How To Get Tickets To The Colosseum

Are you looking for information on how to get tickets to the Colosseum in Rome? I have been there many times, and have tested various ways so in this post I will explain everything you need to know.

Rome, the Eternal City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a lot to offer. The Colosseum is its top attraction and you should not skip it. I am sure you have questions about the best way to get tickets to the Colosseum.

For example, can you get tickets to the Colosseum at the door? Can you buy Colosseum tickets on the day? In theory, yes you can. However, given the number of visitors the Colosseum gets, you are better off getting your tickets in advance.

In this post, I will explain where to buy Colosseum tickets, and what you need to know before visiting the Colosseum. With my tips and guidance, you are guaranteed to have a great time!

Looking for where to buy Colosseum tickets online? Below I will explain where to buy tickets to the Colosseum based on your budget and interests.

Now, let’s go into more details.

How To Get Tickets To The Colosseum

All tickets to the Colosseum – whether sold on the official website or on third party sites or bought as part of a tour – are nominal and you will be requested to show proof of ID when walking in.

Way N. 1: Use the Colosseum tickets official website

I normally mention this is how to buy tickets to the Colosseum if you are looking for the most budget-friendly option. This is my way of getting tickets if all I want is to quickly get inside the Colosseum, snap a few photos, and get out.

This is the tickets to the Colosseum official website. You can also use the app MyColosseum. All tickets include admission to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

If you are wondering how far in advance can you buy tickets to the Colosseum on the official website, let me be clear: Tickets are available on the official website up to 30 days in advance. However, being the cheapest ones, these are the first tickets to get sold out and availability is often limited.

Once you buy your Colosseum tickets, you can print them at home or show the receipt on your smartphone. Tickets bought on the official website can’t be canceled or refunded. You will be able to change the name on the ticket up to 7 days before your scheduled visit.

You will have to arrive at the gate about 15 minutes before your allotted time slot. The gate is close to the Arch of Constantine, by the Sperone Valadier. An attendant will check the time on your ticket and won’t let you in if you are late!

If you decide to buy your tickets to the Colosseum on the official website, you can choose among these options:

BASIC TICKETS

The cheapest Colosseum tickets (sold on the official website) only give you access to the main floor (first tier) and the second tier – it will take you about one hour to visit them.

This part of the site can be a bit bare: throughout the centuries it’s been plundered of its marble and decorations (in medieval times the Colosseum was used as a quarry). From the main level of the Colosseum you can actually see the Arena and the Underground, but you will need a different (and more expensive) ticket or tour to access them.

Prices of basic tickets are as follow:

ADULTS – €18.
PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 25 YEARS OLD – €2.
CHILDREN UP TO 18, DISABLED VISITORS AND, ONE PERSON ACCOMPANYING THEM – Free.
AUDIOGUIDES – €5.50.

Basic tickets are valid for 24 hours starting from when you enter the site – either at the Colosseum or at the Roman Forum. Admission to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is included in these tickets, as long as you visit them no later than 24 hours after your first admission to the Colosseum.

FULL EXPERIENCE TICKETS

If you want to visit the Arena – from whose open bits you can peep into the Colosseum Underground (hypogea) – you will have to get the “Full Experience Arena” tickets on the official website and factor in more time for your visit.

Full Experience Arena tickets are slightly more expensive but will allow you to access the most interesting and best-preserved parts of the site. Other than the Arena, you get to see the upper levels (known as the Attic) or the Colosseum Underground (beware that when you visit the Underground you also go to the Arena).

These tickets are valid for two days. You have 48 hours from the first moment you visit the Colosseum to also visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and all the S.U.P.E.R sites – namely Santa Maria Antiqua, Domus Tiberiana, the Palatine Museum, the Aula Isiaca and Loggia Mattei, the House of Augustus, the House of Livia and the Curia Iulia.

The prices of full experience tickets are as follows:

ADULTS – €24.
PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 25 YEARS OLD – €2.
CHILDREN UP TO 18, DISABLED VISITORS, AND ONE PERSON ACCOMPANYING THEM – Free.

Full Experience Arena tickets include admission to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and are valid for up to 48 hours from the first access to the site.

