This historical landmark used for gladiatorial games in the Roman empire is probably my favorite Roman historical sites besides the Pantheon and is probably the most well known in Rome. This amphitheater is somewhere around 2000 years old (72 AD). The Colosseum is so vast and the history documented and linked to this amphitheater is powerful. This is the number one most visited monument in Rome. The best view is on the Colosseum’s northern side, since on this side all 4 floors are still existing. On the other sides the Colosseum is only 3 floors tall. There is one entry on the southern side with a security check point. You enter the Colosseum on the second floor. You are allowed to bring purses and bags through the checkpoint but no liquid or glass or weapons. There is a free water fountain inside!
Cost
The Colosseum Tickets for adults cost 12 euros. There is a cheaper fee for EU-citizens ages 18-25. Teenagers and children under 18, as well as handicapped persons and their assistant are free. The tickets are valid for 2 days and also allow you to enter the Forum Romanum and the Palatine Hill. There is a full pass option that includes the Colosseum, the forum, Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica for 75 euros. There are audio tours that help you skip the line for 19 euros. There are the full ticket days and locations options located here.
Hours
The hours change and vary based on the season of the year. The last entry is 1 hour before closing. There is normally quite a line that takes a while to get in. The Colosseum is open to the public daily, except January the 1st and December the 25th.
- last Sunday of October until the 15th of February from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm
- 16th of February until the 15th of March from 8:30 am until 5 pm
- 16th of March until the last Saturday of March from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm
- Last Sunday of March until the 31st of August from 8:30 am until 7:15 pm
- 1st until the 30th of September from 8:30 am until 7 pm
- 1st of October until the last Saturday of October from 8:30 am until 6:30 pm
Colosseum by Night ‘the moon over the Colosseum’
This is a special event night entry to the Colosseum to see the moon and stars overhead. This is a separate entry ticket from the day ticket to get into the Colosseum. The night pass is not in the Roma pass or any other pass. The night entry ticket is a special event and is not a part of any other Colosseum entrance ticket that you buy.
When
The night tours of the Colosseum start in the spring and go through around late October. The night tours are closed for winter.
Hours
8pm-12am midnight. Last entry at 10:50pm.
- March and December every Saturday
- April, May and October every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- June until September daily
- November every Friday and Saturday
Cost
The ticket to visit the Colosseum by night, which includes a tour in English (or Spanish or Italian), is 20€. This is if you choose to use the tour company that is in charge of the
Tour Companies/ Time
The tour in the Colosseum lasts just over 1 hour. This also,
Day v.s. Night Visit
There is a pros and cons list for each type of visit listed out below to help you make your decision. If you have never been to Rome or seen the Colosseum before it is best to start with a day trip. That also helps you see the other Roman ruins and sites on your trip. If you have already been and seen it then this is a fresh new experience and different way to experience the site.
Pros of the day visit
- Visit by yourself without a guide
- Time flexibility and freedom during all hours of the day
- You have covered entrance to the Roman Forum as well as Palatine Hill ruins
- You are given 2 days to visit all the sites that can be visited with your ticket (each location one entry within 48 hours)
Cons of the day visit
- The huge massive crowds and noise
- The heat temperature as well as overexposed lighting and too many people to take pictures
- You cannot visit the underground floor or arena floor
Pros of the night visit
- Seeing the Colosseum lit up at night with all kinds of interesting lighting and shadows for pictures
- You have the Colosseum to yourself and your small tour group and it is quiet
- You visit the arena floor
- You visit the Hypogeum (underground) and it is dark as you see where the gladiators would have been kept
Cons of the night visit
- More expensive than the day ticket
- You don’t have entrance to the Roman Forum and Palentine Hill included
- These tours sell out fast and must be made far in advance
How to get there?
Public transportation is the best way to get around in the busy city with lots of traffic. Conveniently next to the Colosseum is the metro station ‘Colosseo’ of the metro line MEB. Furthermore, on the southern side of the Roman Colosseum there is the tram station ‘Piazza del Colosseo’ where you can get to by taking the tram lines 3 and 8. Moreover, you can reach the Colosseum by means of several buses: the lines 51, 75, 85, 87, 117 and 118 bring you very close to the Colosseum. You just have to get off at the station ‘Celio Vibenna’ or ‘Colosseo.’ In order to stop at the Forum first, get off at the bus station ‘Fori Imperiali/campidoglio’ (line 51, 85, 87 or 118). This station is right next to the Roman Forum. From there you will walk for about 10 minutes along the Roman Forum to get to the Colosseum. These are also the best views far off in the city of the Colosseum. The ticket you buy at the Colosseum gives entrance as well to the Forum so don’t visit the Forum before the Colosseum!
