Step into the Capitoline Museum, where art, history, and ancient Roman culture unite in a breathtaking display.
As the world’s first public museum, it holds treasures that span millennia—from stunning sculptures to intricate frescoes.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a history buff, this museum offers something to captivate everyone.
Get ready to uncover Rome’s rich past in one of the most iconic locations on Capitoline Hill.
This article covers everything you must know before booking Capitoline Museum tickets.
Top Tickets
# Capitolini Museum free with Roma Pass
# Capitolini Museum tickets
# Hosted entry into Capitoline MuseumIt’s highly recommended to book your Capitoline Museum tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.
Key takeaways
Capitoline Museum offers skip-the-line tickets, which are cheaper online and valid for 4 hours
The museum houses significant Roman history pieces, including the famous Capitoline Wolf sculpture, the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, and a wide collection of Roman artifacts and art
Children under six can enter for free, and discounts apply for EU citizens aged 6-25, seniors 65+, and MIC cardholders. Residents of Rome can visit for free on the first Sunday of each month
Private tours and a “Museum + Happy Hour” experience are available, offering guided tours, multimedia insights, and even a cocktail with a view
The museum is open daily from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm (last entry at 6.30 pm)
What’s ahead
Related Reads
Things to know before booking tickets
Capitoline Museum’s skip-the-line tickets are the most affordable and the most popular option, giving you access to all exhibits, including temporary ones. These tickets are valid for 4 hours, providing ample time to explore the museum. Booking online is highly recommended, as it’s cheaper than buying at the venue, helps you skip long queues, and ensures you secure your preferred time slot. With limited tickets available during peak days, booking early helps avoid disappointment. Once purchased, your e-ticket is emailed to you, and you can simply show it on your smartphone for entry—no printouts needed.
Capitolini Museum tickets
Skip-the-line tickets
Book this popular ticket to explore the world’s first museum, home to an extraordinary collection of art and artifacts that bring Rome’s rich history to life.
Established in 1734 by Pope Clementine XII, the museum was created to make a significant collection of artwork and ancient sculptures accessible to the public. With this generous act, he created the world’s first museum.
Among the highlights is the iconic she-wolf sculpture depicting Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus, along with countless treasures that tell the story of Rome, the ancient Caput Mundi.
Your ticket grants access to both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
Food, drinks, or pets are not allowed inside the museums.
Ticket Prices
Adult (6+ years): €19
Child (up to 6 years): Free
The Capitoline Museums have been around since 1471. Yep, that’s older than the United States—and they’re still looking great for their age!
Hosted entry with a drink and snacks
The hosted entry is the next most affordable option to explore the World’s first museum.
In addition to access to the permanent and temporary galleries and exhibitions, you also get a 25-minute multimedia video on Ancient Rome.
You can book this experience in two flavors—Museum only or Museum and Happy Hour.
By booking the Happy Hour ticket, you can enjoy the exhibits and then unwind at one of Rome’s stunning viewpoints right in the heart of the city.
The ticket includes one cocktail and snacks, and you can order more.
Ticket Prices (Museum only)
Adult (18+ years): €40
Child (6 to 17 years): €32
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
Ticket Price (Museum entry + Happy Hour)
Adult (18+ years): €58
Child (6 to 17 years): €66
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
Recommended
Private tour
If you love getting into the details of the art on display, we recommend a private tour of Musei Capitolini.
During this 2.5-hour tour, you will explore the Capitoline Museum, discover the suggestive paintings of the Pinacoteca Capitolina, admire the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, and get a terrific view of the Roman Forum and Rome city center.
The tour is available in English and Italian.
Ticket Prices
Adult (18+ years): €289
Child (6 to 17 years): €77
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
From Capitoline Hill, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Rome, with iconic landmarks like the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and the Altar of the Fatherland all in sight. It’s the perfect spot to take in the city’s historic beauty!
Frequently asked questions
Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Capitoline Museums in Rome.
Do the Capitoline Museums offer free tickets?
