There’s something magical about seeing the Colosseum after sunset. Under the soft light of the Roman night and far from the daytime crowds, this ancient wonder reveals a completely new side of its history.
In this guide you’ll learn everything you need to know about the night visit – from tickets and schedules to what the tour includes, who it’s suitable for, and how to prepare for a truly unforgettable experience in the Eternal City.
For a few months each year, the Roman Colosseum opens its doors to tourists after sunset.
The experience is magical: under the enchantment of Rome’s summer sky, Colosseum visitors feel transported to another time and learn interesting facts from the history of this incredible architectural monument with the help of a local guide as they visit the Colosseum’s underground section, see the gladiators’ entrance, and step onto the arena.
This journey takes them from the amphitheater’s bloody underground to the outdoor seating area, where the emperor, his associates, and ordinary Romans gathered to watch the famous gladiatorial competitions and shows.
I’ve visited the Colosseum many times and highly recommend this night experience.
Although the tour doesn’t cover the entire monument, walking through the underground corridors and open spaces brings the place to life and offers fantastic photo opportunities, as well as learning new and interesting facts from that distant time.
Whether you’ve already been to the Colosseum or are planning a first visit, I highly recommend trying to get a ticket for the night visit: this is an experience you’ll remember forever!
Dates and Prices for Colosseum Evening Tours
Evening Colosseum tours are called “Luna sul Colosseo” (Moon over the Colosseum). They’re held every year during the summer and fall season from Thursday to Saturday. The typical season runs:
- Dates: Late May through December (dates vary by year – check official sources for current year)
- Duration: 1 hour
Tickets are sold exclusively by the Colosseum and are priced as follows:
- Adult (full fare) – €25.00
- ParCo members (Parco Colosseo) – €22.00
- Reduced ticket for people under 25 – €20.00
- Free access for children under 6
Tickets are usually offered one month in advance. You can purchase tickets here.
Please note: Visit dates cannot be changed and money paid for tickets is non-refundable if you decide to return them.
Therefore, I recommend learning more about different types of Colosseum tickets here before making a purchase.
Colosseum Night Tour: What to Expect
I think the best way to share what the Colosseum night tour feels like is to tell you how our visit went.
Our group included me and my two children. We bought tickets about a month in advance and started our Colosseum tour at 9:30 PM.
Arrival, Tickets, and Security Check
We arrived at the Colosseum about twenty minutes before our tour started. There was no line, and a friendly staff member told us we’d come too early and to return five minutes before the tour began.
That’s exactly what we did: we spent the time listening to street musicians and photographing the illuminated Arch of Constantine (if you’re curious, you can read everything about Rome’s Triumphal Arches here) and five minutes before our tour started, we showed up at the entrance again.
They let us in immediately and directed us to security checks, which took only a minute.
One of the biggest advantages of the Colosseum night tour is that there are almost no people.
So we got through security quickly and took some beautiful photos of the main entrance without absolutely anyone around!
After security, they showed us the meeting point and the guide came to get us from there and we set off.
Stop 1: The Colosseum Underground
After a brief introduction, our guide led us to the Colosseum’s underground section, where once again I was convinced this area is the most captivating.
The Colosseum underground consists of many tunnels beneath the arena, also known as the stage, and is where all the backstage action happened.
Here you can see the gate through which gladiators entered the arena, the animal cage area, and the elevators that lifted them to the stage.
You also learn about some elements of the Colosseum’s structure and discover why archaeologists believe the Colosseum was once used for naval battles.
The tunnels were located under the stage area and must have been terrible and oppressive. Now though, that’s not the case. Viewing them could even be called romantic, because you’re actually walking under the open sky.
Stop 2: The Jerusalem Fresco
Each year the “Colosseum at Night” experience focuses on one aspect of the amphitheater’s history. The theme varies by year and may highlight different periods and elements of the Colosseum’s long history.
The Colosseum was built in the 1st century AD and used until around the 6th century.
After that it had several incarnations, one of which saw it converted into a church.
The Colosseum was built partly with wealth that came from the conquest of the Temple in Jerusalem by Titus, and many later sources (subsequently proven wrong) mention it as a place of martyrdom for Christians.
As a way of compensation, in the 17th century the idea emerged to convert it into a church and indeed, remains of three different Christian churches can now be seen in it.
Evidence of this time includes various frescoes and religious elements. These historical layers are sometimes highlighted through light projections that bring to life different eras of the Colosseum’s history.
The illuminated presentations throw new light on the Colosseum’s history, often associated only with the years of gladiatorial battles.
Stop 3: The Arena
The third and final stop on our tour was the arena, also known as the area where battles and performances took place, the stage.
The arena is very impressive.
Standing on it, you find yourself on a stage with 72,000 seats visible above you. From it you can see the audience areas, look at the underground zone from above, and imagine how demoralizing it must have been for the people there.
This is where animal hunts, gladiatorial battles, and executions took place.
The arena is one of the most visually impressive parts of the Colosseum and a wonderful place to visit with a guide: gladiatorial battles have captured many people’s imagination and it’s interesting to learn how only part of what we think we know is actually true!
>>> You can get a quick idea of what we learned by reading our brief summary of gladiator facts here. <
Important to know: The night tour doesn’t include access to the Colosseum’s upper levels and the second floor exhibition. For this you need to buy a ticket for a daytime tour.
Visiting the Colosseum at Night with Kids: Tips + What to Know
I visited the Colosseum at night with my kids and noticed several other families.
The tour isn’t specifically for children; however, the limited duration (1 hour) and friendly guide made it interesting and suitable for them.
Younger children may find the tour boring – it follows a pre-organized route and you can’t wander around, so you only have time for a brief break if your child gets restless.
It’s also important to know that while you can enter the Colosseum with a stroller, this particular tour didn’t allow it – one family that came with one had to leave it at the entrance and pick it up at the end.
For older children the tour is a little treat: the darkness and lighting made it a bit adventurous – perfect for elementary school kids and teenagers.
>>> See all our tips for visiting the Colosseum with kids here <
Which Is Better: Visiting the Colosseum at Night or During the Day?
Visiting the Colosseum at night is very different from a daytime visit, so I’m glad I was able to do both.
The main differences to consider are:
- Visiting the Colosseum at night is only with a guide
- The Colosseum night tour includes the underground area and arena, but not the second floor
- You can visit the Colosseum during the day with or without a guide
- Daytime Colosseum visits often include access to the Forum. Night visits don’t include this.
Given all the above information, I recommend visiting the Colosseum at night if:
- You’re in Rome during summer and want to avoid midday heat
- You want to visit the Colosseum with a guide and don’t mind skipping the Forum
- You’ve already seen the Colosseum during the day and want to see it from a different perspective
- You have kids and teenagers who might enjoy the adventurous feel of the evening tour
Reasons NOT to Visit the Colosseum at Night
I don’t recommend visiting the Colosseum at night if you want to:
- Walk at your own pace
- See the upper floors and second floor exhibitions
- Also visit the Forum (you need to buy a separate ticket for this)
- Visit when the night is very cold
- Bring very young children
Practical Tips for Visiting the Colosseum at Night
The Colosseum tour requires a fair amount of walking, so I recommend:
- Wear comfortable shoes: The Colosseum floor is often uneven and good walking shoes or sandals are mandatory. You don’t need hiking boots, but comfortable sandals, sneakers, or similar shoes will put less strain on your feet. Avoid heels.
- In summer dress lightly! There’s no dress code for the Colosseum, and in summer it gets hot: don’t forget to dress for the weather.
- In winter bundle up! In winter the Colosseum can get very cold: make sure you have appropriate clothing and dress for the weather
- Bring small bags: Limit your luggage size as much as possible. There are fewer people at night, but bulky luggage isn’t allowed as it can pose a security risk. A normal-sized crossbody bag or day backpack can hold everything important you need.
- When making your reservation, choose the “Print at Home” option so you can show your tickets on your phone without having to print them on paper and without having to stop at the ticket office.
How to Skip the Line When Visiting the Colosseum at Night
All Colosseum night tickets are timed entry, which means there’s no line!
You just need to arrive at the entrance a few minutes before your turn and you’ll be admitted without problems. Please don’t pay extra for tickets that promise you’ll skip the line: there’s no need, as there’s no line to skip!
I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of the Colosseum night tour and it made you want to visit.