The Pantheon in Rome is no longer free to visit. Since July 2023, entry costs €5 for most visitors, though there are specific exceptions, including one free day per month, that this guide covers in full. A further price increase to €7 is confirmed from 1 July 2026.
Is the Pantheon Still Free?
Until 3 July 2023 the Pantheon was free to enter for everyone. That changed when the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Diocese of Rome introduced a mandatory €5 entry fee. Revenue is split between the cultural ministry for conservation and the diocese for charitable causes. The fee is enforced at the entrance: no ticket, no entry.
From 1 July 2026 the standard adult ticket rises to €7. Exemptions for under-18s, Rome residents, and the first Sunday of the month remain in place.
| Visitor type | Until 30 June 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €5 | €7 |
| EU citizens aged 18-25 | €2 | Reduced (below full price) |
| Under 18 | Free | Free |
| Rome residents | Free | Free |
| People with disabilities + companion | Free | Free |
| First Sunday of the month | Free | Free |
Can You Enter the Pantheon Without a Ticket?
No. Tickets are checked at the entrance without exception. You can buy on the door with cash or card, but this means joining the slower on-site queue. There is no free walk-in option on standard days.
Can You Visit the Pantheon for Free?
Yes, in specific circumstances.
Who Gets In Free?
- Under 18: Free every day, regardless of nationality
- Rome residents (valid ID required): Free every day
- People with disabilities and one companion: Free
- EU citizens aged 18-25: Reduced price, not free
- Mass attendees: Free during active services, but tourist access is suspended approximately one hour before Mass begins
- First Sunday of each month: Free for everyone. Be ready for massive queue
Is the Pantheon Free Every Sunday?
No. Only the first Sunday of each month is free. This is the most common source of confusion among visitors. Every other Sunday costs full adult price.
The free Sunday works differently from a standard paid day:
- No online booking is available in advance
- Everyone collects a free non-nominative ticket at the entrance on the day
- A single queue handles all visitors
- Crowds are significantly larger than on paid days
If a specific arrival time matters to you, a paid weekday visit with an online time slot is the calmer option.
2026 first Sunday free dates:
| Month | Free date |
|---|---|
| May | Sunday 3 May |
| June | Sunday 7 June |
| July | Sunday 5 July |
| August | Sunday 2 August |
| September | Sunday 6 September |
| October | Sunday 4 October |
| November | Sunday 1 November |
| December | Sunday 6 December |
What Famous Person Is Buried in the Pantheon?
Raphael, one of the three great masters of the High Renaissance alongside Leonardo and Michelangelo, is buried inside the Pantheon. He died in 1520 at 37 and requested burial here. His tomb is at ground level on the right side, marked by a plaque reading Ille hic est Raphael: “Here lies Raphael.” The tombs of King Victor Emmanuel II and King Umberto I are also here. For most visitors, Raphael’s tomb alone answers the question of whether the entry fee is worth it.
Can You Just Turn Up at the Pantheon?
Yes. The on-site ticket office accepts cash and card. During peak season (April to October) the on-site queue runs 30 to 60 minutes and longer on summer weekends.
Booking online in advance at museiitaliani.it/acquista-biglietto gives you a timed entry slot at no extra cost. You join the pre-booked queue (typically 10 to 20 minutes) and skip the purchase line. If you want to avoid queuing almost entirely, a priorty ticket from €5 guarantees priority entry.
Which Rome Attractions Are Free?
The Pantheon is now one of the few central Rome attractions that charges entry. These are still free:
- Piazza Navona: Three Baroque fountains, Bernini’s Four Rivers centerpiece, no ticket required. See our Piazza Navona Rome guide.
- Campo de’ Fiori: Daily morning market (Mon-Sat), evening aperitivo, always free. See our Campo de’ Fiori Rome guide.
- Trevi Fountain: Free to visit the square and the fountain.
- Spanish Steps: Free at all hours.
- Castel Sant’Angelo exterior: Free to walk around. The interior museum charges entry.
FAQ: Is the Pantheon Free Rome?
No. Entry costs €5 until 30 June 2026, rising to €7 from 1 July 2026. It is free for under-18s, Rome residents, people with disabilities, and on the first Sunday of each month.
The first Sunday of each month. Entry is free for all visitors, but you cannot book in advance and must collect a free ticket at the entrance on the day.
No. Only the first Sunday of the month is free. Every other Sunday costs full adult price.
€5 for adults until 30 June 2026, then €7 from 1 July 2026. EU citizens aged 18-25 pay a reduced rate. Under-18s and Rome residents enter free.
No. A ticket is required and checked at the entrance every day. On the first Sunday of the month a free ticket is collected on the spot at the door.