How to See the Coliseum and Roman Forum for Free (First Sunday of the Month in Rome)
On the first Sunday of the month, state museums and archeological sites are free in Rome. If you’re traveling on a budget, this is a great time to visit the famous Coliseum and Roman Forum for free. Of course, it also gets extremely crowded on these days, so we’ve put together a brief guide, based on our experience, to help you navigate through the day for the best experience.
2020 Update: The Colosseum no longer follows the first Sunday schedule, however, it entrance is still free on select days of the year.
First Sunday Coliseum in Rome: Start Early!
Both the Coliseum and Roman Forum open at 8:30am. Since the Coliseum has the longer line all day long, we recommend going there first. Arrive at the Coliseum between 7:30-8am for the shortest wait and to enter the site with the fewest crowds. In the summer when it can get even busier, it may be worth arriving before 7:30.
When we went it was October. We arrived around 7:50am, and the line was already extending past the set of serpentining stanchions. Tons of guides will ask if you want to skip the line and enter with them, but many of them are not legitimately registered. They also charge a fee and ask for tips.
The line to the Coliseum started moving not long after 8:30 and we advanced steadily until we reached the entrance around 8:50am. We stopped at the entrance for several minutes, probably because they had reached capacity. After the first entrance, you still have to go through the security check – putting all electronics and bags through the metal detector. Then you continue in a line to get a ticket from one of the ticket windows. Yes, even though it’s free, you still need a ticket (probably for counting and crowd control). Pass through the turn stiles and you’re finally in to roam free!
It gets crowded quickly, especially with the bigger tour groups trying to flock together. We recommend heading to the upper level for the best view and to check out the exhibits.
If you avoid the entrance area and the various tour groups, you might be lucky enough to find a quiet corner with some temporary solitude.
A Free Tour via Rick Steves Europe App
We really liked using the Rick Steves Europe app with his tour of the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. We started listening to the audio tour while we were standing in line. It worked out well to listen to the first twenty minutes while in line, then 10 minutes while looking over the Coliseum from the upper level, and then finishing the tour while standing in line for a few minutes to get tickets at the Forum.
First Sunday Roman Forum
Once we left the Coliseum (around 10am), we headed straight across to the Roman Forum ticket line, which is to the right of the entrance to the Forum. This line was much shorter and moved steadily. We probably waited 10 minutes.
Once we had our free ticket in hand, we continued up the Via Sacra to the entrance. Phones, electronics, and bags went through a metal detector again, then we swiped our ticket through the turn stile. This line was relatively short – less than 5 minutes.
For the Roman Forum, we followed the Rick Steves audio guide to a T, and we really liked it. The Roman Forum is truly a marvel and the audio guide brought its history to life.
With the Rick Steves audio tour – or another free audio guide of your choice – combined with an early start on the 1st Sunday of the month, I can’t think of a better way to visit two of the most popular Roman monuments without spending a dime.
Another special way to see the Coliseum for free is to visit in the evening when it’s all lit up. Find a nice view from a hill in the nearby park and admire the amazing structure from the outside.
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Other museums and sites that are free on the first Sunday in Rome:
– National Museum (Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, Terme di Diocleziano)
– Galleria Borghese (must book ina dvance)
– National Etruscan Museum, Villa Giulia
– Modern Art Gallery
– H.C. Andersen Museum
– National Gallery of Ancient Art, Palazzo Barberini
–National Gallery of Ancient Art, Palazzo Corsini
– Galleria Spada
– Palazzo Venezia
– Castel Sant’Angelo (limited entrances)
– National Museum of Oriental Art, “G. Tucci”
–National Museum of Prehistoric Ethnography “L. Pigorini”
–National Museum of Art and Tradition Popolari
– National Museum of Early Middle Ages
– National Museum of Instruments
– Terme di Caracalla
– Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella
– Villa dei Quintili
– Santa Maria Nova sull’Appia Antica
– Villa di Livia a Prima Porta
– Archeological Area di Veio
– Scavi di Ostia Antica
– Museo Ostiense
– Castello di Giulio II
– Archeological Area del Porto di Traiano
– Villa Adriana a Tivoli
– Villa d’Este a Tivoli
Also, the Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month!
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