Historic Site · Rome, Italy
Colosseum
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. Built 82–81. It drew 5,832,996 visitors in 2022.
Photo: FeaturedPics via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Rome, Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | 82–81 |
| Height | Height: 48 m |
| Annual visitors (2022) | 5,832,996 |
| Coordinates | 41.8903° N, 12.4922° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Colosseum is known for
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum.
About Colosseum
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is the largest standing amphitheatre in the world. Construction began under Emperor Vespasian (r.
History
The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills, through which a canalised stream ran as well as an artificial lake/marsh. By the 2nd century BC the area was densely inhabited. It was devastated by the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, following which Nero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Colosseum website — the official site has the current visiting information.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — mild weather and smaller crowds than summer.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Rome |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Ciampino Airport (CIA) |
| Distance from the airport | 8.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) · Rome, Italy · 8.3 miles away
- Rome–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) · Rome, Italy · 13.7 miles away
- Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport (PEG) · Perugia (PG), Italy · 83.3 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
Where to stay nearby
Places to stay near Colosseum, with a link to each place's own site.
- Hotel Colosseum · Monti, Rome
Hotel facing the Colosseum
- Palazzo Manfredi · Monti, Rome
Luxury hotel with Colosseum views
Where to eat nearby
Places to eat near Colosseum, with a link to each place's own site.
- Aroma Restaurant · Via Labicana, Rome
Rooftop restaurant with Colosseum views
- Osteria da Fortunata · Via del Pellegrino, Rome
Roman trattoria near the historic centre
More landmarks in Italy
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Colosseum?
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum.
Where is Colosseum located?
Colosseum is in Rome, Italy. Its coordinates are 41.8903° N, 12.4922° E.
How do I get to Colosseum?
The nearest town is Rome, and the nearest airport is Ciampino Airport (CIA), about 8.1 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Colosseum?
April to June and September to October — mild weather and smaller crowds than summer.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10285 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://colosseo.it/area/colosseo/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://colosseo.it/en/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.