Rome, Italy
The Colosseum some of the well-liked sights in Rome, and some of the recognizable landmarks in the whole world. Listed below are some helpful ideas for visiting the Colosseum!
Regardless of if you happen to’re a severe historical past buff or a Gladiator fan – you’ll be able to’t miss a go to to the Colosseum on a journey 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 is usually a bit overwhelming.
To make sure 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 properly upfront.
On this article I’ll be sharing my finest ideas for methods to go to the Colosseum, methods to purchase tickets, and different issues that you must know based mostly on my expertise touring in Italy.
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Rome Colosseum Journey Information
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’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 usually inbuilt the identical method: round or oval open-air constructions with raised seating. They had been used for well-liked occasions comparable to gladiator fights, chariot races, animal slayings and executions.
There are round 230 amphitheaters that had been constructed throughout the Roman Empire, nevertheless, none evaluate to the Colosseum, which is exclusive in its type and grandeur. As a result of 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 very best one in Corinthian type. It was constructed on this strategy to replicate the civilization that created it.
Although the Colosseum has been severely broken by earthquakes, guests can nonetheless expertise a lot of the construction that historic Romans noticed after they entered the Colosseum to observe a gladiator combat 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 few 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’ve got 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 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’ll be able to e book a ticket to go inside.
If you wish to go inside, you’ve gotten the choice to e book tickets for various areas of the Colosseum.
Moreover, you’ll be able to 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 price) and in addition contains the Roman Discussion board 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, nevertheless, NOT the sector stage or the hypogeum, the underground space of the Colosseum. (You might want to e book a guided tour to go to these restricted areas – see under 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. Nonetheless, you have to present an ID on the entrance verifying the appropriate to a lowered ticket.
Youngsters / Folks With Disabilities: Youngsters below 18 and disabled individuals (plus one member of the family / helper) don’t need to pay to go to the Colosseum.
Full Expertise Tickets: Embody 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 price per ticket. This ticket choice contains entry to the sector stage 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 choosing the ticket choice: the English model of the web site is sadly not very properly translated and is usually a bit complicated. You don’t wish to unintentionally e book an Italian tour.
Skip-The-Line Tickets
In case you are pressed for time or just don’t wish 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 bear in mind that you have to e book this ticket with an allotted beginning time, and tickets often promote out, so e book your ticket properly upfront. Skip-the-line tickets aren’t 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 Common Admission Ticket contains the Colosseum (with out entry to the sector), the Roman Discussion board archeological space, the Imperial Boards and the Palatine. It additionally contains 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 during which order you go to the websites included within the ticket. The 24 hours begin whenever you entry the primary monument.
Be aware: For those who purchase the ticket on-line, it’s not essential to print it out, you’ll be able to 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 could e book a particular ticket or a guided tour (see under for extra particulars).
How Lengthy Does It Take To Go to?
You might want to plan in a minimum of one hour to go to the Colosseum, and if you wish to go to the opposite sights included within the Colosseum ticket, plan in a minimum of one hour for these, too. If you wish to soak up 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. For those who’re pressed for time, it’s doable to go to all three websites in half a day, however ideally, you’ll wish to plan in 6 hours for all three websites.
Guided Excursions Of The Colosseum
When you’ve got extra time and actually wish to perceive the Colosseum, I extremely suggest taking a guided tour. There may be little signage all through all of the monuments included within the Colosseum ticket, which signifies that you’ll 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 Specific Tour
The 1-hour Specific Tour is ideal for individuals who don’t have numerous time, and the ticket additionally means that you can skip the road. Get 1-Hour Specific Tickets Right here
Normal Colosseum Tour
Colosseum Tour with Enviornment Ground, Roman Discussion board and Palatine Hill (from US$39)
Go to The Hypogeum (Below 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 study 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 & Enviornment Ground
Colosseum Child-Pleasant Tour
It is a nice tour for anybody visiting Rome with youngsters, because it goals to entertain kids and inform tales about historic Rome in a method that they’re pleasant for children and adults alike.
Colosseum and Historic Rome Household Tour for Children
How To Purchase Colosseum Tickets
There are a number of methods to purchase tickets to the Colosseum. The official ticket web site is after all the plain selection however bear in mind you could typically solely get common admission tickets by way of the official Colosseum web site.
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 typically 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 often 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 almost 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 suggest 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 notice 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 special date.
It’s value noting 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 might wish to put a reminder in your calendar to e book 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, if you happen to go to throughout the summer season months.
Roma Go / Rome and Vatican Go
When you’ve got a Roma Go (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 implies you must verify availability for the Colosseum as quickly as you buy the Roma Go, to verify there are nonetheless time-slots out there throughout the days your cross is legitimate (they’re often 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 will be visited totally free. This contains all websites which can be often included within the Colosseum tickets: The Colosseum, Roman Discussion board and the Palatine.
Be Warned: The websites included within the free ticket are likely to get very crowded when they are often visited totally free. In case you are on a decent finances and wish to make the most of the Free First Sunday, I like to recommend arriving as early as doable.
Colosseum Opening Hours
The Colosseum is open seven days per 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
Be aware: Last admission is one hour earlier than closing time.
Colosseum Closed: The Colosseum open year-round, excluding two days: Christmas Day (twenty fifth December) and New Yr’s Day (1st January).
Extra Ideas For Visiting The Colosseum
- Massive backpacks or suitcases aren’t allowed. Safety is tight, and all baggage are screened by a steel detector on the entrance. A medium-sized daypack is okay. Glass bottles and alcohol aren’t permitted.
- Water fountains will be present in a number of locations contained in the Colosseum, which could be very helpful throughout the hotter months. Deliver your reusable water bottle!
- For those who’re solely visiting the surface, search for the water fountain close to the Colosseo metro station.
- For those who go to throughout the summer season months, you’ll have to pack a sunhat / visor or an umbrella. You’ll end up uncovered to the solar loads. Apply sunscreen earlier than your go to.
- I like to recommend carrying sturdy, comfy sneakers in your go to to the Colosseum. The surfaces are uneven, and if you happen to 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’ll be able to practice to be a gladiator in your go to to Rome. The Gruppo Storico Romano and Gladiator College presents 2-hour gladiator coaching programs and can educate you extra concerning the gladiator video games, weapons and historical past.
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