Visiting The Colosseum and Roman Forum - A

Practical Guide
A visit to the Colosseum is almost a prerequisite for any first time visitor to Rome.
The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are located in the same archaeological area as the
Colosseum and all three share the same admission ticket. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and
Palatine Hill all have separate entrances and you can walk freely between the Roman Forum and
Palatine Hill. The Colosseum is opposite one of the exits to the Roman Forum and directly opposite
Colosseum Metro station.
The entrance ticket covering the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is valid for 2 days

The Colosseum - What Is It

The emperors of Rome built this large amphitheatre for gladiatorial shows and hunts of wild
animals which became the symbol of the Eternal City.

In 80 A.D. there was a magnificent inauguration with games that lasted one hundred days during
which five thousand beasts were killed. The shows were free of charge and the seats were assigned
according to the class of spectators.

The Colosseum was built primarily to entertain the masses in brutal and barbaric games. Some were
beast on beast combat to the death. Others were people fighting animals to the death, while the most
popular was the human on human combat. Gladiators were slaves, often captured in war, that were
trained in special schools to fight each other to the death.

The gladiatorial games were over by the year 438 A.D. while the shows with hunts of wild beasts
continued until 523.

The Colosseum - What To Expect On A Visit Today

The area around the Colosseum is quite spacious with plenty of room for the large numbers of
visitors posing for pictures and the usual mix of vendors selling tourist tat and locals dressed as
Romans ready to pose with you for a sometimes very steep fee. Further back there are plenty of
places to eat and the Colosseum is a major public transport hub including a Metro Station.

If you don't have an advance entrance ticket be prepared for long queues, though see ticketing
advice below.

The Colosseum Ticket Queue... Or Skip The Queue

Buy Ticket At Palatine Hill & Use Empty Entrance On Left
After gaining entrance past security there are lifts, but most people will use the stairs up a few
flights. There is a chance you may spend more time queuing to get in than actually within the
monument. For most people, expect to stay around 45 to 60 minutes .

Other than take in the spectacle presented to you from all angles, there is little more to see and do
unless you have invested prior in reading up about the Colosseum or are taking a Colosseum tour,
audio or otherwise. There is a small exhibition area.

Colosseum Special Access Option

2011 marked the public opening of the Colosseums underground chambers for the very first time,
as well as the Colosseums third tier, which hasnt been open in decades. You can get special access

to both areas and see Ancient Rome the way no one ever has. Youll follow in the footsteps of the
gladiators themselves as you explore the tunnels where they once prepared for fights and where
lions and tigers were once caged. Youll also go up to the highest existing level of the Colosseum
the third tier.
These newly opened areas can only be visited with a guided tour, (see below) and must be booked
in advance.

Entrance Gates At The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Plus A
Recommended Route

Inside The Colosseum

As the entrance ticket to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill also includes the Colosseum most
people will visit all three at the same time,
The ticket kiosk at the Colosseum has by far the longest queues and there are other reasons
we suggest you start and buy your ticket at the Palatine Hill entrance.

The ticket gate for the Palatine Hill often has no queues at all and is midway down the road Via di
San Gregorio that runs from the Colosseum along the base of the Palatine Hill less than 5 minutes
walk from the Colosseum. Many of the Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses and tour buses board
and drop between the Colosseum and the entrance to the Palatine Hill.

From the Palatine Hill entrance, walking uphill exploring the Palatine Hill is more gradual than
from the Roman Forum and has more shade. After performing a circuit of the Palatine Hill you will
get a great birds eye view down onto the Roman Forum as you descend into it, getting a good initial
orientation in the process.
The entrance of the Roman Forum is a long way from the Colosseum, but there is an exit only gate
right next to the Colosseum.

Tickets, Opening Hours & Thoughts On Visiting

The standard admission ticket covers all three monuments, The Colosseum, Roman Forum and
Palatine Hill.
Opening hours are from 8.30 am to one hour before sunset, exact times are again on the link at the
top of the page.

You can order tickets in advance and avoid the queues for which there is a small booking fees. Your
tickets are e-mailed to you, so no delivery charges or lengthy delivery periods.

Within the Colosseum, there are parts you can only visit as part of a special access guided tour
(see section below) for which the standard ticket has no validity.

Time taken to visit will vary wildly.

If you have a keen interest in the subject matter or have read widely about ancient Rome in the
build up to your trip then its possible that you will need most of the day at the Palatine Hill and
Roman Forum.

At the other extreme its clear that many tourists just turn up cold, buy their ticket and expect to be
entertained. The consequential result is often a very quick half-day visit to the Colosseum, Roman
Forum and Palatine Hill.

There is not that much in the way of information provided anywhere in the three sites.
You've come a long way and spent significant money to put yourself inside the Roman Forum and
Colosseum, its worthwhile investing in at least an audio guide, if not a tour to make sense of the
spectacle in front of you

Colosseum Tours With Access To Underground Chambers

Experience the full glory of Rome's Colosseum on a walking tour with skip-the-line entry with
access to parts of the Colosseum not open to those using standard admission tickets.
Accompanied by an expert guide who is passionate about Roman history, you'll gain rare access to
areas of the Colosseum that are newly opened or normally off-limits. Enjoy private viewing of the
Colosseum's underground chambers, arena and upper level.

Other Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tours

There is no getting away from it, a visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum means a lot of time on
your feet, walking around the vast site. Walking tours are available taking up a morning or
afternoon taking you to all the best parts of the attraction and giving you an informed insight to
what you are witnessing