Colosseum Access & Tours

4.3(141,828)

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.

Colosseum in Rome with tourists exploring the ancient amphitheater.
























































From happy customers

Loved by 43 million+
Christina Nettek
AT

Christina

Austria
Sep 2025
5/5

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Our guide was a dream! He was considerate, courteous and shared his vast knowledge of Rome and its history with us. It couldn't have been better. Thank you for that.
Sentaurens Loïc
FR

Sentaurens

France
Sep 2025
5/5

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We had a great time thanks to our guide Gil, who was full of humor and patience given the crowds and the lack of respect shown by some of the other guides.
Krzysztof Kowalik

Krzysztof

Sep 2025
5/5

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We were in Rome for the first time in our lives, It was the best time I spent with my daughters in several years :) Grazie
Jay Cassidy
AU

Jay

Australia
Sep 2025
5/5

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Absolutely gobsmacked with the Vatican. The attention to detail in the building and painting of this sacred city is quite overwhelming. There is just so much beauty going on and the effort and time to create this place wow. i just cant fathom how it was possible. Truly astonishing!!!
Rachel Emily Jarvis
GB

Rachel

United Kingdom
Sep 2025
5/5

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Such a good day and well organised from the staff to get in and see each exhibit. Best part was the museum in the colosseum and being able to walk down to the stadium ground level to see how big the colosseum truly was.
LUX Michelle
FR

Lux

France
Sep 2025
4/5

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The fact of having your ticket cut in line, the set time and the row to follow. I highly recommend buying a ticket from headout, which also gives you plenty of warning one hour before the attraction, so you don't forget. It's true that there are different sites with different prices offering tickets for different attractions, but headout remains a reliable site.
Rofaida Aiachi
FR

Rofaida

France
Aug 2025
5/5

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+2 more

You have to arrive 15 minutes before the time shown on your ticket, and if you arrive before then you're sent back to the beginning of the queue - an interminable queue! otherwise it went very well, the audioguide worked well and it allows you to find your way around the monument thanks to its integrated GPS.
Jelissa Karen Montero Ribera
ES

Jelissa

Spain
Aug 2025
5/5

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Tomas our guide was very nice and explained in an excellent way and with a very good attitude. If we go back to Rome we would repeat our guide as Tomas.

Top things to do in Rome

Gladiator’s arena, underground tunnels, panoramic tiers — the Colosseum is more than a quick photo stop. Tickets vary by access: skip-the-line entry, Arena + Underground tours, or full-day passes that include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guided tours bring ancient Rome alive, while night tours reveal the Colosseum under moonlight.

✅ Standard entry, skip-the-line, or hosted tickets

✅ Special access to Arena & Underground

✅ Combos with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

✅ Guided, small-group & night tours

What to expect at the Colosseum

Tourists exploring the Colosseum's underground chambers in Rome with the Rome Super Pass.
Visitors walking through the ancient corridors of the Colosseum in Rome.
Tourists with a guide overlooking the interior of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
Visitors exploring the ancient Colosseum arena in Rome, Italy.
Colosseum underground passageway with ancient stone walls in Rome, Italy.
Forum and Palatine Hill tour
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The grand exterior

Circle the travertine facade with four tiers of arches and columns, once filled with statues. Spot battle-scarred holes where iron clamps were removed, and admire the nearby Arch of Constantine for perfect photo ops. With 80 entryways built for swift crowds, today you can skip long queues with standard access or opt for hosted entry for personal assistance. Security lines are a must though.

The spectator tiers

Climb to the second or third levels for sweeping views of the arena, Forum, and Rome. Learn how seating reflected Roman class divisions and marvel at the arches, stairways, and elliptical design that managed 50,000 spectators.

Colosseum Museum

Explore exhibits on the upper levels featuring gladiatorial armor, ancient graffiti, models of the arena, and artifacts unearthed onsite. Informative panels and symbolic additions, like the Christian cross, trace the Colosseum’s layered history.

The Arena Floor

Step onto the reconstructed arena floor, an exclusive upgrade, where gladiators once fought. From this cinematic vantage point, gaze up at the towering seats, feel the weight of history, and imagine the roar of 50,000 spectators filling the air.

The Underground

Accessible only via guided tours, the hypogeum reveals the hidden world beneath the stage: animal pens, tunnels, elevators, and trapdoors that set the stage for Rome’s deadly spectacles, showcasing the arena’s ingenious engineering.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

All standard tickets include entry to these neighboring sites. Wander the Via Sacra, stand at Caesar’s altar, and climb Palatine Hill for sweeping views. Together, they frame the Colosseum within the wider story of Rome’s empire.

Things to know before booking Colosseum experiences

The Colosseum welcomes over 12 million visitors a year and is rarely quiet. Tickets are released 30 days ahead on the official site and can sell out within hours.

