Roman Colosseum: Tickets, Hours, and Visitor Tips

The Roman Colosseum is a wonder of ancient engineering and a must-visit in Rome. Book tickets ahead to skip the long lines and make the most of your visit.

The Roman Colosseum, one of the most iconic symbols of ancient Rome, showcases both the glory and tragedy of its history.

This 2000-year-old oval amphitheater once hosted gladiator battles, animal hunts, and even mock sea battles, drawing roaring crowds.

Today, it stands as a testament to Rome’s architectural brilliance, attracting over seven million visitors annually.

Most tourists explore the Colosseum along with the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

This article covers everything you must know before booking Colosseum tickets.

Top Tickets

# Colosseum and Roman Forum experience with multimedia video
# Guided tour with access to the Arena
# Colosseum, Arena, Underground, and Forum tour

It’s highly recommended to book your Roman Colosseum 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

It’s best to buy tickets online to skip long lines and get timed access, as only 3000 visitors are allowed inside at once

There are different tickets based on the areas you wish to explore. General tickets give you access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Other options include access to the Arena and Underground for a more immersive experience

While self-guided tours are available, a guided tour offers richer insight. A knowledgeable guide shares historical facts and stories, making the tour worth every penny, with prices starting at €55

Your ticket grants access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You can visit them on the same or different days, but the Colosseum can only be visited once per ticket

Mornings or late afternoons are the best times to avoid crowds, especially during peak season from March to October

Fun Fact
The Colosseum was built on top of an artificial lake. Yes, you heard it right. The lake was part of Emperor Nero’s lavish Golden House (a.k.a. Domus Aurea), which was drained and demolished to make way for the iconic amphitheater!

What’s ahead

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book Colosseum tickets online or at the venue, but buying online saves time, helps you skip long lines, and guarantees availability. Online tickets are often cheaper and allow you to choose a time slot in advance. After the purchase, the tickets are emailed to you, and you can enter by showing the e-ticket on your smartphone—no printouts needed. Tickets are timed, allowing only 3000 visitors inside at once. You must arrive within 15 minutes of your slot. Some tickets have two-day validity for exploring the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, but Colosseum entry is limited to one visit.

Colosseum Rome tickets

Pin
Image: Justine Camacho

There are many kinds of Colosseum tickets.

You can take a self-guided tour of the Colosseum; however, only a guided tour, starting at €55, can do justice to the ancient ruins and their stories.

During the guided tour (also known as a didactic tour), a local expert shares stories and historical facts about the Roman icon, making your visit totally worth it.

You can choose the most appropriate tour or ticket depending on your time, level of interest in Roman history, and budget.


Recommended


What’s included in a Colosseum ticket?

There are three types of Colosseum tickets based on the accessibility to different sections:

General entry ticket: A general entry ticket includes access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill. It doesn’t include access to the Arena floor and Underground.

Arena ticket: The Arena ticket includes a guided tour and grants you access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, along with special entry to the Arena floor. From the Arena, you’ll enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the Colosseum’s interior while entering and exiting through separate gates.

Arena & underground ticket: A guided tour of the Arena and Underground gives you exclusive access to all the restricted sections of the attraction, including the Arena floor, Underground, and select tier levels. Entry is also granted to the nearby archeological sites.

Which Colosseum ticket to buy?

There are many kinds of Colosseum tickets, which often tend to confuse tourists. Choosing the right Colosseum ticket typically depends on your interests.

If you are
on a budget

Go for: Colosseum and Roman Forum experience with multimedia video
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Guide: No
33
/ person

If you want
value for money

Go for: Guided tour with access to the Arena
Duration: 1.5 hours
Guide: Yes
80
/ person

If you want
the best experience

Go for: Colosseum, Arena, Underground, and Forum tour
Duration: 3 hours
Guide: Yes
129
/ person

If you want a
personalized experience

Go for: Private tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Duration: 3 hours
Guide: Yes
269
/ person

The Colosseum is considered a dark tourist spot due to its history of hosting brutal gladiatorial fights and executions. While it stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Roman Empire, it also serves as a reminder of the darker aspects of human history.

