Stadio Olimpico is the largest sports stadium in Rome, Italy, sitting inside the Foro Italico sports complex on the banks of the Tiber River below Monte Mario. Opened on May 17, 1953, it has served for over seven decades as the shared home of Serie A rivals AS Roma and SS Lazio, as well as Italy’s national football and rugby union teams.
Few venues in world football carry as much history. Stadio Olimpico hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics, the 1990 FIFA World Cup final, two UEFA Champions League finals, multiple European Championship matches, and it’s now lined up for a major renovation ahead of Euro 2032. Whether you’re planning a match-day trip, booking a stadium tour, or just want the full history, here’s everything you need.
Quick Answer
Stadio Olimpico holds about 70,634 spectators and has been the shared home of AS Roma and SS Lazio since it opened on May 17, 1953. Match tickets are sold through each club’s official site (not a single stadium box office), non-matchday guided tours run through the Foro Italico visitor program, and the stadium is best reached by Metro Line A plus a short bus or tram connection, since there’s no large dedicated parking lot on site.
Home to Rome’s Fiercest Rivalry
Stadio Olimpico is unusual in that it hosts two top-flight rivals under one roof. AS Roma and SS Lazio have both played their home matches here since the stadium opened, turning the venue into the stage for the Derby della Capitale, one of Italian football’s most heated rivalries.
The stadium’s oval bowl and running track, a remnant of its Olympic athletics heritage, still separate fans from the pitch, giving it a distinct atmosphere compared to more modern, football-only grounds. The Curva Sud is traditionally the home of Roma’s most passionate supporters, while the Curva Nord belongs to Lazio’s ultras, depending on which club is hosting.
A History of Major Tournaments
Beyond hosting the 1960 Summer Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, Stadio Olimpico staged UEFA European Championship finals in 1968 and 1980, and welcomed the world for the 1990 FIFA World Cup final, where West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 on July 8, 1990. A major renovation ahead of that World Cup added the stadium’s roof and pushed capacity above 82,000, reshaping the ground into the form fans recognize today.
The venue has also twice hosted the UEFA Champions League final, in 1996 and 2009. A second round of renovations in 2007-2008 modernized seating and hospitality areas, settling capacity at its current 70,634. More recently, Stadio Olimpico hosted four matches of the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in the summer of 2021, including the opening match between Italy and Turkey on June 11, plus Italy’s group-stage wins over Switzerland and Wales, and a quarter-final.
The stadium’s next chapter is already taking shape: reports in September 2026 outlined a roughly €150 million renovation plan ahead of UEFA Euro 2032, which Italy is co-hosting, aimed at expanding hospitality areas, adding new screens, and pushing capacity back toward 80,000.
How to Get Tickets
Because two clubs share the stadium, there isn’t a single Stadio Olimpico box office — tickets are sold separately by whichever club is hosting that fixture. For Roma matches, sales open through the club’s official ticketing portal, with members and season-ticket holders typically getting early access before general sale. For Lazio matches, tickets go through SS Lazio’s official ticketing and stadium regulations page.
The safest starting point for any match is the club’s own site rather than resale marketplaces, since pricing tiers, sector maps, and ID requirements for the Derby della Capitale and other high-demand fixtures change season to season. Check the official AS Roma stadium page for the current season’s sales calendar before you travel.
Stadium Tours & the Foro Italico
On days without a match or event, Stadio Olimpico offers guided tours that take visitors through the players’ tunnel, pitchside, the changing rooms, and press areas, typically running 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the package. Tours are bookable through official partner platforms and are usually combined with access to the wider Foro Italico complex, which also includes the marble-statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi and the sports museums built as part of Mussolini-era Foro Mussolini.
Because the schedule shifts around fixtures, the summer concert season, and other events at Foro Italico, always confirm tour availability for your travel dates before booking rather than assuming a fixed daily schedule.
Getting There: Metro, Bus, Tram & Parking
From Termini Station, take Metro Line A toward Battistini and get off at Ottaviano, then transfer to bus No. 32, which drops you at Piazzale della Farnesina, a short walk from the stadium. Alternatively, stay on Metro Line A to Flaminio and pick up tram No. 2, getting off at the Piazza Mancini terminus, also a short walk away. Travelers arriving at Tiburtina or Ostiense stations should first connect to Termini or Metro Line A before following the same route.
There is no large dedicated parking facility at the stadium itself, so most visitors arriving by car park in a well-connected area farther out, such as near Piazza del Popolo and the Flaminio Metro stop, and finish the trip on foot, by tram, or with a shared mobility option. Drivers coming from outside the city generally exit the GRA ring road at Flaminia (exit 5) and follow signs toward Foro Italico. See the full official AS Roma travel directions for route options by origin, including from Fiumicino Airport.
Stadio Olimpico at a Glance
Location: Viale dei Gladiatori 2, Foro Italico, Rome, Italy. Opened: May 17, 1953. Current capacity: about 70,634. Peak historical capacity: over 82,000 following the 1990 renovation, before the 2007-2008 upgrade reduced it to today’s figure. Tenants: AS Roma, SS Lazio, and Italy’s national football and rugby union teams. Champions League finals hosted: 1996 and 2009. A further renovation aimed at Euro 2032 is currently in planning.
Stadio Olimpico Rome FAQs
Who plays at Stadio Olimpico?
AS Roma and SS Lazio both play their Serie A home matches there, along with Italy’s national football and rugby union teams.
How many people does Stadio Olimpico hold?
The stadium’s current capacity is about 70,634 spectators, down from a peak of over 82,000 after the 1990 World Cup renovation.
Has Stadio Olimpico hosted a World Cup final?
Yes, it hosted the 1990 FIFA World Cup final, where West Germany defeated Argentina 1-0.
How do I buy tickets for a match at Stadio Olimpico?
Tickets are sold separately by the hosting club rather than through a shared stadium box office — use AS Roma’s official site for Roma matches and SS Lazio’s official site for Lazio matches.
Can you tour Stadio Olimpico?
Yes, guided tours run on non-matchdays and typically include the players’ tunnel, pitchside access, changing rooms, and the wider Foro Italico complex, though schedules shift around fixtures and events.
Is there parking at Stadio Olimpico?
There’s no large dedicated parking lot at the stadium. Most visitors park farther out near a Metro A stop, such as Flaminio, and finish the trip by public transport or on foot.
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