Rome, Italy
The Colosseum one of the well-liked sights in Rome, and one of the recognizable landmarks in the whole world. Here are some helpful ideas for visiting the Colosseum!
No matter when you’re a severe historical past buff or a Gladiator fan – you possibly can’t miss a go to to the Colosseum on a journey to Rome. I used to be tremendous excited to see the Colosseum once we have been in Rome for the primary time, however visiting this historic landmark is usually a bit overwhelming.
To be certain that you get probably 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.
In this text I’ll be sharing my greatest ideas for methods to go to the Colosseum, methods to purchase tickets, and different issues that you need to know primarily based on my expertise touring in Italy.
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Rome Colosseum Travel Guide
The Colosseum is a well-known 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 is the most important historic construction to have survived: It stands 157 ft (48 meters) tall and measures 620 by 513 ft (189 by 156 meters). The Colosseum was constructed to carry greater than 50,000 spectators.
Roman theaters have been usually inbuilt the identical approach: round or oval open-air constructions with raised seating. They have been used for well-liked occasions comparable to gladiator fights, chariot races, animal slayings and executions.
There are round 230 amphitheaters that have been constructed through the Roman Empire, nonetheless, none examine to the Colosseum, which is exclusive in its type and grandeur. Because it was constructed by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian, it is usually often called the “Flavian Amphitheater”.
The Roman theater has three stacked arcades: the bottom one inbuilt Doric type, the center arcade inbuilt Ionic type, and the best one in Corinthian type. It was constructed on this strategy to replicate the civilization that created it.
Even although the Colosseum has been severely broken by earthquakes, guests can nonetheless expertise many of the construction that historic Romans noticed once they entered the Colosseum to observe a gladiator battle or spectacle.
How To Get To The Colosseum
The Colosseum is positioned proper within the heart of Rome, and the doorway is close to the Arch of Constantine.
The nearest metro station is “Colosseo” on the B Line – it’s proper throughout the road from the Colosseum, a few 3-minute stroll to the doorway.
If you take the metro from Termini, take the metro that’s going to Laurentina. It’s a 3-minute practice experience, or two quick stops.
If you’ve a Rome Hop On Hop Off Bus Ticket, additionally they cease on the Colosseum. (Hop On Hop Off bus tickets are included in each the Rome and the Vatican Pass).
How To Visit The Colosseum
There are a other ways to see the Colosseum. You can merely see it from the surface (which is free), or you possibly can ebook a ticket to go inside.
If you need to go inside, you’ve the choice to ebook tickets for various areas of the Colosseum.
Furthermore, you possibly can select to go to the Colosseum independently, or be a part of a guided tour.
How Much Does Visiting The Colosseum Cost?
The normal admission ticket to the Colosseum is €18 (€16 + €2 on-line reserving price) and likewise consists of the Roman Forum and the Palatine. With this ticket, you’ll be capable to 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. (You must ebook 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 price) to go to the Colosseum. However, you have to present an ID on the entrance verifying the appropriate to a lowered ticket.
Children / People With Disabilities: Children beneath 18 and disabled individuals (plus one member of the family / helper) don’t should pay to go to the Colosseum.
Full Experience Tickets: Include entrance to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine in addition to the S.U.P.E.R. websites (the Palatine Museum, Neronian Cryptoporticus, House of Augustus, House of Livia and Temple of Romulus) AND a tour in English are €32 (discounted: €12) plus the €2 reserving price per ticket. This ticket choice consists of entry to the sector degree and an accompanied go to to the underground, however it does NOT embrace Level 3 of the Colosseum. “Full Experience Tickets” are legitimate for 48 hours from the primary use.
If you’re shopping for a ticket that features a information by way of the official Colosseum web site, watch out when choosing the ticket choice: the English model of the web site is sadly not very nicely translated and is usually a bit complicated. You don’t need to unintentionally ebook an Italian tour.
Skip-The-Line Tickets
If you’re pressed for time or just don’t need to waste time ready in line, I like to recommend spending a couple of extra {dollars} on the Skip-The-Line Ticket (round €22). Just remember that you have to ebook this ticket with an allotted beginning time, and tickets often promote out, so ebook your ticket nicely upfront. Skip-the-line tickets will not be bought by way of the official Colosseum web site, however can be found by way of GetYourGuide.
What’s Included In Your Colosseum Ticket
The General Admission Ticket consists of the Colosseum (with out entry to the sector), the Roman Forum archeological space, the Imperial Forums 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 can determine during which order you go to the websites included within the ticket. The 24 hours begin if you entry the primary monument.
Note: If you purchase the ticket on-line, it’s not essential to print it out, you possibly can merely present it in your smartphone upon arrival on the Colosseum.
What’s Not Included within the Colosseum Ticket
The normal admission ticket to the Colosseum doesn’t embrace entry to the sector, the underground space and Level 3 of the Colosseum. To go to these areas, you must ebook a particular ticket or a guided tour (see beneath for extra particulars).
