A cylindrical fortress built as Emperor Hadrian's tomb, later the popes' refuge and a secret corridor's endpoint to the Vatican. The full-price ticket rose to 18,00 EUR on 1 July — some partner pages still quote the old 16,00 EUR, so check the total before you pay.
Check prices and datesFull price 18,00 € · under-18s free · free first Sunday of the month
Tue – Sun 09:00–19:30Free 1st Sunday of the monthPassetto di Borgo to the Vatican
Ticket types and prices
One straightforward ticket, two ways to pay less, and one day a month it costs nothing at all.
Ticket
Price
Who it's for
Full price
18,00 €
Standard adult entry, since 1 July
Reduced
2,00 €
EU citizens aged 18–25
Under-18
Free
Any nationality
First Sunday of the month
Free
Everyone, no booking — the busiest day
Important on price: the official rate rose from 16,00 EUR to 18,00 EUR on 1 July, and a number of resale and partner pages have not caught up yet — if you see 16 EUR quoted somewhere, treat it as out of date rather than a discount. Booking online in advance secures your date and, on most options, allows free cancellation ahead of the visit.
Nineteen centuries stacked inside one round building, and the shape has barely changed.
Castel Sant'Angelo began as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, finished in 139, and over the centuries became in turn a fortress, a papal refuge, a prison and a barracks — it has been a national museum since 1925. The route spirals upward from Hadrian's original helicoidal ramp through the museum rooms, the armoury and the frescoed papal apartments, ending on the terrace beneath the bronze angel cast by Verschaffelt in 1753.
Hadrian's ramp
The oldest part of the building: a spiralling stone passage that winds up through the core of the original Roman mausoleum.
The papal apartments
Frescoed rooms built for the popes who used the castle as a fortified residence and, when necessary, a hiding place.
The Angel's terrace
The top of the route, under the bronze angel, with one of the widest open views over the Tiber and the rooftops of Rome.
The Passetto di Borgo, the 800-metre raised corridor to the Vatican, is the escape route Pope Clement VII actually used during the Sack of Rome in 1527. It opens to visitors only in certain periods, so check ahead rather than count on walking it.
The building's cylindrical core, from Hadrian's tomb to the fortress walls added over the following centuries, is still what gives it its shape today.
Opening hours and weekend time bands
Open six days a week, with entry by timed band whenever the castle is busiest.
Point
Detail
Worth knowing
Hours
Tue – Sun 09:00–19:30
Last admission 18:30
Closed
Mondays, 25 Dec, 1 Jan
No exceptions
Weekend entry
90-minute bands
09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00
Visit length
1.5–2 hours
Longer if the Passetto is open
Free day
First Sunday of the month
No booking, but the busiest day by far
On weekends and public holidays, entry runs strictly in those 90-minute bands, so the slot you book is the slot you get — arriving late does not extend it, since the exit time stays fixed. Weekdays are calmer and closer to walk-in, but booking a date in advance still fixes your price and, on most tickets, keeps free cancellation open if plans change.
Ten minutes' walk from St Peter's, and easy to reach without a car.
The castle stands at Lungotevere Castello 50, on the Tiber's right bank, a short walk across the Ponte Sant'Angelo from St Peter's Square — an easy pairing for the same morning or afternoon. If you plan to visit on the first Sunday of the month for free entry, arrive well before opening: it is the single busiest day of the month by a wide margin, and queues form early. On other days, going straight after opening or in the last couple of hours before the last admission avoids the worst of the midday crowds.
Because entry on weekends runs in fixed 90-minute bands, decide your date and time when you book rather than on arrival — walking up without a slot on a Saturday or Sunday is the most common way visitors get turned away. Weekday visits give more flexibility if your schedule allows it.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Castel Sant'Angelo ticket?
The full-price ticket is 18,00 € since 1 July, up from 16,00 €. Some partner pages still show the old figure, so check the total before you pay. EU citizens aged 18–25 pay a reduced 2,00 €, and under-18s enter free.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo ever free to visit?
Yes: the first Sunday of every month is free for everyone, with no booking required. It is also by far the busiest day, so arrive early or expect queues.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 19:30, with last admission at 18:30. Closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January.
Do I need to book a time slot?
On weekends and public holidays entry runs in 90-minute bands starting at 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30 and 18:00, so booking a slot in advance is the practical choice.
What is the Passetto di Borgo?
An 800-metre raised corridor linking the castle to the Vatican. Pope Clement VII fled along it during the Sack of Rome in 1527. It only opens in certain periods, so check before you count on seeing it.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour and a half to two hours, following the spiral route from Hadrian's ramp up through the museum rooms and the papal apartments to the terrace.
