How to get to the Colosseum? The fastest way is the metro: Line B stops at Colosseo and Line C at Colosseo/Fori Imperiali, both right at the monument. This page shows which route fits where you start, what public transport costs, how to get in from Fiumicino and Ciampino, and what to avoid. For live opening hours, weather and our advice on tickets, start on the home page.
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Which route fits you?
You start at Termini station
Take Metro Line B toward Laurentina. The Colosseum is two stops away.
On foot from Termini, you can skip the busy Via Cavour and take a scenic route over the Colle Oppio instead. This route from Termini to the Colosseum is 2.5 km (1.6 miles) long, compared with 1.7 km (1.1 miles) via Via Cavour. On the way, you can visit four basilicas: Santa Maria Maggiore (7:00–18:30), Santa Prassede (9:00–12:30, on Sundays until 11:00, and 15:00–18:00), Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monti (9:30–12:00 and 16:30–18:00, on Sundays only in the afternoon) and San Pietro in Vincoli (7:30–12:20, on Sundays until 12:00, and 15:00–17:50), which holds Michelangelo’s famous tomb of Pope Julius II.
You start at the Vatican
From the Vatican, the bus is the fastest and most comfortable option. From St. Peter’s Basilica, take bus 64 from the Cavalleggeri stop or bus 40 from the Lungotevere Sassia/Santo Spirito stop to Piazza Venezia. From there, walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali or take bus 51, 85, 87 or 118 to the Colosseum. From the Vatican Museums, bus 81 leaves from the stop at the beginning of Via Crescenzio and goes straight to the Colosseum (stop Celio/Vibenna).
Plan B is the metro: take Line A from Ottaviano, the station closest to the Vatican, to Termini and change to Line B toward Laurentina for two stops to Colosseo. It works, but it is not our recommendation from the Vatican.
You start in Trastevere
Tram line 3 runs from Trastevere past the Pyramid of Cestius to the Colosseum, and the ride is scenic. On Viale di Trastevere, you can also take tram 8 or bus H to Piazza Venezia and continue on foot along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
You start near Piazza Venezia
Walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is a flat walk of roughly one kilometer, with the Colosseum in front of you the whole way.
You start in the city center
From Piazza Navona, take bus 81 or 87 from the Zanardelli or Risorgimento stops. From the Trevi Fountain, take bus 85 from the stops on Via del Tritone or Via del Corso. From Piazza del Popolo, take Metro Line A at Flaminio, and from Piazza di Spagna, take Line A at Spagna. On Line A, change at Termini to Line B toward Laurentina for two stops to Colosseo.
You arrive by plane
You have several options. From Fiumicino (FCO), the Leonardo Express runs non-stop to Termini. From Ciampino (CIA), buses and shuttles connect to Termini and the metro. A taxi at a fixed fare takes you straight to the Colosseum from either airport. From Termini, continue on Metro Line B. Prices, times and taxi fares are in the airport section below.
Metro: Line B and Line C
Line B, Colosseo: the main entrance is right opposite the Colosseum. Line B also serves Termini, Ostiense (trains to Ostia Lido) and Tiburtina (high-speed trains).
Line C, Colosseo/Fori Imperiali: The station has two entrances on either side of Via dei Fori Imperiali and a passage to Line B. It is also a museum station: a free museum area shows archaeological finds that were discovered during the construction of the metro. For most visitors Line B is the simpler choice. Line C runs at very long intervals and its trains are often crowded. It is useful if you stay in eastern Rome, but we do not recommend changing to it from Line A at San Giovanni.
Tram and bus
Tram line 3 stops on the east side of Piazza del Colosseo. We recommend getting off one stop earlier, at Parco Celio on the Celio hill: from there you have a beautiful view of the Colosseum, and the city’s Museo della Forma Urbis is right there, with a city map of ancient Rome carved in marble in the 3rd century. Several ATAC bus lines also stop at the Colosseum, among them 51, 75, 81, 85, 87 and 118, and the night line nMB. To find the best current route, we recommend the ATAC Roma app.
Public transport tickets and fares
- Single ticket (BIT): € 1.50, valid for 100 minutes from the first validation. It covers buses, trams and one metro journey, even across different lines. Paper tickets are being phased out and can no longer be used everywhere, so we recommend Tap & Go or a multi-day ticket.
- 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets: € 8.50, € 15.00 and € 22.00, valid from the first validation, with unlimited rides in Rome.
