The family card
Family card
0+
Minimum ageNo minimumNo minimum. Under-12s must be with an adult.
6+
Enjoys from6 years
3h
Duration1h30 – 3h
?
StrollerThe official site publishes no stroller policy. A lift links the first and second levels, but it is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility, so bring a carrier for a baby.
€
Child priceFree under 18 · €18 adult (24h ticket) · €24 with arena or underground
WC
Toilets and changingChanging tableToilets on the first level near the entrance turnstiles, with a changing table. More at the Forum entrance on Via di San Gregorio.
Q
QueueLong queuesEntry is by timed, named ticket and adults need ID. The line you will meet is security, and it is slowest mid-morning.
☀
Best timeTake the first slot at 8:30. From 25 October last admission moves to 15:30.
Verdict by age
Not a general rating. How each age band actually experiences it.
Great from six up, when the gladiator story lands. Three to five year olds manage the Colosseum alone if you keep it to an hour. With a baby it is hot, crowded and awkward with a stroller.
The same ticket covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill next door. With under-8s, pick one: the Palatine has more shade and grass, the Forum is a long, exposed walk over uneven stone. Tickets are issued by name for a fixed entry time and go on sale 30 days ahead, so this is the one thing in Rome you book first and plan the rest around.
Tips for the visit
- Book the free under-18 tickets in the same order as the adult ones. Children need a ticket too.
- The Full Experience ticket (€24) adds the arena floor or the underground, which is what older kids remember.
- Free entry on the first Sunday of the month sounds good and is the most crowded day of all.
- Bring water and hats. There is very little shade in the Forum.
Sources
Facts checked on Oct 4, 2026 against these pages: