Circus Maximus, Rome: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide

When I first walked from the Colosseum to the Circus Maximus, I was expecting ruins. What I got was grass — a 600-metre-long meadow nestled between two hills, with joggers doing circuits and locals walking dogs. It’s simultaneously underwhelming and extraordinary: this empty field once held 250,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium ever built by humans.

The strangely-gripped disappointment lasted until I paid for the Circo Maximo Experience with its VR headsets. Suddenly the grass transformed into marble grandstands, the Arch of Titus appeared at full height, and chariots tore past while the crowd roared. Without the technology, you’re looking at dirt. With it, you’re standing in Imperial Rome.

Quick overview

The Circus Maximus site itself is free to enter and open 24 hours daily — it’s a public park. However, the paid Circo Maximo Experience costs €12 for adults and €10 for concessions (under 26, teachers, journalists). This 40-minute augmented reality tour uses VR headsets to reconstruct the ancient stadium across eight historical periods. The experience operates Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm (October-December), with tours departing every 15 minutes. Last admission is 2:50pm. The meadow alone takes 15-20 minutes to walk; budget an hour total if you’re doing the VR experience.

At a glance

How much does Circus Maximus cost?

The Circus Maximus park is completely free. You can walk the site, see the remains of the stands, and photograph the valley anytime without paying. The paid Circo Maximo Experience costs €12 for adults and €10 for reduced-price visitors (under 26, over 65, teachers, journalists with press cards).

The VR experience fee includes Zeiss VR headset, stereo earphones, and a 40-minute guided tour in eight languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese). You must leave ID (passport or card) as deposit when collecting your headset.

The experience is included in the Roma Pass circuit. Online booking is available but not essential — tickets are usually available on-site at the Viale Aventino entrance.

Is Circus Maximus free to enter?

Yes, the archaeological site is free and accessible 24 hours daily. It’s a public park where locals jog, walk dogs, and picnic. There are no gates, no tickets, no entry restrictions.

The Circo Maximo Experience is paid (€12 adults). This VR tour occupies a small excavated section at the southeast end, but the vast majority of the site remains free for everyone.

What time does Circus Maximus open?

The park never closes — it’s accessible 24/7 year-round. However, the Circo Maximo Experience operates on limited hours:

October to December: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm (last admission 2:50pm). Tours depart every 15 minutes. Closed Mondays, 1 May, and 25 December. On 24 and 31 December, the experience runs 10:00am to 2:00pm (last admission 12:35pm).

Summer schedules vary. The experience closes during rain or extreme heat (above 40°C), as VR equipment cannot be used in wet conditions and the lack of shade makes summer afternoons brutal.

Early mornings (7:00am-9:00am) are best for walking the free site before crowds and heat arrive. Late afternoons provide good light for photography.

Do I need to book Circus Maximus tickets in advance?

No advance booking required for the park — just turn up. For the Circo Maximo Experience, booking is recommended but rarely essential. The experience is less crowded than major Rome attractions, so on-the-day tickets are usually available at the Viale Aventino ticket counter.

Book online at circomaximoexperience.it if you’re visiting during weekends or want guaranteed entry. Refunds and date changes are only possible if the experience is cancelled for technical or weather reasons, and must be requested within 15 days.

Important: Children under 14 can use the VR headsets only if accompanied by an adult who signs a disclaimer at the ticket office.

A brief history

The Circus Maximus dates to Rome’s legendary founding. According to myth, Romulus invited neighbouring tribes to a festival here shortly after establishing Rome in 753 BC, then orchestrated the Rape of the Sabine Women to provide wives for his male settlers. Whether true or not, the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills hosted races and festivals from archaic times.

The first permanent wooden structure appeared in the 4th century BC during the Tarquin kings. Julius Caesar commissioned the first stone circus in the 1st century BC, creating a proper walled stadium. Under Emperor Augustus, capacity reached 150,000. Trajan rebuilt and expanded it after a fire, creating the structure whose outlines remain visible today. At peak capacity during the Imperial period, estimates suggest 250,000 spectators — five times the Colosseum’s capacity.