How Long Does It Take To Visit?
You must plan in no less than one hour to go to the Colosseum, and if you wish to go to the opposite sights included within the Colosseum ticket, plan in no less than one hour for these, too. If you need to absorb every monument in additional element, you’ll want about 2 hours for every web site. Both the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are bigger, extra spread-out areas.
As for distances between the sights: The Palatine is a five-minute stroll from the Colosseum, the Roman Forum can also be lower than 5 minutes away and the Imperial Fora is about 10 minutes from the Colosseum. If 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 Tours Of The Colosseum
If you’ve extra time and actually need to perceive the Colosseum, I extremely suggest taking a guided tour. There is little signage all through all of the monuments included within the Colosseum ticket, which implies that you should have little understanding of what you’re looking at until you’re listening to a podcast in regards to the sights, or you’re utilizing a guidebook.
1-Hour Express Tour
The 1-hour Express Tour is ideal for individuals who don’t have loads of time, and the ticket additionally lets you skip the road. Get 1-Hour Express Tickets Here
Standard Colosseum Tour
Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (from US$39)
Visit The Hypogeum (Under 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 have been ready earlier than their battles, and visiting it with a information means you’ll be taught much more in regards to the spectacles that guests got here to see on the amphitheater, the lifetime of the gladiators, and the battles that have been fought.
Colosseum Tour with Underground Hypogeum & Arena Floor
Colosseum Kid-Friendly Tour
This is a superb tour for anybody visiting Rome with children, because it goals to entertain kids and inform tales about historic Rome in a approach that they’re fulfilling for children and adults alike.
Colosseum and Ancient Rome Family Tour for Kids
How To Buy Colosseum Tickets
There are a number of methods to purchase tickets to the Colosseum. The official ticket web site is in fact the apparent selection however remember that you would be able to typically solely get normal admission tickets by way of the official Colosseum web site.
You should purchase particular entry tickets that embrace a information by way of the official Colosseum web site, too, however the English-speaking excursions are restricted and thus typically bought out. No worries although: If there aren’t any excursions in English out there for any of the dates you’re planning to be in Rome, you’re often nonetheless capable of finding guided Colosseum excursions in English by way of third-party web sites.
If you need to ebook a guided tour or entry to particular areas, you’ll have to ebook by way of a third-party tour operator who’s licensed to supply these tickets.
There can also be a ticket workplace proper on the Colosseum however you’ll more than likely 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 suggest shopping for your Colosseum tickets on-line.
After clicking on the “Buy Tickets” button, a calendar will pop up, and you may 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, attempt a unique date.
It is price noting that you would be able to solely ebook a timeslot as much as one month upfront, so in case your journey to Rome remains to be within the distant future, chances are you’ll need to put a reminder in your calendar to ebook a Colosseum ticket a month earlier than your go to.
USEFUL TIP: When choosing a time-slot, keep in mind 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, when you go to through the summer time months.
Roma Pass / Rome and Vatican Pass
If you’ve a Roma Pass (which provides you free admission to a few landmarks / historic websites and lowered 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 price.
This means you need to test availability for the Colosseum as quickly as you buy the Roma Pass, to verify there are nonetheless time-slots out there through the days your go is legitimate (they’re often legitimate for 48 or 72 hours). You’ll discover the choice to order a time-slot for Roma Pass holders on the official ticket web site.
Visit The Colosseum For Free?
On the primary Sunday of each month, the Colosseum may be visited at no cost. This consists of all websites which might be often included within the Colosseum tickets: The Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Palatine.
Be Warned: The websites included within the free ticket are likely to get very crowded when they are often visited at no cost. If you’re on a good finances 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 12 months:
- 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
Note: Final admission is one hour earlier than closing time.
Colosseum Closed: The Colosseum open year-round, except for two days: Christmas Day (twenty fifth December) and New Year’s Day (1st January).
More Tips For Visiting The Colosseum
- Large backpacks or suitcases will not be allowed. Security is tight, and all luggage are screened by a steel detector on the entrance. A medium-sized daypack is okay. Glass bottles and alcohol will not be permitted.
- Water fountains may be present in a number of locations contained in the Colosseum, which may be very helpful through the hotter months. Bring your reusable water bottle!
- If you’re solely visiting the surface, search for the water fountain close to the Colosseo metro station.
- If you go to through the summer time months, you’ll must pack a sunhat / visor or an umbrella. You’ll end up uncovered to the solar quite a bit. Apply sunscreen earlier than your go to.
- I like to recommend carrying sturdy, snug sneakers in your go to to the Colosseum. The surfaces are uneven, and when you go to the opposite sights included in your ticket: you’ll stroll on historic Roman cobbles and uneven surfaces Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- If you’re fascinated by the Gladiator fantasy and tradition, you possibly can practice to be a gladiator in your go to to Rome. The Gruppo Storico Romano and Gladiator School provides 2-hour gladiator coaching programs and can educate you extra in regards to the gladiator video games, weapons and historical past.
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