Priority access ticket

With the priority access ticket, you’ll skip the regular lines and breeze through a separate entrance to explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

You can explore the magnificent Colosseum, which once had 80 entrances and could accommodate around 65,000 spectators.

You also have an option to book special access to the arena floor.

Take your time to snap photos, relax, and explore the exhibitions.

Afterward, your guide will lead you to the next part of your adventure—Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.

You’ll uncover the social, political, and religious center of the Roman Empire.

Learn about the incredible ruins from your guide and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Colosseum.

Ticket Prices

English Group Tour – Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill

Adult (18+ years): €79
Child (6 to 17 years): €63
Infant (up to 5 years): €4

Arena Floor Access

Adult (18+ years): €89
Child (6 to 17 years): €68
Infant (up to 5 years): €4

English Small Group Tour

Adult (18+ years): €96
Child (6 to 17 years): €73
Infant (up to 5 years): €5

Buy This Ticket

Colosseum Tour with Gladiator Arena

This ticket is the most popular because it offers a complete Colosseum experience.

You get in through the back door entrance, which leads straight to the arena floor, thus saving much waiting time.

Once inside, you’ll explore the ground floor level and the second tier as your guide shares entertaining and engaging stories and legends about the gladiators who fought there.

After you finish the guided tour, you can stay for an extra 30 minutes to soak in the atmosphere of the Colosseum.

Later, you will be escorted to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which will be self-guided.

Entrance is strictly limited, so make sure you arrive 30 minutes before your tour starts, as anyone who comes after their time slot cannot be accommodated or refunded.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €99
Child (2 to 17 years): €89
Infant (up to 2 years): Free

Buy This Ticket

Colosseum and Roman Forum with Multimedia Video

Start your adventure with a short multimedia video that brings ancient Rome to life.

This ticket gives you a skip-the-line entry to the Archaeological Park, which includes the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum.

Begin at the Roman Forum, where everyday Roman citizens used to live, visit the tomb of Emperor Julius Caesar, and explore the ancient ruins at your own pace.

Continue to the Palatine Hill, right next to the Roman Forum and Circus Maximum.

End your journey at the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built by the Roman Empire.

Ticket Prices

Entry ticket with Audio Guide

Adult (18+ years): €48
Child (6 to 17 years): €12
Infant (up to 5 years): Free

Entry ticket with Multimedia Video: €45

Buy This Ticket

Colosseum with Underground entrance

This two-and-a-half-hour guided tour gets you skip-the-line access to the Colosseum, the arena floor, and its underground.

Visitors love descending into the underground tunnels where gladiators and wild animals await their fates.

That’s why these tickets to the Roman Colosseum are also known as the Gladiator Entrance tickets.

Everybody gets dedicated audio headsets so that they can hear the guide. 

After the guide has taken you around the Colosseum and Roman Forum, you are free to explore Palatine Hill on your own.

The Underground Tour comes with a maximum participant size of 24.

Ticket Prices

Adult (17+ years): €129
Child (2 to 16 years): €99
Infant: (up to 1 year): €29

Buy This Ticket

Best of Rome Pass

Rome Super Pass is one easy pass for Rome’s best – Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s Basilica.

Once activated, this ticket is valid for three consecutive calendar days.

The timeslot you select while booking the ticket applies to your entrance to the Vatican. 

Around 15 minutes before you enter the Vatican Museums, you must meet the Touristation representative and collect all your tickets. 

The meeting point is right in front of the Vatican Museum’s entrance. 

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €115
Child (7 to 17 years): €95
Infant (up to 6 years): Free

Buy This Ticket

Mamertine Prison & Colosseum tickets

This combo ticket is a tourist favorite, as Mamertine Prison is just a short 1 km (about two-thirds of a mile) from the Roman Colosseum.

Located beneath the church of San Pietro in Carcere, this prison once held emperors, kings, and even Saints Peter and Paul.

While there, you can see the very bars that held St. Peter and the pool of water he used to baptize visitors.

Once activated, your ticket is valid for 24 hours, giving you ample time to explore both iconic sites at your own pace.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €35
Child (6 to 17 years): €7
EU Citizen with valid ID (18 to 25 years): €9
Infant (up to 5 years): Free

Buy This Ticket

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for the Roman Colosseum.

