Rome.us
  • TAXI FARES CALCULATOR
  • BOOK PRIVATE TOUR
  • ABOUT US
  • TIPS
    • How to Choose a Hotel in Rome
    • Tickets to Vatican museums
    • Rome Three Day Itinerary
    • 2025 Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee
    • Rainy Days in Rome
    • Buying a Sim Card in Italy
    • Renting a Car in Rome
    • Apps for Tourists
    • Souvenirs from Rome
    • Free Things to Do
    • Unusual Things to do
    • Public Transport
    • Shopping
    • Instagram
    • ASK US
    • Pinterest
  • WHERE TO STAY
    • Hotels with Best Views
    • Hotels near Termini
    • Hotels near the Colloseum
    • Hotels near Navona Square
    • 3 Star Hotels
    • 4 Star Hotels
    • 5 Star Hotels
    • Apartments For Rent
    • Best Hostels
  • WHAT TO SEE
    • Colosseum
    • Pantheon
    • Borghese Gallery
    • Roman Forum
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Spanish Steps
    • Castel Sant’Angelo
    • Navona Square
    • Ancient Sites and Ruins
    • Caravaggio’s Paintings
    • Churches
    • Galleries and Museums
    • Parks and Gardens
    • Squares and Fountains
    • Hills
  • VATICAN CITY
    • St Peter’s Basilica
    • Sistine Chapel
    • Vatican Museums
    • Raphael’s Rooms
    • Michelangelo’s Pieta
    • St Peters Dome
    • St Peter’s Square
    • Vatican Gardens
    • Vatican Military
    • Swiss Guard
  • DAY TRIPS
    • To Tivoli
    • To Ostia Antica
    • Beaches near Rome
    • To Alberobello
  • WEATHER: WHAT TO WEAR?
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • HOW TO GET
    • Fiumicino Airport
    • Ciampino Airport
    • Termini Railway Station
    • To Venice
    • To Florence
    • To Ostia Antica
    • To Naples
    • To Milan
    • To Pisa
    • To Siena
  • WHERE TO EAT
    • Famous Roman Dishes
    • Best Pizza Places
    • Best Pasta Places
    • Local Italian Food
    • Best Gelato Places
    • Best Rooftop Bars
  • NEIGHBORHOODS
    • Campo Marzio
    • Jewish Ghetto Quarters
    • Quartiere Coppedè
    • Monti
    • Sant’Eustachio
    • Trastevere
    • Trevi
  • EMPERORS
    • Marcus Aurelius
    • Gaius Julius Caesar
    • Nero
    • Octavian Augustus
    • Caligula
    • Hadrian
    • Vespasian
    • Commodus
    • Trajan
Home / Ancient Roman Sites and Ruins /

Baths of Caracalla

Written by: Kate Zusmann

baths of caracalla
Tickets
  • €8 Adult
  • €2 EU Citizens (18-25 years)
  • €2 Senior (65+ years)
Tip There are usually no queues at the ticket office of the Baths of Caracalla, and you do not have to buy a ticket in advance.
Opening Hours
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Monday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM
Recommended tour
Closest bus stops
Terme Caracalla5 min 225 m: 671 714 792
Baccelli5 min 272 m: 160
Closest subway stations
Circo Massimo 15 min 737 m: B
Re di Roma37 min 1.8 km: A
Address Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Roma
Website www.beniculturali.it/luogo/terme-di-caracalla

Baths of Caracalla (Italian: Terme di Caracalla; Latin: Thermae Antoninianae) are famous ancient Roman public baths constructed between 211 and 224 by the emperors Caracalla, Heliogabalus, and Severus Alexander. The site is located along the Appian Way in Rome.

Considered one of the most luxurious thermal baths, it accommodated about 1600 visitors and was used up until the 6th century. Also, it is one of the most impressive archeological constructions of the Imperial epoch.

