The Colosseum is one of the most visited monuments in the world, receiving over 7 million visitors every year. If you’re planning a trip to Rome, it is a can’t-miss attraction along with the Vatican, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and many more.
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Rome Tourist Card
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Colosseum Tickets
Colosseum tickets sell out fast, so we recommend buying your tickets online as early as possible. Here are the most popular options:
(Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill is included in all tickets)
⚔️ Colosseum Arena Experience
Get exclusive Arena Floor access plus entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Digital audio guide included in 6 languages.
🏛️ Entry Tickets: Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill
Enjoy reserved entry to three of Rome’s top sites. Pick your visit date, check the available tickets, and choose the one that suits you best.
🚶♂️ Guided Tour: Colosseum Arena & Roman Forum
Go deeper with expert guides! Get the full story of ancient Rome with Arena Floor access. Live guide available in 6 languages.
⏳ Express Guided Tour (1 Hour)
Short on time? Join a professional archaeologist in a small group (max 15) for a focused Colosseum tour. Afterward, explore the Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace.
👥 Group Tickets
For group tickets (8+ people) visit our partner groupsightseeing.com
We recommend looking on both Tiqets and GetYourGuide to increase your chances of finding a ticket.
Buy your Colosseum tickets online
Fortunately, you can buy Colosseum tickets online before your trip; that way you can spend more time exploring Rome and less waiting in line and worrying about figuring out where and how to see all of the Eternal City’s architectural and artistic marvels.
Understand Colosseum Ticket Types
The Colosseum’s ticketing system has gotten much better recently, but it can still be confusing with all the different options. Here’s what you need to know about each ticket type and what areas you can actually access.
Colosseum Ticket Access at a Glance
| Access | Standard Entry | Arena Full Experience | Arena 24-Hour | Underground | Upper Levels | Night Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Levels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Arena Floor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Underground | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Upper Tiers | ✓ | |||||
| Super Sites | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Ticket Availability | Often Available | Sometimes Available | Often Available | Sells Out Fast | Sells Out Fast | Sells Out Fast |
| Booking Window | 30 days | 7 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 7 days |
All tickets include Roman Forum & Palatine Hill access.
🏛️ Standard Entry Ticket
Best for first-time visitors
What you’ll see: Ground floor and second tier of the Colosseum, all permanent exhibitions, great views down into the underground areas and arena floor. Takes about an hour to see everything.
This is honestly the sweet spot for most people. You get to see all the main parts of the Colosseum that appear in movies and photos, plus it’s the easiest ticket to actually get your hands on. Often available same-day if you’re flexible.
⚔️ Arena Floor Ticket
Most popular upgrade
You can get arena floor access two ways:
Full Experience Ticket (Arena Floor)
This gives you everything in the standard ticket plus 20 minutes walking on the actual arena floor. You enter through the main monument and then step out onto the arena. It’s released 7 days in advance and isn’t too hard to book.
Arena 24-Hour Ticket
This is arena floor only for 20 minutes. You enter through a separate gate and don’t see the rest of the monument. It’s mainly for people who are short on time or have already done the full tour.
The arena floor is pretty magical – you’re standing where gladiators actually fought while 50,000 Romans cheered above you. Great for photos too.
🕳️ Underground (Hypogeum) Ticket
For history buffs who want to see it all
This is the hardest ticket to get. You get to explore the actual underground chambers where gladiators and animals waited before fights. It includes a guide (which is mandatory) and also comes with arena floor access.
The underground areas are the real deal – original Roman construction with the mechanical systems they used to lift fighters up to arena level. It’s where all the “magic” of the games happened behind the scenes.
Fair warning: these tickets are released 30 days in advance and sell out crazy fast. You need to be ready to book the second they go live.
🌅 Attico (Upper Tiers) Ticket
Best views in Rome
This gives you access to the third, fourth, and fifth tiers that are normally off-limits. You take an elevator up and then climb stairs to get incredible panoramic views of Rome.
These tickets are probably the hardest to get – even tougher than underground sometimes. But if you score them, you’ll get photos that 99% of Colosseum visitors never see.
🌙 Night Tour Ticket
Seasonal tours that run roughly March through November
The Colosseum completely transforms at night with special lighting. Most night tours include underground access too. These are only offered certain months and tickets are released just 7 days in advance.
The atmosphere at night is unreal – much more mysterious and ancient feeling than during busy daytime hours.
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Access
Every single Colosseum ticket includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which is an amazing deal when you think about it.
You get a 24-hour window centered around your Colosseum time slot. So if you book the Colosseum for 2 PM on Tuesday, you can visit the Forum and Palatine Hill anytime from 2:01 PM Monday until 1:59 PM Wednesday. This flexibility is great because you can spread out your ancient Rome exploration over two days if you want.
