How to buy tickets for the Colosseum in Rome

As one of the world’s most popular landmarks, it should be easy to find out how to buy tickets for the Colosseum but instead, visitors are faced with a bewildering range of options. In this article, we share how to buy Colosseum tickets online through the official site and moreover whop tickets through trusted official partners.

Note – from May 1st 2024 are misogynist on the Colosseum website directly up to 30 days in advance. This site has implemented a waiting line. Please see options unelevated if you wish to purchase tickets or a tour increasingly than 30 days in advance.

Colosseum tickets quick links

Prefer not to read through this article? We get it, we’re all busy. Here are our recommended options for tickets

• Parco Colosseo – limited number of tickets misogynist 30 days prior to visit from May 1st 2024 (unclear refund policy)
• Colosseum Tours on GetYourGuide (official partner site) > flexible booking policy, easy to use, includes tour option (recommended)
• Take Walks – small group Colosseum tours with expert guides
• Liv Tours – very small group and private tours of the Colosseum with engaging guides – 5% off with lawmaking – UNTOLDITALY
• Colosseum packages on Tiquets – purchase your Colosseum tickets with a guided tour or hop on / hop off bus option

Colosseum tickets or tour?

First, you’ll need to segregate whether to buy tickets and navigate the site on your own or with an audioguide or take a group tour. This will depend on your upkeep and level of interest in learning well-nigh the Warmed-over Roman sites. Whichever option you choose, you will need to purchase your tour or timed entry Colosseum tickets in advance. This is a recent rule put in place to manage crowds and applies to all visitors including those who can enter self-ruling including children and youths under the age of 18. A booking fee may wield in these cases.

Tickets are a good option for upkeep travelers and those who prefer to explore on their own. However, the Colosseum site is not well marked and you’ll be wandering among tour groups wondering what they are looking at. At the very least, download an audio guide or purchase one with your ticket so you can learn something well-nigh one of the most incredible warmed-over sites in the world including why it is moreover tabbed the Flavian Arena!

What does your Colosseum ticket include?

The vital Colosseum archway ticket includes:

• Single timed entry into the Colosseum – level one and two only
• 24 hour unshut wangle to plus the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Should you wish to visit the Colosseum Scene Floor (see picture below) and/or Underground (both are very interesting) you will need to purchase an upgraded ticket or a Colosseum guided tour option. 

Your ticket is considered skip the line Colosseum tickets as you need to victorious at a specific time. You will not need to queue for tickets but please note that you will need to line up for a security check. 

Buy Tickets on the “Official” Colosseum Site

The official site to typesetting tickets to the Colosseum is called Parco Colosseo for visits from May 1st 2024. This site runs a wait line and is not the easiest site to navigate, use or purchase from unfortunately. Plus if you need a refund or to transpiration your dates or times the process is extremely difficult.

• Pros of booking on Parco Colosseo site – weightier prices, specific ticket availability shown
• Cons of booking on Co-op Culture site – frustrating user wits including payment gateway which often does not work for international visitors, no refunds misogynist – exchanges only, limited availability

Buy Colosseum Tickets via an Official Partner

Colosseum ticket inventory is spread out over the official booking site, tour operators and several official ticketing partners including GetYourGuide, Viator or Tiquets. For this reason, if you can’t find the time slot you are looking for on Parco Colosseo, it is worth checking these options. We prefer GetYourGuide considering they have the lowest markup and a 24-hour cancelation policy which is not offered by the official site.

• Pros of booking on official partners – weightier availability – expressly during peak times in the morning, ease of use of booking platform and easy to understand and manage cancelation policies, bundled offers including tours, hop on / hop off bus and more
• Cons of booking on official partners – slightly increasingly expensive – you’ll pay a markup for convenience and spare services

Recommended Colosseum Tours

As mentioned earlier, the Colosseum site is not well marked and the exhibits can be a little dry and presented without too much context. Having visited the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on many occasions, we unchangingly recommend taking a guided tour of the Colosseum to make the most of your visit. 

