Visiting the Roman Colosseum: advice and tips for 2024

Updated for 2024: It an attempt to control ticket scalping that has spiraled out of control, Italy's culture ministry announced recently that it plans to introduce Colosseum tickets with the names of visitors printed on them. Ticket-holders will now be required to present "a valid identification document, as happens for football matches".

A portion of Colosseum tickets would reportedly be reserved for "on-site" sale, and each person will be able to purchase only one ticket.

This is a new initiative, so it is having its growing pains. But they do have to do something. We’ve been following this pretty closely; articles in Italian publications as well as the New York Times and international news reports that the scalping situation is out of hand, enough to frustrate the Rome's tourism councilor who spun off about it on Facebook.

As detailed below, the official CoopCulture website is a bit confusing for tourists coming from outside of Italy. However not all “secondary ticketing” websites are reputable.

That being said, we still recommend booking your tour through one of CoopCulture’s “official partner” affiliates, such as Viator or GetYourGuide, for the least drama. (We are affiliates of both these companies and recommend them often: but since they are “official partners”, they really are your best bet.)

The Colosseum is definitely worth visiting, but you just need a plan. Unfortunately, it’s not a site where you can just “wing it “ easily these days. So we’ve put together some tips to help you plan an enjoyable visit to the Roman Colosseum.

Table of Contents

Why should I visit the Colosseum in Rome?

It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. That puts it in pretty good company with the likes of The Great Wall of China and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. C’mon, this is why we travel, right? Seeing something for yourself opens up a different kind of understanding. As my dear sister Celeste would say - “Go! Travel! See Europe!” I think everyone needs a Celeste in their life encouraging them to see things.
As “big tourist sites” go, the Colosseum in Rome just might outdo them all. Built nearly 2000 years ago, it is still the biggest amphitheater in the world. Despite its age, no modern structure has yet to surpass it. Although missing a few pieces, it has survived fires, earthquakes, war, and neglect throughout its long history. Its solidly imposing presence certainly gives the impression that it will be standing for another 2000 years! Nothing you can see in the US is this old.
The ticket to the Colosseum also includes admittance to The Roman Forum and The Palatine Hill. These are significant ruins to explore in their own right, so that makes a pretty good bang for your buck! You can wander around these sites and really get the feel of early Roman life. The Roman Forum was an important location for daily activities like hearing public speeches, discussing politics or just visiting shops and taverns.
The Colosseum has a very interesting story to tell stretching from the once vast Roman Empire into more “modern” times. You might be surprised to learn that gladiator fights were not exactly as they are depicted in movies. Or that the Colosseum became a symbol of the international campaign against capital punishment, which was abolished in Italy in 1948, and became the site of anti-death penalty demonstrations in 2000. In fact, there are many chapters in the building’s life that may surprise you!

A classic view inside the Roman Colosseum.

Getting tickets to the Colosseum in Rome

Our bottom line advice - take a guided tour

The official site to book tickets to the Colosseum is called Co-op Culture, a third-party Italian website that manages bookings for cultural sites across Italy that fall under a few different jurisdictions.

As with a lot of “official” things in Italy, procedures can be confusing. (Sorry Italy - love ya’, but it’s true!)

Though this official website is where you will get the best price and clearest availability, it is a very difficult site to navigate - not the easiest for purchasing tickets as the payment portal doesn't always work for international customers and refunds are not available. Tickets also tend to sell out almost immediately.

Really, you are much better off booking a tour through a reputable tour operator, such as Viator or GetYourGuide, though it might cost you a little more. Both of these companies are “official partners” with the Co-op Culture and will offer the best availability and the least amount of drama.

We don’t want to contribute to the scalping problem at the Colosseum; that is why we are only recommending tour companies that are official affiliate partners of Co-Op Culture.

Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity, or hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.

Of course, you can just choose to navigate the site on your own, but either way, you will need to purchase your timed entry Colosseum tickets in advance, either through the Co-op Culture website or other ticketing partner. This is a recent rule that has been created to help manage crowds and long lines, and to try and quell the workings of unsavory and unofficial tour operators who sometimes troll the lines. Ticket scalping is illegal in Italy, by the way.

Italy's culture ministry announced recently that it plans to introduce Colosseum tickets with the names of visitors printed on them. Ticket-holders will now be required to present "a valid identification document, as happens for football matches".

An archway leading to the interior of the Roman Colosseum.

