18-25 year-old EU Citizen €2.00
• Less than 18 year-old is free. Free ticket is collected at the cash desks located inside the Colosseum, or at the ticket office in Largo della Salara Vecchia.
• Online Reservation fee € 2.00

The standard ticket includes three sites: Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill

Reservation required online and by phone also for the same day of the visit.

When booking the ticket online, you will select the time slot to enter Colosseum. Once ticket is used, you can enter Roman Forum + Palatine Hill in the next 24 hours.

The basic full-price ticket can be printed, while others (reduced/free/tours) must be collected on-site.

Tips: Book early. In hot season, tickets could be sold out.

Tips: If queues are long, you may get your ticket at the Palatino at Via di San Gregorio 30.

Tips: Additional ticket office located at Largo della Salara Vecchia starting from Oct 2023.

Videoguides available in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish.

Audioguides is € 5.50. Available in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Latin, Polish.

Book the ticket with audio guide or buy it separately after enter the colosseum.

(Recommended): Full Experience Ticket

Due to the delicate nature of the underground area and the limited capacity, the Colosseum Underground Tour requires a separate ticket from general admission. The tour often sells out well in advance, so it’s essential to book your tickets ahead of time.

Full Experience ticket for standard ticket + additional exploring the underground of Colosseum and the Arena: Official Full Experience Ticket.

Full Experience Ticket price: Full/Reduced € 24.00 / €2.00 + online reserveation €2.00.

The ticket is valid for 2 days from the first use.

Full Experience Ticket includes:

• 1 entrance to the Colosseum
• 1 acceess to the Arena
• accompanied visit to the Underground
• 1 open entrance to the Roman Forum/Palatine and Imperial Forum
• Entrance to the S.U.P.E.R. sites open
• Entrance to the temporary exhibitions

Full Experience Ticket does NOT include:

• Guided tour
• Access to the III Level of the Colosseum

Ticket Refund or Exchange

Sold tickets cannot be refunded or changed.

Starting Feb 20, 2024, for tickets purchased on the B2C channel, it will be possible to change the name of the ticket holder, once only, no later than midnight on the seventh day prior to the date of use of the ticket.

Roma Pass

Roma Pass can choose Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill as one attraction. For Roma Pass holders, the reservation for entry to the Colosseum is mandatory. Reservation fee € 2.00.

Visit the Colosseum

Entry

The Colosseum features three entry points: the Arch of Constantine entrance as Main Entrance for tourists, the Colosseum Square entrance, and the Palatine Hill entrance. Admission tickets are required for all visitors.

It is recommended to arrive at the Colosseum at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, your tickets will be voided.

Before entering, security checks are required. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed; only small bags are permitted, and there is a possibility of bag inspection.

Prohibited items include beverages, alcoholic drinks, bottles, and sprays.

Visiting

Average visiting time is approximately 2 hours, depending on the crowd at the Colosseum on that day.

The Colosseum is crowded with many people. If you want to capture great photos, try to enter during the earliest time slots possible.

Beware of pickpockets. The area around the subway outside the Colosseum in Rome is notorious for pickpocketing, and one should not let their guard down even inside the Colosseum. Be especially cautious of young pickpockets, as their entry into the Colosseum is free.

Colosseum Underground Tour

The Colosseum Underground Tour offers an exclusive opportunity to delve deeper into the monument’s fascinating history by exploring its hidden chambers and passages. This unique experience allows you to witness firsthand the inner workings of the ancient amphitheater, which once hosted gladiator battles and other public spectacles.

• Hypogeum: The Colosseum’s subterranean chambers, known as the hypogeum, once housed gladiators, animals, and stage equipment. The labyrinth of tunnels and rooms showcases a complex system of lifts and pulleys, which allowed for seamless scene changes and the movement of animals and fighters.
• Arena Floor: The tour also includes access to the reconstructed arena floor, where you can stand in the same spot where gladiators once fought. This vantage point provides a unique perspective of the Colosseum’s immense size and grandeur.

Opening Hours

Opening days

Every day

Opening times

Colosseum:

• January 1 to February 29: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• March 1 to March 30: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• March 31 to September 30: 8:30 AM – 7:15 PM
• October 1 to October 26: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
• October 27 to December 31: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Forum and Palatine:

• January 1 to February 29: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• March 1 to March 30: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• March 31 to September 30: 9:00 AM – 7:15 PM
• October 1 to October 26: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• October 27 to December 31: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Last admission one hour before closing.

Extra Opening times

• December 25th only Colosseum from 9.00am – 1.00pm (last entry 12.00pm)
• 1 January: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine from 8.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)
• SUPER sites closed

Transportation

Address: Piazza del Colosseo 1, Roma, Italy

Metro: Line B Station Colosseo. There are two metro stations in close proximity to the Colosseum: Colosseo and Fori Imperiali/Colosseo. Both of these stations belong to Line B of the Rome Metro. A brief stroll from either station will lead you to the Colosseum. (Check our Rome Metro Guide)

Bus: 75, 81, 673, 175, 204. The closest bus stop to the Colosseum is “Colosseo”.

Trams: 3

The Arch of Constantine

Don’t miss the Arch of Constantine (Italian: Arco di Costantino), located next to the Colosseum. It was built to commemorate Constantine I’s victory in the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312 AD. The arch stands 21 meters tall, 25.7 meters wide, and 7.4 meters deep. There are a total of three triumphal arches in this area, with the other two being the Arch of Titus (Italian: Arco di Tito) and the Arch of Septimius Severus (Italian: Arco di Septimius Severus). These latter two arches are located at the two entrances of the Roman Forum.