Colosseum Night Tours & Tickets

There are two ways to see the Colosseum at night: walk around the attraction or book a night tour and enter.

More than 99% of the tourists visit the attraction during the day, and the rest fight (not Gladiator style, of course!) for the limited night tour tickets.

That’s how rare a night tour ticket is.

These VIP night tours are also known as Moonlight tours.

When you visit the Roman Colosseum at night, there is no crowd, and it is silent and eerie.

If you love that feeling and want to explore areas that are unavailable during day tours, you must explore this Roman monument at night.

However, be aware that the night tour is in high demand; hence, you must book your night tour in advance.

What to expect on a night tour

The Colosseum is beautifully lit up at night, creating a captivating atmosphere.

The soft lighting emphasizes the grandeur of this ancient amphitheater and provides a different perspective compared to daytime visits.

Night tours tend to have fewer visitors, allowing for a more intimate experience.

With fewer people around, you can appreciate the architecture and history in a quieter setting.

The nighttime ambiance adds a different feel to the experience.

Combining the illuminated structure against the dark sky can create a dramatic and picturesque scene, allowing for stunning photo opportunities.

Things to know before booking tickets

You can buy tickets for Colosseum night tours online or offline.

Online ticket prices are usually cheaper than tickets at the attraction.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters. 

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Because the attraction sells limited tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.

Go to the Colosseum night tour ticket booking page, and select your preferred date, time slot, and number of tickets to buy.

You will receive the ticket confirmation in your email after the booking.

There is no need to get printouts of the ticket. 

You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.

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Colosseum night tour tickets

You avoid the crowd by night during this hassle-free tour of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome.

This night tour is led by a professional guide who narrates anecdotes, making it memorable.

You meet your guide at a distance from the attraction so that you can watch the lit-up monument in its full glory even as you walk towards it.

Besides the main and second floors, you also get to explore the Arena floor.

Tourists can opt to visit the Colosseum’s Underground or skip it, and the cost of the night tour changes accordingly.

This after-dark tour of Rome’s most beautiful monument is unsuitable for infants below two years.

Ticket prices

Adult (13+ years): €99
Child (2 to 12 years): €89

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Colosseum at night vs. day

A day and night visit to the Colosseum has pros and cons.

Colosseum by day

• You can choose between self-guided and guided tours
• You can book your entry ticket for any time during the day
• After visiting the Colosseum, you can also visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• It gets very crowded during the day
• The weather is hot because there is no cover

Colosseum at night

• The monument is lit up, creating amazing visuals both inside and outside
• Without the crowd, it seems like a private tour of the attraction
• You get to explore areas not available as part of the regular daytime ticket
• The darkness brings about a thrill and excitement which the day tour can’t match
• The night tour tickets cost much more than the regular daytime tickets
• The night tour tickets sell out much in advance, so you have to plan much ahead
• You can only see the Rome Colosseum at night. Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are not part of the night tours

It won’t be fair on our part to pick one tour over the other.

But having said that, we feel that your first visit must be during the day so that you can see the Roman architectural skills in full daylight.

If you have visited the Colosseum once during the daytime, you must try out the night visit.

Some tourists book the Vatican and Colosseum combo tour and see both attractions in a day. At the same time, some visitors prefer to see the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain together. 

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Colosseum by night timings

Colosseum night tours are available from April till the end of the year.

The night tours start an hour after the regular closing time of the attraction.

During the peak months of March to September, it closes at 7.15 pm.

Since the closing time depends on sunset, these night tours always start at dark.

These night tours usually last 1 to 2 hours.

Colosseum’s timings

The last Sunday of Oct to 15 Feb: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

16 Feb to 15 Mar: 8.30 am to 5 pm

16 Mar to the last Saturday of Mar: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm

Last Sunday of Mar to 31 Aug: 8.30 am to 7:15 pm

1 to 30 Sept: 8.30 am to 7 pm

1 Oct to last Saturday of Oct: 8.30 am to 6.30 pm

Tip: Whichever Colosseum entrance ticket you purchase, be at the attraction’s gates at least 15 minutes before the time mentioned on your ticket. If you are late, you will be sent back.

If roaming around at night interests you, check out these night tours of Rome – 

Recommended Reading
– Trivia about the Colosseum
– Colosseum made out of LEGO

Sources
# Romecolosseumtickets.tours
# Colosseum-rome-tickets.com
# Walksofitaly.com

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Tourist attractions in Rome