Can you visit the Colosseum and the Vatican on the same day?

The ancient city of Rome has some of the most famous landmarks with rich history behind them.

You absolutely can visit both the Colosseum and the Vatican on the same day! We suggest you start the day in Vatican City, see what’s around and head to the main landmarks.

You can explore the huge collection of artworks at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, then you can check out St. Peter’s Basilica. Viewing most of the attractions will take up your morning before you can head over to the Colosseum.

What can I see inside the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica?

All three Vatican landmarks have a range of unique and historic artworks from famous artists. But each one has something different, so here’s some more information on these three locations.

Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums has one of the largest art collections in the world – you can walk around for two hours viewing it all. In total, there are around 70,000 collections of work inside the museum.

Vatican Museums are well known for the four Raphael Rooms where Raphael and his students painted the frescoes between 1508 to 1524. These four rooms have some of the most exquisite frescos of the Italian Renaissance.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel has a range of artworks from Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Rosselli. One of the most famous paintings inside the chapel is Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. This fresco was painted on the ceiling between 1508 to 1512.

The Sistine Chapel was also once where ceremonies and inaugurations of the new popes were held.

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most famous churches in the world and you can go inside for free! This does mean the queue to get inside is usually quite long.

The main highlights inside the basilica are the Dome, Baldacchino, and St. Peter’s Tomb.

You can spend around an hour walking around the basilica.

Is it worth seeing the inside of the Colosseum?

It is absolutely worth going inside the Colosseum and seeing what it was once like to stand inside the world’s most famous amphitheatre. Some of the highlights to see inside include the Gladiator’s Gate, the tree tiers, and Emperor’s Box.

Are there tours of the Vatican and the Colosseum?

Luckily for you, there are tours that take you to the Vatican and the Colosseum! A tour is a great choice to do as you’re guided around these locations as you learn some history. Most tours will come with skip-the-queue tickets so you can bypass the lengthy queues and head straight into these landmarks.

A great full-day tour to book is the Rome day tour with Vatican and Colosseum. The tour guide takes you to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. You’ll get a break to explore and grab some lunch before meeting up again at the Colosseum. You’ll also get to go to the famous Roman Forum right nearby.

Exploring some of Rome’s most historic landmarks can be tiring when you reach the end of the day. Once the day is over it’s time to find a delicious restaurant and enjoy an Italian meal and some wine while you look back over your day.