At a glance: which ticket for which visitor
| Ticket | Full price | What it gives | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24h Colosseum-Forum-Palatine (standard) | €18 | Colosseum (stands, no arena floor) + Roman Forum and Palatine within 24 hours | Most visitors |
| 24h Only Arena | €18 | Colosseum with 20 minutes on the arena floor | Those who want to stand "where the gladiators stood" |
| Full Experience underground and arena | €24 | Underground and arena, valid two days, with Forum, Palatine and SUPER sites | History lovers |
| Full Experience attic | €24 | Panoramic lift and top of the building, same validity | Those who want the view from above |
| Guided tour | Varies | Ticket + guide or audio guide, depending on the operator | Those who want explanations |
Reductions: €2 for European Union citizens aged 18 to 24 and free entry for under-18s, in both cases with compulsory booking. All tickets are named.
The €18 standard ticket: enough for most people
The basic ticket gives entry to the Colosseum at your booked time and one entry to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill within 24 hours before or after. It limits your time in the Colosseum to 75 minutes, which is enough to walk round the stands of the first and second tiers. It includes neither the arena floor nor the underground. If this is your first visit and you only have one day, it is the simplest choice: the Forum and the Palatine are included, so you do not need a second purchase.
Only Arena: on the arena floor
The 24h Only Arena ticket also costs €18. It gives access to the Colosseum with 20 minutes on the reconstructed arena floor, on the east side. The advantage is the viewpoint: you see the stands from below, as the fighters did. Choose it instead of the standard ticket, not in addition to it.
Full Experience: underground, arena or attic
Full Experience tickets cost €24 and are valid for two consecutive days. They include one entry to the Colosseum, with the option you choose, and one entry to the Roman Forum, the Palatine and the SUPER sites. The Colosseum visit takes about 1h30. There are three variants:
- Underground and arena: the hypogeum, a network of corridors and chambers under the arena where wild animals, sets and lifts were kept, plus the arena floor. This is the richest visit historically.
- Attic: a panoramic lift takes you to the gallery between the second and third tiers, then to the top, with a view over the arena and the Forum.
- Arena: access to the arena floor, without the underground.
The underground can only be visited with this ticket; places are limited and sell out quickly.
Guided tour or independent visit?
A guided tour adds context (construction, the games, the history of the monument), but prices and durations vary by operator: compare what the price really includes (entry ticket included or not, group size, language). Check that you are buying from the Archaeological Park's official ticket office or from a recognised operator, and read our advice on fake guides in scams to avoid in Rome. If you visit on your own, an audio guide or a good guidebook is plenty.
Booking: when, where and with which documents
Online sales open 30 days before the visit date, with a compulsory time slot. Morning slots, especially in high season, fill quickly: book as soon as sales open. The visitor's name is entered at purchase; at the entrance you must show an original ID document, otherwise entry is refused without a refund. The name can be changed only once, up to seven days before the visit. On site, the 24h ticket is only sold at the ticket office on piazza del Colosseo. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, without booking, with a long queue.
Our guide which tickets to book in Rome compares the Colosseum with other sites, and Roma Pass or Omnia Card helps you decide whether a pass is worth it.
Our recommendation
- One day, first visit: standard ticket €18, 8:30 slot.
- Two days or a taste for history: Full Experience underground and arena, €24, which also leaves time for the Forum and the Palatine.
- Photos and views: Full Experience attic.
- Tight budget: the first Sunday of the month, free but very crowded, or just the outside, which you can see freely on piazza del Colosseo with the Arch of Constantine.
To continue your visit, read around the Colosseum: what to see within 10 minutes on foot and where to eat near the Colosseum.