Does the monument offer free tickets?

Individuals 17 years of age and younger can enter the attraction for free. However, they must collect their free tickets at the Colosseum’s cash desk. Disabled visitors and their carers can also walk in for free after getting their free tickets directly at the venue. Access to the attraction is free for all ages on the first Sunday of every month.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s cash desk. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so it’s 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 Colosseum’s entrance.

What is the monument’s arrival time?

When you book your tickets, you must select a preferred visit time. Security clearance can take up to 30 minutes, depending on the day and tourist season. We recommend arriving well in advance of your visit time.

What is the monument’s late arrival policy?

Tickets are valid up to 15 minutes after your ticket time, and you can enter the attraction within the specified time. Entry later than 15 minutes from the timeslot will be denied.

Does the Colosseum offer discounts for locals?

Yes, discounted tickets are available for EU citizens aged between 18 and 25 upon presentation of a valid official EU identification document.

Does the monument offer any student or military discounts?

Unfortunately, the attraction does not offer any student discount or military discount on its admission tickets. However, children aged up to 17 years enter for free.

Does the Rome Tourist Card include access to the attractions?

Yes, this combi-ticket is the bestselling option to explore much of Rome’s most popular attractions, including the Colosseum.
The Rome Tourist Card allows you to visit:
1. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
2. Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
3. St. Peter’s Basilica OR Castel Sant’Angelo OR Borghese Gallery

What is the Colosseum’s refund policy?

Colosseum tickets have a strict non-refundable policy.
This means that once you purchase tickets, you cannot receive a refund regardless of the reason for cancellation or no-show.
This policy applies to all ticket types, including adult, child, and discounted tickets.

How to reschedule the monument’s ticket?

The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.

What is Colosseum’s rain policy?

The attraction is an all-weather experience – so all tickets are final and non-refundable.

Is there a secret room in the Colosseum?

There are numerous secret tunnels and passageways under the Arena floor, called hypogeum, that were once used to house wild animals and Gladiators before being pulled up to the Arena floor. These tunnels are now open to the public, so they are no longer a secret. Besides, Nero’s Pleasure Palace is also supposed to be buried under the Colosseum. 

The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, and it was named after the Flavian dynasty that built it. In the Middle Ages, much of the marble and metal from the Colosseum was looted and repurposed for other buildings, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Can you believe it?

Opening hours

The Roman Colosseum opens at 8.30 am throughout the year, but its closing time changes according to the season. During the peak months of March to September, the Colosseum closes at 7.15 pm.

The last Sunday of Oct to 15 February: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

16 February to 15 March: 8.30 am to 5 pm

16 March to the last Saturday of March: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm

Last Sunday of March to 31 August: 8.30 am to 7:15 pm

1 to 30 September: 8.30 am to 7 pm

1 October to last Saturday of October: 8.30 am to 6.30 pm

Ancient Rome’s Colosseum is closed on Good Friday from 8.30 am to 2.00 pm and on 2 June from 1.30 pm to 7.15 pm.

The last entrance is always one hour before closing.

The Colosseum remains closed on 1 January (New Year), 1 May (Labor Day), and 25 December (Christmas).

How long does the tour take

Visitors usually take 60 to 90 minutes to explore the Colosseum’s first and second floors, the arena, and the underground.

All Colosseum tickets come with access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and if you decide to visit them on the same day, you need an hour more.

Guided tours of the Roman Colosseum and the two ancient sites usually take three hours.

Recommendations

# There are no food outlets at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so if you plan to explore all three on the same day, ensure you eat well before starting your tour.

# Roman Forum and Palatine Hill cover a massive area. We recommend a sun hat, comfortable walking shoes, and water.

# There is little or no signage at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Standing in front of ruin and not knowing what it is, is a not-so-good experience. The best solution is to book a guided tour of the three ancient Roman sites. The second best option is to install ‘Google Lens‘ and learn to use it.

Best time to visit

If you want to avoid the crowd, the best time to visit the Colosseum is when it opens at 8.30 am.

If you can’t make it in the morning, be at the Colosseum by 3 pm – after tour groups have left.

The queues are shorter during this period, and the sun is not as harsh.

