Rome, Italy
The Colosseum one of the fashionable sights in Rome, and one of the recognizable landmarks in the whole world. Listed below are some helpful suggestions for visiting the Colosseum!
Irrespective of in the event you’re a critical historical past buff or a Gladiator fan – you may’t miss a go to to the Colosseum on a trip to Rome. I used to be tremendous excited to see the Colosseum after we had been in Rome for the primary time, however visiting this historic landmark could be a bit overwhelming.
To make sure that you get essentially the most out of your go to to the Colosseum and to keep away from any disappointment, it pays off to plan your go to nicely upfront.
On this article I’ll be sharing my greatest suggestions for learn how to go to the Colosseum, learn how to purchase tickets, and different issues that you must know based mostly on my expertise touring in Italy.
Hello, I’m Matthew Karsten
I’ve been touring the world for 10+ years as knowledgeable photographer & author. I hope you get pleasure from my Colosseum suggestions! Should you discover them helpful, utilizing my affiliate hyperlinks to e book one thing will give me a small fee, at no additional value to you. Thanks!
Rome Colosseum Journey Information
The Colosseum is a famous Roman amphitheater that was constructed between 72 and 80 AD. The three-tired theater is the most important amphitheater ever constructed, and the most important (nonetheless standing) amphitheater in the whole world.
It’s the largest historic construction to have survived: It stands 157 toes (48 meters) tall and measures 620 by 513 toes (189 by 156 meters). The Colosseum was constructed to carry greater than 50,000 spectators.
Roman theaters had been typically in-built the identical manner: round or oval open-air buildings with raised seating. They had been used for fashionable occasions reminiscent of gladiator fights, chariot races, animal slayings and executions.
There are round 230 amphitheaters that had been constructed through the Roman Empire, nonetheless, none evaluate to the Colosseum, which is exclusive in its model and grandeur. As a result of it was constructed by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian, it’s also often called the “Flavian Amphitheater”.
The Roman theater has three stacked arcades: the bottom one in-built Doric model, the center arcade in-built Ionic model, and the very best one in Corinthian model. It was constructed on this strategy to mirror the civilization that created it.
Despite the fact that the Colosseum has been severely broken by earthquakes, guests can nonetheless expertise many of the construction that historic Romans noticed after they entered the Colosseum to look at a gladiator battle or spectacle.
How To Get To The Colosseum
The Colosseum is situated proper within the middle of Rome, and the doorway is close to the Arch of Constantine.
The closest metro station is “Colosseo” on the B Line – it’s proper throughout the road from the Colosseum, a couple of 3-minute stroll to the doorway.
In case you are taking the metro from Termini, take the metro that’s going to Laurentina. It’s a 3-minute practice trip, or two quick stops.
When you have a Rome Hop On Hop Off Bus Ticket, in addition they cease on the Colosseum. (Hop On Hop Off bus tickets are included in each the Rome and the Vatican Go).
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How To Go to The Colosseum
There are a other ways to see the Colosseum. You may merely see it from the surface (which is free), or you may e book a ticket to go inside.
If you wish to go inside, you have got the choice to e book tickets for various areas of the Colosseum.
Moreover, you may select to go to the Colosseum independently, or be part of a guided tour.
How A lot Does Visiting The Colosseum Price?
The final admission ticket to the Colosseum is €18 (€16 + €2 on-line reserving charge) and likewise consists of the Roman Discussion board and the Palatine. With this ticket, you’ll be capable of go to the primary and second ranges of the Colosseum, together with three overlooks, nonetheless, NOT the sector degree or the hypogeum, the underground space of the Colosseum. (It’s essential e book a guided tour to go to these restricted areas – see beneath for extra particulars.)
Discounted Tickets: European Union residents between the age of 18 and 25 solely pay €4 (€4 + €2 on-line reserving charge) to go to the Colosseum. Nevertheless, you need to present an ID on the entrance verifying the fitting to a diminished ticket.
Kids / Folks With Disabilities: Kids underneath 18 and disabled individuals (plus one member of the family / helper) don’t should pay to go to the Colosseum.