Contents

Toggle
  • Things to Know Before Visit Baths of Caracalla in Rome
    • How much would it cost to build the Baths of Caracalla today?
    • What did Caracalla’s baths look like?
    • Are the Baths of Caracalla free?
    • How many baths were there in Caracalla’s baths?
    • How were the Baths of Caracalla heated?
    • How were the Baths of Caracalla destroyed?
    • What are the Baths of Caracalla used for today?
    • What were Caracalla’s baths made of?
    • Why were the Baths of Caracalla built?
    • Why were the Baths of Caracalla important?
  • History
  • Decoration
  • Teatro dell’ Opera
  • Nearby Attractions

Things to Know Before Visit Baths of Caracalla in Rome

How much would it cost to build the Baths of Caracalla today?

Building the Baths of Caracalla today would likely cost several billion dollars, considering the massive scale, intricate mosaics, marble decorations, and advanced engineering required for such a project. Estimates range from $1 to $5 billion, accounting for modern labor, materials, and construction technology.

What did Caracalla’s baths look like?

Caracalla's baths were an immense complex featuring grand halls, large marble pools, gardens, gymnasiums, libraries, and intricate mosaics. The central area included the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath), all elaborately decorated with marble and statues.

Are the Baths of Caracalla free?

No, visiting the Baths of Caracalla is not free. As of now, the entrance fee for adults is approximately €8, with reduced prices for EU citizens aged 18-25 and free entry for children under 18 and seniors over 65.

How many baths were there in Caracalla’s baths?

The Baths of Caracalla featured three main bathing chambers: the caldarium (hot bath), the tepidarium (warm bath), and the frigidarium (cold bath). Additionally, numerous smaller baths and pools were throughout the complex.

How were the Baths of Caracalla heated?

The Baths of Caracalla were heated using a sophisticated hypocaust system. This involved burning wood in furnaces to heat air, which was then circulated beneath the floors and through the walls, warming the various bathing rooms.

How were the Baths of Caracalla destroyed?

The Baths of Caracalla were gradually destroyed over centuries due to neglect after the fall of the Roman Empire. In 537 AD, the Ostrogoths cut off the aqueducts supplying water to Rome, making the baths unusable. Subsequent earthquakes and looting for building materials further contributed to their ruin.

What are the Baths of Caracalla used for today?

Today, the Baths of Caracalla serve as a historical site and tourist attraction. The expansive ruins host cultural events, including summer opera performances and concerts, making use of the impressive ancient backdrop.

What were Caracalla’s baths made of?

Caracalla's baths were constructed using brick and concrete, with extensive use of marble, granite, and decorative mosaics for the interior surfaces. The structures were adorned with statues and intricate frescoes, showcasing Roman architectural grandeur.

Why were the Baths of Caracalla built?

The Baths of Caracalla were built by Emperor Caracalla to provide a grand public bathing complex for Roman citizens, promoting hygiene, leisure, and social interaction. They also served as a demonstration of the emperor's power and the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.

Why were the Baths of Caracalla important?

The Baths of Caracalla were important as they exemplified Roman engineering, architecture, and social culture. They were a center for socializing, exercise, and relaxation, reflecting the sophistication of Roman urban life and the empire's emphasis on public amenities.

History

Most of the Roman population lived in overcrowded apartment buildings without water or sanitary facilities, so the baths were the solution to the problem. Moreover, they served as a place for socialization.

The baths of Caracalla contain:

  • Massive columns.
  • Mosaics of glass and marble on the walls.
  • Painted stuccos.
  • Different statues of impressive sizes.

The water system goes from the main aqueduct, the Aqua Antoniana. However, the thermal baths were reconstructed several times and finally closed in 537 A.D.

Scheme of the plan of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome

There were three large bathing rooms: the frigidarium – a cold pool; the tepidarium – a lukewarm pool; and the caldarium – a hot pool.

Bathers could freely move from one room to another because the size of the thermae was huge, and even today, the ruins are massive. The walls and floor of the tepidarium and calidarium were heated by a unique system – the hypocaust. Since the floor was raised and there was a space left between the walls, the hot air was circulating through a furnace. The frigidarium was located in the middle of the construction and surrounded by two zones – Palaestra. These zones were gymnastic areas, where games and competitions were held. Additionally, there was an Olympic-sized pool – the Natatio, which served recreational swimming activities. Moreover, there were two libraries and beautiful gardens.