Entry to the attraction is free for children up to six years, disabled persons and their companions, European Union tourist guides, European Union tourist interpreters for their services alongside the guide, valid license-holders (issued by the competent authority), ICOM (International Council of Museums) and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) members, Musei Capitolini for “MIC Card” holders, and members of foreign and national cultural institutes such as Accademia dei Lincei, Istituto di Studi Romani, Amici dei Musei di Roma, and ICCROM. Residents of Rome and nearby provinces can access the attraction for free every first Sunday of the month.
Can I buy tickets at the venue?
Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so it is better to get them online in advance.
Do we need to print online tickets?
Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Capitoline Museums. You can show the voucher on your smartphone to the staff at the attraction’s entrance.
What is the Museum’s arrival time?
While the Museum’s times are 9 am to 7.30 pm, the last admission will be no later than 6.30 pm. Arrive well in advance of your preferred timeslot, keeping in mind the time for a thorough security check before entry.
What is the Museum‘s late arrival policy?
Latecomers are denied entry to the attraction, and no refunds are provided.
Do the Capitoline Museums offer discounts for locals, students, or military personnel?
The Capitoline Museums offer discounted admission to EU citizens aged 6-25, seniors over 65, and active teachers. Residents of Rome and nearby provinces can visit for free on the first Sunday of every month. However, there are no specific discounts for students or military personnel.
Does Roma Pass include access to the attraction?
Yes, the Roma Pass is a cost-effective option to explore one or two museums and/or archaeological sites of your choice. The card also allows you to access the public transportation network free of charge. You can avail yourself of reduced ticket prices, get a free map of Rome, and enjoy discounts on participating in exhibitions, events, and activities.
What is the Capitoline Museum’s refund policy?
It has a flexible cancellation policy. You can cancel your ticket until 11.59 pm on the day before your visit for a full refund.
How do we reschedule the Capitoline Museum’s ticket?
You can change the time and date of your visit until 11.59 pm the day before your scheduled visit.
What is the Capitoline Museums’ rain policy?
The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.
Is photography allowed inside the Museums?
It is permitted to take photos and videos of the works (excluding those on display in temporary exhibitions) for personal and studio use without using tripods, selfie sticks, or additional lights. However, in the case of photo and video shooting of a professional nature, for-profit or dissemination purposes, permission from the Sovrintendenza Capitolina is necessary.
Are the Capitoline Museums accessible to individuals with disabilities?
The Capitoline Museums have improved accessibility, including ramps and elevators, to accommodate disabled visitors. We recommend contacting the museum in advance to arrange any specific accommodations you may need.
Fun Fact
The museums are housed in historic palaces on Capitoline Hill, with the Piazza del Campidoglio designed by none other than Michelangelo. Yes, Michelangelo designed the whole square—talk about a fancy front yard!
Free entry into Capitoline Museum
Children under the age of six enter the Capitoline Museum for free.
Residents of Rome and nearby provinces can also enter the Capitoline Museum for free on the first Sunday of every month.
We suggest you skip the Museum on the free entry day if you want to avoid the crowd.
Image: Museicapitolini.org
Capitolini Museum free with Roma Pass
Roma Pass is a great tool for saving money while holidaying in the city.
With Roma Pass, you can gain direct and FREE entry to the Capitoline Museums.
Some other attractions you can enter for free with this Pass are the Colosseum, Borghese Gallery, Castel Sant’Angelo, etc.
72-hour Roma Pass: Direct entrance to two museums of your choice, unlimited travel with all public transport (excl. trains) for three days.
Price: €59 for visitors above six years.
Opening hours
Capitolini Museum opens at 9.30 am and closes at 7.30 pm every day.
On 24 and 31 December, the museum opens at the same time but closes a bit early, by 2 pm.
On 1 January, the museum opens at 11 am and closes at 7.30 pm.
The last entry is one hour before the closing time.
The attraction stays closed on 1 May and 25 December.
How long does the tour take
Most visitors take two hours to explore Capitoline Museums. The duration of the audio guide is 90 minutes.
Tourists who are in a hurry are known to finish their tour in 45 minutes or so, while art enthusiasts are even known to spend up to four hours exploring the museum.