  • High season (Jun–Aug): Book 4–5 weeks in advance for morning slots or upgrades (Arena/Underground).
  • Shoulder season (Apr–May, Sep–Oct): 2–3 weeks ahead is usually enough.
  • Low season (Jan–Feb): Limited same-day tickets may be available at opening, but never guaranteed.

What a standard ticket includes

Every Colosseum visit starts here:

  • Timed entry to the Colosseum’s general areas (first two tiers + small museum, which contextualizes what you’re seeing in the amphitheater itself.).
  • These tickets let you bypass the on-site sales counter but security check is mandatory, and might take 10-30 minutes to clear, depending on the crowds.
  • 24-hour access to the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, the epicenter of Roman politics and imperial palaces.

Entry process

All tickets let you skip the on-site sales counter, but security checks are mandatory and take 10–30 minutes.

  • You must reach the gate from 15 minutes before up to 15 minutes after your timeslot; miss it and your ticket is usually only valid for Forum/Palatine (no Colosseum entry).
  • Hosted entry: If standard tickets are sold out or you’d rather have help with logistics, a local host meets you with a pre-validated ticket, helps you skip the ticket desk and redemption line, and escorts you to the security gate. You’ll still clear security yourself, but the process is much smoother.

Best ways to explore Colosseum

  • Exploring the Colosseum on your own is the cheapest and most flexible experience. However, signage is limited and you might find yourself not getting important context. Rent an audio guide (€6) to improve your experience
  • Guided tours elevate your visit with priority entry and expert storytelling on gladiator games, imperial politics, and Roman engineering. Standard groups host around 30 guests, but you can go more exclusive: opt for a small-group tour (<15) for an intimate feel, an express tour to cover highlights in under an hour, or a private tour led by an archaeologist tailored entirely to your pace.

Upgrade for Arena and Underground access

  • Step onto the reconstructed Arena Floor, the stage where gladiators once fought. With limited daily slots, this upgrade is highly coveted and often sells out, book at least 2 weeks in advance.
  • Descend to the Colosseum’s underground to explore tunnels, cages, and ancient lifts that powered the games. Access is only with a guided small-group tour to protect this fragile space, making it the most exclusive and atmospheric Colosseum experience.

Free entry days

  •  First Sunday is free but extremely crowded; restricted areas (Arena/Underground) aren’t available those day. Most travelers find it better value to pay for reserved entry on a regular day for a calmer experience.

Your Colosseum experience options explained

Ticket typeIncludesWhen to chooseWhen to chooseRecommended

Standard (24-hour)

Timed entry to Colosseum (Levels 1–2), Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

You want a budget-friendly, self-guided experience.

You want a budget-friendly, self-guided experience.

Standard Colosseum Ticket

Guided tour

Guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

You want context and storytelling about the ruins, plus smoother entry.

You want context and storytelling about the ruins, plus smoother entry.

Colosseum Guided Tour

Full experience + Arena & Underground

Access to Underground chambers + Arena + standard areas.

You want to explore restricted areas and walk the path of gladiators

You want to explore restricted areas and walk the path of gladiators

Underground + Arena Access

Private tour

Personalized tour with expert guide, skip-the-line.

You prefer a crowd-free, custom-tailored tour.

You prefer a crowd-free, custom-tailored tour.

Private Guided Colosseum Tour

Combo tickets

Colosseum + Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, etc.

You want to cover Rome’s top landmarks with savings and convenience.

You want to cover Rome’s top landmarks with savings and convenience.

Combo: Colosseum + Vatican

Other unique Colosseum experiences

Hand-picked tours for every kind of traveler.

Family exploring the Colosseum in Rome, child pointing at ancient arches.

Family-friendly tours

Designed for kids and families, these tours turn Ancient Rome into an adventure through fun storytelling and interactive games.

Explore family tours
Colosseum illuminated at night in Rome, Italy, highlighting night tour experience.

Night tours

See the Colosseum after dark, when crowds thin out and the monument glows under atmospheric lighting. Includes exclusive Arena access.

Book a night tour
Visitors with helmets exploring Domus Aurea's ancient ruins in Rome.

Domus Aurea tours

Descend underground into Nero’s lavish Golden House, brought to life with VR headsets and guided stories, a rare archaeological gem.

Discover Domus Aurea
Guide explaining Colosseum history to tourists in Rome.

Express tours

Short on time? Enjoy a guided highlights tour that covers the essentials of the Colosseum in under an hour.

Choose an Express Tour

The Colosseum map

Navigating the Colosseum is like stepping back in time, and a map is your key to unlocking its many layers of history. From the ground-level views of the arena and spectator seating on Level 1 to the museum displays on Level 2, there’s plenty to explore with standard tickets. For a deeper dive, special access tickets will take you to the Underground, where gladiators and animals prepared for battle, and onto the Arena Floor, where the action unfolded. When open to public, the upper Levels 3-5 offer breathtaking views of the entire structure.

