Web Analytics Made Easy - Statcounter

Vatican & Colosseum in One Day: Is It Possible? Our Take

Can you visit the Colosseum and the Vatican in one day?

Absolutely. But whether you should is another story.

St. Peter’s Square and Basilica in Vatican CityIf you don’t have much time, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica are worth a quick visit—and they’re free to enter

If you have the time, we'd always recommend visiting them on separate days.

After all, they’re two of Rome’s biggest attractions, and each deserves more than a quick visit.

Splitting them up gives you more time to explore, take breaks, and enjoy each site.

But if you're only in Rome for a day or two, combining Vatican and Colosseum is completely doable.

But, you need to plan your tickets/tours and timing carefully.

Just be prepared for a busy day with plenty of walking and an early start.

👉 Consider also booking the Rome in a Day Tour, which covers the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, and more in just 7 hours!

🔥 We’ve picked out some of our favourite Rome tours — now on sale!

Visitors gathered outside the Colosseum in Rome on a busy dayThe Colosseum is never quiet—it's a popular sight in every season

Our guide covers following info:

Different ways to visit the Vatican and Colosseum in one day

Visiting the Vatican and the Colosseum in one day can mean different things depending on your plans.

→ You might simply want to see them from the outside—the Colosseum exterior and St. Peter’s Square without entering the basilica.

→ Or you may want to visit the Colosseum inside, then head to St. Peter’s Basilica (which is free) and climb the dome.

→ Another option is combining visits to both the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums from inside (including the Sistine Chapel).

The combinations are endless, so the key is to decide what you want to prioritize most.

Once you know that, planning your day becomes much easier.

📍 For more ideas on how to see Rome in one day, check out our complete guide.

colosseum interiorDefinitely worth going inside the Colosseum — it just hits different when you’re actually standing there

Vatican and Colosseum in one day without going inside

Seeing the Vatican and Colosseum from the outside can make your day much easier.

Taking in the Colosseum without a ticket

No tickets, no long lines—and you still get the atmosphere, history, and plenty of great photo opportunities!

The Colosseum is especially fun to photograph from different angles.

Its arches and ancient walls look impressive from almost every side. And right next to it, you’ll find the Arch of Constantine, which is well worth a look too.

→ We recently took a golf cart tour with LivTours 🛺 and got some fantastic photos of the Colosseum along the way.

By the way, we absolutely loved the tour—see our review!

→ From Il Vittoriano - that large white monument on the Piazza Venezia) you can capture wonderful photos of the colosseum from above (tickets cost 10 euros)

→ You can also get a great view of the Roman Forum without going inside. Just head up Capitoline Hill and walk to the back terrace—you’ll get a beautiful view over the ancient ruins.

Seeing the Vatican from the outside

When we say seeing the Vatican from the outside, we mean visiting St. Peter’s Square.

It’s completely free to enter and is a great place to take photos of the beautiful square, fountains (especially refreshing in summer), and the impressive façade of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The square is only closed when the Pope holds a mass or special event there.

Even then, you may still be able to enter, but you’ll need to go through security checks.

Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in one day is worth it, even if you only admire the basilica from the outsideWe just love capturing St. Peter’s Basilica from every angle

Should you visit the Vatican or Colosseum first?

It really depends on how you want to experience Rome—are you planning to go inside the sights, or just enjoy the highlights from the outside?

Your hotel/apartment location can also make a big difference.

When we stayed at the Heart Hotel, we were right by the Vatican walls and only had to cross the street to get to the entrance—couldn’t be easier!

When we stayed somewhere in Monti, the Colosseum was just a 5-minute walk away.

And don’t forget to check the weather when deciding which site to visit first. ☀️

Visiting Rome on a hot summer day?

Start with the Colosseum in the morning, before the sun gets too intense, and save the Vatican for later.

In winter and spring, you have a little more flexibility, and the Colosseum can be a great midday stop.

Best Vatican and Colosseum Tours in Rome

The easiest way to see the Vatican and Colosseum in one day is to book a guided tour.

With a guide, you don’t have to worry about tickets, timing, or figuring out buses and the metro. Just show up, follow the guide, and enjoy Rome’s most iconic sights completely hassle-free.

Here are our 3 best Vatican and Colosseum tours.

  1. Rome in a Day Tour with Walks Italy — Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum & Historic Center in 7.5 Hours (Starts at 9:45 AM)
  2. Rome Walking Tour by The Tour Guy — Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & More in Around 7 Hours (Starts at 8:45 AM, 9:45 AM, or 10:15 AM)
  3. Vatican Museums and Colosseum Private Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off (Starts at 8:45 AM)

👉 Book these tours at least 1–2 months before your trip!


Vatican + Colosseum one-day itinerary

8:00 AM – Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel

  • Allow about 3 hours. 
  • Book a timed entry in advance, ideally the earliest slot. See the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and highlights rather than trying to see everything. 
  • If you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, allow another 45–60 minutes.

11:30 AM – Lunch

  • Have a quick lunch around Prati or on your way to central Rome. We still remember the mouthwatering lasagna at the nearby Alla Rampa dei Gracchi! 🤤

1:00 PM – Head toward the Colosseum

  • Metro Line A from Ottaviano → Termini, then Line B → Colosseo is practical. Allow roughly 30–40 minutes including walking/transfers. Or just take a taxi ride!

