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The Colosseum in Rome: A Landmark of Roman Architecture

Use the advantages of your Rome City Pass and with less queuing, you can get through the reserved special entrance directly to the entrance to the Forum Romanum.

Colosseum from the inside with exhibitions and information for tourists Colosseum in full view with historical original building in rome Colosseum in full view with a park to stay for the tourists in rome

The Colosseum is the most famous attraction in the Italian capital and is Rome's landmark. With a perimeter of 5220 meters and a height of 48 meters, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater to be built in Roman antiquity.

Opening hours Colosseum

2 January - 28 February: 9:00 - 4:30
1 March - 26 March: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
27 March - 31 August: 9:00 a.m. - 7:15 p.m.
1 September - 30 September: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
1 October - 31 October: 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
1 November - 31 December: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Last admission always one hour before closing time. 

Closed: 1. January, 1. May,  25. December


Admission Colosseum

Adult: 16 € (Colosseum, Forum Romanum & Palatine)
Children and young people (under 18 years): free 

 Reservation fee: 2€

Tickets for the Colosseum

The Colosseum is generally open for public free of charge on the 1st Sunday of the month - please note that there may be a larger crowd of visitors on this day and that there is no preferential admission on this day. 

For your reserved and free access please choose a date and a preffered time in the field during your booking. 
Even though the availability of the Colosseum is indicated, in some cases you may not receive a Colosseum Ticket from us due to overbooking. We recommend that you check availability here on the official website and purchase your admission and reservation immediately. You also may find remaining tickets on the official booking page of the Colosseum: https://bit.ly/2I90no7 (if your desired date and time is no longer available). 

Your ticket is valid for the Colosseum, Forum Romanum and Palatine. The ticket is valid for 24h from the first use. You have the possibilty to visit Forum Romanum and Palatin before your Colosseum time, though.
From 1 May 2023, free tickets for children (0 - 17 years) must be collected at one of the following counters in Rome before admission:
-Box offices inside the Colosseum
-Ticket office at Largo della Salara Vecchia
-Ticket office at the Temple of Venus and Rome
Age must be proven by ID or passport. 

You have the option of booking "without the Colosseum" during the course of your booking, e.g. if a reservation is not available on your desired date.
The capacity at the Colosseum has been limited to 3000 visitors, which may mean that you have to wait despite your reservation. 

With your convenient Rome City Pass, you can experience the Colosseum for FREE. You will receive your ticket into the Colosseum and also to other top attraction in Rome (in one complete package) well before you depart for Rome. Take advantage of your Rome City Pass and with less queuing, you will be able to enter the Forum Romanum directly through the reserved special entrance.

Address Colosseum

Address:
Piazza del Colosseo 1
00184 Rome
Italy

+39 06 3996 7700 

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The Colosseum captivates its visitors through its quiet, but also central location in Rome. The surrounding parks near the Colosseum are perfect venues for a relaxing break after your visit to the Colosseum. After revitalizing yourself with a short break in one of the beautiful green parks surrounding the Colosseum, you can (for example) visit the Parco del Celio. After your visit to the Colosseum, it's easy to plan another visit to other attractions and museums in the inner city of Rome due to the Colosseum's central location and proximity to the public transportation system. The inner city of Rome can be reached from the Colosseum in about 15 minutes. Therefore, you have the opportunity to travel comfortably (while also saving time) to other attractions in Rome after your visit to the Colosseum.

Directions Colosseum

Metro B or B1
Tram 3 or 8 to Colosseo
Bus 60, N. 75, 81, 85, 87, 117, 118, N. 2, C3, N. 10, 175, 673, 204

Due to Rome's extensive public transportation system, traveling to the Colosseum is easy. You can either use Metro B or Tram 3 and ride to the station „Colosseo.” This station is located in very close proximity to the Colosseum which gives you more time to explore the Colosseum. If you prefer to use the bus, there are many bus lines that will take you to the Colosseum: 60, N. 75, 81, 85, 87, 117, 118, N. 2, C3, N. 10, 175, 673 or the 204. Whichever way you decide to get to the Colosseum, traveling to the Colosseum will be easy and stress-free and it will only be a short walk away from your bus or tram stop. 