Decoration

The baths of Caracalla are well preserved and contain many colorful mosaics, where some mosaic floors were removed, and now you can find them in different museums all around the world. Some of them can be seen nowadays in the Vatican Museums.

The decor consisted of the walls covered with marble slabs, while the upper register was covered with stucco. Interestingly, all the floors contained colorful mosaics and maritime figures, like sea horses or fish. Most of the mosaics were made from Egyptian grey granite, Numidian yellow marble, green-veined marble from Carystus, and green or purple polyphony from Egypt and Sparta.

Interior of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome

Septimius Severus issued 13 thousand prisoners of war from his campaigns in Spain to align the ground of the Caracalla Baths.

There are monumental sculptures, such as one of Hercules, 10 feet 6 inches tall, found in the 16th century.

Baths of Caracalla in Rome today view from outside

During the Renaissance epoch, Donato Bramante and Andrea Palladio used the Baths of Caracalla as an inspiration for grand structures.

Teatro dell’ Opera

During the summertime, the Baths of Caracalla serve as an open-air theater called “Teatro dell’Opera” with ballet and opera performances. Examples of performances are “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi and “Carmen” by Georges Bizet.

  • You can check the program for the theater on the official webpage www.operaroma.it 

Opera inside the Baths of Caracalla in Rome

The public baths of Caracalla are one of Rome’s most ancient archeological constructions. With their massive size and impressive history, they would be a great choice for your Roman holidays.

Nearby Attractions

Villa Celimontana
8 min 1280 ft 390 m
The Basilica of St. Stephen in the Round
11 min 1800 ft 550 m
Caelian Hill
13 min 2170 ft 660 m
Circus Maximus
17 min 2720 ft 830 m
Triumphal Arch of Constantine
19 min 3180 ft 970 m
Colosseum
20 min 3310 ft 1 km
Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano
20 min 3310 ft 1 km
Palatine Hill
22 min 3540 ft 1.1 km
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
22 min 3540 ft 1.1 km
Fountain of the Mask
22 min 3610 ft 1.1 km

Author: Kate Zusmann

Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

Dive Deeper into Rome's Stories

Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3

21821 views

How to Get from Fiumicino Airport to Rome City Center

Visiting Sistine Chapel

932064 views

Sistine Chapel

The Borghese Gallery and Museum The Ultimate Guide for Visitors

14387 views

The Borghese Gallery and Museum

Visiting Pantheon in Rome

33631 views

Pantheon

Roman Forum in Rome Italy

25145 views

Roman Forum – Ultimate Guide for Antic History Lovers

What to See in Rome

24995 views

What to See in Rome – TOP 30 Tourist Attractions & Places

Hotels with best views in Rome

7428 views

Hotels with Best Views in Rome

Hotel Near The Colosseum in Rome

17106 views

Hotels Close to the Colosseum in Rome

27143 views

Best 4 Star Hotels in Rome

Show more

About us

About us ROME.US Authors Kate Zusmann and Artur Jakucewicz
2025.We're Kate and Artur, a duo bound by our shared fascination with the Eternal City – Rome. Our paths, driven by a mutual passion for its timeless stories and architectural marvels, converged in a way we had never imagined.

Explore Rome

  • hotels close to the Pantheon in Rome

    Best Hotels near the Pantheon in Rome

  • Free things to do in Rome

    Top 15 Free Things to Do in Rome

  • Swiss Guard in the Vatican

    Pontifical Swiss Guard💂in Vatican

  • How to buy tickets to the Vatican Museums

    How to Buy Tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

  • Termini – Central Train Station in Rome

    Termini Central Train Station in Rome

Rome.us
  • social logo
  • social logo
  • social logo
  • social logo

This website uses cookies. For more info read the cookies policy

Rome.us © 2025. Created with love by Roman experts and guides.

  • Español
  • Deutsch