Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (Parco archeologico del Colosseo)

Official Information

Official site: https://colosseo.it/en/
Official online tickets: https://ticketing.colosseo.it/en/
Address: Piazza del Colosseo 1, 00184 Rome, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Opens daily around 08:30. Closing time varies seasonally from about 16:30 to 19:15; last entry is usually 1 hour before closing.
Closed 25 December and 1 January.
Always check the official site for exact times.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill together form the heart of ancient Rome’s archaeological park. The Colosseum, the Flavian Amphitheatre, once held crowds of tens of thousands for gladiatorial games, animal hunts, and public spectacles. Today you enter the elliptical arena, walk beneath towering arcades and, if your ticket includes it, step onto the reconstructed arena floor or descend into the underground hypogeum where lifts and trapdoors once powered the shows. Outside, the Roman Forum spreads along the valley below: temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that were the stage set for Roman politics, religion, and daily life. Ascending the Palatine Hill, you pass the remains of imperial palaces and shaded gardens while looking down on the Circus Maximus and the Forum. A combined ticket gives access to all three areas on a timed-entry basis; most visitors need at least half a day, and more if you include a guided tour. In summer, early morning or late afternoon slots are far more pleasant, with softer light and fewer crowds.

Scroll to Top

Italy on Foot

Planning your own Italy trip?

The app

Plan with Italy on Foot

Organize your route and daily plans, with maps and AI-assisted help while you travel.

See app + passes

Prefer to start with the newsletter?

Practical Italy advice from Maria, written from Rome since 2014. Free to subscribe.

Read the newsletter
Keep reading