Important news:
Regrettably, due to the ongoing pandemic, all Rome museums and archaeological sites will be closed to the public until January 6, 2021.
Additionally, the Vatican Museums are closed to the public until January 15, 2021.
In a hurry? Left it too late? Don’t panic:
Colosseum tickets – need-to-knows
The first thing to know is that the ticket for the Colosseum also gets you into the Forum and the Palatine Hill, and vice versa. Secondly, the Palatine and the Forum are in the same complex, and you access them through the same entrance (more on that later), while the Colosseum has to be entered via a separate entrance: a huge door in the base of the massive stadium. The difference between Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill >How to skip the line at the Colosseum
Here are your options for skipping the line at the Colosseum:1. Buy a Colosseum entrance ticket from a reseller
Buy a Colosseum entrance ticket for €24 from a reseller (or for €30 with arena floor access). The ticket will also get you in to the Forum and Palatine Hill. This is because the official site is experiencing a ‘ticket drought’. If you’re still having problems, you could also try to get a last-minute ticket.2. Buy tickets from the official Colosseum website
The cheapest method should be to go direct to the official Colosseum website and buy a basic entrance ticket for the Colosseum and Forum/Palatine there. HOWEVER there is very restricted availability: as noted in the key info on this page, it’s often impossible to find tickets for the day/time you want, which is why we recommend paying slightly more to buy from a reseller, to guarantee getting the date that you need.3. Book a small-group guided tour
Book a small-group guided tour of the Colosseum for €55 per adult. Having a guide is the best way to bring the monument alive, helping to recreate the sights, sounds, and stories of gladiatorial combat and wild animals as you gaze at the vast structure. Your ticket is also good for the Forum and Palatine.4. Book a private guided tour
If you’d prefer, you can book a private guided tour starting at €115.80 (minimum 2 guests, reductions for higher numbers). Though slightly more expensive than a small-group guided tour, you benefit from one-on-one interaction with your guide to ask as many questions as you please.
Colosseum key info
Colosseum opening hours 2020:
Jan 2 – Feb 15: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Feb 16 – Mar 15: 8.30am – 5.00pm
Mar 16 – Mar 28: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Mar 29 – Aug 31: 8.30am – 7.15pm
Sep 1 – Sep 30: 8.30am – 7.00pm
Oct 1 – Oct 31: 8.30am – 6.30pm
Nov 1 – Dec 31: 8.30am – 4.30pm
(last admission always 1 hour before close)
Only closed Christmas day and New Year’s Day
Nearest metro station:
Colosseo (Line B)
Click to enlarge or downloadImportant note: the authorities that run the Colosseum have recently changed the ticketing rules and it has become increasingly difficult to find a ticket for the date you want on the official website (below). However you may still find tickets for the date you want via a last-minute ticket reseller system.
