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Palatine Hill

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Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill is the central hill among Rome's seven, and one of the oldest inhabited parts of the city, traditionally linked to the founding of Rome. Today it's an open-air archaeological site with the ruins of imperial palaces, gardens, and terraces overlooking the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus, plus the Palatine Museum, which displays artifacts recovered from the excavations here and from other ancient sites in Italy.

Getting there

The hill sits right beside the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, in the heart of ancient Rome. From the city centre, it's an easy walk from Piazza Venezia (about 15-20 minutes) or a short ride on Metro Line B to Colosseo station, followed by a 5-10 minute walk.

How long to stay

Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the grounds and visit the museum. If you're combining it with the Roman Forum, which shares the same site, plan for half a day.

When to go

Arrive early in the morning to avoid both the heat and the crowds, which build up by midday, especially in spring and summer when tour groups from the Colosseum move through. There's little shade, so a hot afternoon visit can be uncomfortable.

Nearby

  • Circus Maximus (0.3km) - the ancient chariot-racing stadium below the hill
  • Arch of Titus (0.3km) and Temple of Vesta (0.4km) - both within the adjoining Roman Forum
  • Arch of Constantine (0.3km) - beside the Colosseum, a natural next stop

Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

Admission prices and opening hours change often, so we don't list them here. Check what's on sale and at what price below — booking ahead can cut the queue at some places.

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Stays near Palatine Hill

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Good to visit alongside

Circus Maximus

Heritage & monuments

Circus Maximus

The largest chariot-racing stadium of ancient Rome, the Circus Maximus lay in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills; its enormous track, 621 meters long and 118 meters wide, is said to have once held more than 150,000 spectators. No trace of the seating or track structures remains today — only a long, oval-shaped grassy park.

0.3 km away
Arch of Titus

Heritage & monuments

Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus stands on the Via Sacra at the eastern end of the Roman Forum, erected around AD 81 by Emperor Domitian in honor of his late brother Titus. Its reliefs commemorate Titus and his father Vespasian's suppression of the Jewish revolt, most famously a scene of Roman soldiers carrying off the menorah looted from the Temple in Jerusalem.

0.3 km away
Arch of Constantine

Heritage & monuments

Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate Emperor Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE, and was dedicated in 315. It stands between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill along the Via Triumphalis, once the route of triumphal processions, and is the largest surviving triumphal arch in Rome.

0.3 km away
Temple of Vesta

Temples & religious sites

Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta is a circular structure surviving in the Roman Forum, where the sacred flame symbolizing Rome's wellbeing was once kept. Unlike most rectangular Roman temples, it follows a round tholos plan, though only a few columns remain today, leaving visitors to imagine its original form.

0.4 km away
Roman Forum

Parks & gardens

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza that once served as the political, economic, and religious center of ancient Rome, originally used as a marketplace. Today the remains of temples, public buildings, and triumphal arches are scattered across the site, letting visitors walk through ruins that were once the everyday living space of Roman citizens.

0.5 km away
Temple of Saturn

Temples & religious sites

Temple of Saturn

The Temple of Saturn is the ruin of an ancient Roman temple standing at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, at the western end of the Roman Forum. Dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and wealth, it is traditionally said to have been first built in 497 BC, though ancient sources themselves disagree on its history.

0.5 km away