The races were Rome’s most popular entertainment, rivalling gladiatorial games. Chariots pulled by two to four horses (sometimes up to ten for special events) completed seven laps around a central barrier called the spina. The spina featured two Egyptian obelisks — one now stands in Piazza del Popolo, another at St John Lateran. Crashes were common and often fatal, making races both thrilling and dangerous.

The circus also hosted wild animal hunts, athletic competitions, and religious processions. Emperors used races to gain popular support — providing free entertainment kept citizens content and politically docile.

Fire damaged the circus repeatedly. Major blazes occurred in 31 BC, 64 AD (the Great Fire of Nero that destroyed much of Rome), and 103 AD. Each time it was rebuilt larger and more elaborate. Emperor Constantine II erected a massive obelisk in 357 AD, now Rome’s tallest monument at St John Lateran.

The last recorded races occurred in 549 AD during Gothic rule. Afterward, the abandoned structure was plundered for building materials. Medieval Romans grew crops where emperors once sat. By the 19th century, gasometers, warehouses, and housing occupied the site. If the Pantheon is the best-preserved Ancient Roman site, the Circus Maximus is arguably the worst.

Excavation and park creation began in the early 20th century. Archaeological surveys completed in 2016 revealed much about the original structure, informing the VR reconstructions.

What you’ll see at Circus Maximus

The Valley — The U-shaped valley stretches 600 metres long by 140 metres wide. The track’s outline remains visible as a shallow depression. A lone cypress tree at one end symbolises the obelisk that once marked the turning point. Remnants of the curved starting gates (carceres) survive at the western end.

Southeast Stand Ruins — The only substantial ruins open to visitors. Brick walls and curved corridors show where 250,000 spectators entered and exited. This section contains the Circo Maximo Experience entrance.

Medieval Tower — The brick tower midway along the south side dates from the Middle Ages when the valley served as farmland. It has no connection to ancient Rome.

Views from Palatine Hill — For the best overview, climb Palatine Hill’s southern edge. From the Imperial Palace ruins (Domus Augustana), you get panoramic views across the entire circus with the Baths of Caracalla visible beyond. The Palatine Hill is bundled up with entrance to the Colosseum and Roman Forum – I’d recommend visiting solo or taking a private tour to get a better experience here.

Circo Maximo Experience — The 40-minute VR tour comprises eight stops. At each viewing point, you aim the headset at a sign to activate audio and visual reconstructions. Stops include: the archaic valley floor, the circus in 1st century BC to 1st century AD, the Imperial period circus at its peak, the seating tiers (cavea), the Arch of Titus reconstructed at full 20-metre height, the shops (tabernae) that lined the circus, medieval and modern transformations, and finally “A Day at the Circus” showing a chariot race with crashes, crowds, and betting.

The technology is impressive — augmented reality overlays images onto your actual surroundings, so you see marble structures appearing where grass exists. Virtual reality sequences immerse you in races and daily life. The final stop uses full VR (not see-through) and must be experienced while seated.

What’s included with your visit?

Free park access:

• Walking the 600-metre valley floor
• Viewing southeast stand ruins from outside
• Photography from all angles
• Picnic areas on the grass
• Views from surrounding hills

Circo Maximo Experience (€12/€10):

• Zeiss VR headset and stereo earphones
• 40-minute guided tour in eight languages
• Eight reconstructed historical views
• Augmented and virtual reality experiences
• Chariot race simulation
• Map of the site

Not included: Audio guides for the free park area (none available), food and drinks, access to other nearby attractions.

Things to do near Circus Maximus

Palatine Hill (300m, 4-minute walk) — One of Rome’s seven hills and the legendary birthplace of the city. Contains Imperial Palace ruins including the Domus Augustana and Domus Flavia. Combined ticket with Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Baths of Caracalla (800m, 10-minute walk) — Second-largest thermal bath complex in Rome, built 212-216 AD. Remarkably preserved with visible caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium. Often hosts summer opera performances.

Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale) (400m, 5-minute walk) — Stunning municipal rose garden on the slopes above Circus Maximus. Over 1,100 rose varieties bloom April-June. Free admission. Often overlooked but beautiful. Views across the circus and city.

Aventine Hill Keyhole (600m, 8-minute walk) — Climb Aventine Hill to the Priory of the Knights of Malta. Peek through the keyhole in the green door for a perfectly framed view of St Peter’s Basilica dome through manicured gardens. Free, always open, often crowded.

Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità) (850m, 11-minute walk) — Ancient marble mask in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. Legend claims it bites off liars’ hands. Made famous by Roman Holiday. Free church entry but expect queues for photos.

Worthwhile attractions a little further afield include the Capuchin Crypt, Sistine Chapel and Julius Caesar’s assassination site.

Practical tips

• Location: Via del Circo Massimo, 00186 Rome (between Palatine and Aventine hills)
• Getting there: Metro Line B to Circo Massimo station (immediate access). Buses 51, 81, 85, 87, 118, 160, 628 to Circo Massimo stop. 9-minute walk from Colosseum, 15-minute walk from Roman Forum.
• Time needed: 15-20 minutes for free park walk. 60-75 minutes including VR experience. Budget 2-3 hours if combining with Palatine Hill.
• Photography: No restrictions. Late afternoon provides best light. Views from Palatine Hill offer superior perspectives than ground level.
• Dress code: None for the park. Comfortable walking shoes essential — ground is uneven. For VR experience, wear sunglasses-compatible glasses if needed (headsets accommodate them).
• Accessibility: Park is level and wheelchair accessible. VR experience involves walking on grass and uneven ground — may be challenging for mobility-impaired visitors.
• Crowds: Park rarely crowded. VR experience much quieter than Colosseum or Forum — a hidden gem. Weekday mornings emptiest.
• Weather: No shade exists anywhere on site. Summer afternoons (temperatures above 35°C) are brutal. VR experience closes during rain or extreme heat. Bring water, sunscreen, hat.
• Safety: Generally safe. Standard pickpocketing precautions apply. Security checks occur if concerts/events scheduled.

FAQs

Why is there nothing left? The circus was systematically plundered for building materials after abandonment in the 6th century. Marble, stone, and metal were reused throughout medieval and Renaissance Rome. The original track lies six metres underground, buried by centuries of flooding from the Tiber.

Is the VR experience worth €12? If you’re interested in Roman history, absolutely. Without it, the site is just grass and your imagination. The VR reconstructions are sophisticated and genuinely immersive. Skip it if you’re on a tight budget or uninterested in technology-enhanced tourism.

Can I visit the park at night? Technically yes — it’s open 24/7. However, the area feels isolated after dark and is poorly lit. Stick to daylight hours for safety.

How does it compare to the Colosseum? Completely different experiences. The Colosseum is a spectacular intact structure; the Circus Maximus is mostly empty space requiring imagination (or VR) to appreciate. The circus was five times larger and held more spectators, but far less survives.

Is ID really required for VR headset rental? Yes, strictly enforced. You must leave an original passport or ID card as deposit. Photocopies not accepted. Don’t attempt the experience without ID.

Can I combine it with other sites in one day? Easily. Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Baths of Caracalla are all within 10-15 minutes’ walk. Many visitors do circus + Palatine + Colosseum in one day.

Are there toilets? Limited public toilets near the Circo Massimo metro station. None on the site itself. Use facilities before visiting or at nearby cafés.

More Rome travel

Other Rome travel articles on Planet Whitley include:

• Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers.
• What Rome’s piazzas sadly lack.
• In praise of the decent restaurant within a short walk of your hotel.
• Can you take photos inside Rome’s Capuchin Crypt?
• A practical guide to visiting the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum.