The Amphitheatrum Flavium, also known as the Colosseum, is Italy’s top tourist attraction. All the necessary details regarding ticketing and guided tours for the Colosseum can be found here.
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Entry to the Colosseum
To visit the Colosseum, you must arrive punctually at the reserved entrance time. You should allow a waiting time of 15 minutes for the security check. As the tickets are issued in your name, you must have identification with you. You are not allowed to take any dangerous objects, alcohol, glass containers, spray cans or luggage into the Colosseum. There is no left-luggage office at the Colosseum.
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Opening hours
The Colosseum opens at 8:30, the Archaeological Park at 9:00.
The closure is based on the sunset and is
- from late March to late August at 7:15 p.m.,
- in September at 7:00 p.m. and
- until the end of the legal time at the end of October at 6:30 p.m.
- in winter time the closing time is at 4:30 p.m. until the end of February and
- until the time change at the end of March at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets
In addition to entrance tickets and guided tours, there are also convenient combination tickets at interesting prices.
The tickets are valid up to 24 hours for a visit to the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, before or after the time reserved for the Colosseum. They are valid for the first and second levels of the Colosseum, including the exhibitions.
The Arena Ticket gives you access to the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and allows you to visit the Colosseum at the reserved entrance time.
In addition to the Arena tour, the ticket allows access to the museum on the Palatine Hill and some archaeological sites not normally accessible.
When booking, you can choose between a 90-minute guided tour of Rome or a day ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus.
The Rome Tourist Pass includes tickets and reservations for the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and other options.
High availability!
Combi ticket Colosseum & Mamertine Prison, valid for a visit to the ancient dungeon on the edge of the Roman Forum, where, according to legend, the Apostles Peter and Paul were incarcerated. Valid for a visit to the Palatine and Roman Forum and for a visit to the Colosseum at the reserved entrance time.
High availability!
Guided tours
A guided tour offers many benefits and ensures a memorable experience by providing entertainment and a deep understanding of the advanced stage technology and architectural achievements of the ancient Romans.
To help you find a guided tour of the Colosseum even in high season, here is an overview of all the guided tours offered on the renowned booking platforms Tiqets and Getyourguide.
Getyourguide: a wide range of guided tours
As the name suggests, Getyourguide offers a wide range of guided tours. Getyourguide is one of the largest booking portals and offers a large selection with round-the-clock customer service. You book on our site at the original GYG prices.
Tiqets: tickets and guided tours from one source
Tiqets is one of the largest European booking portals with a clear offer and professional support around the clock. At Tiqets you can find everything in one place without having to register and book on different websites. You book on our site at the original prices.
How much time you need for the Colosseum
To visit the Colosseum, you should allow about an hour for the first and second levels, including the exhibitions. Before or after your visit to the Colosseum, you can explore the Imperial Forums, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. We recommend setting aside two to three hours for these sights. The Imperial Forums are part of the Museums of the City of Rome, but you can walk through from the Imperial Forums to the Roman Forum free of charge with your ticket. To do this, use the entrance at the Column of Trajan, next to Piazza Venezia. Alternatively, you can enter the Roman Forum at Via Salara Vecchia and exit either at the Arch of Titus or Via di San Gregorio.
Allocate approximately one hour for the first and second levels of the Colosseum, including the exhibitions. Prior to or after your visit to the Colosseum, take the opportunity to explore the Imperial Forums, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill. We suggest dedicating two to three hours for these attractions.
While the Colosseum and the Archaeological Park are national museums, the Imperial Forums are part of the Museums of the City of Rome. However, you can freely cross from the Imperial Forums to the Forum Romanum with your ticket. You can access this route through the entrance near the Column of Trajan, next to Piazza Venezia. Alternatively, you can enter the Forum through Via Salara Vecchia and exit at either the Arch of Titus or Via di San Gregorio.
How to get to the Colosseum
The Colosseum is easy to reach by public transport. The hop on hop off buses also have a stop at the Colosseum. Info about the hop on hop off buses
At the Colosseum is the stop of Metro Line B “Colosseo”. Line B crosses three important train stations:
- Termini Central Station, junction for the connections to the airports and transfer station to Metro Line A, which leads through the center to the Vatican.
- Ostiense train station, from which you can go to the port of Civitavecchia and further north to Pisa and Genoa. The railway line to Ostia Lido also begins at Ostiense.
- Tiburtina station, which handles high-speed trains between Milan and Naples on the north-south axis. Many connections to the Apennines also begin here.
Tram line 3 also passes the Colosseum. The tram is slow, but the route is picturesque. Coming from Trastevere, it leads past the pyramid and the Colosseum and continues to the Basilica of St. John, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and San Lorenzo and to the zoo.
From Piazza Navona you can take buses 81 and 87 to the Colosseum, from Via del Corso take buses 51 or 85.
Of course, the Colosseum is also very easy to reach on foot. From Piazza Venezia you take Via dei Fori Imperiali, from Circus Maximus Via di San Gregorio.
How the Colosseum worked
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven new world wonders.
The Colosseum had the capacity to accommodate anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 people. Due to the effective management of the entrances, the process of filling and emptying the theater was quicker compared to certain contemporary stadiums.
It was originally possible to flood the arena and naval battles were organized. Later, a more complex stage technology with lifts was installed. Wild animals and people could appear out of nowhere anywhere in the arena and stage sets could be set up in a few minutes.
Rome showed all its might and glory in the Colosseum. Animals from all over the world were shown and hunted in the Colosseum, there were executions and gladiator fights. The animal hunts took place in the mornings, at noon convicts fought against wild animals and in the afternoon the gladiatorial fights took place.
Read more about archaeological research in the Colosseum
History of the Colosseum
After the death of Emperor Nero in 68, his magnificent villa, the Domus Aurea, was filled up. In the area of the Colosseum there was an artificial lake that belonged to the villa. The Flavian dynasty, the new rulers of Rome, built the mighty Colosseum. It is therefore called Amphitheatrum Flavium. Construction began in 72 under Emperor Vespasian. He died in 79 and never saw completion. The inauguration took place in 80 under Titus. The inauguration celebrations lasted 100 days. The construction was financed with the treasures looted in the temple of Jerusalem.
Under Domitian, who ruled from 81, the basement was expanded with supply rooms, elevators and stage technology.
Major restoration work was necessary in 217, probably after a lightning strike. They lasted 5 years. In 250 more works were necessary after a fire caused by lightning.
After the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410, gladiator games were banned and only hunts were held. Restoration work occurred after the earthquakes in 470, 484 and 508.
In the 6th century, the Colosseum served as a burial site and later as a castle. There was major damage from an earthquake in 847 and in 1349 the southern outer wall collapsed after an earthquake. The material was used to build palaces in today’s city center. Apartments and stables were built in the Colosseum.
In 1675 the Colosseum was declared a holy place to commemorate the martyrs and in 1744 a way of the cross was built. In 1749, the Colosseum was dedicated to Christ and the martyrs.
Another earthquake occurred in 1806 and major urgent work was required. Raffaele Stern hastily erected retaining walls. On the side facing the forums, Giuseppe Valadier carried out support measures in 1823.
Restoration and research work is still being carried out in the Colosseum today. In recent years, further areas of the hypogeum with its underground supply rooms and stage technology have been made accessible. A glass elevator now leads to the upper floors of the amphitheatre. However, these areas can only be visited with special guided tours.