How to visit Palatine Hill and its Gardens ? (Palatine Hill Tickets Explained)

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Learn about Palatine Hill tickets, including the best options to visit the Palatine Hill, Colosseum, and Roman Forum all in one go.

This guide covers everything you need to know about how to visit Palatine Hill and its stunning gardens. Discover the Palatine Hill location and find out how to get there easily from the city center.

For history lovers, explore the amazing past of Palatine Hill, where Rome’s legendary history began. Uncover its hidden gems, lush gardens, and ancient ruins that tell the story of Rome’s imperial glory. Jump in and learn all about the things to do on Palatine Hill and its breathtaking gardens!

Do You Need a Ticket for Palatine Hill?

Yes, you do need tickets for Palatine Hill. But you absolutely have to be aware that Palatine Hill Rome tickets are not sold separately. They are included in the combined ticket for the Colosseum and Roman Forum. This single ticket grants access to all three sites over two consecutive days. Remember to check when does Palatine Hill close as opening times mainly depend on the season.

3 Best Palatine Hill Tickets (Easy Ways to Avoid Long Lines)

Here are my top 3 picks to save time and avoid long queues at Palatine Hill:

1. 🎫 Simple Entry with Audio Guide. If you’re looking for a self-guided visit, then this combo ticket Colosseum Forum Palatine Hill with an audio guide is a top choice. This ticket grants access to all three sites and includes a digital audio guide to learn at your own pace. You'll skip the long ticket lines and have the opportunity to visit within the Palatine hours of operation.
2. 🚶‍♀️ Guided Tour (my top choice). My highest recommendation: the guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. This is, to me, the best option for first-time visitors to Rome or anyone who wants to maximize their experience. You’ll get priority access as well as an expert guide. This single ticket covers the most important historical sites of ancient Rome. An excellent value! You can buy it here on GetYourGuide or here on Tiqets.
3. 👑 Private VIP Experience. Looking for a more personalized experience? Then this private tour offers the ultimate in flexibility and attention. Your dedicated guide will tailor the tour to your interests and you'll enjoy exclusive access to areas often closed to the public. This is the best option if you’re fond of history or if you wish a more intimate setting for your visit.
4. 🌟 Bonus Surprise: Evening Light Show. You may also consider the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour with an evening light show. You'll be treated to a spectacular illumination of the ruins and get access to a different perspective. This tour offers great opportunities for Instagram-worthy photos of Rome in a whole new light!

No matter your plans, here are the best Palatine Hill tickets you can book right now >>

Palatine Hill Tickets (Quick Links)

Here are, to me, the top tickets to visit Palatine Hill:

• Entry with Audio Guide: this ticket provides access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum Palatine Hill with an informative audio guide. It's perfect for self-guided visit at your own pace and it’s one of the cheapest options too.
• Mamertine Prison Combo: combine your Palatine Hill visit with the historic Mamertine Prison. This ticket gives you a glimpse into ancient Roman justice alongside the grandeur of imperial ruins.
• Guided Tour: join a knowledgeable guide for an in-depth tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum and learn all fascinating historical details and skip the long entry lines.
• Evening Light Show: experience the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in a magical new light with this evening tour featuring a stunning illumination show.
• Official Site Ticket: book directly through the official Colosseum website for a straightforward 24-hour access to all three sites. Not the easiest way to book, but still worth mentioning.
• Small Group Tour: enjoy a more intimate experience with a small group guided tour. This tour lasts 2,5 hours and comes with personalized attention and insights.
• Arena Floor Access: this guided tour includes special access to the Colosseum's arena floor and visits Julius Caesar's Temple.
• Rome Tourist Card: get comprehensive access to multiple Rome attractions: Palatine Hill, Vatican museums, Pantheon… with this convenient Rome tourist card.
• Vatican Bundle: combine your Palatine Hill visit with Vatican Museums access and a city audio guide for a full Roman empire experience.

Where to Buy Tickets for Palatine Hill?