2:00–4:00 PM – Colosseum

  • Allow around 1.5 hours for the Colosseum itself. If your ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, add another 1–1.5 hours.

4:00–5:30 PM – Roman Forum + Palatine Hill

  • Walk through the main highlights rather than trying to cover every ruin.

Our recommendation

Vatican first, Colosseum second.

The Vatican is better tackled early when you're fresh, and the Colosseum/Forum works nicely in the afternoon.

The biggest mistake is trying to see every room in the Vatican Museums and every part of the Forum.

Pick the highlights and leave time to enjoy Rome itself.


What tickets to buy if you visit the Vatican and Colosseum on your own

In this case, don’t skip the advance bookings.

Book both sites ahead of time and save yourself the hassle of waiting in line.

Both the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, require advance bookings, and you may not be able to buy a ticket at the last minute.

So once you book your first visit, you’ll need to plan the timing of the second one carefully.

The good news? There’s a little flexibility. Most timed entries allow around 15 minutes on either side of your booking time.

For example, if you book the Vatican Museums for 1:30 PM, you can usually arrive between 1:15 and 1:45 PM.

The same applies to the Colosseum.

Best Vatican Museums tickets

→ Fast track tickets to the Vatican Museums (and Sistine Chapel) 

Best Colosseum tickets

→ Fast track tickets to the Colosseum

Best Vatican and Colosseum combo tickets

→ Rome Digital Pass

→ Rome Tourist Card

→ Rome Super Pass

→ TurboPass


Tips for visiting the Vatican and Colosseum in one day

If you do decide to visit the interiors, plan your day carefully:

  • The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill open around 8:30 AM. They are best visited in the morning, especially in summer when it’s cooler and less crowded.
  • The Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) opens at 8 AM and can work well later in the day, but they will take up several hours.
  • St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are separate from the Vatican Museums. The square is free to visit and is a great choice when you’re short on time.
  • For visiting the Dome, you'll need to go through security to Basilica. Next to it is a lift that takes you to the top of St Peter's Dome.

What is the distance from the Vatican to the Colosseum?

The Vatican and Colosseum are about 4 km (2.5 miles) apart, so getting between the two is fairly easy.

  • Walking: Around 45–60 minutes — a good option if you want to see more of Rome along the way (ideal for stopping for a lunch or gelato break)
  • Taxi: About 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic
  • Public transport: Around 20–35 minutes, usually by metro with one transfer or a combination of metro and bus

💡 We recommend taking a taxi if you’re on a tight schedule!

How to get from the Colosseum to Vatican (and vice versa)

Taking a taxi from the Colosseum to the Vatican and vice versa

We always like to hop onto taxi between the Colosseum and Vatican, if short on time. This is the best options, and it's not so expensive - around €12–15.

Taxi stand is right next to the Colosseum and also near the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II.

You'll find taxi stand in the square directly in front of the Vatican Museums.

A short walk from St Peter's Square, on Via delle Fornaci, there is another one and also next to Piazza Risorgimento.

How to get to the Vatican from the Colosseum in Rome by metro

It’s really easy. There’s no need to buy a ticket in advance; just tap your phone or bank card when you enter. The fare is a flat €1.50.

From the Colosseum or Cavour, take the metro Line B back to Termini, then switch to Line A toward Cipro or Ottaviano.

The St Peter's Square and the Vatican Museum are only about an 8–10 minute walk from those metro station.

We did this ourselves recently, and it was super easy.

💡 One more tip: if you return to the metro within 100 minutes of your first tap, you still need to tap in, but you won’t be charged again.

Can I take a bus from the Colosseum to the Vatican

Yes, you can take a bus between the Colosseum and the Vatican, routes usually require a change and can be slow due to Rome's traffic.

The journey often takes 35–50 minutes, so we'd recommend taking the metro or a taxi instead if you're short on time.

Walking: We done this several times and it's pleasant 45-60 minute walk, but not recommended in the hot summer days.


🛏️ Find Your Perfect Base in Rome

Centro Storico Hotels
Prati Apartments
Monti Hotels

Vatican and Colosseum in one day from Civitavecchia

Mediterranean cruise shore excursion to Rome visiting the Vatican and Colosseum

Taking an organised trip

The easiest way to see the Vatican and Colosseum on a shore excursion is to book a complete tour with round-trip transportation to and from your ship.

It takes the stress out of the day—you can simply sit back, enjoy Rome, and let someone else handle the timing and logistics.

👍 Here are two Rome shore excursions from Civitavecchia with well-planned itineraries that are worth booking:


Visiting the Vatican and Colosseum on your own

Alternatively, if you prefer to explore Rome independently, you can take the regional train into Rome and back to the ship (one-way ticket costs around €5–€6).

You can arrange the visits yourself, but you’ll need to keep a close eye on the time and allow plenty of extra time to get back to the ship.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Visiting both sites inside may be difficult.
  • If you have to choose one, decide between Renaissance art at the Vatican Museums and Ancient Rome at the Colosseum.
  • Be sure to leave some time for a break and lunch between visits.
  • Since you’ll arrive at Termini, visit the Vatican first, then the Colosseum. From the Colosseum, you can walk back to Termini.

More from Tasty Italian Travels




Within this webpage there are some affiliate links for products and services. For more details click here.