🏛️ Capitoline Museums ticket: prices, opening hours and main halls

Capitoline Hill holds almost the entire history of Rome in one small area. The ancient senate met here, and today three palaces stand here with millions of exhibits.

You'll find the Capitoline Museums right behind the Roman Forum, at the highest point of the hill. In one visit you'll see the Capitoline Wolf, halls with Caravaggio, and a gallery overlooking the forum.

Below we'll break down what to see in each palace, how much a ticket costs, and how to get there.

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💡 In short:

A single ticket covers all three palaces and the underground gallery.
Go on a weekday morning: the ticket line is short.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the museum's official website.

History of Capitoline Hill

Capitoline Hill was the center of Roman power long before the museums. The city's main temple stood here, and the senate met nearby. Later the hill was occupied by Christian buildings, and ancient statues ended up underground.

The ensemble got a new life in the 16th century. Michelangelo received the commission to redesign the square, and he conceived three palaces around a trapezoidal piazza. His followers completed the work, and Capitoline Square itself became a model for European cities.

The hill survived invasions and fires. In the Middle Ages, part of the ancient buildings were dismantled for construction materials, and statues were buried under earth. It was under that layer of soil that many bronze masterpieces now standing in the museum halls were found.

The first public collection was opened by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471 (as of: 09/2026, museum history). He donated bronze statues to the city, and the museum traces its history from that gift.

Today the complex includes the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Palazzo Nuovo, and Palazzo Senatorio. Below we'll go through each palace and its main exhibits.

What to see: palaces and main exhibits

The three buildings of the complex are connected by an underground gallery, and the ticket covers all of them. Let's start with the sculptures people come here for.

Capitoline Wolf

The bronze wolf is considered the symbol of Rome. For a long time it was taken for an Etruscan work from the 5th century BC, but modern research dates the casting to the Middle Ages. The original is kept in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, while a copy stands on a column by the square.

The figures of the infants Romulus and Remus were added later, at the end of the 15th century. They are done in a different style, and it's noticeable up close. A tour group usually gathers next to the wolf.

Copies of the wolf have spread around the world. You'll find them in Romania, in the park by the Olympic stadium in Tokyo, as well as in Pisa, New York, and Paris. In Rome the original is kept under glass, in a separate room.

Dying Gaul

The marble copy reproduces a bronze original cast in honor of a victory over the Gauls. The sculptor depicted a fallen warrior on his shield and precisely conveyed the agony of death. During Napoleon's time the statue was taken to France and displayed in the Louvre.

Panorama of Rome with church domes and the Vittoriano

The damaged sculpture was bought by Pope Clement XII and given to the Capitoline. Restorers recreated the missing parts, but the warrior's pose remained almost unchanged.

The Dying Gaul now stands in the Palazzo Nuovo. Look at it from the side: that's where you can see the tensed muscles and the support on his arm.

Capitoline Brutus

The bronze portrait of a man was found in Rome at the end of the 15th century. It was cast in the early 3rd century BC, and the features resemble Brutus on ancient coins. The eyes are inlaid, and that detail has survived to this day.

Rooftops of Rome and a cathedral dome at sunset

The sculpture is considered one of the finest portraits of antiquity. The artist conveyed a heavy gaze and tightly pressed lips. Step closer: the inlaid eyes and hair are done with rare precision.

Boy with Thorn

A bronze boy sits on a stone and pulls a thorn from his left foot. The statue survived the Middle Ages and remained visible the whole time, which is why it was copied so often. You'll find marble replicas in the British Museum and in the Medici collection.

Bronze boy removing a thorn from his foot

According to legend, the boy was a shepherd and warned the Romans of an enemy attack. He reached the hill, pulled out the thorn, and died. Look at the figure from behind: the artist finely sculpted the back and shoulders.

Colossus of Constantine

Panoramic view over the terracotta rooftops of Rome

From the giant statue of Emperor Constantine, the head, hands, and feet have survived. The head is almost two and a half meters tall, and the entire figure reached about twelve meters. The body was carved from marble, while the clothing was assembled from wood with gilding and bronze.

The fragments are displayed in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori. Recently, a full-scale reconstruction of the colossus was installed in the garden of Villa Caffarelli (as of 09/2026, museum exhibitions). This lets you see how the monument looked in its entirety.

Palazzo dei Conservatori

Palazzo dei Conservatori is considered the oldest building in the ensemble. It houses the main museum entrance and the halls with ancient sculpture. Judges and senators once convened in this palace.

The Pinacoteca holds works by Caravaggio, Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, and Velázquez. A separate room is dedicated to the Capitoline Wolf, and signs from the entrance lead there.

The palace facade is decorated with pilasters on different floors. Inside, you will see marble busts of popes and ancient bronze works.

Sala Castellani houses red-figure and black-figure vases, as well as Etruscan bronze. A fresco in the adjacent room depicts the duel between the Horatii and the Curiatii. The gallery on the upper floor offers a view of the Roman Forum.

