Colosseum opening hours 2026
All opening and closing times by season, last admission, closing days and free days - at a glance.
The Colosseum opens daily at 8:30 am, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill at 9:00 am. The closing time depends on the season - in summer until 7:15 pm, in winter until 4:30 pm. Closed only on December 25 and January 1.
When does the Colosseum open?
The Colosseum and the archaeological park (Roman Forum and Palatine Hill) have slightly different opening times in the morning. The Colosseum opens 30 minutes earlier than the rest of the site.
Opening hours 2026 at a glance
The closing time of the Colosseum depends on the season. It is open much longer in summer than in winter. Important: The last admission is one hour before the park closes.
| Period | Opening (Colosseum) | Last admission | Closure (PArCo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 29 - September 30, 2026 Summer | 8:30 a.m. | 6:15 pm | 7:15 pm |
| October 1 - October 24, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. | 5:30 pm | 6:30 pm |
| October 25, 2026 - February 28, 2027 Winter | 8:30 a.m. | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm |
The last admission is one hour before the park closes. Plan your visit so that you are at the entrance well before the last admission time - security checks can take extra time, especially in the peak season.
„PArCo“ stands for the Parco archeologico del Colosseo - the official administration of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The specified closing time applies to the entire site.
When is the Colosseum closed?
The Colosseum is completely closed on only two days a year. On all other days - including public holidays - it is open regularly.
On which days is admission free?
On certain days, admission to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is free for all visitors. On these days, the regular opening hours of the respective season apply.
Free admission on these days
On free days, tickets must be collected on site at the ticket office - online booking is not possible. Expect considerably longer waiting times. Access to the arena and the underground is not possible on free days.
When is the best time to visit?
The quietest time is right at opening at 8:30 am or in the late afternoon. At lunchtime and in the high season (April to October), the queues and crowds are at their biggest. The Colosseum is also less crowded on rainy days.
With a ticket with a fixed time slot and skip-the-line access, you can avoid the queue at the ticket office regardless of the time of day. This saves you up to several hours of waiting time in the peak season.
Opening hours Colosseum - Your questions answered
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