Image: Museicapitolini.org
If you are visiting during peak times, you must add 30 minutes more – the time you will spend in the ticketing queue.
Insider Tip: To avoid wasting your time, buy your Museum tickets in advance.
Capitolini Museum queues
The Museums attract a lot of crowds in the morning.
It is better to book your Capitoline Museum ticket online if you wish to skip the line because, during peak days, you may spend up to 30 minutes in the ticketing queue.
No matter when you visit, expect popular exhibits like the Marcus Aurelius statue and the Capitoline Wolf sculpture to be crowded.
It’s also best to avoid visiting during the first and last two weeks of temporary exhibitions to steer clear of peak crowds.
The Capitoline Museums are split into two main buildings: Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatori. Palazzo Nuovo is packed with sculptures and artifacts, while Palazzo dei Conservatori is where you’ll find an impressive collection of ancient art—including the iconic equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Highlights of Capitoline Museum
The Municipality of Rome owns and administers these Museums.
Pallazodei Conservatori and Pallazo Nuovo are the main buildings forming the Capitoline Museum.
Galleria Lapidaria, a tunnel, runs between the two buildings and connects them from under the Piazza del Campidoglio.
Here are the major highlights that you should see at the museum:
Pallazo dei Conservatori
Opened to the public in 1734, this Museum houses the works of great artists such as Caravaggio, Tiziano, Rubins, and Tintoretto.
Art includes paintings, sculptures, busts of famous historical personalities, and other miscellaneous creations.
Capitoline Wolf’s original sculpture is the center of attraction here.
The Capitoline Wolf is also called the ‘She Wolf’ and is a significant symbol of Rome.
The first sculpture of a living person, Ritratto di Carlo I d’Angiò de Arnolfo di Cambio, is also featured in this Museum.
Another astonishing sight in Pallazo dei Conservatori is a glass-covered hall in the center of which lies an equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Pallazo Nuovo
This mansion is known for its exhibition of statues, sculptures, mosaics, and busts.
Another attraction here is a marble sculpture, Capitoline Venus, designed between 100 and 150 AD.
The statues of Dying Gaul and Discobolus are also worth seeing.
There is a hall of philosophers where you will find portraits of Greek and Roman philosophers.
Capitoline’s audio guide
With these guides, you can explore the Capitoline Museum better.
For just six Euros, video guides suitable for adults are available in Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, and Russian.
Audio guides are available for children aged six to 12 years of age.
These audio guides cost four Euros and are available in English and Italian.
Capitoline Museum or Borghese Gallery
It is unfair to compare the Capitolini Museum and Borghese Gallery because both Museums are unique and have their appeal.
The Capitoline Museum contains Roman sculptures and artwork from different eras. At the same time, the Borghese Gallery is full of Bernini sculptures, with most of its exhibits from the Baroque period.
Borghese is in a beautiful park, while the Capitoline offers a superb artistic impact.
We feel both the Museums have their unique appeal and are worth visiting.
Because both the attractions are close by (only 4 Km (2.5 Miles) apart), many tourists prefer to visit them on the same day.
How to reach
This Museum is in Piazza del Campidoglio 1, on the Capitoline Hill. Get Directions.
Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Getting to Musei Capitolini is straightforward.
Most of Rome’s public buses traveling towards the city center stop at Piazza Venezia.
By Metro
If you prefer the Metro, get down at the Colosseum station, which is just 10 minutes walking distance from Capitoline Museum.
By Tram
The tram bus is also a good option because it stops every 30 minutes at most of Rome’s famous attractions.
To get down at Piazza Venezia, you must get onto the Trambus with route no 110.
By Bus
Bus lines are also available for Teatro Marcello, which is 200 meters (656 feet) from Capitoline Hill.
The lines are 30, 44, 63, 81, 83, 85, 87, 130F, 160, 160F, 170, 175, 271, 628, 715, 716, 780, 781, 810, C3, H, n3, n8 and n19.
By Car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
There are enough parking garages around the attraction.
You can also take a taxi to drop you at the bottom of Capitoline Hill.
For disabled visitors, the taxi can even go to the top.
