Colosseum Tours

Opening hours

29th October to 28th February: 9 AM to 4:30 PM

1st to 25th March: 9 AM to 5:30 PM

26th March to 31st August: 9 to 7:15 PM

1st to 30th September: 9 AM to 7 PM

1st to 28th October: 9 AM to 6:30 PM

Last admissions are one hour before closing time.

Visit duration

It usually takes about an hour for individual visitors to visit the main Colosseum area, while guided tours can last 1.5 to 2 hours. Exploring Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, which are in the same archeological area, can easily add another hour to a visit.

Location

The Colosseum is located in the city center of Rome, to the east of the Roman Forum and between the Palatine and Esquiline Hills. It is easily accessible by public transportation, including buses and the metro, and is within close distance from many other famous landmarks in the city, such the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Surrounding the grand amphitheater is the Monti neighborhood, with its quaint streets, cozy cafés and charming boutique shops.

Google maps directions

Entrance

There are three entrances to the Colosseum, two on the western side of the amphitheater and one on the opposite end. On the western side and facing the Arch of Constantine is the 'Sperone Valadier' main entrance for individual visitors, groups and people with disabilities, while the 'Stern' entrance on the eastern side is typically reserved for school groups.

Services

As with all monuments and tourist attractions in Rome, there are toilets inside the Colosseum, which are located to the left of the ticket booths, as soon as you enter from the main entrance.

Inside there are also toilets and lifts for people with disabilities, baby-changing facilities, fountains to fill your water bottles, vending machines, benches to rest and a gift shop.

Activities

Special events, such as art exhibitions, moon-lit guided tours, book presentations and workshops, are often hosted in the Colosseum archeological park, shedding light on the grand amphitheater’s rich history and the restoration work being carried out. Depending on the nature and timing of these events, access to them may be included with your Colosseum tickets, at no extra charge. For further details, consult the official website’s events page.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are no cafés or designated dining areas inside the Colosseum. You can, however, take your own food and snacks with you and there are fountains to fill your water bottles.

Should you prefer to grab a bite before or after your visit, there are many places to eat in the areas around the Colosseum.

In the restaurants you can savor many traditional Italian pasta dishes, such as cacio e pepe, alla Gricia, and alla Carbonara, as well as meat and fish classics, like Saltimbocca alla Romana, Coda alla Vaccinara and Filetti di Baccalà.

There are also many vegetarian and vegan options, such as Carciofi alla Giudìa and alla Romana, Cicoria ripassata and Fiori di Zucca.

If you are on the go, you can always try the time-tested classics of pizza al taglio and sandwiches, while traditional Roman desserts include crostata ricotta e visciole and maritozzi that can be found in most pasticceria and bakeries.

As it is centrally located in Rome, the Colosseum is a convenient starting point to visit many other of the city’s iconic monuments, landmarks and attractions. These can easily be accessed on foot or by using the city’s public transportation system (including buses and the metro).

The Arch of Constantine, just outside of the Colosseum, was built in the early 4th century to commemorate Constantine the Great's victory over his predecessor, Maxentius.

To the west of the Colosseum is Palatine Hill, one of Rome’s Seven Hills, with lush gardens, archeological areas and a panoramic view of the city. The Roman Forum, also nearby, is an impressive open-air museum with ruins of ancient temples, public buildings and markets. Colosseum tickets typically include access to both sites.

Further away, you can also visit Capitoline Hill, another one of Rome’s Seven Hills, along with its museum of ancient art and artifacts, including the famous statue of the twin brothers who founded Rome, Romulus and Remus. The emblematic Baroque-styled Trevi Fountain is also a very popular itinerary stop on tours across the city.