If Full Experience Arena Tickets are sold out on the official website, you can join a guided tour. I recommend this tour by Touriks. Of all the tours I have taken of the Colosseum, this is by far my favorite as it is the most thorough It also goes to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Way N. 2: Get tickets via a third party booking site

I often recommend third-party booking sites such as GetYourGuide or Tiqets for buying attraction tickets and tours, as they typically buy tickets from the official resellers in bulk and have greater availability. This isn’t exactly the case for the Colosseum, which has very strict policies.

Tickets to the Colosseum bought on third-party sites can be bought up to 30 days in advance, much like those sold on the Colosseum tickets official website. You can print your ticket or use the easy-to-download app on your smartphone.

Tickets on these sites are more expensive than those bought on the official website, they are also not refundable. Given the fact that they are more expensive and also not refundable, then, what’s the advantage of getting tickets on one of these sites?

Mainly, availability. Colosseum tickets sold on third party booking sites usually have a bit more last-minute availability, which is great if you are traveling to Rome in peak season and have left the planning bits to the last minute.

You also have the benefit of a more user-friendly site compared to the official website and of a 24 hours customer service line in your language of choice.

You can get your skip-the-line tickets on Tiqets. These are tickets that include access to the Arena and Underground as well as the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, as well as the Mamertime Prison. They are not refundable.

Way N. 3: Take a guided tour

I think this is by far the best way of visiting the Colosseum, and what I usually favor – it’s what I have done on all my most recent trips to Rome. This way, you will get lots of information about its history. All guided tours include skip-the-line access. You will meet your guide in the vicinity and you will be swiftly taken to the entrance and through security.

There are tons of tours of the Colosseum. The difference between them is in what you see, group size, style, and price. There are even night tours of the Colosseum for a more private experience – I will be talking about them in a bit.

The size of the group depends on whether you book a group tour, in which case you can expect up to 20 or 30 persons; or a (more expensive) small group or even a private tour, in which case it will be just you / your friends and family, and the guide.

Guided group tours start at €40. Private tours have a starting price of €90 – beware some tours are sold per group, rather than per person.

You have the option of picking between a basic tour that only goes to the main parts of the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Palatine Hill, and will last roughly two hours; or a more in-depth visit of up to three hours and even more that includes the Arena and Underground and continue onto the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

These are the best tour options – all have free cancellation until 24 hours before your visit:

If you are looking out for your expenses, I recommend this well-reviewed Colosseum tour: it lasts up to three hours and it also has the option of visiting the Arena floor.

There also are this express Colosseum guided tour and this basic Colosseum tour. They are a bit cheaper but only go to the parts open to the general public – so you won’t be able to see the Arena floor and the Underground. Your ticket will include access the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

If you are looking for the best-reviewed tour of the Colosseum, I suggest this Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor with Walks of Italy, a company I use regularly. The tour lasts 3.5 hours and also goes to the Underground, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Out of all the tours I have tried, my favorite is this guided tour by local operator Touriks, a locally run company I know well. I love their guides (my favorite is Mario) and the tour is truly thorough.

If you would rather opt for a private tour, I suggest this private tour of the Colosseum: it lasts 2.5 hours and includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Otherwise, you could consider this more comprehensive tour that lasts 3 hours and also goes to the Underground and Arena.

If you are visiting Rome with your children, I recommend this family-friendly tour which lasts 2.5 hours and won’t fail to keep your kids entertained. My cousin tried it with her kids and they all had a great time.

Here you have more options for Colosseum tours.

Way N. 4: Take a guided tour of Rome

If you have limited time in Rome, I suggest a guided tour of the city that takes you to the most famous attractions. I have taken a full-day tour of Rome a couple of times just to see what it was like, and was surprised by the quality!

Tours usually include a live guide, provide skip-the-line access to the various attractions, and free cancellation.

My favorite tour is this Rome in a Day tour by Walks of Italy which goes to the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Historic Center of Rome. It’s one of their best sellers and very well-reviewed.

For something more budget-friendly, I recommend this tour by Tiqets which includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Way N. 5: Buy the Rome City Pass

If you are planning to visit many attractions when in Rome, I think you should consider getting a Roma Pass. This includes tickets to an incredible number of attractions – including, obviously, the Colosseum.

Allow me to say this is my least favorite way of getting tickets to any attraction – in Rome as well as in any other popular tourist destination. Let me explain why!

The Roma Pass will only give you basic skip-the-line tickets – so it’s not a good option if you’d rather have a guided tour. Passes are, valid for 24, 48, 72 hours or more, depending on which one you buy.

