Pantheon, Rome: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide (2026)

When I first walked into the Pantheon in Rome, I made the mistake of looking straight ahead at the altars and tombs. Then someone told me to look up. The oculus — that nine-metre hole in the roof — changes everything. Rain falls straight through onto the marble floor, and the sunlight moves across the coffered dome like a sundial, marking time as it has for nearly 2,000 years. This is the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, and somehow it’s still standing after two millennia. What makes it remarkable isn’t just the engineering; it’s that this pagan temple-turned-church has been in continuous use since 609 AD, making it the oldest building in Rome that’s never been abandoned.

Quick overview

Pantheon admission costs €5 for adults and €2 for EU citizens aged 18-25. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, though you’ll need to collect a free ticket and face substantial queues. Children under 18 and Rome residents enter free at all times. The Pantheon is open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm, with last entry at 6:30pm. Tickets must be booked online through the official government website or purchased on-site, though online booking is strongly recommended to avoid confusion and long queues. Most visitors spend 30-45 minutes inside.

At a glance

How much does the Pantheon cost?

Standard admission costs €5 for adults. EU citizens aged 18-25 pay a reduced rate of €2 with valid proof of age and nationality. Children and teenagers under 18 enter free regardless of nationality, as do residents of Rome with proof of residency.

A €1.50 processing fee is added when booking online. First Sunday admission is free for everyone, but you must collect a free ticket on-site — expect long queues and potential crowd control that may prevent entry if capacity is reached.

The Pantheon introduced admission fees in July 2023 after centuries of free access. The building remains an active Catholic church (officially Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres), and worshippers attending Mass enter free on Saturdays at 5:00pm and Sundays at 10:30am.

Is the Pantheon free to enter?

No, except in specific circumstances. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month for everyone, though you’ll need to queue for a free ticket and face substantial crowds. Children under 18 and Rome residents with proof of address enter free every day. Worshippers attending Mass enter without charge.

The Pantheon is not included in the Roma Pass, so you cannot use that pass for entry. Disabled visitors and one accompanying companion receive free admission with appropriate documentation.

What time does the Pantheon open?

The Pantheon is open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm, including public holidays. Last entry is at 6:30pm. The building closes on major holidays: 1 January, 25 December, and potentially Easter Friday.

Ticket sales stop one hour before Mass on Saturdays (4:00pm) and Sundays (9:30am). The Pantheon closes at 2:00pm on 24 December and 31 December.

Early mornings (9:00am-10:00am) are quietest, as are late afternoons after 5:00pm. Midday brings tour groups and cruise ship passengers. First Sundays attract enormous crowds largely due to free admission — arrive early if visiting then, as capacity limits may prevent entry.

These Pantheon ticket prices and opening hours were checked and verified in January 2026.

Do I need to book Pantheon tickets in advance?

Yes, strongly recommended. While you can purchase tickets on-site, the booking system is notoriously complicated and confusing. Three separate queues form at the entrance: one for ticket holders, one for cash payments, and one for card payments. The latter two aren’t clearly marked, creating chaos.

Book through the official government website well in advance. The website is clunky and requires account registration with email verification, so don’t leave it until you’re standing in Piazza della Rotonda trying to book on your phone. Allow 15-20 minutes to complete the process.

Critical warning: The Pantheon has two official websites. The diocese website sells audio guides and tours, but these do NOT include the €5 admission fee. You must book your timed entry ticket separately through MuseiItaliani.it first, then book any tour for the same time slot. This catches many visitors out.

Tickets go on sale mid-month for the following month. You cannot book more than one month ahead.

If you want to know more about what you’re looking at, an expert-guided tour is the way forward.

A brief history

The current Pantheon dates to around 125 AD, though the site’s history stretches back to 27-25 BC when Marcus Agrippa built the original temple. That first structure burned in the Great Fire of Rome (80 AD). Emperor Domitian rebuilt it, only for lightning to destroy it again around 110 AD.

Emperor Hadrian constructed the third and final version between 113-125 AD, though he modestly retained Agrippa’s original inscription on the facade: “M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT” (Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made this during his third consulship). For centuries, scholars believed Agrippa’s original temple had somehow survived. Only modern archaeology revealed the truth.

The dome’s engineering remains astonishing. At 43.3 metres in diameter, it’s the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome — larger than St Peter’s Basilica, larger than any dome built until the 20th century. The oculus at its centre measures 8.7 metres across and provides the only light source. Hadrian’s architects reduced weight by using progressively lighter materials: heavy travertine and tufa at the base, volcanic rock in the middle sections, and pumice near the oculus. The dome’s thickness decreases from 7 metres at the base to 1.2 metres at the top.

In 609 AD, Emperor Phocas gifted the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated it as a Christian church. This act saved the building from the destruction and plundering that befell most Roman temples. The bronze ceiling tiles were stripped by Pope Urban VIII in 1625 — rumour claimed Bernini melted them down to create the baldachin in St Peter’s Basilica, though this proved untrue.

Raphael requested burial here in 1520, beginning the tradition of interring notable Italians within its walls. Italian kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I also rest here.

What you’ll see inside the Pantheon

The interior is a perfect sphere: the dome’s diameter (43.3 metres) exactly matches the distance from floor to oculus. This mathematical precision was deliberate — Hadrian wanted the sphere to represent celestial perfection.

The Dome — Look up at the coffered ceiling. The 140 coffers (recessed panels) aren’t merely decorative; they reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. The oculus lets in rain, which drains through barely perceptible holes in the sloping marble floor. On sunny days, the light beam moves across the dome like clockwork.

