🏛️ How much does entry to the Pantheon cost and when is it least crowded

The Pantheon in Rome has survived to this day almost without reconstruction. It is one of the few ancient temples that still serves its original purpose: services are held inside every day, and beneath the dome lie the tombs of Raphael and two kings of Italy. Admission has been paid since July 3, 2023, with a full ticket costing 7 € (as of 09/2026, Alanews). The basilica is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:30 (as of 09/2026, official basilica website). Below: the history, a breakdown of the dome, and practical details for your trip, including price, time slots, and how to get there from the metro.

Ad: this text contains affiliate links, we earn a commission from them, the price for you does not change.

Construction history

💡 In short:

The current building was erected by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD on the site of Agrippa's burned-down temple (temple history).
Inside, look for the oculus in the center of the dome and Raphael's tomb.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

The word "Pantheon" means "temple of all gods." The first temple on this site was built by Consul Marcus Agrippa to commemorate the victory over Antony and Cleopatra, and the inscription with his name is still visible on the pediment today (Pantheon history). The building burned several times. Around 110 AD, a major fire nearly destroyed the structure, and around 126 AD Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the temple from scratch. What remains of Agrippa's building are the portico, 16 columns, and that very inscription. In 202 AD, under Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla, the wall finishes and marble cladding were renewed.

From pagan temple to Christian church

Coffered dome of the Pantheon with the oculus seen from inside

The Pantheon survived because it always served as a temple. Abandoned ancient buildings in Rome gradually turned into ruins, but services are still held here today. Ancient Romans made sacrifices and burned animals on the altar directly beneath the dome.

Agrippa broke with centuries of tradition: not only priests were allowed into the temple, but also ordinary citizens. The entrance was designed as a triumphal arch, and everyone who entered seemed to become a triumphant victor themselves. In May 609, the temple was consecrated as the Christian basilica Santa Maria ad Martyres: Byzantine Emperor Phocas handed the building over to Pope Boniface IV (the temple's conversion into a church).

The pagan sculptures on the pediment were knocked down and replaced with statues of saints, and the walls were decorated with paintings of biblical scenes. In 655, Emperor Constans II removed some of the metal and gilded tiles, after which the church began to fall into disrepair. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica on November 1. Since then, that day has been observed as All Saints' Day (history of the basilica).

Architecture and architect

Pantheon in Rome: columned portico and rotunda behind it

The Pantheon's form is assembled from simple volumes: a hemispherical dome, a portico in the shape of a rectangular prism, and a cylindrical rotunda. The interior diameter of the dome is over 43 meters, and the rotunda walls, 6 meters thick, stand on a foundation about 4.5 meters deep (dimensions and structures). It was built from concrete, brick, and travertine, with granite and Greek marble used for the finishes.

The portico is supported by two rows of columns. Under the dome there are 140 coffers: they are not only decoration but also a way to reduce the weight of the structure (dome coffers). The niches on the sides are separated from the hall by Corinthian columns. According to one version, the work was supervised by Apollodorus of Damascus, Trajan's court architect. For its time, this was an engineering challenge without parallel: the dome rests on the walls rather than on separate supports.

The Pantheon outside and inside

Pantheon portico on Piazza della Rotonda

Outside, the facade is supported by 16 granite columns brought from Egypt; the capitals were carved from Greek marble. The roof was once covered with gilded bronze plates, but they have not survived to the present day. The bronze doors, 7 meters high, have survived from antiquity and still work today (ancient details).

Inside, the floor and walls are faced with warm ochre marble with white inclusions. The walls have two tiers, and the columns of the second tier draw your eye up to the dome. Around the perimeter of the hall there are seven niches: one serves as the entrance, and the rest hold statues of Catholic saints. Near the entrance you will find sculptures of Agrippa and Hadrian, the builders of the temple.

In front of the temple lies Piazza della Rotonda. In the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk, placed here in 1711, and the fountain appeared in the 16th century (square in front of the temple).

Dome and oculus

Coffered dome of the Pantheon with the round oculus in the center

The dome is divided into distinct circles. Historians believe it was once decorated with stars and floral rosettes, but there is no evidence of this. In the center gapes an oculus 9 meters in diameter (dome structure). There are no windows in the building; light enters only through this opening.

The oculus is never closed, so the temple has a drainage system, and the floor is built with a slight slope. According to a popular legend, the rising flow of warm air carries raindrops away. The dome is a perfect hemisphere and occupies almost half the volume of the building, with a bronze border running along its edge.

According to legend, the opening appeared during a service: dark forces could not withstand the sounds of the liturgy and fled upward with a howl, breaking through the ceiling. Historians treat this version as an urban myth. On a sunny afternoon, a column of bright light falls through the oculus into the temple.