- Tap & Go: tap a contactless bank or credit card or your phone at the turnstile or validator. Each ride is charged like a BIT at € 1.50 (valid for 100 minutes, including one metro journey), and the total is capped at the 24-hour price of € 8.50. You must tap the card at the validator again every time you board or transfer. Every passenger needs their own payment card, and you should always use the same card. You do not need to check out. Only some metro stations also have card readers at the exit.
- Validation: validate your ticket when you start and again when you change to a metro line. Traveling without a valid ticket costs 100 to 500 euros, reduced to 50 euros if you pay within 5 days.
- Children: children up to 10 years old travel free on public transport in Rome. On Trenitalia trains, the limit is 4 years.
- Airport trains: these tickets are not valid on the Leonardo Express. The Leonardo Express costs € 14.00 at the station, or from € 17.90 if you book online. The regional train FL1 from Fiumicino costs € 8.00.
- Train from Civitavecchia: the regional train to Rome costs € 4.60 at the station, or from € 5.10 if you book online.
From the airports
From Fiumicino (FCO)
We recommend the regional train FL1 from Fiumicino. You can get off at Trastevere and take a scenic ride on tram line 3 to the Colosseum, or get off at Ostiense and take Metro Line B toward Colosseo. Between the station and the metro it is a ten-minute walk. The Leonardo Express runs non-stop to Termini in about 32 minutes, from early morning until around 11:30 pm, and at Termini you change to Metro Line B toward Laurentina. Termini has nice shops and good food, but on the way from the Leonardo Express to the metro you are caught in a crowd of countless passengers, which is not exactly an oasis of calm.
From Ciampino (CIA)
ATAC bus 720 runs to Laurentina, the southern end of Metro Line B, in about 40 minutes. From there Line B takes you directly to the Colosseum. The bus accepts the BIT ticket. Private shuttle buses run to Termini for roughly 5 to 8 euros, and from Termini the metro takes you the rest of the way.
By taxi
Taxis charge fixed fares for trips between the airports and the area inside the Aurelian Walls, which includes the Colosseum: € 55.00 from Fiumicino and € 40.00 from Ciampino. The fare is per taxi, not per person, and includes all supplements. Use the official taxi rank at the airport.
From the Civitavecchia cruise terminal
From the cruise terminal to the railway station it is a walk of 2 km (1.2 miles).
The train to Trastevere takes about 45 to 70 minutes, and to Ostiense about 5 minutes longer. At Trastevere you can take tram line 3 to the Colosseum, and at Ostiense you change to Metro Line B toward Colosseo. The regional train costs € 4.60 at the station, or from € 5.10 if you book online.
A shuttle bus to Termini takes about 80 minutes. You can book the shuttle bus from Civitavecchia to Termini online.
Taxi, car and bus tours
We do not recommend taking a taxi from Termini. The wait at the taxi rank is often longer than the walk to the Colosseum. Hop-on hop-off buses do not stop at the Colosseum. You can get off at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, walk through the Colle Oppio park to the Colosseum and get back on at the Circo Massimo.
Do not come by car. Parking near the Colosseum is scarce. If you drive to Rome, you can leave your car in the large parking garage at Termini station (entrance at Via Marsala 53) and continue by metro.
Where to enter after you arrive
Standard tickets and the regular visit use the main entrance. Arena tickets use the Stern entrance, which lies on the east side of the Colosseum, opposite the main entrance. The map shows the ticket offices and both entrances. For ticket types and prices, see our guide to Colosseum tickets. For the security check, bags and queues at each entrance, see our Colosseum visitor tips.
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More InformationGetting there: questions you may not have asked yet
Which metro station is closest to the Colosseum?
Colosseo on Line B, right opposite the Colosseum. Line C also stops here at Colosseo/Fori Imperiali, with a passage to Line B.
How do I get from Termini to the Colosseum?
Take Metro Line B toward Laurentina. The Colosseum is two stops away. On foot it takes roughly 25 minutes.
Can I use a public transport ticket on the Leonardo Express?
No. The single BIT ticket and the 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets are not valid on the non-stop Leonardo Express.
How much is a taxi from the airports to the Colosseum?
Fixed fares apply for trips inside the Aurelian Walls: € 55.00 from Fiumicino and € 40.00 from Ciampino. The fare is per taxi, not per person, and includes all supplements.
Is there parking at the Colosseum?
Hardly. Parking near the Colosseum is scarce. If you arrive by car, you can leave it in the large parking garage at Termini station (entrance at Via Marsala 53) and continue by metro.
Check opening hours, weather and entry tips on our Colosseum overview.
