Colosseum Tickets 2026: Prices, Types and How to Book
A standard Colosseum ticket costs €18 and also covers the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. The Full Experience tickets, which add the arena floor, the underground or the upper levels, cost €24 and are valid for two days. Every ticket carries your name, sales open 30 days before the date, and seeing the Colosseum from outside costs nothing at all, which is where we take our photos.
Want photos of the two of you here? We do Colosseum photoshoots outside the walls, before the crowds arrive, from €180.
The short answer
| Standard | €18: the Colosseum (first and second levels, 75 minutes inside), plus the Roman Forum and Palatine within 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Full Experience | €24: adds the arena, the underground or the upper levels. 90 minutes inside, valid for 2 consecutive days |
| Only Arena | €18: 20 minutes on the arena floor, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine |
| Reduced | €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 24 |
| Free | Under 18s; everyone on the first Sunday of the month, 25 April, 2 June and 4 November |
| Where to buy | ticketing.colosseo.it, from 30 days before your visit. Bring the ID the ticket is named to |
| Outside | The exterior is free to see and photograph at any hour |
In this guide
Colosseum ticket types and prices
All prices are from the official Parco archeologico del Colosseo site. The reduced €2 fare is for EU citizens from 18 until their 25th birthday, and under 18s go in free.
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine, €18
The standard ticket. One entry to the first and second levels of the Colosseum at the time you book, with 75 minutes inside, and one entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine within 24 hours before or after. It does not include the arena floor.
Only Arena, €18
Twenty minutes on the reconstructed arena floor, entering from the Sperone Stern side, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine. Last access is at 6pm.
Full Experience Arena, €24
The first and second levels plus the arena, 90 minutes inside, valid for two consecutive days with the Forum and Palatine. It goes on sale online only 7 days before the visit and can also be bought at the ticket offices on the day. Last access is at 3pm.
Full Experience Underground and Arena, €24
The underground passages beneath the arena and the arena floor, 90 minutes inside, valid for two days. With an educational tour it costs €32. Last access is at 5:20pm.
Full Experience Attic, €24
The upper levels of the Colosseum, with a panoramic lift for part of the way and steep steps to the attic. Groups are limited to 8 people, and visits run from 8:30am to 2:30pm.
Forum Pass SUPER, €18
The Roman Forum, the Palatine and the Imperial Fora, without the Colosseum. Bought online, it can be used on any day within 30 days of purchase.
How to buy Colosseum tickets
The official site is ticketing.colosseo.it. Most tickets are released 30 days before each date with a timed entry slot, and in spring and summer the morning slots and the Full Experience tickets go quickly. Resellers and tour companies also sell entry, usually for more and often with a guide.
Tickets are issued in each visitor’s name, and ID is checked at the entrance, so book with the names exactly as on your passports. You do not need to print anything: the receipt on your phone is enough. The park advises arriving 15 minutes before your slot.
Colosseum opening hours in 2026
The Colosseum opens at 8:30am and the Roman Forum and Palatine at 9am. Closing time follows the season:
- 29 March to 30 September: closes 7:15pm, last admission 6:15pm
- 1 to 24 October: closes 6:30pm, last admission 5:30pm
- 25 October to 28 February: closes 4:30pm, last admission 3:30pm
It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Free entry days
Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month and on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November. Free tickets cannot be booked: they are handed out in order of arrival at the ticket offices in Piazza del Colosseo, near the Temple of Venus and Rome, and in Largo della Salara Vecchia.
On free Sundays you can choose between the standard Colosseum, Forum and Palatine route or the Forum Pass. The arena, underground and attic are not part of the free offer. Expect long queues.
Want photos of the two of you here? A Rome photographer plans the route around the crowds and directs you from the first minute. See Colosseum photoshoots
Do you need a ticket to see the Colosseum?
Only to go inside. The outside of the Colosseum, the square around it and the terraces above the road are public and open at any hour. Many of the best photos of the Colosseum are taken from outside, especially early in the morning before the gates open.
The best time to visit the Colosseum
Inside: the first slots after 8:30am and the last ones of the afternoon are the calmest. Midday in summer is hot and crowded.
Outside: sunrise, when the road beside it is empty and the light is soft, and blue hour after sunset, when the arches are lit.
A photoshoot at the Colosseum
Our Colosseum sessions take place outside, before the gates open or at blue hour, so you need no ticket and there is nobody behind you. See our Colosseum photoshoot.
The Colosseum, without a crowd behind you
From €180 · easy cancellation, easy refund · 24/7 WhatsApp support
Colosseum tickets: questions
How much are Colosseum tickets in 2026?
€18 for the standard ticket with the Roman Forum and Palatine, €18 for Only Arena, and €24 for the Full Experience tickets with the arena, the underground or the attic. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay €2, and under 18s go free.
What is the official website for Colosseum tickets?
ticketing.colosseo.it, run by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo. General information is on colosseo.it.
Can you walk up and buy Colosseum tickets?
Sometimes. Most tickets are sold online with a timed slot, and in busy months the day’s slots are usually gone. The Full Experience Arena ticket is also sold at the ticket offices on the day.
Is the Colosseum free on Sundays?
On the first Sunday of each month, yes, for everyone. Free tickets are collected at the ticket offices in order of arrival. Other Sundays are normal paid days.
How long is a Colosseum ticket valid?
The standard and Only Arena tickets are valid for 24 hours, the Full Experience tickets for two consecutive days. Each allows one entry to the Colosseum at the booked time and one entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine.
Do I need ID to enter the Colosseum?
Yes. Tickets are issued in the holder’s name, and you must show an identity document with the ticket at the entrance.
Checked on 28 September 2026 against the official site of the Parco archeologico del Colosseo, colosseo.it. Prices and hours can change, so check again before you go.