Why is there a hole in the dome?

The builders made the temple for cult rituals, so the opening in the center was intentional. It was called the "eye" and was associated with the Sun. For practical purposes, it served as a chimney: smoke from the sacrificial fire escaped freely outside.

According to pagan beliefs, prayers reached the gods faster along with the smoke. Scholars have proposed another hypothesis: the oculus worked as a sundial. Over the course of the year, the beam moves along the walls and illuminates different areas, and on April 21, the day Rome was founded, the light falls on the main entrance (Pantheon sundial).

There is a theory that the Pantheon's geometry nudged Copernicus toward the idea of a heliocentric system: the Earth revolves around the Sun, not the other way around.

On the fiftieth day after Easter, at Pentecost, scarlet rose petals fall through the oculus onto the congregation. This rite is called the rain of roses (Pentecost rite), and it fills the temple to capacity.

Who is buried in the Pantheon

Artists, architects, and the royal family rest in the Pantheon. The most famous burial belongs to Raphael Sanzio, who died in 1520. His fiancee Maria Bibbiena is buried nearby. The temple also holds the graves of the painter Giovanni da Udine and the architect Baldassare Peruzzi (Pantheon burials).

Members of the House of Savoy lie in the chapels. Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a united Italy, was among the first to be buried here. Nearby is the grave of his son Umberto I, who was shot dead in 1900. Twenty-six years after her husband's death, Margherita of Savoy was buried here as well; the memorial is adorned with a funerary urn designed by Sacconi.

Tickets and opening hours

What	As of (09/2026)
Opening hours	daily 9:00-19:00, last entry at 18:30 (basilica opening hours)
Closed	January 1 and December 25 (holiday closures)
Ticket	full price 7 EUR, paid entry since July 3, 2023 (price increase from July 2026)
Time slots	advance booking is not required, tickets are also sold on site
Free entry	first Sunday of the month (free days)

The ticket is valid for the selected time slot and can be bought on site or online. Personal photography is allowed inside, but flash disturbs the service, and you will have a hard time shooting the dome without interference. The ticket pickup point is at the Museum Store at Via dei Bergamaschi 49, a five-minute walk from the temple (as of 09/2026, ticket pickup point).

If you want to explore the center with a guide, check out Rome tours on GetYourGuide.

Tours and tickets in Pantheon

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

See offers on Tiqets

The widget loads once you give your consent.

Where it is and how to get there

The Pantheon stands on Piazza della Rotonda in central Rome, between Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain. From Piazza Navona you can walk there in a few minutes, and the square itself is easy to find by the obelisk. Open on the map.

The nearest metro station is Barberini on line A, about 700 meters away on foot (as of 09/2026, how to get to the basilica). Buses 30, 40, 62, 64, 81, 87 and 492 stop at Largo di Torre Argentina, from there it is 400 meters to the square. For taxis and transfers, set the destination to Piazza della Rotonda: the surrounding streets are pedestrian-only, and a car cannot go any farther (per the map).

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a Pantheon ticket cost?

From July 1, 2026, a full-price ticket costs 7 €; before that the price was 5 € (news about the new fare). For reduced categories and free days, see the visitor page.

Is the Pantheon open on Sunday?

Yes, the basilica is open every day, including Sunday (entry schedule). On Sunday morning part of the space is taken up by services, so there is less room to move around than on weekdays. The church is closed only on January 1 and December 25. On the first Sunday of the month, entry is free.

How do I get to the Pantheon from the metro?

The nearest station is Barberini on line A, about 700 meters away on foot (directions). The walk takes about ten minutes, part of the route goes along Via del Tritone.

Can you take photos inside?

Personal photography without a tripod is not prohibited here, but flash and loud conversation disturb the service. The Pantheon remains an active basilica, so covered clothing is more appropriate than shorts. In summer, come at opening time or after 6:00 PM (visiting rules), when there are fewer groups around the oculus.

What should you definitely see inside?

Inside, look first of all at the dome with the oculus, the marble floor, and the tombs. You will find Raphael's tomb, the graves of Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I (who is buried in the Pantheon). Near the entrance stand sculptures of Agrippa and Hadrian. 40 minutes is enough for a visit, and you do not need to buy a separate ticket for the chapels.

In short: what is worth booking

You will see the Pantheon in 40 minutes, so fit it into a central Rome route rather than a separate day. If you have one day in Rome: the Pantheon and Piazza Navona in the morning, the Colosseum in the afternoon, the Trevi Fountain in the evening. Get a morning ticket, at opening time there are the fewest people at the oculus, and you will not have to stand in line. For trains in Italy, buy tickets on Trip.com, and book a guided walk on GetYourGuide.

Pantheon in Rome: 7 € ticket, opening hours and what to see inside