Other Roman Ruins
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is a historical monument that is an iconic temple built circa 118 to 125 A.D. The Pantheon has a dome & Renaissance tombs, including Raphael’s. This was
Hours
Monday-Saturday 8: 30-19: 30 (last admission 19.15); Sunday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm (last admission 5.45 pm). Midweek holidays from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (last
Cost
Free admission!!!
How to get there
The streets near the Pantheon are far too narrow for buses. All the popular
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are located on the same archaeological area and count as one admission to enter both sites with two separate entrances. The Roman Forum is one of the best Roman ruins historical sites. The forum is a huge excavated area of Roman temples, squares & government buildings, some dating back 2,000 years. Palatine Hill is the founding site of the city and ruins of Roman Imperial palaces, temples & baths. The ruins can be walked through and explored.
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tickets
The entrance ticket also includes entrance to the Colosseum nextdoor and lasts for two days for all three attractions. There are different options to enter the Forum and how to get a ticket listed below. Don’t buy your ticket at the Colosseum because it has the longest lines; buy your ticket at the Palatine Hill entrance. This is the secret to getting the fastest ticket into the Colosseum without the wait. The ticket kiosk for Palatine Hill is halfway down the road Via di San Gregorio going from the Colosseum along the base of the Palatine Hill less than a 5 minutes’ walk from the Colosseum. The hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses drop between the Colosseum and the entrance to the Palatine Hill.
- Queuing and paying for a ticket on the day
- Buying a skip the line ticket avoiding the queues in advance for a supplement
- Gaining entry using the Roma Pass
- By guided tour as part of a group
Cost
The average entrance fee ticket to cover all three Roman Ruins is 20 euros a person.
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Hours
08.30 – 16.30
from January 2 to February 15
last admission at 15.30
08.30 – 17.00
from February 16 to March 15
last admission at16.00
08.30 – 17.30
from March 16 to last Saturday of March
last admission at 16.30
08.30 – 19.15
from the last Sunday of March to August 31
last admission at 18.15
08.30 – 19.00
from September 1 to September 30
last admission at 18.00
08.30 – 18.30
from October 1 to last Saturday of October
last admission at 17.30
08.30 – 16.30
from the last Sunday of October to December 31
last admission at 15.30
Last admission 1 hour before closing time
Closed: December 25, January 1
How to get there
The main gate entry for the Roman Forum is along the Via dei Fori Imperiali between the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia, near the Piazza Venezia end. There is an exit gate from the Roman Forum close to the Colosseum. You cannot enter the Roman Forum at the gate nearest the Colosseum, this gate is just an exit.
Roman Baths of Caracalla
The baths of Caracalla are ruins of a large rectangular-shaped Roman thermal bath complex used from around 216 A.D. to 537 A.D. These were the cities largets bath and build in the 200s under the direction of Marcus Aurelius.
Hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 6:30pm
Monday: 9am – 2pm
Cost
Adults: 6€
EU citizens (aged 18 – 24): 3€
EU citizens aged less than 17 and older than 65: free entrance
How to get there
They are only 1.1km from the Colosseum as well as Palatine Hill. There are two ways you can reach the baths, by the metro or bus.
Metro station: Circo Massimo, line B.
Buses: 118, 160 and 628.
Circus Maximus
This is a historical place that was the largest stadium in Rome built for chariot races and games. This is a green space that has remains of a stone & marble arena that could seat 250,000 Romans for chariot races. This is definitely not as visited as the Colosseum and is easier and cheaper to get into with less tourists and crowds. This is really a secret park green space for locals to walk dogs, have a picnic and get a quieter escape from the city.
Hours
Open to the public !!
Cost
These are the only ruins in Rome that are completely FREE! This is an open to the public space with no entry ticket or fee. This area is not very well known by tourists and is awesome!
How to get there
It is within walking distance of the Roman ruins of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum area. Otherwise you can get off the metro at MEB1 the Circo Massimo stop pictured below.
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
This is an old Egyptian-style pyramid with a frescoed interior, built as a tomb for a rich Roman magistrate. This tomb was built between 18 and 12BC. This is a pretty wild sight to see in Rome rather than Egypt. So if you want to visit a historical Pyramid in Rome look no farther. This is a very unique experience most people don’t know about in the city. This is the only Egyptain pyramid in Europe and a cool place to go!
Hours
Open on the 3th and 4th Saturdays and Sundays of the month. Closed during August.
Cost
Full tickets are € 5.50 per person. Online tickets include a reservation fee of € 2.00. Kids 12 and under are free! Groups have to have a reservation and are € 40.00 for up to 20 people. Buy tickets here online.
How to get there
The pyramid is near the Porta San Paolo at the Piramide subway station. The pyramid is on a busy street intersection outside the city center.
Metro: Line B stop Piramide
Bus: n. 23
