It is always amazing to visit sites well known from history, literature and popular culture. This was no exception. We marveled at the skill and knowledge of the architects and builders and paid tribute to the slaves who did the back-breaking work. A week before our visit, I booked on-line, 24 hour tickets with timed entry to Colosseum, entry to Forum Romano “at any time”. “Any time” is the time one reaches the head of the queue, regardless of having tickets or not. Entry to the colosseum early afternoon was prompt at the exact time stated on the ticket. Rick Steves audio was helpful for both We visited the forum before the colosseum. There is an uphill slope to the entry point for the forum/Palantine hill complex, then downhill through the remains of ancient Rome to the, now grass covered, site of the forum itself. It would be hard going in a wheel chair, one flight of steps had a lift beside it which was not operational. We didn’t attempt Palatine Hill, which is a good climb. Did not see any toilets on the way to the forum. Any food options I could identify on-line required a time-consuming uphill walk, so we took a picnic and ate sitting on one of the stone bollards in the Colosseum forecourt. After entering the colosseum we made use of the toilets on the ground floor and took the elevator to the first floor where we could appreciate its size and the complexity of operating the site.

We bought timed tickets for 8:30am for Colosseum and Forum (joint ticket cost about 18 Euros per person). Visited the Colosseum first. At 8:00 am the queues are already forming and the tour groups (and their leaders) starting to get into position, but the wait wasn't too long and we moved quite quickly. There's more to see on the inside than we expected and maintenance and restoration works are ongoing. Very helpful info boards at various places. We used the lift (yes. there is one, but it is tucked away out of the main area and not generally available). There are lots of steps between the entrance level and the upper levels though, so be prepared. By the time we came out the whole area was absolutely heaving and very busy (it had also got quite a bit warmer), so pick your time carefully.

After weeks of Internet trawling for the best option for a tour I decided just to turn up, which was around 1330 on a Friday, and chance my arm by waiting in the queue. On seeing the throng of hundreds of people with the group entrance being completely congested I allowed a local 'rep' to give me his speil about their guided skip the line tour. When adding up just the basic price of admission plus the Palatine hill I decided to pay €66 for myself and 2 children which I think was reasonable. The meeting point 10 mins later was well organised, with our guide, Christina, giving a comphrenhesive explanation of the do's and dont's with the meeting point and time for the Palatine, later on. We skipped the huge line and swiftly went inside. Her knowledge was extensive with a fun aspect. She also had a book showing us what the facts she was explaining. I thought my history and knowledge was varied but I learnt a lot. So a big thanks. After her tour we had over an hr to explore privately. The Colosseum is well preserved with the restoration kept to a minimum, thus not really impeding our experience. I could feel the history and imagined what life was like back then, with the guides help. I've visited many important historical sites but I was impressed by its preservation despite its age. When comparing it to Athens it's a no brainer. My children enjoyed the tour and would recommend it highly. We then met a more colourful guide. An expat American called Dan. Due to his humoured style my children enjoyed his tour due to his a animated interaction, despite a brief yet heavy downpour. As my children are from Scotland this wasn't a problem. The Palatine is an extremely important piece of Roman history where Rome actually rose from the ground up and continued its success as a hub due to the emperors insistence. The buildings are mainly ruinous but if you let your imagination go free its a wonderful experience. With the views being a good trade off for the long walks. A magical afternoon had by all.

We bought the tickets on the official site. The sales opened up about a week before our dates. We were never able to get tickets for the underground. The need prices seemed smooth and went by pretty fasts, although there seems to be a redundant number of checks for just your tickets. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I think there were 3 🤔 plus the bag check. The restrooms are but eh entrance and they are the only ones in the entire site. We visited insuring a week in November and the place didn’t seem busy compared to what I’ve seen on friends’ posts from summer months. We used Rick Steve’s’ Pocket Guide to Rome and that was quite good information to us. We didn’t use any tours. We spent a couple of hours there but since there were no crowds, it was much easier to see everything. It might take you longer when it’s busy.

Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of a visit to Rome and arguably one of the greatest sights to see in the world. Completed in AD 80, it is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still the largest standing amphitheater in the world. Even if you don't have tickets for entrance or have not booked a tour, it is still worth experiencing for the views of the exterior. The Colosseum is especially beautiful at night. However, try to get inside but this will take some pre-planning. You can purchase a combo ticket for the Colosseum and Forum online but must do so well in advance. You should rent an audio guide for a small extra charge, and this would be well worth it. If tickets are sold out, the next best option is to book a tour with a high-quality tour group. This may end up costing 6-8 times the price of ordering a ticket online, but this is often your only option as the tickets to the general public are gobbled up by these tour companies as soon as they become available. It's really quite a scam. Do not show up without a ticket or else you will be waiting in line for hours. Even if you have an advanced ticket, get here early as the security line can be a long wait and gets worse as the day goes on. Most importantly, don't visit on days when the Colosseum has free entry. This is often the first Sunday of the month but can vary. It will be a complete madhouse.

