Overview
You need a named ticket with a booked time slot to enter the Colosseum. Sales on the official ticket office open 30 days before the visit date, the holder’s name is printed on the ticket and checked against ID at the gate, and the standard ticket (about €18) also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for 24 hours.
Missed the window? Book a guided visit with entry included
Licensed operators hold their own allocation of tickets. A guided visit is the realistic way in when the official release is gone — and you skip the queue.
Exact tour we link to:Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour
See guided visits & pricesBooking partner: Civitatis. Free cancellation on most tours.
The time slot is only for the Colosseum itself; the Forum and Palatine can be visited at any point inside the 24-hour window. Because tickets are named and a name change is allowed only in limited cases, buying a spare ticket for a friend who might come no longer works. When the date you want is gone on the official site, a guided tour that includes the ticket is the practical way in.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Named timed-entry ticket |
|---|---|
| Cost | €18 |
| How to get it | Open the official ticket office (ticketing.colosseo.it) 30 days before your date — that is when that day goes on sale. |
| When it opens | Rolling window · D−30 · CET |
| All-inclusive alternative | Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour |
| Official rules | colosseo.it Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine ticket — fares Official ticket office — ticketing.colosseo.it |
How the permit works
- 1Open the official ticket office (ticketing.colosseo.it) 30 days before your date — that is when that day goes on sale.
- 2Choose the ticket type: the 24-hour ticket covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine; Full Experience options add the arena or other restricted areas.
- 3Pick your Colosseum entry time and enter the full name of each visitor exactly as on their passport or ID card.
- 4Arrive a little before your slot with the same ID; staff check names at the entrance.
- 5Use the rest of the 24 hours for the Forum and Palatine, entering from any of the park’s entrances.
Required documents
- Passport or ID card matching the name on each ticket
- The ticket on your phone or printed
- For reduced or free tickets: proof of age or eligibility
Insider tips
- Set a reminder for 30 days before your date: popular morning slots for the following month go first.
- If only late-afternoon Colosseum slots are left, visit the Forum and Palatine in the morning — the 24-hour window allows it.
- The underground (hypogeum) is not part of the standard ticket; it needs a separate Full Experience ticket or a specific tour.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead can I buy Colosseum tickets?
On the official ticket office, sales with the compulsory Colosseum time slot open 30 days before the visit date. Earlier than that, the official site has nothing to sell for your day.
Are Colosseum tickets named?
Yes. Tickets are issued in the holder’s name and ID is checked at the entrance. Name changes are allowed only in limited cases set out in the official regulations, so book with the right names from the start.
Does the Colosseum ticket include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill?
The standard 24-hour ticket does. Only the Colosseum has a fixed entry time; the Forum and Palatine can be visited at any time within the 24 hours.
What if the official site is sold out for my date?
Check again the next morning, since returns do appear, and look at the other ticket types. If nothing opens up, a guided tour that includes the ticket is the reliable way to get in on that date.
Is the underground included in the normal ticket?
No. The hypogeum and the arena floor are sold as separate Full Experience tickets or specific guided tours, in much smaller numbers.
When is the Colosseum closed?
The official site lists 25 December and 1 January as closing days. Opening hours change through the year, so check the official page for your date.