Once you get your Roma Pass, you will have to make separate reservations to the attractions you intend to visit, unless you get the new Rome city card which gives you the option of booking everything online on the same engine and on the day you buy it.

There is an additional €2 booking fee for holders of the Roma Pass, and you will have to show your Roma Pass upon entering the Colosseum.

Here are the best options:

The overall best option is this Rome attractions card by which you can pick the number of attractions you intend to visit in the city – up to seven.

This other Rome City Card is a good option as it allows you to book a time slot for the attractions you intend to visit at the time of purchase. It includes the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel, and a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica or admission to Castel Sant’Angelo.

The most basic Roma Pass and will give you access to two attractions of your choice, but won’t include the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.

This more comprehensive pass includes access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, as well as the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, an audio-guide at St. Peter’s Basilica, unlimited public transport, and a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

Q&A About Visiting The Colosseum

Can you buy Colosseum tickets at the door?

Yes, there is a ticket office located right in front of the Colosseum, in Piazza del Colosseo near the Temple of Venus and Rome, one in Via Foro Romano (close to the Capitoline Hill) and one in Largo della Salaria Vecchia. They sell same-day Colosseum tickets if there is availability.

Of these, the ticket office with the longest lines is always the one in Piazza del Colosseo. Via Foro Romano used to be an exit only to the Roman Forum, but it is now also used as an access gate and it has a ticket booth. Not many people know about it, so it’s the least crowded of all ticket booths.

With this in mind, I still do not recommend trying to get tickets to the Colosseum at the door. Here’s why.

With so many tourists in Rome, the Colosseum observes a strict time slot policy, which means that while you may be able to buy Colosseum tickets at the door, you won’t necessarily be able to visit on the spot and have to opt for the next available time slot.

This may be okay if you visit in the slightly slower winter months or if you are incredibly lucky; however, you may end up showing up at the physical ticket office only to find out that there are no tickets available.

Same-day bookings are accepted during the week, but Saturday and Sunday visits, and visits during national holidays must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, either online or by calling the official booking site at +390639967700. Full Experience tickets are more easily available on the same day at weekends.

In short: if you want to visit the Colosseum, you should get tickets in advance. Getting tickets at the door is very difficult! In this post, I have given you plenty of options on how to book Colosseum tickets, so you should be all set.

Is the Colosseum always crowded?

The Colosseum is the most popular attraction in Rome, if not in Italy. It is estimated that around 6 million people visit every year (but there have been peaks of 7.6 millions in the past!), which means an average of more than 16,000 visitors every day.

As of 30 September 2018 the Colosseum works on a time-slot system, meaning you can access only at the time specified in the ticket, which you must select upon booking. As of 1 October 2021 tickets must also indicate the name of the buyer.

The number of visitors per time slot is limited to no more than 50 visitors and there is a time slot every 15 minutes. While you can get tickets at the door, booking in advance remains a requirement – whether you want a plain ticket or a guided tour.

In any case, avoiding the crowds at the Colosseum is very difficult. Your best bet for a quieter experience is to either travel to Rome between November and February (but not for the Christmas holidays) and to either pick the very first time slot or join a night tour. Don’t worry, I will explain everything!

Colosseum opening hours

The Colosseum is open daily but Colosseum opening hours vary depending on the season. For the rest of 2024, opening hours are as follows:

• 31 March to 30 September – 8:30 am to 7:15 pm.
• 1 October to 26 October – 8:30 am to 6:30 pm.
• 27 October to 31 December – from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Last access is one hour before closing time.

The site is closed on December 25th. You can find the opening times on the official website.

How much time do you need to visit the Colosseum?

It depends. If you have a plain skip-the-line ticket and only want to visit the Colosseum, one hour is enough time.

If you also want to visit the Underground level, you need a guided tour and this will usually also include a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. In this case, you need to factor in about 2.5 to 3 hours.

How much are tickets to the Colosseum?

These are the prices as per the official website:

BASIC TICKETS

• Adults €18;
• 18 to 25 years old Italian and European Union Citizens €2;

FULL EXPERIENCE ARENA TICKETS

• Adults €24;
• 18 to 25 years old Italian and European Union Citizens €2;

These tickets include admission to the Arena and the third ring, as well as the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and they are valid for 48 hours from the moment you enter the first site.

Audioguides cost €5.50.

Roman Colosseum tickets bought on the official website can’t be reimbursed or changed to another date or to even another time slot on the same day.