If you like history , spectacle, walking, and like Gladiator you have it made!! The Colosseum is so impressive, unique and thought provoking. When you look down in the arena you see the very confined and cramped conditions the gladiators and animals were kept before facing death in the arena. A perfect labyrinth of passages overlooked by the colossal stands holding the likes of Caesar and his cohorts but also the general public too. There are lots of artifacts to see and indicate how the people used to live in this environment. The entrance also includes the the grounds of the archaeological park containing so so many Roman remains and relics. It is impossible not to be impressed and overwhelmed by it all - some of the surviving structures are massive - how did they build this - now it would take us so so long to do - once we got planning permission!! Before going we had read on the internet that you have to , HAVE TO, prebook tickets or you won't get in. This is nonsense. Maybe at the height of summer you might have to buy a little in advance, but we walked up and purchased tickets from the ticket sales and were in in 10 mins for 20 Euros each. The ticket sales on line are much much more and charge a fee for the transaction - do not be caught out by this. Only buy from the official sales point - there are fake ticket sellers on the street who press you to buy from them - again double the price. Excellent - go you won't be disappointed

The Colosseum in Rome is an awe-inspiring symbol of the Roman Empire's grandeur and a journey back in time where you can see that cultures across the continents were flourishing. Its colossal arches and architectural brilliance is a treat to visitors, offering a true sense of history within its walls. Highly recommended to buy tickets online which is around Euro15 and saves some time as there could be anyhow long queue even with tickets in hands, but not to worry it moves really fast and you can enter the remise in some 10-15 minutes in general. Reaching there in the morning hours should be preferred like 830am to beat the long groups that start pouring in by around 10am. Colosseum is open for varying number of hours depending upon the season with longest being around end of March to Sep (830am-7pm), although pls check it before you head towards the wonderful place. Reaching the Colosseum is convenient, with many bus routes available from various parts of Rome. Buses that pass by the Colosseum includes multiple routes and easiest would be to ask your Hotel desk and they will guide to the nearest point to take the bus. You can also easily reach the Colosseum by taking Metro Line B to the Colosseo station. I would recommend having a bus as it gives you a real view of the city as well. Nearby Attractions: Palatine Hill is a short walk from the Colosseum. The Arch of Constantine is also nearby, situated between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. You can have a few moments of peace after the Colosseum and get some rest at Hill with a sceneric view. In Summary - The Colosseum provides a unique and thought-provoking experience. You can admire the architecture of both the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill and enjoy walking up to the viewing platforms through the gardens. The views from the upper levels are fantastic.

There are many places you can visit in Rome on your own, without a guided tour, quite easily and enjoyably. The Colosseum is not one of them, especially if it's your first time there. A guided tour will get you access to skip the queue and provide historical and contextual information to make the visit more meaningful. We booked a "Premium Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill" with City Experiences and were pleased with it, but there are many companies that offer similar tours. The Colosseum was extremely crowded, but our guide did a good job of finding spots for our group of 13 to stand together and listen as he shared information through the headphones provided. From the Colosseum we walked up Palatine Hill to see the ruins there, and then down through the Roman Forum. You should plan on 2.5 to 3 hours to visit all three sites. Practical information: You need to bring your government-issued photo ID, and you will go through security and metal detectors, similar to an airport. The name on your entrance ticket must match the name on your ID, again as with air travel. Small bags and backpacks are okay to bring in, as are water bottles, and there are fountains inside to refill them. There are a lot of steep stairs and uneven surfaces, and a ton of walking so wear comfortable shoes, and not flip flops. There are few shaded areas in the Colosseum and it can get quite hot - it's a good idea to bring a hat and water bottle. There are washrooms at the entrance, and again at the exit, but not in between so plan accordingly.

An unmissable historical monument. Enter it and have the impression that at any moment lions and gladiators come out. We recommend purchasing on the official site of the visit with audio guide (€ 17 admission, free for minors, € 7.50 audio guide) to be free to stop at any point at your leisure. Obviously there are a lot of people who visit it every day, so, it will take a while to conquer the favorite panoramic view, but it will still be worth it. The ticket also includes Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The official site is not convenient: it opens its doors only a month in advance, one day at a time, one time at a time and often a few places at a time, but prices are the lowest, so arm yourself with patience.

We booked our tickets through get your guide, we had the 9am time slot & arrived for 8;30. On arrival the Collosseum staff told us our ‘ticket’ was actually a voucher and we had to go and collect the physical ticket from get your guide, which we did & was just round the corner. No hassle at all just be sure to leave time to do this if needed! It appears they will only let you in for your actual time slot (ours being 9-9:15am) no later or earlier, so at 8:55 we were turned away and had to come back 5 mins later. Seems a bit dramatic but again not that major. (This seems to have. Been a big problem for other people who couldn’t get in after running late) Security was similar to the Vatican / St Peter’s and you do need to show your passport matches the ticket names. The collosseum itself was astonishing! The signs were super informative & you could see all the arena , floor, walls etc amazing from the second floor. 100% a must visit in Rome, Deffinitely a day to remember!