Colosseum Tickets - Prices, Guided Tours and Visitor Information

‍

• ‍Colosseum Address: Piazzo del Colosseo, 1, Rome, 00184
• Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 - 19:15
• Suggested Visit Duration: 1-2 hours for just the Colosseum but if you are including Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, 4 hours

‍

What is the Colosseum in Rome?

• The Colosseum is one of those places that most people recognise long before they arrive in Rome but seeing it in person is a completely different experience.
• The ancient amphitheatre once held tens of thousands of spectators who came to watch gladiator games, public events and dramatic performances.
• It remains the centrepiece of Rome’s archaeological area and is one of the most visited landmarks in the world.

‍

Is The Colosseum Worth Visiting?

Yes. It's one of the most popular attractions in the city.

• If you enjoy history, architecture, or simply seeing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in person, the Colosseum is worth visiting.
• Visitors who aren’t interested in ancient history still tend to be impressed by the scale of the structure as well though.
• That said, it can get busy, especially in summer, so the experience is much better with a timed entry ticket or early morning visit.

‍

What You Can See At The Colosseum

This depends on ticket choice and how much of the Colosseum visitors want to see. Options include:

• The different levels of the Colosseum, from the main level only, to including arena floor and underground tunnel access as well.
• The Emperor's Box & Gladiator's Gate.
• Guided Tours can also provide more detail as you explore.

‍

Colosseum Tickets - A Quick Comparison

For most visitors, the standard entry ticket is enough unless you specifically want arena or underground access.

• Cheapest Colosseum Ticket: Entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill and is a good option if you are on a budget. Arena Floor and underground access is not included.
• Colosseum, Arena & Roman Forum + Audio Guide Ticket: Entry to Colosseum, Arena Floor, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum + Audio Guide. You don't get underground access.
• Rome Tourist Card: A popular combination ticket with entry to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel OR Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's Basilica OR Rome Pantheon. This is a good option for those that want to visit more than one attraction.
• Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Mamertine Prison Ticket: Includes access to Mamertine Prison.
• Colosseum (with option to include Roman Forum & Palatine Hill), Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel + Ancient Rome Multimedia Video Ticket: Includes the Vatican & Sistine Chapel access and is cheaper than the Rome Tourist Card but doesn't include as much.

‍

Colosseum Guided Tour Options

• Colosseum, Arena Floor, Underground, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour: The guided tour lasts 3-hours and is one of the most comprehensive guided tours you can get.
• Cheap Guided Tour Ticket: Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum entry and a live guided tour of between 1 hour and 3 hours, depending on your choice. It  doesn't include Arena floor or underground access.
• Colosseum, Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour: Includes a live guided tour.

‍

‍

About The Colosseum

Construction of the Colosseum started more than 2000 years ago in 72 AD under the instruction of Emperor Vespasian and it was completed in 80 AD by his son, Emperor Titus.

The amphitheatre was designed to hold up to 80,000 people and built to host public spectacles including the famous gladiator battles as well as wild animal hunts, mock sea battles and even public executions.

It was known as the ‘Flavian Amphitheatre’, and named after the 'Flavian' dynasty, which was the Emperor and his family.

The Colosseum was actively used for around 500 years, until the 6th century and it is now a symbol of Ancient Rome, one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the Modern World’, and a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ under the ‘Historic Centre of Rome’ listing.

It was built using a mix of concrete, sand, and travertine limestone and its elliptical shape and imposing height make it one of the most distinctive examples of ancient Roman architecture. It has three types of columns, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, which show the evolution of architecture during its construction.

You can get access to under the arena floor where you can see the network of tunnels, ramps, and elevators. They were designed with clever mechanisms that allowed for the dramatic appearance of gladiators and wild animals through hidden trapdoors in the arena floor. Despite being over 2,000 years old, its engineering remains clever even by today’s standards.

Much like modern stadiums today, the seating tiers were based on class and social ranking, so the more expensive the seat, the better the view.

Over the centuries, it has been damaged by earthquakes, stone looting, and water due to unstable ground beneath it. However, numerous restoration efforts have been made to preserve it. One of the most exciting modern developments happened in 2017, when the 4th and 5th tiers were reopened to the public. The upper levels now offer panoramic views of Rome that had been inaccessible for decades.

Useful Information About The Colosseum

‍

The Colosseum, Rome Address

• ‍‍Colosseum, Piazzo del Colosseo, 1, Rome, 00184

‍

How to get to the Colosseum

• Metro: From Rome Termini Station simply take metro Line B and get off at 'Colosseo' Station (Colosseum Station). The trip is less than 5 minutes from Rome Termini.
• Bus (tickets can be bought at tobacco shops and newspaper stands): Local Buses 3, 8, 30, 40, 60, 75, 38, 87, 810 and 870 all sop at the Colosseum Bus Stop which is called 'Piazza del Colosseo'
• North Rome Buses: Lines 38 and 75
• South Rome Buses: 175 and 271 both go to the Colosseum
• Tram (you can purchase tickets at newspaper stands, tobacco shops or metro stations): Tram lines 3 and 8 go to the Piazza del Colosseum
• Car Parking at the Colosseum: Roma - Parcheggio Park Colosseo | Park Services Colosseo | Onepark - Parcheggio Roma - Colosseo & Parcheggio San Pierto in Vincoli are all local car parking facilities, but please note spaces may be very limited.

Colosseum Opening Hours

• Monday: 09:00 - 19:15
• Tuesday: 09:00 - 19:15
• Wednesday: 09:00 - 19:15
• Thursday 09:00 - 19:15
• Friday: 09:00 - 19:15
• Saturday: 09:00 - 19:15
• Sunday: 09:00 - 19:15

Hint to avoid the BIG queues at the Colosseum

• Book tickets in advance to avoid the MASSIVE queues that form for the Colosseum and where possible, try and visit in the morning.
• Several of our tickets also come with priority entrance.