Can you visit the Colosseum at night?

At the time of writing, night tours of the Colosseum are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with several tours running between 8:00 and 10:30 pm.

Seeing the Colosseum at night is an incredible experience, as you will be experiencing the site from the point of view of the spectators as well as the gladiators and the people who worked in the building.

The most budget friendly guided night tour is sold on the official website and lasts about one hour and 15 minutes, during which visitors are taken to the Colosseum first tier, the arena floor and the underground.

The price of night tours of the Colosseum is €50 for adults and €28 for EU citizens between 18 and 25 years old. The fee includes a Full Experience ticket plus a guided tour led by an official guide, which costs €26. Visitors entitled to free visits will still have to pay the €26 for the guided tour.

Night tours on the official website are offered in Spanish, English and Italian. English tours regularly sold out, but you may have better luck on third party booking sites which normally have more availability.

This night tour of the Colosseum is sold on Viator, one of the most reputable third-party booking sites. There are 5 departures between 8:20 and 10:00 pm. It’s more expensive than tours sold on the official website, but if this is something you really want to do and there’s no availability there, it’s a price worth paying.

Free visits

Visiting the Colosseum is free for anybody under 18 years of age and for disabled visitors and one person accompanying them – disabled visitors will be required a document that attests their disability.

Visiting the Colosseum is free on April 25th and June 2nd, which are national holidays in Italy, and on November 4th, as well as on the first Sunday of every month – but on these occasions, you can’t book a time slot.

If you are entitled to a free ticket, or you are visiting when entering is free, you must collect your ticket at the Colosseum ticket office near the Temple of Venus and Rome, or at the desk located in Largo della Salara Vecchia.

There usually are very long lines on free visits day. I recommend checking the official website for information on free days, as they change on a regular basis.

What to do if tickets to the Colosseum are sold out

If you visit Rome during the busy summer months, or yours is a last-minute trip, you may be unable to get last-minute Colosseum tickets on the official site. In this case, you should consider joining a guided tour as there’s usually more availability.

I recommend this very well – reviewed guided tour that also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill or this excellent Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor by Walks of Italy – it is a very thorough tour of the site.

If you are looking for something more budget friendly, I recommend this ticket with multi-media video – it accesses the Colosseum via the entrance dedicated to group tours, but it’s just an escorted ticket without a live guide. You can add an audio-guide, and watch a video for some background information about the Colosseum.

How to get to the Colosseum

The main entrance to the Colosseum is by the Sperone Valadier, close to the Arch of Constantine.

You can get there by subway: take line B takes and get off at Colosseo. Otherwise, use tram n. 3. If you are traveling by bus, you have various options: buses number 51, 75, 81, 85, 87, 118 will all take you to the Colosseum.

You can also walk to the Colosseum from the historic center of Rome: from Piazza Venezia it is a short walk along the beautiful Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Nearby attractions you can visit on the same day include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Capitoline Museums and the Altar of the Fatherland.

Is the Colosseum worth visiting?

You may be wondering if the Colosseum is worth visiting. Of all the things to do in Rome, visiting the Colosseum should be at the top of your list. This is a place where you can learn about the incredible legacy of the Roman Empire.

This is one of the symbols of the Eternal City, heritage of the Roman Empire. Known as the Flavian Amphitheater, construction started under Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and was finished under Titus in 82 AD.

Here, battles between gladiators and wild animals and other games would take place – in front of a massive audience of up to 80,000 spectators.

The views of the Colosseum are among the most iconic views in Rome. You can see it from many places in town. Beautiful during the day, it is even more impressive at night, illuminated with colorful lights.

You also should not miss the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill – in any case, your Colosseum ticket will include admission to these other two sites.

At the time of the Republic, the Roman Forum was a thriving place, with food stalls, temples, brothels, and the House of the Senate. Later on, it became a ceremonial center during the empire.

The Palatine Hill is where, according to legend, twins Romolo and Remo were raised by the she-wolf, and Romolo, having killed his twin brother, founded the village that later on became Rome. Historically, this was where the emperors and the aristocrats lived.

Is the Colosseum Underground worth visiting?

The Underground is by far my favorite place to visit inside the Colosseum. It is a bit like visiting the backstage of a theater, where you get to understand and appreciate the incredible engineering skills of the Romans.

