Rome, Italy
The Colosseum some of the well-liked sights in Rome, and some of the recognizable landmarks in all the world. Listed here are some helpful suggestions for visiting the Colosseum!
Regardless of when you’re a critical 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 once we had been in Rome for the primary time, however visiting this historic landmark generally is 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 properly prematurely.
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 it’s best to 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 all the 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 equivalent to gladiator fights, chariot races, animal slayings and executions.
There are round 230 amphitheaters that had been constructed throughout the Roman Empire, nonetheless, none evaluate to the Colosseum, which is exclusive in its fashion and grandeur. As a result of it was constructed by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian, additionally it is often called the “Flavian Amphitheater”.
The Roman theater has three stacked arcades: the bottom one inbuilt Doric fashion, the center arcade inbuilt Ionic fashion, and the best one in Corinthian fashion. It was constructed on this method to mirror the civilization that created it.
Regardless that the Colosseum has been severely broken by earthquakes, guests can nonetheless expertise a lot 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 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.
If you’re taking the metro from Termini, take the metro that’s going to Laurentina. It’s a 3-minute prepare journey, or two brief stops.
You probably 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 Cross).
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How To Go to The Colosseum
There are a alternative ways to see the Colosseum. You’ll be able to merely see it from the surface (which is free), or you’ll be able to guide a ticket to go inside.
If you wish to go inside, you might have the choice to guide tickets for various areas of the Colosseum.
Moreover, you’ll be able to select to go to the Colosseum independently, or be a part of a guided tour.
How A lot Does Visiting The Colosseum Value?
The final admission ticket to the Colosseum is €18 (€16 + €2 on-line reserving price) and likewise contains the Roman Discussion board and the Palatine. With this ticket, you’ll have the ability to go to the primary and second ranges of the Colosseum, together with three overlooks, nonetheless, NOT the world stage or the hypogeum, the underground space of the Colosseum. (It is advisable to guide 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. Nonetheless, it’s essential to present an ID on the entrance verifying the best to a decreased ticket.
Kids / Individuals With Disabilities: Kids below 18 and disabled folks (plus one member of the family / helper) don’t should 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 possibility contains entry to the world stage and an accompanied go to to the underground, however it does NOT embrace Stage 3 of the Colosseum. “Full Expertise Tickets” are legitimate for 48 hours from the primary use.
If you’re shopping for a ticket that features a information via the official Colosseum web site, watch out when choosing the ticket possibility: the English model of the web site is sadly not very properly translated and generally is a bit complicated. You don’t wish to by accident guide an Italian tour.
Skip-The-Line Tickets
If you’re pressed for time or just don’t wish to waste time ready in line, I like to recommend spending a couple of extra {dollars} on the Skip-The-Line Ticket (round €22). Simply remember that it’s essential to guide this ticket with an allotted beginning time, and tickets often promote out, so guide your ticket properly prematurely. Skip-the-line tickets aren’t bought via the official Colosseum web site, however can be found via GetYourGuide.
What’s Included In Your Colosseum Ticket
The Normal Admission Ticket contains the Colosseum (with out entry to the world), the Roman Discussion board archeological space, the Imperial Boards and the Palatine. It additionally contains admission to momentary 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’ll be able to determine during which order you go to the websites included within the ticket. The 24 hours begin once you entry the primary monument.
Observe: When you purchase the ticket on-line, it isn’t 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 embrace entry to the world, the underground space and Stage 3 of the Colosseum. To go to these areas, you’ll want to guide a particular ticket or a guided tour (see beneath for extra particulars).
How Lengthy Does It Take To Go to?
It is advisable to plan in at the 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 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 be lower than 5 minutes away and the Imperial Fora is about 10 minutes from the Colosseum. When you’re pressed for time, it’s potential 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
You probably have extra time and actually wish 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’ll 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 Categorical Tour
The 1-hour Categorical Tour is ideal for individuals who don’t have plenty of time, and the ticket additionally means that you can skip the road. Get 1-Hour Categorical Tickets Right here
Commonplace 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 world flooring 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 in regards to 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 youngsters and inform tales about historic Rome in a method that they’re gratifying for children and adults alike.
Colosseum and Historical 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 alternative however remember which you could typically solely get normal admission tickets via the official Colosseum web site.
You should purchase particular entry tickets that embrace a information via the official Colosseum web site, too, however the English-speaking excursions are restricted and thus typically bought 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 via third-party web sites.
If you wish to guide a guided tour or entry to particular areas, you’ll have to guide via 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 probably 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 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, strive a special date.
It’s value noting which you could solely guide a timeslot as much as one month prematurely, so in case your journey to Rome remains to be within the distant future, you might wish to put a reminder in your calendar to guide a Colosseum ticket a month earlier than your go to.
USEFUL TIP: When choosing a time-slot, do not forget that it will get fairly sizzling 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 throughout the summer season months.
Roma Cross / Rome and Vatican Cross
You probably have a Roma Cross (which provides you free admission to a few landmarks / historic websites and decreased 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 it’s best to verify availability for the Colosseum as quickly as you buy the Roma Cross, to ensure there are nonetheless time-slots out there throughout 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 Cross holders on the official ticket web site.
Go to The Colosseum For Free?
On the primary Sunday of each month, the Colosseum might be visited without spending a dime. 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 without spending a dime. If you’re on a good price range and wish to make the most of the Free First Sunday, I like to recommend arriving as early as potential.
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
Observe: 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 Suggestions For Visiting The Colosseum
- Giant backpacks or suitcases aren’t allowed. Safety is tight, and all luggage are screened by a steel detector on the entrance. A medium-sized daypack is okay. Glass bottles and alcohol aren’t permitted.
- Water fountains might be present in a number of locations contained in the Colosseum, which could be very helpful throughout the hotter months. Carry your reusable water bottle!
- When you’re solely visiting the surface, search for the water fountain close to the Colosseo metro station.
- When you 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 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 when 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.
- If you’re fascinated by the Gladiator fantasy and tradition, you’ll be able to prepare to be a gladiator in your go to to Rome. The Gruppo Storico Romano and Gladiator College 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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