When choosing a tour, consider the group size, style of the tour, areas covered and length of tour. All tour guides operating at sites in Rome must hold a license obtained by passing a very strict exam. So they all know their dates, Roman Emperors and key monuments but may not have the storytelling skills to bring the Warmed-over Roman sites to life

• Official Site Tours – Not currently offered
• Walks of Italy – medium sized tours with a focus on storytelling and anecdotes. You’ll get a sense of what it was like for gladiators and spectators unwrinkled in this most magnificent of arenas and the impressive surrounds of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Take Walks offer several tours at the Colosseum but their Gladiator’s Gate: Special Wangle Colosseum Tour with Scene Floor is our favorite. 
• Liv Tours – very small group (up to 6 people) and private tours led by expert storytellers who bring the arena, Forum and Palatine Hill to life with tales of the gladiators and emperors. You’ll be worldly-wise to separate myth, legend and movie-making creative license from archaeological fact. PLUS readers of our site get 5% off with lawmaking – UNTOLDITALY

Colosseum Tickets FAQ

Do you need to buy Colosseum tickets in advance?

Yes. Your entry into the Colosseum must be purchased online via the Co-op culture or Parco Colosseo site, a ticket partner or tour company. We recommend ownership Colosseum tickets via GetYourGuide for convenience, flexibility and the weightier price including a tour.

When do Colosseum tickets go on sale?

Colosseum tickets go on sale 3 to 4 weeks in whop on Parco Colosseo sites and sell out quickly during peak visitor periods from May to September. Expect long online wait times with no guarantee of success. Ticket allocations are spread wideness multiple vendors so it is worth checking several if you do not find availability on the dates and times you are looking for. 

The weightier way to ensure your Colosseum visit is at the time and stage you want is to typesetting a small group or guided tour in whop with either Walks of Italy or Liv Tours who will handle the ticketing for you.

Can you buy Colosseum tickets on the day?

Buying last minute Colosseum tickets is possible however expect limited availability at the most popular times to visit – often early in the in morning during summer as the site becomes hot and stifling. It’s worth checking all ticketing sites for availability at these times as they have separate allocations

• Parco Colosseo
• GetYourGuide
• Viator
• Tiquets

What are the Colosseum opening hours?

The Colosseum is unshut every day except 25th December and 1st January with varying hours depending on the season. Though not officially noted, the Colosseum closes early on Good Friday for the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross Ceremony lead by the Pope These hours moreover wield to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Imperial Forum.

• from 2 January to 28 February: 09.00 – 16.30
• from 1 to 26 March: 09.00 – 17.30
• from 27 March to 31 August: 08.30 – 19.15
• from 1 September to 30 September: 08.30 – 19.00
• from 1 to 30 October: 09.00 – 18.30
• from 31 October to 31 December: 09.00 – 16.30

Last ticket one hour surpassing closing. This is not recommended as you need at least one hour to visit the Colosseum alone.

What do I need to bring to the Colosseum?

The Colosseum recently introduced a requirement to have visitor names printed on each ticket. Visitors are required to show identification documents that match the name on the ticket eg Drivers Licence or Passport – read more

When should I victorious at the Colosseum?

It is weightier to victorious at least 30 minutes prior to your allocated entry time to the Colosseum so you can well-constructed security checks.

What is the weightier time to visit the Colosseum?

Visitors usually like to start their day early or tropical opening time at the Colosseum, expressly during summer. The site is very exposed to the elements and can wilt hot and crowded in the middle of the day. When you’re planning your Rome itinerary withstand in mind that if you don’t mind the heat of the day, afternoon sessions are much less crowded with greater availability during the summer. 

Are there any discounts or self-ruling entry to the Colosseum

Entry to the Colosseum is FREE for visitors under 18 years and for people with disabilities plus one family member or helper. If you fall into these categories you will still need to reserve your ticket and timed entry and show identification on entry.

Free entry to the Colosseum is moreover misogynist on the first Sunday of each month on a first come, first serve basis. Expect big crowds on those days. Tour operators don’t usually run tours then for this reason.

Discounted entry is misogynist to European Union residents between the month of 18 and 25. 

Do I need to print my Colosseum tickets?

Printing your skip the line Colosseum tickets is an option but you will find it easier to download them to your smartphone

Can I stay tropical to the Colosseum?

Yes! There are several hotels within easy walking loftiness of the Colosseum and many Airbnbs and apartments in the Monti district. Read this article to see our pick of walk-up near the Colosseum.