Palazzo Nuovo

Palazzo Nuovo was built later, modeled on the Conservatori, and has operated as a public museum since the 18th century. It is called the first public museum in Rome (as of 09/2026, museum catalog).

Here you will find the Capitoline Venus, Cupid and Psyche, the Dying Gaul, and ancient mosaics. The rooms have names: Sala delle Colombe, Sala del Fauno, and Sala dei Filosofi.

In the palace courtyard stands the statue of Marforio, one of the "talking statues." Residents of Rome attached notes to it expressing discontent with the authorities.

Palazzo Senatorio

Palazzo Senatorio stands in the center of the square and still serves as Rome's city hall. Most of the rooms are closed to visitors, but the lower tier of the Tabularium is open. The Tabularium was the state archive of ancient Rome.

In the halls you will see a statue of Julius Caesar and the collection of busts of the Protomoteca Capitolina. The palace facade features baroque elements and two side towers, with a bell tower rising above them.

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius

In the center of the Capitoline Square stands a copy of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. The original is sheltered in the museum to protect the bronze from exhaust fumes. The statue was created in the 2nd century and was long mistaken for a depiction of Constantine.

It was precisely this mistake that saved the bronze from being melted down. The statue's pedestal was assembled from columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. You will find the original in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, in a separate room.

Palazzo Caffarelli-Clementino

Palazzo Caffarelli-Clementino was added to the complex in the 20th century. Today it hosts temporary exhibitions.

Facade of the Palazzo Caffarelli with balcony and arch

Until mid-December 2026, Villa Caffarelli is hosting an exhibition of works by Diego Rivera (as of 09/2026, exhibition calendar). It requires a separate ticket, which is not included in the general admission.

Underground gallery and Tabularium

The palaces were connected by an underground passage as early as the beginning of the 20th century. The Galleria Lapidaria houses ancient stone slabs with inscriptions, and from the gallery window you can see the Roman Forum.

Piazza Navona in Rome with obelisk and fountain

The gallery entrance is located near the Forum, and along the way you will pass the ruins of ancient dwellings. This is the quietest part of the museum, with few tour groups and almost no queue.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The museum is open every day from 9:30 to 19:30, with last entry at 18:30 (as of 09/2026, museum schedule). The museum is closed only on May 1 and December 25.

A full ticket for visitors from other cities costs 15 €, and a reduced ticket is about 9.50 € (as of 09/2026, museum fares). With a temporary exhibition, the price is higher: 16.50 € and 11 €.

Rome residents and MIC card holders enter for free. Online booking adds 1 €, and prepaid tickets are non-refundable (as of 09/2026, booking terms).

Get an audio guide for 4 € or a video guide for 6 € if you want to explore the halls without a group (as of 09/2026, prices and services). They are sold at the ticket office on the day of your visit. The ticket selection below will help you plan your visit in advance.

Tours and tickets in Capitoline Museums

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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How to get to the Capitoline Hill

The museum is located at Piazza del Campidoglio 1, next to the Roman Forum (as of 09/2026, address and phone). The museum phone number is 060608, and it operates from 9:00 to 19:00.

From the Colosseum, you can walk there in about fifteen minutes. From the metro, the most convenient option is to get off at the station near the Colosseum and walk up past the Forum, while surface transport goes to Piazza Venezia.

The Cordonata staircase leads directly to the Capitoline Square. It is easier to climb than the steep side streets, and along the way you will see the equestrian statue from below.

The catch: the uphill climb over cobblestones. In hot weather, bring water and do not plan your visit for midday.

Museums on the Capitoline Hill map

Below is an interactive map with the museum location marked. Tap it to plot a route from your hotel.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does entry to the Capitoline Museums cost?

A full ticket for visitors from other cities costs 15 € (as of 09/2026, ticket fares). Other fares and booking terms are listed in the ticket prices section.

What days is the museum closed?

The Capitoline Museums are closed only on May 1 and December 25 (as of 09/2026, museum page). On other days, arrive at least two hours before closing.

How much time do you need to see the museum?

The main halls take about two hours. If you want to see both Palazzo Nuovo and the underground gallery, allow three hours. We recommend going on a weekday morning, when there is almost no line at the entrance.

How do you get to the museum from the Colosseum?

Walking from the Colosseum to the Capitoline Hill takes about fifteen minutes. The route passes by the Roman Forum, and there are stairs and an uphill section along the way.

What to see first?

Start with the Capitoline Wolf and the halls of the Palazzo dei Conservatori with Caravaggio. Then take the underground gallery to the Palazzo Nuovo to see the Capitoline Venus and the Dying Gaul. Finish with the view of the Roman Forum and the copy of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.

In short: what to book

The Capitoline Museums are best visited in the first half of the day, while the halls are less crowded. The palaces and the underground gallery take at least two hours.

If you are traveling with children: take a morning visit and skip the long tour. If you are interested in painting: allow three hours for the Conservatori and Nuovo. If you value antiquity: do not miss the underground gallery and the Colossus of Constantine.

A timed-entry ticket is best bought in advance: book admission to the Capitoline Museums.

Capitoline Museums in Rome: what to see and how to get in without a queue