Special conditions of use

The Colosseum is barrier-free and offers elevators for your use. 

The Roman Forum is closed on January 1st, May 1st, and on the 25th of December. 

Please note that the security measures have been tightened and you must therefore be prepared for delays in the security checks at the Colosseum. Bags, backpacks, coats and jackets can also be checked. 

Highlights of the Colosseum

  • Most famous and popular landmark of Rome 
  • Formerly an amphitheater for gladiator fights and animal fights
  • Is now a monument against the death penalty 

Attractions Near the Colosseum

Just bordering on the southern side of the Colosseum, one can find the Palatine Hills. The birthing place of Rome is said to be somewhere near these hills. The Palatine Hills is also one of the seven hills in Rome. The Roman Forum is also located near the Colosseum. The Forum can be reached by foot in about 10 minutes. The Roman Forum is the oldest Roman square, where the politics, economy, culture, and religion of Rome had once centered around. Here you can also find the impressive Colossus of Constantine- as well as the Arch of Titus. The Arch of Titus is a majestic victory arch and is a definite Must-See for every visitor of Rome. The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Anticais also located very closely to the Colosseum. Here you can be amazed at the impressive master pieces and painting from the Renaissance, Baroque and the Mannerist period. 

Tips for Your Visit to the Colosseum

Be amazed by the (almost-fully intact) 4-storey high facade of the Colosseum from the Via die Fori Imperiali.

History of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was built between 72 AC to 80 AC and was formally called Anfiteatro Flavio. The history of the Colosseum continued until the era of the Flavian dynasty, in which the Kaiser had taken over the construction of the Colosseum. How the Anfiteatro Flavio later received its current name is still not clear to this day. The predominant theory is that the name was derived from a colossal statue standing nearby. This statue was built in the likeness of the Kaiser Nero and had stood next to the amphitheater (at the very least) until the 3rd century. 

Over the years, the Colosseum in Rome would be used for many different purposes. After the Colosseum's construction was finished, the theater celebrated its opening with 100 days of games. For over 400 years, the Colosseum served as an arena for various types of games that were organized by the members of the imperial family. Just as it is depicted in history books, the most famous attraction of the Colosseum is its history of gladiator fights and animal fights. During this fights gladiators and even exotic animals would be pitted against each other in a dual to the death. Executions had also took place in the Colosseum, in which the condemned would meet their end either in a death fight with wild animals or in a death match with other people who have also been sentenced to death. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people and over one million animals died during these games. According to traditional lore, naval battles also took place in the Colosseum in which the interior of the Colosseum would be partly flooded with water. 

Because Christianity opposed these forms of entertainment and also due to a due to a mass migration out of Rome, these games began to take place less often in the Colosseum. 

Sometime later, an earthquake had hit Rome and had also caused damage to the Colosseum. The Colosseum then began its slow descent into ruin-- starting (at the latest) during the time of war of conquests.

The remaining citizens of Rome had used the Colosseum as a place of residence and later as a stone quarry during the Middle Ages up until the 12th century. The deterioration of the Colosseum ended in the 18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV named the Colosseum as a place to honor martyrs and had also called for chapels and a crossroad to be built on this area. 

The Colosseum is now considered to be a testament to the fantastic architecture of ancient Rome, and it is not only being protected, but also be continually studied by archaeologists. Since 1999, the Colosseum had been a monument against capital punishment. For this reason, the Colosseum is illuminated with colorful lights whenever a death sentence is not executed. 

Experience the Colosseum in Rome for FREE with the Rome City Pass and have your ticket into the Roman Forum already in your pocket before you even depart for Rome! 

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