Colosseum in Rome with labeled seating levels and key areas for tours.

Explore the Colosseum

Tourists exploring the Colosseum arena in Rome, Italy.
Colosseum Underground tour showcasing ancient Roman tunnels and chambers in Rome, Italy.
Visitors exploring the interior of the Colosseum on a private guided tour in Rome.
Colosseum's Belvedere Tier showcasing ancient Roman architectural details in Rome, Italy.
Tourists taking a selfie inside the historic Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
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Arena

This was the gladiators’ stage, where wild beasts burst through trapdoors and fighters entered through the Porta Triumphalis (Gladiator’s Gate). The reconstructed walkway puts you at the center of the action, with a rare ground perspective of the massive amphitheater and a chilling glimpse into the hypogeum below.

Access: No (Upgrade required with Arena-access tickets)

Experience the Arena Floor

Underground

Below the stage lies the Colosseum’s hidden machinery: a labyrinth of tunnels, elevators, and cages where animals and fighters were kept before being dramatically hoisted into battle. Wooden hoists powered by pulleys once lifted elephants and lions straight into the arena. Today, guided tours here reveal the rough stone corridors, staging cells, and remnants of the ingenious Roman engineering.

Access: No (Only with special full experience tours)

Explore the Colosseum Underground

Seating tiers

The Colosseum wasn’t just about entertainment; it was a mirror of Roman society.

  • Tier 1: VIP seats for senators, closest to the floor.
  • Tier 2: Today’s sweet spot for symmetry shots and scale.
  • Tier 3+: Once packed with common citizens; these upper levels showed the amphitheatre at full 50,000+ capacity.

Access: Yes (Included with all Colosseum tickets)

Exterior Facade & Arch of Constantine

Before you even step inside, the Colosseum’s four-storey exterior stuns with travertine arches, Doric-Ionic-Corinthian columns stacked in order, and pockmarks from centuries of stone-robbery. Nearby, the Arch of Constantine (AD 315) commemorates the emperor’s victory and frames the Colosseum perfectly for photos.

Exhibitions & visitor center

Near the entrance, rotating exhibits showcase gladiator weapons, everyday objects, and multimedia reconstructions of the games. Scale models explain how the arena looked in its prime, while films and digital installations (“Colosseum Story”) help visitors visualize its transformation over 2,000 years.

Access: Yes (Included with all Colosseum tickets, subject to venue closures)

Other sites inside the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum

The Colosseum is just the beginning, what many people don’t realize is that it’s part of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, a vast archaeological area that holds the political, cultural, and imperial heart of Ancient Rome. Each site within the park tells a different side of Rome’s story.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum ruins in Rome, Italy, viewed from above.

Palatine Hill

Why it matters: Legendary birthplace of Rome and home to emperors’ palaces with panoramic views over the Forum and Circus Maximus.

Best way to experience: Pair it with your Colosseum experience (standard access or guided) for a seamless visit. For specific Forum and Palatine Hill access, choose the SUPER Sites Pass .

Book Palatine Hill tickets
Ruins of ancient columns at the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy.

Roman Forum

Why it matters: Once the bustling political, religious, and commercial center of Rome featuring temples, basilicas, and arches all in one walkable valley.

Best way to experience: Included in all Colosseum ticket. Opt for a guided tour to hear stories about ruins like the Curia (Senate house) and Arch of Titus to life with stories. For exclusive access to restricted areas, choose the SUPER Sites Pass.

Book Roman Forum tickets
Ancient ruins and columns at Domus Aurea, Rome, Italy.

Domus Aurea (Golden House of Nero)

Why it matters: Nero’s vast underground palace, rediscovered centuries later, with vivid frescoes that inspired Renaissance masters.

Best way to experience: Entry is only by guided tour, often with VR headsets that recreate its original golden splendor.

Tour the Domus Aurea

Plan your visit to the Colosseum

Group of tourists enjoying a Colosseum Guided Tour in Rome, Italy, with a clear view of the ancient amphitheater

30 March – 30 September: 8:30am – 7:15pm
1 October – 25 October: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Last entrance: 1 hour before the closing time
Closed: 25 December and January 1.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill hours: 9am - 4:30pm

Best time of day: Early morning (8:30–10:30am) for smaller crowds and softer light, or evening post 5pm.
Best seasons: June–Sep for summer energy; Nov–Mar for pleasant weather and fewer visitors.

Tip: Book a night tour to experience the Colosseum in a different light. The floodlit monument takes on a magical aura, and the crowds are significantly smaller.