But let me make my case for a guided tour:

Firstly, tours can get you in early with “skip the line” convenience. We went early in the morning and had a great experience as there were much fewer people milling around. Even though tickets must be purchased ahead and you can’t get a ticket by just showing up and waiting in line anymore, it can still be a confusing scene around the Colosseum. And even with your timed ticket, you still have to get in the queue. Tour operators generally take care of all that “hard stuff” for you.
It can be a little dry to visit the Colosseum site on your own. It’s not well marked, so it’s hard to appreciate what you are looking at or learn anything. But if you have your heart set on going it alone, we would recommend at least using an audio tour - you can purchase one with your ticket or use one that Rick Steves offers through his Audio Europe App.
Tour guides know things! We had a delightful Viator guide who was also an archeological master’s degree student who had lots of insight into the different time periods and up-to-date information on new discoveries and ideas. She was happy to answer our questions as well. Tour guides have a lot of experience with the site and know what is going on. Even by sharing something silly like the story of the cat who lives in the Colosseum and is somewhat of an unofficial mascot, they can make it all easier to connect to in modern life.

Note - The most well-known cat of the Colosseum, called Nerina, died in 2021 after ten years of popularity, but an orange tabby seems to have taken her place.

Entrance to the **Roman Forum** is included with the Colosseum admission ticket.

How to get to the Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum is located about 1 km southeast of the historic center of Rome.

By train -The metro is the easiest and fastest way to reach the Colosseum. Take line B towards the Colosseo station. This puts you right in front of the amphitheater. Can’t miss it!
From Roma Termini, it takes only about 2 to 4 minutes by metro to reach the Colosseum.
By bus - Bus is another option, but it takes longer, about 12 minutes from Roma Termini.
To reach the Colosseum by bus, lines 38 and 75 depart from the northern regions of Rome. From the south, use buses 175 and 271.
The Colosseum has its own bus stop at Piazza del Colosseo, right in front of the entrance.
By tram - Tram is another option to get to the Colosseum. Board Tram line 3 or 8 to The Piazza del Colosseo tram stop.
All of Rome’s public transportation is run by one company called ATAC. You can use the same ticket for metro trains, trams, buses, and light rail. We got a multi-day pass that was most convenient for our stay in Rome.

We purchased our passes at the metro station and they are also available at most “tabacchi” – tobacco stores, distinguished by the “T” sign outside.

As of January of 2023, a Tap-&-Go system was being rolled out by the ATAC; metro stations fitted out with turnstiles accepting contactless credit and debit card payments, as well phone payment systems like Apple Pay and G-Pay.

Busses and Trams are now being added to the Tap&Go system.

Some practical tips for your visit to the Roman Colosseum

- Book early - As soon as you know when you are going to be in Rome, book your tour or buy your tickets. They are becoming hard to get. As emphasized above, we recommend booking a guided tour.

- Visit at off times - The Colosseum is obviously a very popular tourist destination and it’s guaranteed to be crowded inside. Book the earliest tour that you can for the best experience. Opening times are seasonal, but generally, it’s either 8 or 9am.

- Visit off-season - Summer is a busy tourist season and it’s also incredibly hot in Rome at that time. So if it is possible to be flexible with your travel dates, try visiting Rome off-season. The Colosseum is open year-round except for January 1 and December 25.

Winters are mild in the Mediterranean climate, but if you still like it a little warmer, consider visiting between April and early May or between late September and October. We went in May and the mornings were beautiful though afternoons got hot.

Photographing Roman Colosseum — John photographing the Roman Colosseum at dusk. **Dusk is an amazing time** to walk around the exterior.

- Restroom facilities - There’s only one bathroom at the Colosseum. As you enter the arena, to the left of the ticket booths, you will see the toilets. Use it when you get there because a guided tour generally takes about 2 hours.

- Bags - Backpacks and rolling bags are not allowed; if you show up with one, you will be denied entry. I had a small purse and that was no issue.

- What to wear - Dress comfortably - more for a hike in summer than for a breezy photo op. Sorry Instagrammers! Wear comfortable shoes - there are very old, surprisingly steep steps everywhere, at the Roman Forum as well. Also, wear sunscreen and you may also want a hat, even in winter. The Roman sun is hot! There is a lot of walking involved in visiting both the Colosseum and the other ruins around it and not too many places to hide or rest, but we did manage to find some rocks under the trees at the Forum to take a short break.

- Water - You definitely need to hydrate while visiting the Colosseum - remember there’s no roof so you will be in the sun! However, glass bottles or full plastic ones are not allowed. But you can bring in an empty bottle and fill it inside the Colosseum or the Roman Forum at one of the many “nasoni” - water fountains.

- Food - As a World Heritage site, the Colosseum does not have dining options within its walls. You can bring a few snacks to munch on while you walk, but there is nowhere to sit and dine.

If you would like to have lunch or dinner after you exit, there are lots of places just outside, but we STRONGLY recommend you try to get out of the immediate area. These are generally tourist traps; expensive, food not so great, and you might get scammed or intimidated into leaving unnecessary gratuities, making for a disappointing experience. We talk more about this and other tips in our blog post 11 Tips for Traveling in Italy.