Full Experience Tickets: Embrace entrance to the Colosseum, the Roman Discussion board and the Palatine in addition to the S.U.P.E.R. websites (the Palatine Museum, Neronian Cryptoporticus, Home of Augustus, Home of Livia and Temple of Romulus) AND a tour in English are €32 (discounted: €12) plus the €2 reserving charge per ticket. This ticket possibility consists of entry to the sector degree and an accompanied go to to the underground, however it does NOT embody Stage 3 of the Colosseum. “Full Expertise Tickets” are legitimate for 48 hours from the primary use.
In case you are shopping for a ticket that features a information by way of the official Colosseum web site, watch out when deciding on the ticket possibility: the English model of the web site is sadly not very nicely translated and could be a bit complicated. You don’t need to unintentionally e book an Italian tour.
Skip-The-Line Tickets
In case you are pressed for time or just don’t need to waste time ready in line, I like to recommend spending a number of extra {dollars} on the Skip-The-Line Ticket (round €22). Simply remember that you need to e book this ticket with an allotted beginning time, and tickets normally promote out, so e book your ticket nicely upfront. Skip-the-line tickets should not offered by way of the official Colosseum web site, however can be found by way of GetYourGuide.
What’s Included In Your Colosseum Ticket
The Basic Admission Ticket consists of the Colosseum (with out entry to the sector), the Roman Discussion board archeological space, the Imperial Boards and the Palatine. It additionally consists of admission to short-term exhibitions at these sights.
The ticket is legitimate for twenty-four hours, so that you don’t have to go to all three websites in the identical day. You may resolve wherein order you go to the websites included within the ticket. The 24 hours begin while you entry the primary monument.
Observe: Should you purchase the ticket on-line, it’s not essential to print it out, you may merely present it in your smartphone upon arrival on the Colosseum.
What’s Not Included within the Colosseum Ticket
The final admission ticket to the Colosseum doesn’t embody entry to the sector, the underground space and Stage 3 of the Colosseum. To go to these areas, you want to e book a particular ticket or a guided tour (see beneath for extra particulars).
How Lengthy Does It Take To Go to?
It’s essential plan in at the very least one hour to go to the Colosseum, and if you wish to go to the opposite sights included within the Colosseum ticket, plan in at the very least one hour for these, too. If you wish to absorb every monument in additional element, you’ll want about 2 hours for every web site. Each the Palatine Hill and the Roman Discussion board are bigger, extra spread-out areas.
As for distances between the sights: The Palatine is a five-minute stroll from the Colosseum, the Roman Discussion board can also be lower than 5 minutes away and the Imperial Fora is about 10 minutes from the Colosseum. Should you’re pressed for time, it’s attainable to go to all three websites in half a day, however ideally, you’ll need to plan in 6 hours for all three websites.
Guided Excursions Of The Colosseum
When you have extra time and actually need to perceive the Colosseum, I extremely advocate taking a guided tour. There may be little signage all through all of the monuments included within the Colosseum ticket, which signifies that you should have little understanding of what you’re looking at except you’re listening to a podcast concerning the sights, or you’re utilizing a guidebook.
1-Hour Categorical Tour
The 1-hour Categorical Tour is ideal for individuals who don’t have a number of time, and the ticket additionally lets you skip the road. Get 1-Hour Express Tickets Here
Normal Colosseum Tour
Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (from US$39)
Go to The Hypogeum (Beneath The Colosseum)
A tour is required to see the sector ground and hypogeum, the fascinating underground space of the Colosseum. The hypogeum was the place gladiators and animals had been ready earlier than their battles, and visiting it with a information means you’ll be taught much more concerning the spectacles that guests got here to see on the amphitheater, the lifetime of the gladiators, and the battles that had been fought.
Colosseum Tour with Underground Hypogeum & Arena Floor
Colosseum Child-Pleasant Tour
It is a nice tour for anybody visiting Rome with children, because it goals to entertain kids and inform tales about historic Rome in a manner that they’re satisfying for children and adults alike.
Colosseum and Ancient Rome Family Tour for Kids
How To Purchase Colosseum Tickets
There are a number of methods to purchase tickets to the Colosseum. The official ticket web site is in fact the plain alternative however remember which you could usually solely get common admission tickets by way of the official Colosseum website.
