The Colosseum is the most visited site in Italy, with over 12 million visitors in 2023.
If you’ve tried to book tickets, you might have faced many challenges; you may have wondered if you were on the right website or if you were going to be scammed.
This article will help you understand where and when to buy Colosseum tickets.
Disclaimer: Italian ArtVentures DOES NOT sell just tickets; we sell Private Tours with skip-the-line access. That means we cannot just sell you a ticket; it’s included in the price of all our Colosseum Private Tours.
The Colosseum Tickets
How many kinds of Colosseum tickets are there?
A lot! And they are released for sale at different times. As they often sell out quickly, it’s important to know when a certain ticket is released so you can be ready to buy it.
First of all, it’s always better to get the tickets on the official website to avoid unpleasant surprises. Then, you need to click on “Individuals”: that’s where you find tickets for groups of up to 8 visitors.
If you need more tickets, you must click on “Groups”—but in this article, we only discuss the “Individual” tickets.
The “Individuals” and “Groups” must use different entrances to the Colosseum.
Here’s a picture to sum it up for you:
Here’s a quick summary of the different kinds of tickets:
1. 24h Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill (get it here)
This is the most typical Colosseum ticket. It allows you access to the Colosseum (first and second floors), the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill, which together make up the “Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.”
You need to book a specific time for the Colosseum entrance, but not for the other two sites, which you can visit before or after you have seen the Colosseum. The price for this ticket is €18 for adults, while access for kids younger than 18 and other categories is free or cheaper (you can find more info as you choose your ticket).
IMPORTANT INFO: Tickets are released 30 days in advance. That means that if, for example, you need tickets for May 15th, they’ll only be available starting April 15th.
At 8:30 am on April 15th, tickets for May 15th at 8:30 am will be released (Italian time). If you want to buy tickets for May 15th at 9:30 am, you need to wait until 9:30 am on April 15th, and so on.
Tickets often sell out right after they’re released. Therefore, if you want to buy tickets for a specific time, you need to be online and ready when they are released. Usually, tickets for late morning and afternoon are easier to get, and you can often buy them later, sometimes even last minute.
If you have kids under 18 in your group, you don’t need to buy a ticket online for them. Only purchase tickets for the adults, then go to the Colosseum and head to Desk No. 10, near the turnstile inside the building. There, they’ll check the age of the child and give you a ticket for them.
2. Full Experience Ticket with Entry to the Arena of the Colosseum (get it here)
These tickets are released 7 days in advance. That means if you need to buy tickets for May 15th, they will be available on the Colosseum website on May 8th.
Like the 24h Colosseum tickets, the Full Experience with Entry to the Arena grants you access to the Forum and the Palatine Hill.
Additionally, you’ll have special access to the Arena and the Gladiator’s Gate. These tickets are quite popular, so make sure you’re online at the right time to get them. They also grant access to the SUPER sites in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
3. Full Experience Underground Levels and Arena (get it here)
This is one of the most popular tickets, as it allows access to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Colosseum Underground, and the Arena (you’ll also be able to see the first and second floors). The Underground Colosseum Ticket also grants access to the SUPER sites in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
These tickets are extremely difficult to buy. They’re released 30 days in advance, and the competition to get them is very tough.
If you succeed, you get to see some of the most fascinating areas of the Colosseum. If you don’t manage to get them, don’t be too upset! The underground is almost entirely visible even with a regular ticket, and if you manage to get arena access, you’ll still have a very satisfying experience.
Visitors with Underground Tickets don’t use either the “Individuals” or the “Groups” entrance; there’s a separate entrance just for them in the middle of the western side of the building.
4. Full Experience Tickets with Entry to the Attic of the Colosseum (get it here)
This is also one of the most popular tickets, allowing access to a recently opened area of the Colosseum (the attic).
These tickets are extremely difficult to get. They’re released 30 days in advance, and if you are not online at the exact moment they’re put on sale, you have basically no chance of getting them.
If you are among the lucky few, you will have access to a glass elevator that will take you to the top level of the Colosseum, where you can enjoy an unforgettable view.
VERY IMPORTANT: Currently, no ticket allows access to both the Attic and the Underground. Since it’s almost impossible to get both, we recommend focusing on one. If you fail to get either, don’t be too sad.
Even from the second floor, which you can reach with a regular ticket, you will have an amazing view. Attic Tickets also allow you to see the SUPER sites in the Forum and Palatine.
5. 24h Only Arena Ticket (get it here)
This is one of the most recent options launched by the Colosseum management.
It’s a ticket that, unlike the others, allows you to see only the arena of the Colosseum (so you won’t be able to walk around the building and visit the first and second floors).
You will have to enter from the “Stern” entrance on the eastern side of the building.
The 24h Only Arena Ticket allows you to enter the arena and spend about 20 minutes there; then, you will have to leave.
It’s really for visitors who are only interested in taking a quick picture and then moving on to something else.
It can be a good option if you’ve already been to the Colosseum but not the arena. This ticket also allows you to see the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and SUPER sites.
6. SUPER Forum Pass (get it here)
This ticket does not allow you to enter the Colosseum but only the Forum, Palatine Hill, and the SUPER sites. If you’ve already seen the Colosseum, you might consider spending more time in the Forum and Palatine Hill. These are amazing archaeological sites, historically much more significant than the Colosseum and very dense with history and archaeology.
The Roman Forum was the center of Ancient Rome, while the Palatine Hill was where Rome was founded and later became the location of the imperial palaces. Even if you don’t manage to buy Colosseum tickets, from the Palatine Hill and Forum you can have amazing views of the Amphitheater, which are really interesting sites in their own right.
7. Ticket Desks
If you don’t manage to get tickets online or if you decide to buy Colosseum tickets at the last minute, you can go to the ticket desks, line up, and hope for the best. It’s better to go early in the morning (8:00 am) or later in the afternoon (in the summer, 4-5 pm). During the low season (winter and early spring months), you might not find long lines.
There are two ticket desks:
- Tempio di Venere e Roma (Colosseum): Usually the most crowded, but also the closest to the Colosseum.
- Via della Salara Vecchia (Roman Forum)
When you buy a Colosseum ticket, you need to enter your full name, as it appears on your passport, driver’s license, or ID.
At the entrance, you will need to show not only the ticket but also your passport, ID, or driver’s license.
When you buy a ticket for the arena, the underground, or the attic, you need to include the names of underage kids as well. They might ask you to prove the age of the child by showing his/her ID or passport.
I know, it sounds very complicated. That’s why it’s always a great idea to book a Colosseum Private Tour and let us handle all the ticketing. Just send us an email, relax, and we’ll take care of everything.
Your vacation will probably be short; you don’t want to waste hours figuring out what tickets to get and when. Let us do that, and simply enjoy your Private Tour with Italian ArtVentures