Raphael’s Tomb — Located in a niche to the left as you enter. The inscription reads “Here lies Raphael, by whom Nature feared to be outdone while he lived, and when he died, feared that she herself would die.” Raphael died on his 37th birthday in 1520. His bones were examined in 1833 and confirmed authentic.

Royal Tombs — King Vittorio Emanuele II (died 1878) and King Umberto I (assassinated 1900) occupy elaborate tombs. Queen Margherita, Umberto’s widow, rests beside him. Their presence sparked controversy among republicans who resented monarchy being honoured in a public monument.

Altars and Chapels — Seven niches surround the central space, originally housing statues of Roman gods. Now they contain Christian altars and chapels with Renaissance and Baroque artwork, including an Annunciation painting by Melozzo da Forli.

Original Bronze Doors — The massive bronze doors at the entrance date to antiquity, making them among Rome’s oldest working doors. They measure 4.5 metres wide.

The floor is original Roman marble in a geometric pattern. Some damage remains from centuries of use, including grooves worn by medieval pilgrims’ knees.

What’s included with your ticket?

• Admission to the Pantheon interior
• Views of the oculus and dome
• Access to Raphael’s tomb and royal tombs
• Seven chapels with Renaissance artwork
• Original Roman marble floor
• Information panels in English and Italian

Not included: Audio guides, guided tours, printed maps. The €5 ticket is entry only.

Things to do near the Pantheon

Trevi Fountain (400m, 5-minute walk) — Rome’s most famous fountain, completed in 1762. Throw a coin over your left shoulder using your right hand to ensure your return to Rome. Free to visit, perpetually crowded. Visit early morning or late evening for manageable crowds.

Piazza Navona (250m, 3-minute walk) — Baroque square built over Emperor Domitian’s ancient stadium. Features three fountains including Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. Lined with cafés and street performers. Free to explore. Underground tour of the stadium ruins available.

Church of Sant’Ignazio (300m, 4-minute walk) — Contains a spectacular trompe-l’oeil ceiling fresco creating the optical illusion of a dome. Stand on the yellow disc in the nave’s centre for the full effect. Free admission. Often overlooked despite being one of Rome’s most impressive Baroque interiors.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj (450m, 6-minute walk) — Private palace housing one of Rome’s finest art collections: Caravaggio, Titian, Bernini, Velázquez. Still owned by the aristocratic Doria Pamphilj family. Less crowded than major museums.

Campo de’ Fiori (600m, 7-minute walk) — Historic square hosting a daily market (7:00am-2:00pm) selling produce, flowers, and local goods. Statue of Giordano Bruno marks where he was burned at the stake in 1600. Free to visit. Surrounded by bars and restaurants.

Also within easy walking distance are Julius Caesar’s assassination site, the Capuchin Crypt and the Temple of Vesta.

Practical tips

• Location: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Rome (historic centre)
• Getting there: Buses 30, 40, 62, 64, 81, 87, 492 to Largo di Torre Argentina (5-minute walk). Metro A to Barberini or Spagna (15-20 minute walk through centro storico). Walking from Trevi Fountain takes 5 minutes, from Spanish Steps 10 minutes.
• Time needed: 30-45 minutes for most visitors. Architecture enthusiasts may linger an hour. Combined with nearby attractions, budget half a day for this area.
• Photography: Permitted throughout. No flash or tripods. The oculus provides dramatic lighting effects. Late afternoon sun creates the best interior shots.
• Dress code: Modest clothing required (covered shoulders and knees) as it’s an active church. Guards enforce this, though enforcement is inconsistent.
• Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible with ramped entrance. The single-level interior has no stairs. Accessible toilets in Piazza della Rotonda.
• Crowds: Mornings before 10:00am are quietest. Avoid first Sundays unless you’re prepared for chaos. Midday brings tour groups. Late afternoon (5:00pm onwards) thins out.
• Attending Mass: Mass is held Saturdays 5:00pm and Sundays 10:30am. Worshippers enter free but must respect the service. On Pentecost Sunday, firemen drop thousands of rose petals through the oculus — arrive by 7:00am to witness this inside.

FAQs

Why does it rain inside? The oculus has no covering — rain falls directly onto the marble floor. Nearly imperceptible drainage holes remove the water. This design was intentional, connecting the temple to the heavens.

Can I buy tickets at the entrance? Yes, but it’s chaotic. Three poorly-marked queues, long waits, and potential sell-outs during busy periods make on-site purchase inadvisable. Book online through MuseiItaliani.it.

Is the dome really that big? Yes. At 43.3 metres diameter, it’s larger than St Peter’s Basilica’s dome (42 metres) and remained the world’s largest dome until the 20th century. It’s also the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built.

Is first Sunday worth the hassle? Not usually. You’ll save €5 but face enormous crowds, long queues for free tickets, and potential capacity restrictions preventing entry. For most visitors, paying €5 on a quieter day provides a better experience.

How do I book tickets? Only through MuseiItaliani.it (official government site). Create an account first (requires email verification), select your date and time slot, and pay via PayPal. A €1.50 processing fee applies. Tickets are emailed as PDFs with QR codes.

Why did they start charging admission? Maintenance costs. The Pantheon receives around 9 million visitors annually, creating substantial wear and upkeep expenses. While it’s an active church, it’s also a monument requiring conservation. Charging €5 helps fund this.

Can I attend Mass for free entry? Yes, worshippers attending Mass enter free. Saturday Mass is at 5:00pm, Sunday at 10:30am. You must respect the service — treat it as worship, not a tourism opportunity.

More Rome travel

Other Rome travel articles on Planet Whitley include:

• Why I hated the Sistine Chapel.
• Can you take photos inside Rome’s Capuchin Crypt?
• Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers.
• A practical guide to visiting the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum.
• Why a private tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum is often the best choice.