Many of my readers asked me: do I need tickets for Palatine Hill? The answer is yes.

And there are three main ways to purchase them:

1. Official online: this is an option, but the process is often clunky and unreliable. I tried it myself and it’s actually quite difficult to secure tickets, especially during peak seasons.
2. Third-party websites (my recommendation): I would advise you to use platforms like GetYourGuide, Tiqets or Viator. They offer the most convenient and reliable way to purchase tickets. They provide clear Palatine Hill timings, easy booking processes and often include skip-the-line options.
3. In-person: you also have the option to buy tickets at the Palatino entrance but here again, this isn’t recommended. You'll likely face long queues, especially during busy periods, and risk tickets being sold out.

One last thing: remember to check the Palatine opening hours before booking !

How to Book Palatine Hill Tickets?

You can book your Roman forum Palatine Hill tickets through two main methods:

• Official site: while possible, this option is actually pretty cumbersome. The official website has a clunky interface and is unreliable during peak seasons. I would not recommend this option.
• Third-party sites (recommended): you can also use platforms like Tiqets or GetYourGuide for a much smoother booking experience.

Here's the process:

1. Select your date and time slot
2. Choose your ticket type, enter the number of visitors
3. Provide necessary details and then complete the payment.

These sites are great as they provide instant confirmation and digital tickets. They also offer combo tickets with the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Here’s how to book a ticket like the Rome: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill Entry & Audioguide App.

Just click 👉 on the image to see it bigger!

How to Get to Palatine Hill ?

The Palatine Hill entrance is adjacent to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, so the closest metro stop is Colosseo (line B). If you’re taking the bus, the bus stop is also called Colosseo.

The official address is Roma, Via di San Gregorio 30. Besides the metro, you can reach Palatine Hill by bus numbers 51, 75, 81, 85, 87 and 118. Tram line 3 also stops nearby.

See there are multiple public transport options to access the Palatine Hill entrance, no matter which part of Rome you come from.

Palatine Hill Entrance Map

Here's a helpful Palatine Hill Rome map to help you orient during your visit. The main entrance to Palatine Hill is located on Via di San Gregorio, just south of the Colosseum.

This Palatine Hill location is easily accessible and serves as an excellent starting point for your visit. As you approach the area, you'll find that the Palatine Hill map is quite straightforward.

The entrance is clearly marked and leads you up a gentle slope into the heart of ancient Rome. I’d recommend you to go to Campidoglio to access the site easily.

Three entrances are easily reachable from here: one down near the Mamertine prison, the other one on the Via die Fori Imperiali, and the last one down from Capitoline Hill on the other side.

Remember, Palatine Hill is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the city, so take a moment to familiarize yourself with the layout.

The map also shows various points of interest scattered across the hill, including the ruins of imperial palaces, ancient houses and stunning viewpoints overlooking the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus.

Palatine Hill Hours – What’s the Best Time to Visit ?

So what time does Palatine Hill open?

Palatine Hill hours of operation are 9 am to 7:15 pm, but choosing a prime time to visit during the Palatine Hill hours can make your experience much more enjoyable.

Arriving early in the morning (9 am) or later in the afternoon (4 pm-5 pm) can mean the area is much less crowded. With less people about, you’ll have more space to enjoy the sights and take some great photos. You’ll also spend less time queuing for Palatine Hill entry.

Another benefit of visiting Palatine Hill is that at these times the sun is quite low in the sky. A low sun means two things: 1) it’s a bit cooler (which is definitely a bonus during summer), and 2) a low sun makes for much better pictures.

The hours mean that you only have until 7 pm to enjoy the area and the sights, but at certain times of year, sunset happens before this time. And watching the sunset over the Hill and the Roman Forum is a truly amazing sight.

Here, you can view the Palatine Hill opening hours in the table below.

How to Make the Most of Your Palatine Hill Visit ?

Take it easy and enjoy the incredible history and views. It’s a big site, so give yourself time to explore without rushing—you’ll have a way better experience!

Book Ahead Your Palatine Hill Tickets

The first way to make the most of your visit is to book your Palatine Rome tickets in advance (check the last price here). This is going to reduce the amount of time you have to wait in line, and means that all you have to do when you arrive is start enjoying your day.

Palatine Hill tickets include access to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill entrance.

Allow 2 days of visit

We’d also recommend not trying to visit all three of these attractions on the same day. Both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are quite large areas, and if you want to enjoy them fully, it’s worth splitting your visit between two days, perhaps the Colosseum and Roman Forum one day, and Palatine Hill the next. Whatever Palatine Hill ticket you buy will be valid for 2 consecutive days anyway.

Most people spend around two hours at the Colosseum, and about an hour and a half at the Roman Forum, and the same again at Palatine Hill. So whilst you could squeeze them all into a day, there wouldn’t be much spare time for grabbing lunch or a coffee. And let’s face it, sight-seeing can be quite tiring, so it’s worth allowing yourself some spare time.

Palatine Hill Tickets: How to Skip the Line ?

There are no separate Palatine Hill skip the line tickets, as access is included with the combined ticket for the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

If someone mentions Skip the line Palatine Hill tickets, it means you'll be able to bypass the queues at all three attractions—Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum—allowing you to head straight in without the wait. For example, this ticket is a great option and is booked by thousands of people each month.

Should You Book a Guided Tour of Palatine Hill ?

Booking a guided tour of Palatine Hill (check this one) is definitely worth doing. You’ll skip all the lines, as your tour guide will march you straight through, you’ll have an experienced guide to tell you about the history and take you to the best spots, and if you have any questions, you’ve got someone to ask.

If you’re visiting Palatine Hill on your own you won’t get the full history of the ruins, you’ll just get the snippets that are written on the information boards. So if you want to make the most of your visit, and learn all about the history of the place, a guided Palatine Hill tour (check the latest prices) is the only way to make sure you get all of the best information.

However, Palatine Hill guided tours can be much more expensive than just buying a Palatine Hil ticket and using a guide book or the audio guide to learn about the area.

Is the Roma Pass Worth It ?

The Roma Pass gives you entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, but it’s a tourist pass for those who plan on doing as much as possible during their time in Rome.

If you plan on making the most of the free and discounted attractions and travel it offers, it’s definitely worth the 33 or 59 euros (depending on whether you buy the 48 or 72 hour pass). In fact, you’ll even save money by using this pass.

However, it’s not worth it just as a ticket to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Is the Roma Tourist Card or Omnia Card Worth It?

Both the Rome Tourist Card and Omnia Card offer good value compared to the basic Roma Pass. The Rome Tourist Card provides more flexibility with no time limit, while the Omnia Card (available in 24h or 72h versions) includes Vatican attractions.

If you're only interested in the Palatine Hill and Colosseum, the Rome Tourist Card (check the latest price here) is likely your best option. It includes skip-the-line access to both sites and doesn't expire.

But if you also want to enjoy Vatican attractions, the Omnia Card might be more suitable, especially the 72-hour version which provides enough time to see the different sites. Here’s how you can get from the Colosseum to Vatican City, so you can plan your journey in advance.

What will you see during a visit to Palatine Hill ?

When you visit Palatine Hill, you’ll step into ancient Rome. Expect to see the ruins of grand palaces, ancient temples, and stunning views of the city and Roman Forum.

Historical buildings

Palatine Hill has hundreds of ruins for you to see, so many that it’s like stepping back in time to ancient Rome.

The Hill is also home to several buildings of interest, including the House of Augustus, the House of Livia, the Domus Flavia, and the Hippodrome of Domitian. There’s also the Palatine Museum, which showcases ancient Roman artefacts that have been discovered.

To enter some of these buildings though, you’ll need the Super Ticket (see detail here), which gives you access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Hill, as well as the House of Augustus, the House of Livia, the Palatine Museum and more.

Gardens

As well as the ruins, you’ll also see the Farnese Gardens. This area is an oasis of calm in a bustling city, and a beautiful burst of life after visiting the ruins of the fallen Roman empire. The gardens were built in the 16th century, on top of the ruins of the Palace of Tibulus.

View Over the Circus Maximus

As well as taking in everything the Hill has to offer, be sure to check out the views. The views over the Roman Forum 40 meters below, and the Circus Maximus will take your breath away. With no sign of the modern day city in sight, you’ll be looking down on ancient Rome, and you’ll feel like you’ve been thrown back in time.

Things to Know Before Visiting Palatine Hill

Before you set off for Palatine Hill, here’s what you should know to make the most of your visit and avoid any surprises along the way:

• Security – Palatine Hill is an important historical site, which means you’ll need to go through security checks at the Palatine Hill entrance. This can be a lengthy process, so leave yourself some time to go through security, especially if you’re entering later in the day. Skip the line Palatine Hill tickets unfortunately don’t apply to security, so even with those tickets, you’ll need to wait in line for security.
• Pickpockets – Unfortunately, whilst there’s lots of security at Palatine Hill, it’s not possible to stop every pickpocket. So keep an eye on your belongings, and don’t leave any valuables exposed or in easy-to-access places.
• Restrooms – There are several restrooms outside and also in the Palatine Museum.

What Is Palatine Hill in Rome ?

Whilst for most people the Colosseum is the first go-to ancient Roman site, Palatine Hill is actually one of the oldest parts of the city.

In ancient times, it was the wealthiest and most desirable area to live in, and as such was lived in by the city’s elite. Aristocrats and emperors used to live on this Mount, and enjoy views of the Roman Forum below on one side, and the Circus Maximus on the other side.

According to legend, the Hill is also the birthplace of Rome. The legend states that Luperca, a she-wolf, raised the brothers in a cave on Palatine Hill, and when they grew older they decided to build a city. However, Remus and Romulus couldn’t agree on how to proceed with building a city, so Romulus killed Remus, and created the city of Rome.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

When was Palatine Hill built ?

Palatine Hill wasn't built in the traditional sense. It's one of Rome's seven hills, naturally formed millions of years ago. Human settlement on Palatine Hill as well as the other seven hills dates back to around 1000 BC, but major construction of sumptuous palaces and buildings occurred during the Roman Empire, from the 1st century BC onwards.

Is Palatine Hill free ?

No, Palatine Hill is not free. It's included in the combined ticket for the Colosseum and Roman Forum. However it's free on the first Sunday of each month and on some special occasions, as well as for children under 18. EU citizens aged 18-25 can also get discounted tickets.

How long to visit Palatine Hill ?

Expect to spend about 1-2 hours visiting Palatine Hill. But if you’re fond of history, you might want to allow up to 3 hours to fully appreciate the ruins, gardens and panoramic views.

What time does Palatine Hill close ?

Palatine Hill closing time depends on the season. It usually closes one hour before sunset. From late March to August, it closes at 7:15 PM. In winter months, it may close as early as 4:30 PM.

Where is the Palatine Hill ticket office ?

The Palatine Hill ticket office is located at the main entrance on Via di San Gregorio, near the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. It's often less crowded than the Colosseum ticket office.

Can I go to Palatine Hill without a ticket ?

No, you cannot enter Palatine Hill without a ticket. You’ll have to get a valid ticket, which is combined with access to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Free entry days are an exception and they’re usually extremely crowded.

Can you buy Colosseum tickets at Palatine Hill?

Yes, you can buy Colosseum tickets at the Palatine Hill ticket office. The combined ticket for Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is available here. This entrance usually has shorter queues than the Colosseum ticket office.

Final Word

Palatine Hill is a beautiful area and definitely worth visiting, but if you want to make the most of your visit there are few things you should do. Buy your tickets in advance, decide whether or not you want to skip the line, arrive at off-peak times, and think about whether or not a guided tour is for you.