If you want to escape the bustling crowds and scorching heat, the next best option would be the sunset tours of the Colosseum that usually begin around 4.30 pm.

The last entry to the Colosseum is an hour before closing, which varies according to the season, ranging from 5.30 pm (Oct to Feb) to 7.15 pm (Mar to Sep).

Roman Colosseum peak times

The peak months are from March to October, and the lines at the ticket counter and the security check are the longest in the first half of the day.

During the peak summer months, avoid reaching the Colosseum after 11 am.

The Rome Tourist Pass is a super saver. For just €89 per person, the pass includes entry tickets to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Pantheon and a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. You also get a 10% discount code, which you can use (five times!) to get discounts on future purchases.

Waiting time at Colosseum

At the Colosseum, you wait in two lines—one at the ticket counter to buy your tickets and another for security screening.

If you buy Colosseum tickets in advance, you can avoid waiting at the ticket counter.

However, you can’t skip the security check line.

The waiting time at the Colosseum depends on the season, the day of the week, and the time.

We share the approximate waiting times at the Colosseum during peak and non-peak months.

Monday to Thursday

TimePeak Season*Non-peak Season**
8.30 am to 9 am30 mins15 mins
9 am to 1 pm2 hours30 mins
1 pm to 3 pm1 hour30 mins
3 pm to last entry30 mins15 mins

Friday to Sunday

TimePeak Season*Non-peak Season**
8.30 am to 9 am45 mins15 mins
9 am to 1 pm3 hours1 hour
1 pm to 3 pm2 hour30 mins
3 pm to last entry45 mins15 mins

*Peak months: April to August
**Non-peak months: September to March

These waiting times can increase during school holidays, summer vacations, festivals, etc.

This estimate includes the time spent waiting to buy your ticket and then waiting for the security line.

You can book your tickets to the Colosseum even six months in advance, and during peak seasons, it is advisable to book at least three to four weeks prior.

Colosseum free entry

There are three cheapest ways to enter the Colosseum: free entry on the first Sunday of every month, buying the self-guided tour ticket, which starts at €35, or free entry by qualification.

Free Sunday

On the first Sunday of every month, visitors can enter the Colosseum for free.

However, we don’t recommend this because the queues are pretty long.

You can visit the Colosseum on free Sundays without any reservations.

Group tours, guided tours, or online tickets cannot be booked on free Sundays.

Free entry by qualification

Some visitors qualify for free admission to the Colosseum.

  • Visitors aged 18 and below
  • Disabled EU citizens
  • Companions of disabled visitors

Disabled visitors must carry valid medical documentation.

Omnia Vatican & Roma Pass

This discount card is yet another way to enter the Colosseum for free.

It combines two cards – the Roma Pass and the OMNIA Vatican Card.

While the Roma Pass grants you free entry to two of Rome’s five top attractions, the OMNIA Vatican Card allows free entrance to all the top sights in Vatican City.

Buying such passes is a cost-effective way to visit most attractions for a fixed price, with the added benefit of unlimited public transportation.

Find out more about the Omnia Vatican & Roma Pass.

You can also visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum or the Colosseum and Pantheon in one day to make the most of your time in Rome.

Beyond gladiator fights and wild animal hunts, the Colosseum’s arena was occasionally flooded to host spectacular mock naval battles, where ships would clash in dramatic water-filled combat! The Romans sure knew how to put on a show!

Colosseum audio & video guide

We highly recommend taking a guided tour of the Colosseum—there’s so much history to uncover, and a guide can really bring it to life.

But if you prefer to explore at your own pace, renting an audio or video guide is a great alternative.

The audio guide lasts about 1 hour and 10 minutes and costs just €5.50, while the video guide is 45 minutes long and available for €6.

Both guides are available in Italian, English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese.

Besides the above languages, the audio guide is available in two additional languages: Arabic and Latin.

What to see at the Colosseum

Pin

Download Print Version

It is definitely worth a visit, as it reflects the great history and culture of the Eternal City, standing the test of time.

The Colosseum is enormous, and there are many things to see once you are inside.

Here are the must-see features of this Roman attraction:

Colosseum’s outer wall

The Colosseum is oval and 186 meters (610 feet) long by 156 meters (512 feet) wide.

