Which one to choose in Rome
Two ancient sites in Rome. Colosseum has 349 tickets and tours to book; Roman Forum and Palatine has 162 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Rome, Italy
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre the Romans ever built, an oval of travertine about 189 metres long that held some 50,000 spectators for gladiator fights and animal hunts from AD 80. Visitors walk two levels of its arcades, look down into the maze of underground passages and, on some tickets, stand on a rebuilt section of the arena floor.
Rome, Italy
The Roman Forum is the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline hills where ancient Rome held its elections, trials, triumphs and markets for over a thousand years. Its temples, basilicas, arches and Senate House lie in a sunken field of ruins, and the same ticket covers the Palatine above, with the remains of the imperial palaces.
| Colosseum | Roman Forum and Palatine | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Theatre & Amphitheatre | Ancient City |
| Civilisation | Roman | Roman |
| Founded | AD 80 | 750 BC |
| Area | 2.4 ha | — |
| Visitors | 14.7 million a year (2024) | — |
| Entry | EUR 18; arena and underground EUR 24; under-18s free | EUR 18 with the Colosseum; under-18s free |
| Hours | 8.30 am to an hour before sunset: to 7.15 pm in summer, 4.30 pm in winter; last entry an hour before | 9 am to an hour before sunset: to 7.15 pm in summer, 4.30 pm in winter |
| Time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours; half a day with Forum | 2 to 3 hours with the Palatine |
| Booking | Timed named tickets released 30 days ahead; the underground sells out first | Timed named tickets, shared with the Colosseum; book ahead in season |
| UNESCO | yes | yes |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | 349 | 162 |
| Official website | yes | yes |