Roman Colosseum at night — Dusk is a wonderful time to photograph the Roman Colosseum. For more photo advice you can read our blog post: **6 photo tips for traveling in Italy**.

The Colosseum at Night

For beautiful photos, don’t forget to come back and experience the Colosseum at night! It is dramatically lit and against an azure evening sky, with perhaps a few stars twinkling - or even Jupiter as we were lucky to see - it is really so romantic and lovely. Go ahead - take some pictures!

We also enjoyed watching preparations for the Republic Day parade (June 2) - always something going on in Rome!

Map of the sites around the Roman Colosseum at night. Click in the upper left for a legend of the attractions.

What else can I see in the area around the Roman Colosseum?

Rome is a great walking city, with things to see everywhere you look! While visiting the Colosseum, the Rome Forum, and Palatine Hill, here are some other points of interest not too far away!

The Great War Memorial - Not far from the Colosseum, on the Capitoline Hill, in the symbolic center of ancient Rome, stands the Vittoriano, a large national monument built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. You really can’t miss it, as it’s enormous, and it is topped with imposing statues of chariots that rise high into the sky, not to mention the GIANT statue of Emmanuel himself on horseback in front.

The marble structure itself is meant to represent a sort of modern forum, though it is sometimes uncharitably called a “wedding cake” or “typewriter” by those who find it to be rather a miss architecturally. As with a lot of historical features of Rome, this monument has a bit of a complicated history, but after World War I, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed here, and thus it became somewhat regarded as a War Memorial, though that wasn’t the original theme.

Its pure size is what makes it impressive, and also what makes it controversial in many ways. From the onset of it being built, the ostentatious use of marble and just the excessiveness of it all ran counter to the image of Rome as the capital of classicism. It still triggers mixed emotions today.

For 12 Euros, you can go inside. There is a museum, but most interesting to me is the roof! You can take a lift up to the Panoramic Terrace and experience stunning views of the city, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It’s a little expensive just for a view, but I do enjoy a good vista!

Rome Rose Garden - As this area of Rome can be pretty exhausting with the hustle-bustle of the busy city plus all the tourist activity, the Rome Rose Garden (The Roseto Comunale) is a nice relief from the sensory overload. Italy has long adored the rose, in fact, there originally were public rose gardens located at the Colosseum! But those were destroyed during WWII. Eventually, in 1950, the tradition of the Roman public rose garden was re-established at the site we see here today, about a 15-minute walk from the Colosseum. Entry is free but it’s only open to the public for a short period of time, from late April through the middle of June.

The Rome Rose Garden boasts over 1,100 varieties of roses, and we loved it so much, we wrote a whole post about it - The Rose Garden of Rome. Take a look for lots of information.

Roman Rose Garden — Flowers at the Rose Garden of Rome

Circus Maximus - If you haven’t had your fill of ruins yet, Circus Maximus is not far away! It’s quite close to the Rose Garden, and has its own metro stop. Circus Maximus was the largest stadium in ancient Rome and built for chariot races.

It’s pretty low key to visit; you can just walk around at your own pace. You can also see great views of the ancient structures of the Park of the Aqueducts from there.

Trastevere - For a calm ending to a busy day, we highly recommend dinner in Trastevere, Rome’s charming, quiet neigborhood that features some great restaurants. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the Rose Garden, or 30 minutes if you are coming straight from the Colosseum. Crossing over the Tiber River, you will feel the vibe change and slow down, and you’ll be in for a lovely evening.

Pedestrians walk past outdoor restaurants in Trastevere.

Lastly, let’s show the Colosseum some love

Did you know - the Colosseum wasn’t always truly appreciated for the historical treasure it is?

In fact, it went through various periods of neglect.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum fell into a state of abandonment. Powerful Romans would often use ruins as a quarry, carting away stones and precious metals.

The travertine stone of the Colosseum was used in the building of Palazzo Barberini, the Basilica of Sant’Agostino, Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo della Cancelleria, and even for some parts of St. Peter’s Basilica! It also was used to build the containing walls of the Tiber River. It’s everywhere! No wonder so much of it is missing!

Also, in the years after World War II, the Colosseum became a location for black market activity, as many items had become scarce after the war. It was considered a seedy neighborhood at that time, and a good spot to carry out illegal transactions. You can still see markings on the walls (pointed out by our tour guide) where sellers advertised their goods and prices.

It only became a World Heritage Site in 1980! And it wasn’t even elected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World until 2007. I find that pretty astonishing.

With a recent story in the news about an errant tourist carving his initials in the wall of the Colosseum, I just thought maybe we should all stop and take a moment to give this magnificent artifact a little love and consideration. After all, it has seen a hell of a lot and has much to tell us.

Now “Go! Travel! See Europe!” - you said it, sister!

This post was researched and written by Debbie of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here.