Pyramid of Cestius

Tickets and tours: which to book

The exterior of the pyramid is free and visible at any hour from Piazzale Ostiense and Via Marmorata, and from inside the Protestant Cemetery. The interior is a different matter. After restoration finished in 2015 the burial chamber opened to the public, but only on certain days each month and only on guided visits booked in advance, in small groups, through the state archaeological authorities of Rome. A small fee is charged, and places go quickly, so book as soon as you know your dates.

No other tickets or tours for the pyramid alone are sold online. Some private guides and themed walks of the Ostiense and Testaccio districts include it from the outside, along with the Protestant Cemetery and Porta San Paolo, and a few general tours of ancient Rome pass by on the way to or from Ostia. Trains to Ostia Antica leave from the station beside the pyramid, so it is a natural stop before or after a day trip there.

For most visitors the sensible plan is to see the pyramid from outside on the way to the Protestant Cemetery and the Testaccio market, and to book the interior tour only if one of the scheduled days fits your trip.

A short history

Gaius Cestius was a praetor, tribune of the plebs and member of the Epulones, one of the priestly colleges of Rome. His tomb was built in about 18 to 12 BC and, according to its inscription, completed in 330 days, on open ground where the road to Ostia forked. Its steep shape recalls the pyramids of Nubia rather than those of Giza, at a time when Egyptian fashions were popular in Rome. Between AD 271 and 275 it was built into the Aurelian Walls, which saved it. The chamber was opened and recorded in 1660, and in 2015 a restoration funded by the Japanese businessman Yuzo Yagi was completed. It is part of the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Rome.

Getting there

The pyramid stands at Piazzale Ostiense, in the south of central Rome. Metro line B stops at Piramide, whose exit faces the pyramid; from Termini the ride takes about ten minutes. The adjacent Porta San Paolo station serves the train to Ostia Antica and Ostia Lido, and Roma Ostiense station, on the regional lines and the train from Fiumicino airport, is a five-minute walk away. Trams and several buses also stop on the square. On foot, it is about 20 minutes from the Circus Maximus along Viale Aventino. Driving is not advisable, as parking is scarce. For the interior tour, meet at the point given in your booking.

Rules and what to bring

The interior tour has strict group sizes, and latecomers may not be admitted, so arrive early with your booking confirmation. Do not touch the painted plaster in the chamber. Large bags are not practical in the narrow passage. In the Protestant Cemetery, behave as in any place of burial, keep voices low and do not step on graves. Bars and cafes are plentiful around the square, and toilets are in the cafes.

When to go

The pyramid can be seen at any hour, but the white marble looks best in the soft light of early morning and late afternoon. Piazzale Ostiense is a busy traffic junction, so weekend mornings are the calmest time to stand and look. In the evening the monument is floodlit, which makes a good stop on the way to dinner in Testaccio.

For the interior, the timing is set by the guided visit calendar, which offers only a few days each month; check it before fixing your plans and book early, especially for spring and autumn. October to May is the best season for walking in this part of Rome, while July and August are hot and the area is dusty. Allow fifteen minutes for the exterior, an hour for the interior tour, and an extra hour for the Protestant Cemetery.