Tips for Visiting the Ancient Roman Colosseum
We have only been in Italy for a few days and I think I may have found what is highly likely to be my favourite building. Not just in Italy, but the entire world. It’s a bold statement to make but my god the Ancient Roman Colosseum is beautiful.
Tips for Visiting the Ancient Roman Colosseum
Yes I know that is the most cliche and overused word in the whole world to describe a scene, but it honestly just works. I could have easily used extraordinary, spectacular, stunning, gorgeous, dazzling or even statuesque. But beautiful it is!
Since it is so beautiful it is definitely one of the most visited attractions in Rome. So if you plan on visiting the Ancient Roman Colosseum then hopefully some of our tips will help you maximise your time there so you will fall in love with is as well.
When to visit the Ancient Roman Colosseum
Get there early. No I don’t mean have a leisurely breakfast and then stroll down at 9am! Because at 8.30am the doors will swing open and the crowd will surge forward. Any time around 8.15am will be fine if you follow our secret travel tip below.
We rocked up at 8.25am and I was starting to fume as Adela has slept in and we had missed breakfast to get here early. And now we were about 150th in the queue.
Luckily we brought tickets the day before when we visited the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill ruins which are adjacent to the Colosseum. So our secret travel tip for you is to make sure you head along to the road and get your tickets the day before.
Even though we had to queue to get in (it took about 3 minutes) everyone else was basically running to the queues for tickets. We strolled on past, up the stairs and were one of the first into the Colosseum!
Where to go in the Ancient Roman Colosseum
Since we were so quick to get in we had a prime opportunity to take a bunch of photos before the crowds piled in. The key here is figuring out where to go first.
As you walk in you will be guided up the first flight of steps. Once at the top then bypass all the information panels (you can come back to them after the photo taking) and head around to the right. Other people naturally turned left.
But I knew exactly where the sun was shining so with it at our backs we had the Colosseum lit up in all it’s glory rather than shooting into the sun and ruining our photos.
Provided you were here early with pre-purchased tickets then you will have enough time to take your photos on the top level before descending down to the bottom and getting some more uncrowded shots. About half an hour all up.
It is ridiculous how quickly the Colosseum fills up with tour groups and they are a pain in the ass to get around so don’t dilly dally.
Spend the next hour casually strolling around taking a few more photos and reading up on the history of the Colosseum Games, animal spectacles and construction.
Price to visit the Ancient Roman Colosseum
It’s only €12 for an adult ticket and like we said it will also get you access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. They are well worth the visit and we spent 3 hours there alone!
The beauty is that your ticket is valid for 2 consecutive days so you can visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the first day. Then visit the Ancient Roman Colosseum on the second day bypassing the horrendous queues.
You will queue for no more than 10 minutes and then when you arrive the next morning at the Colosseum you will be straight in once the doors part. This will give you more than enough time to join the daily Rome hop on hop off tours.
Category: Europe, Travel Tips
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Those pictures of the Colosseum without tourists in them are amazing! We had an equally easy time getting into the Colosseum when we went because we had a Roma Pass.
The admission is included in the cost of your Roma Pass (30 euros) and you get so skip right on past the queue in the Colosseum because Roma pass holders have a special line to get in (we came in the middle of the afternoon and walked right past people who had been waiting in line in the hot sun).
The Roma pass is valid for three days, so if you are planning on seeing a few more sights in Rome, it is a great deal!
We considered the Roma Pass actually Shanna but just decided that we wanted a bit more freedom. Definitely recommend it for others though so thanks for the recommendation
Great stuff as always…one day I’ll get to put this to use…
Hope you do D.J. as Rome was incredible!
Still need to make it to Rome one of these days! Jealous you are getting to explore so much of Itlay right now! Have a cannoli for me
Haven’t seen Cannoli yet but will be sure to try it
And definitely head to Rome as it is incredible.
Great tip. I’ve been to the Colosseum a few times (and can never work out how to spell it properly), and have always been amazed by the sense of history in the place. The things this building has been around for!
Hahaha I had to google it every time I wrote it down as well but going with “Colosseum”. It’s ridiculous that these buildings has been around for thousands of years before our country was even discovered.
I always regret skipping the line for this and missing out when I was in Rome. Have to go back someday…
Oh wish you had gone Andrea! You guys have to go back and check it out. One of our highlights.
Great tips, especially for avoiding crowds!
Thanks Brock. Have you been before? Any other tips you can add?
Getting there early is key for good pictures–We got there too late and there was a LOT of photo shopping tourists out of ours haha…
I hate being a tourist in touristy places! Good work on at least being able to photoshop them out though Steve
Great tips! I haven’t been there since 1999, and I’m really looking forward to getting back soon. I could visit Italy a million times and not get sick of it, so a trip to Rome is definitely in my future. I don’t remember the little details of buying tickets or getting into the Colosseum, so this was helpful.
We have fallen in love with Italy and only been here 10 days. Still got another 2/3 weeks so definitely going to be in love even more by the end. Hope you head back soon
I’ve always wanted to visit Rome and the Collosseum! Looks like it’s worth the wait in line, even if you don’t follow your tip! Good thing you guys had your ticket the day before
Get to Rome as soon as you can Ellen! So many amazing sights to see even though the Colosseum was my favourite!
Beautiful pictures of one of my most favorite ancient sites in Rome!
It’s definitely my favourite as well Angela! And thanks
Great tips and beautiful photos. Rome is really a great place. I’d go back in a second.
We love the whole of Italy but Rome has definitely been a highlight for us so far!
Sounds like a great visit to the Colosseum! I will make sure to follow these tips when I visit Italy so I can see this extraordinary site more easily.
Nice pics, when did you go? Doesn’t seem to crowded.
We were there 2 weeks ago. So pretty much the height of the summer tourist season. The key is just to be there early with pre-purchased tickets
Gosh, I’m hanging out for another visit to Europe. I just adore Rome and what I’ve seen in Italy.
We have to leave Italy in a few days and so don’t want to! Would love to stay here forever. Although our waist lines keep expanding
Yes, the two day ticket makes it really cheap. A picnic atop the Palatine is pleasant, too, overlooking the empire!
It is such an overwhelming place, mostly because of the crowds, so thank you for providing tips to make it easier for everyone to visit! And I agree, it is really an amazing building.
Great tips Cole, especially as we are heading to Rome next week! Got any more tips for us? Vix x
Great tips – as they say, “The early bird, gets the worm.” My husband and I are big fans of getting there early, beating the crowds and then getting out of any hot attraction spot.
How is the pickpocket situation around the Colosseum? I remember it being very bad back in 2000.
Italy and Rome are amazing places to visit, we went to Rome a few months ago for a quick city break from the UK, so it was a long weekend and managed to fit everything in we intended – but would still love to go back and do it again
I agree with you guys! I’m all about getting to a popular attraction early and being one of the first ones in. It’s such a different experience have the whole place to yourself.
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Great secret tip. I’m all about traveling during shoulder season. When I went in March a few years ago, there weren’t huge crowds.
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We were just in Barcelona and the crowds were terrible. Really wish we were not there during the peak season as it kind of ruined it for us!
It’s such a rush, just walking into it, imagining the roar of ancient crowds!
I count this as my favourite sporting venue….
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It’s definitely one of my top 3 favourite buildings in the world!
Great tips there! I would really love to visit Rome someday.
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Hope you get the chance to visit Arti. Just don’t go in the middle of summer as it’s too hot and crowded.