The outer wall is 57 meters (187 feet) high and made of travertine marble held together by iron clamps.

In a massive earthquake of 1349, the Colosseum’s south side outer wall collapsed, exposing the inner wall.

Colosseum’s Arena floor

Pin
The Colosseum’s Arena Floor is where the ancient Roman gladiators fought to the death. To step on to this floor you must enter from the Gate of Death. Image: Henry Paul

The arena floor was built of wood and covered with sand.

The Romans built trap doors on this wooden floor for dramatic entries during the gladiator fights.

Since this wooden flooring didn’t survive the test of time, a new platform has been raised to give tourists the experience of standing on the Arena Floor.

When you look up at the top seating arrangements while standing in the Colosseum’s arena, you will realize the massive structure the Romans had built.

The Underground (Hypogeum)

Since the wooden floor couldn’t last through the ages, the Colosseum’s underground is exposed to all.

Under the floor of the Colosseum is a two-story structure full of tunnels, cages, and rooms meant for gladiators and wild animals participating in the shows.

As the show progressed, the performers and the wild animals were moved through the tunnels and brought in front of the crowd through trap doors on the wooden floor.

Fun Fact
The Romans installed a giant Velarium. To protect the audience from the scorching sun, they built the ancient world’s version of a massive sunshade!

Colosseum seating

The King and the Vestal Virgins sat in the best seats at the North and South ends of the arena.

You can still see the names of some of the senators carved in the area reserved for them in tier 1.

The Noble families occupied tier 2, and the general public took their places in the third and fourth levels.

The regular Colosseum ticket allows you to enter tiers 1 and 2 and experience life as a Roman spectator.

Colosseum’s Belvedere

Pin
Tourists sitting at Colosseum’s Belvedere get stunning views of the Roman attraction. Image: Tripadvisor.com

To experience the amphitheater’s incredible height and get fantastic views, you must go to Tiers 4 and 5.

These tiers are also known as the Colosseum Belvedere.

Tier 5 is 40 meters (131 feet) high and offers a breathtaking view of Rome and the Colosseum Arena.

Unfortunately, like the underground tunnels, these tiers are accessible only through a special tour.

How to reach

The Colosseum is located in Piazza Del Colosseo 1, the center of Rome. It is next to Piazza Venezia, the central hub of Rome, Italy. Get Directions.

Traveling to the ancient Rome Colosseum from anywhere in the city is easy.

If you have already bought your tickets, look for the line for ‘visitors with reservations’ at the Colosseum entrance.

Public transport

Bus and metro tickets can be bought at newsstands, tobacco (cigarette shops), or ticket dispensing machines.

Once you board the bus or metro, validate the tickets on the validation machine.

Passengers with unvalidated tickets can be fined (anywhere from €50 to €110).

In Rome, the cost of public transport tickets is around €1 to €2.

Children younger than ten years of age can use public transportation for free.

Depending on where you are starting from, you can board Bus Nos. 75, 81, 673, 175, or 204. All of them stop in front of the Colosseum.

Metro to Colosseum

Rome’s Metro service (locals call it Metropolitana) goes around rather than through the ancient city.

It has three lines—the A Line (Red), the B Line (Blue), and the newly inaugurated C Line (Green)—which cross at Termini Central Station.

On most routes, the trains run approximately every five to ten minutes.

To reach the Colosseum by train, take Line B of the Rome Metro and get down at the Colosseo Metro station.

A quick five-minute walk will get you to the Colosseum. Get Directions

Tram to Colosseum

Trams in Rome also start – at 5.30 am and continue till midnight.

Trams are frequent on weekdays (one every five to ten minutes), but the rate decreases on Sundays.

There are six active Tram routes in Rome, the most important being Line 3, Line 8, and Line 19.

To get to the Colosseum by Tram, you must get onto Tram Line 3.

It starts from Station Trastevere and goes up to Valle Giulia, and on the way, it has 41 stops.

When starting from Station Trastevere, you need to get down at the 13th stop to reach the Colosseum.

By Car

If you travel by car, turn on Google Maps and get started.

There are multiple parking spaces around the Colosseum.

Photo of author
Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

Leave a Comment

Share to...