The underground has pretty much remained buried from the end of the Roman Empire until around 100 years ago. There are gorgeous marble coatings; some of the structures built on orders of Domitian and even parts of the elevator that lifted wild animals and gladiators to the arena floor.

You also get to see the channels used to flood the arena floor to recreate the perfect environment for naval battles!

You can only visit the Underground level with a guide. If you want to visit the Underground will have to get the “Full Experience Arena and Underground” tickets.

Can you visit the Colosseum third tier?

From the third ring, you’ll get the best view of the interior of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the nearby Constantin Arch. Getting up there can be challenging as the steps are quite steep, but there now is an elevator that goes all the way there and that allows visitors with reduced mobility to make the most of the viewing gallery too.

This is a very special experience which is not available throughout the day and to independent travelers. Access is limited from 7:30 to 9:00 am and tickets can only be purchased by authorized guides.

I recommend getting in touch with Mario Fedele via WhatsApp at +393333478374 – he is a local guide (my favorite in Rome), to ask if he is available to guide you and to get those specific tickets for you. If he is not, you can book an early morning tour and then get in touch with the tour provider suggesting you’d like to add access to the elevator.

Other Useful Information

Security checks

Before visiting the Colosseum, you will have to go through strict security checks and have your bags scanned.

There are two separate lines – one of guided tours and one for holders of individual tickets. Security checks appear to be quicker at the dedicated gate for guided groups.

Avoid carrying large backpacks or bags – bring in just a small purse / daypack and your camera. Other items that are not allowed include wheeled suitcases, knives, sharp objects and spray bottles.

Leave any forbidden items in your room, as there is no cloak room at the Colosseum (more about nearby luggage storage in a bit).

Toilets at the Colosseum

There are eight toilets at the Colosseum. The toilets are designed to be accessible for all visitors with varying levels of mobility. Baby changing facilities are available on the second level of the Colosseum.

Accessibility of the Colosseum

Despite being such an ancient building, the main areas of the Colosseum are actually quite accessible. There are no steps to get through the main entrance in Via dei Fori Imperiali, and there is an elevator for visitors with limited mobility to access the arena floor.

There are signs that point to the accessible route, and three wheelchairs are available on the site, one on the main floor, one by the information desk and one by the security desk.

Much like the rest of the historical center of Rome, the area right outside the Colosseum is cobblestone – so not exactly easy for people with reduced mobility.

Visiting the Colosseum with a dog

You can’t visit the Colosseum with a dog, unless it is a pet-therapy or a guide dog. If this is the case, you will need to show relevant documentation to take your dog inside.

Luggage storage facilities near the Colosseum

The closest luggage storage is in Piazza d’Ara Coeli 16, by Piazza Venezia where the Altar of the Fatherland is located. From there it’s a short walk to the Colosseum.

You will also find luggage storage in Rome Termini train station, from where you can hop on Metro B to the Colosseum. You must book it in advance here.

Eating and drinking

There are lots of restaurants and cafés in the area around the Colosseum, but no concession stands inside. You can certainly take your bottle of water (there is a refilling station close to the subway station), but eating inside is not permitted (though many visitors completely disregard this rule).

Scams and pickpockets

The area around the Colosseum is packed with touts and pickpockets. Police always patrols the area, but just keep your eyes open. Beware that the guys dressed in gladiator costumes will require a fee for a photo, and stay away from anyone offering friendship bracelets.

You should also read my post The Worst Scams And Pickpockets In Rome.

Further Readings

For more information on how to make the most of Rome, great itineraries and travel hacks, read the following posts:

• A Complete Guide To Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica Dome
• Seven Smart Ways To Get Galleria Borghese Tickets And Skip The Lines
• A Guide To Visiting The Pantheon, Rome + What You Should Know About Pantheon Tickets
• The Perfect Itinerary To See Rome In 2 Days
• A Fantastic Itinerary For 4 Days In Rome
• A Wonderful Itinerary For 5 Days In Rome
• A Great Itinerary For A Fabulous Week In Rome
• 31 Incredible Places To Explore Rome Off The Beaten Path
• 20 Great Day Trips From Rome
• All The Food In Rome You Should Eat: 25 Delicious Dishes
• The Best Things To Know Before Visiting Rome

For more tips and ideas about Italy, consider reading:

• 17 Reasons To Visit Italy As Soon As Possible
• 67 Extremely Useful Travel Tips For Italy

Pin It For Later!