You should purchase particular entry tickets that embody a information by way of the official Colosseum web site, too, however the English-speaking excursions are restricted and thus usually offered out. No worries although: If there are not any excursions in English out there for any of the dates you’re planning to be in Rome, you’re normally nonetheless capable of finding guided Colosseum excursions in English by way of third-party web sites.
If you wish to e book a guided tour or entry to particular areas, you’ll have to e book by way of a third-party tour operator who’s licensed to supply these tickets.
There may be additionally a ticket workplace proper on the Colosseum however you’ll most certainly have to attend in line to buy a ticket. Since tickets are timed and customer numbers are capped at 3,000 a day, I strongly advocate shopping for your Colosseum tickets on-line.
After clicking on the “Purchase Tickets” button, a calendar will pop up, and you’ll choose the date you’re planning to go to the Colosseum on. After selecting a date, you will note all of the out there time-slots on the date you chose. If there aren’t any tickets out there anymore for the time you’d like to go to, strive a special date.
It’s price noting which you could solely e book a timeslot as much as one month upfront, so in case your journey to Rome continues to be within the distant future, you could need to put a reminder in your calendar to e book a Colosseum ticket a month earlier than your go to.
USEFUL TIP: When deciding on a time-slot, do not forget that it will get fairly scorching in Rome after midday. I like to recommend reserving a ticket to the Colosseum for the early morning, or an hour earlier than closing, in the event you go to through the summer season months.
Roma Go / Rome and Vatican Go
When you have a Roma Pass (which provides you free admission to a few landmarks / historic websites and diminished ticket costs to all different museums and archeological websites in addition to free use of public transportation), you continue to have to order a time-slot on-line and pay the €2 reservation charge.
This implies you must test availability for the Colosseum as quickly as you buy the Roma Go, to verify there are nonetheless time-slots out there through the days your move is legitimate (they’re normally legitimate for 48 or 72 hours). You’ll discover the choice to order a time-slot for Roma Go holders on the official ticket web site.
Go to The Colosseum For Free?
On the primary Sunday of each month, the Colosseum could be visited for free. This consists of all websites which are normally included within the Colosseum tickets: The Colosseum, Roman Discussion board and the Palatine.
Be Warned: The websites included within the free ticket are inclined to get very crowded when they are often visited without spending a dime. In case you are on a good price range and want to benefit from the Free First Sunday, I like to recommend arriving as early as attainable.
Colosseum Opening Hours
The Colosseum is open seven days every week, and it opens 9am year-round.
Closing instances differ, relying on the time of yr:
- 2 January – 28 February: 9 – 4.30pm
- 1 – 26 March: 9am – 5.30pm
- 27 March – 31 August: 9am – 7.15pm
- 1 – 30 September: 9am – 7pm
- 1 – 30 October: 9am – 6.30pm
- 31 October – 31 December: 9am – 4.30pm
Observe: Ultimate admission is one hour earlier than closing time.
Colosseum Closed: The Colosseum open year-round, aside from two days: Christmas Day (twenty fifth December) and New Yr’s Day (1st January).
Extra Suggestions For Visiting The Colosseum
- Giant backpacks or suitcases should not allowed. Safety is tight, and all luggage are screened by a metallic detector on the entrance. A medium-sized daypack is okay. Glass bottles and alcohol should not permitted.
- Water fountains could be present in a number of locations contained in the Colosseum, which may be very helpful through the hotter months. Convey your reusable water bottle!
- Should you’re solely visiting the surface, search for the water fountain close to the Colosseo metro station.
- Should you go to through the summer season months, you’ll must pack a sunhat / visor or an umbrella. You’ll end up uncovered to the solar so much. Apply sunscreen earlier than your go to.
- I like to recommend carrying sturdy, comfy sneakers to your go to to the Colosseum. The surfaces are uneven, and in the event you go to the opposite sights included in your ticket: you’ll stroll on historic Roman cobbles and uneven surfaces Roman Discussion board and Palatine Hill.
- In case you are fascinated by the Gladiator fable and tradition, you may practice to be a gladiator in your go to to Rome. The Gruppo Storico Romano and Gladiator School presents 2-hour gladiator coaching programs and can train you extra concerning the gladiator video games, weapons and historical past.
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