Pantheon Tickets Rome

The Pantheon: a Roman temple that still stands

The Pantheon was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around AD 118 to 128 on the site of an earlier temple, and the inscription on the front still names Marcus Agrippa, who built the first one. It was dedicated to all the gods, and in AD 609 it became a Christian church, which is one reason it survived while so many other buildings fell into ruin.

If you are searching for Pantheon tickets or how to get to the Pantheon in Rome, it stands in Piazza della Rotonda in the historic centre, about a ten-minute walk from Piazza Navona and Largo di Torre Argentina. The nearest metro stations are a bus ride or a long walk away, so walking through the old streets is the best way.

The dome and the oculus

Inside, the great dome has a diameter of about 43 metres, and its height from the floor equals its width, so the space would hold a perfect sphere. It is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. At the very top, the open oculus, about eight metres across, lets in sunlight, rain and a moving circle of light that crosses the walls during the day.

The audio guide explains how Roman builders made the dome lighter with coffered panels and lighter materials toward the top. Standing under it, you may find it hard to believe it is nearly two thousand years old. Many travellers ask whether the Pantheon is worth visiting; the interior is a highlight of Rome, and the ticket lets you enter at a reserved time.

The tombs, the portico and Piazza della Rotonda

The Pantheon is also a place of memory. The painter Raphael is buried here, along with Italy's first kings, Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, and Queen Margherita. Outside, the portico is held up by sixteen huge granite columns, many quarried in Egypt, and the bronze doors are among the oldest in Rome.

The square in front has a fountain crowned by an Egyptian obelisk of Ramesses II that was brought to Rome in antiquity, so travellers from Egypt will recognise a piece of their own history in the middle of the city. The area is full of cafés and gelato shops, which makes it a pleasant place to rest before or after your visit.

Planning your Pantheon visit: what to know

The visit takes about an hour. The best time to visit the Pantheon is early in the morning or in the evening, when the square is quieter and the light through the oculus is beautiful. Pantheon opening hours change for religious services, and entry may be limited during Mass, so check your date in the booking panel.

Arrive at the meeting point ten minutes before your entry time to exchange your voucher for the ticket. Bring your own smartphone and headphones, and activate the audio guide outside, where the connection is better; it can be used offline after download. The Pantheon is an active place of worship, so shoulders and knees must be covered, and a valid ID is needed.