There are also “Super Sites” within the Forum and Palatine areas. If you have a standard entry ticket, you can upgrade for €4 extra to see these special archaeological areas. All the other ticket types (arena, underground, etc.) include Super Sites automatically.
Colosseum Ticket Prices
Ticket prices vary based on what you choose and where you buy them. The official Colosseum website (ticketing.coloso.it) has the lowest base prices, but third-party sites like Tiqets and GetYourGuide often have better availability and customer service, though they charge a bit more.
Booking Tips for Hard-to-Get Tickets
If you’re going for underground, upper level, or night tour tickets, here’s how to improve your chances:
Before booking day:
- Set up your account on the official website ahead of time
- Have two different credit cards ready as backup
- Know exactly how to spell everyone’s names
- Practice clicking through the booking process
On release day:
- Log in about 10 minutes early
- Don’t keep refreshing the page or you might get kicked out
- Work quickly but double-check everything before clicking buy
- Have a backup plan ready
If the official site sells out immediately (which happens a lot), check GetYourGuide and Tiqets. They often have allocations available when the official site shows nothing.
Important Things to Know Before You Go
You absolutely must bring government-issued photo ID that matches the name on your ticket. A driver’s license works fine – doesn’t have to be a passport. They’re strict about this and will turn you away without proper ID.
For underground and night tours, show up exactly on time. These tours leave whether you’re there or not, and there are no refunds for being late.
For regular tickets, get there about 20-30 minutes early to account for security screening and any unexpected delays.
The first Sunday of every month is free, but you have to get tickets on-site and the lines are absolutely brutal. Unless you love standing in line for hours, avoid free days during tourist season.
Other ways to visit the Colosseum
If you want to visit the colosseum after hours, or would like a combined ticket that allows you to see some of Rome’s other important attractions, you’re in luck.
Visiting the Colosseum at night
Beginning in March 2017, visitors can book a guided night time tour of the colosseum. The arena takes on an entirely new quality at night. It feels even more ancient and impressive. Check out our guided tours page for more info on visiting the colosseum by night.
Roma Pass
Instead of booking individual tickets to every monument and museum in the Eternal City and having to handle dozens of emails, receipts, and papers, you can make your life much easier with the all-in-one Roma.
The pass includes free or discounted access to many of the city’s top attractions (including the Colosseum) as well as unlimited access to public transportation for 72 hours. Find out more about the Roma Pass here.
Click here to view all ticket options »
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy Colosseum tickets in advance?
Short answer: yes!
– Book Colosseum tickets in advance and receive them instantly in your inbox.
– Skip the ticket office lines—just show your smartphone ticket at the entrance upon arrival.
– Choose your preferred date and time, avoiding the stress of large crowds.
The Colosseum limits daily visitors, so booking ahead guarantees entry.
While there’s a small mark-up for online tickets, pre-booking saves you from the long queues, which are unavoidable at such popular sites.
Keep in mind, you’ll still need to pass through security, but the process is typically faster for pre-booked visitors.
Do Colosseum tickets include skip-the-line or fast-track access?
Every ticket purchased for the Colosseum is considered a “skip the line” ticket, meaning you skip the line to purchase tickets. The lines you do encounter are for checking your ticket, verifying your ID, and going through security, which typically takes only 5 to 10 minutes.
Tip: Book early morning slots to naturally avoid larger crowds, and keep your e-ticket ready for quick scanning at the entrance.
Where do I buy Colosseum tickets?
Right here! Our partners are licensed retailers of official Colosseum tickets. You can book your tickets through our site in under 5 minutes and you’ll have them in your inbox and ready to go in an instant.
What are the Colosseum entrance options?
The Colosseum has three modern entrances for visitors. The entrance you should use depends on the type of ticket you have.
– Stern Entrance (Gladiator’s Gate): This entrance is exclusively for visitors with the Arena 24 hours ticket or special tickets with access to Arena Floor through the Gladiator’s Gate.
– Speron Valadier Entrance for Individual Ticket Holders: This is the required entrance for those with standard entry tickets or Full Experience tickets, as well as individuals with children (to collect free children’s tickets inside), and visitors in wheelchairs with their caregivers.
– Speron Valadier Entrance for Tour Groups: There is a dedicated entrance for organized tour groups within the Speron Valadier section, though tour guides may choose between this or the individual ticket holders’ entrance depending on their assessment.
To see the latest prices and pre-book your tickets, check out this link.
Do I have to visit Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on the same day?
No, you don’t. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours from the first entry, which can be at the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill area. This gives you flexibility to visit the Colosseum on one day and explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the next, or you can visit all three on the same day if you prefer.