Detailed Colosseum opening hours

Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy. Find on map

The Colosseum is located in the heart of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum and about a 10-minute walk from the Piazza Venezia.

Getting there

  • By metro: Colosseo Station (Line B), 2-minute walk
  • By bus: Piazza del Colosseo, via Line 75, 81, 673
  • By tram: Piazza del Colosseo, via Line 3
  • Paid parking nearby at Via Ostilia
  • By Hop-on Hop-off Bus: Big Bus, City Sightseeing, and I Love Rome (Red Route) or Green Line Tours (Green Route) — all stop at “Colosseum.”
Directions to Colosseum
Visitors walking through the Colosseum's interior passageway in Rome.

There are three main entrances to the Colosseum:

  • Sperone Valadier: Main entrance for individual timed-entry and guided tour ticket holders; 45-min average wait.
  • Group Gate: North-side entry for guided groups (14–50 people); 15–20 min wait.
  • Stern Gate: Reserved for special access tours (Underground, Arena, Belvedere); currently closed—entry rerouted from inside.
Which Colosseum entrance to choose?
Person on wheelchair exploring historic city street in Rome, Italy.
  • There are 3 wheelchairs in the first tier of the Colosseum at the reception and security office.
  • All entrances are wheelchair accessible.
  • There is an elevator specifically or visitors with mobility issues connecting the first and second floors; and a freight elevator to reach the underground.
  • The first and second tiers of the Colosseum are entirely wheelchair accessible.
  • There are 11 tactile guides spread across the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to explain the layout and significance of these landmarks. The Colosseum has one tactile guide.
  • The ParCo (area encompassing the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill) also offers golf cart services for people using wheelchairs.
Restroom sign with directional arrow in a public area.
  • Restrooms: Located on both the first and second tiers; there are 14 restrooms on the first tier, including accessible facilities with baby-changing stations.
  • Nursing areas: Designated areas for nursing mothers are available within the Colosseum.
  • AED Defibrillators: Located on the first and second tiers, near ticket booths and in the security coordinators’ room.
  • Resting areas: Benches are available on both tiers, with additional seating at viewing points like the Belvedere and gates such as Triumphalis and Libitinaria.
  • Drinking fountains: Multiple fountains are situated throughout the Colosseum, including between the first and second tiers.
  • Vending machines: Available on the Via Nova, in the Horti Farnesiani, and in the Stadium of the Domus Augustana. Bottled water dispensers are also present in the bookshops on both tiers.
Plan your visit to Colosseum
Aerial view of the Colosseum in Rome during a VIP private tour.
  • Move counter-clockwise against the usual visitor flow: Turn left on entry, start at upper levels, then descend for less congestion and richer perspectives.
  • The Colosseum can get quite warm, especially in summer. Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated, and wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven surfaces. Lightweight clothing is recommended during hot months, while layers are advisable for cooler seasons.
  • Outside the Colosseum, you'll find vendors renting gladiator costumes and taking pictures with tourists. This can be a fun and memorable way to commemorate your visit, especially if you're traveling with kids.
  • Download or bring a detailed site map to snag hidden corners, learn where the less-crowded staircases are, and spot the best viewing terraces.
  • Seek out Roman numerals carved above entrances (used for ancient ticketing), trace anchor points for the velarium (massive awning), and inspect stonework for clues about the Colosseum’s construction phases.

Frequently asked questions about Colosseum experiences

What do Colosseum tickets include?

Most standard tickets cover general entry to the Colosseum, including levels 1-2, and Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. However, areas like the Arena or Underground require an upgrade. See the ticket comparison section for details.

What’s the difference between a standard entry ticket and a guided tour?

Standard tickets usually offer access to the main attraction only, while guided tours include a professional guide and often help you navigate more efficiently.

Does my ticket include access to all parts of the Colosseum?

Not always. Some areas (e.g., the Arena and the Underground) require an upgrade or a separate ticket. Check the “Explore the Colosseum” section for specifics.

Is skip-the-line included in all tickets?

No, some tickets offer priority access to security or entry lines, while others don’t. Look for terms like “Hosted Entry” or “Skip-the-Line” in the ticket name. These let you bypass long queues, especially during peak hours.

Does Colosseum tickets allow entry into the Vatican?

You will have to opt for specific Colosseum tickets that provide access to Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and/or St. Peter’s Basilica. Standard issue tickets only grant access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Are guided tours of the Colosseum worth it?

Absolutely if you want expert insights, efficient navigation, or access to shortcut routes (e.g., into the Arena). Small-group tours also ensure a more personal experience.

Can you re-enter the Colosseum with the same ticket once you exit?

No, you cannot re-enter the Colosseum if you exit. However, you can visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill if you haven't already accessed those attractions with your Colosseum ticket.

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Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.