When you catch sight of the Colosseum in your peripheral vision as you are walking through Rome, it takes your breath away. It is a thrilling sight to see the ancient ruins rising up above the modern city of Rome. And it’s just right there, no big deal. You’re casually walking around and there it is, the Colosseum. It’s a disorienting feeling.
Completed in 83 AD, the Flavian Amphitheater, as it was known then, was a gift to the citizens of Rome from Emperor Vespasian. In the 2,000 years or so since its completion, the Colosseum building has been used as a castle, a church, and an apartment complex. The Colosseum was damaged by an earthquake and much of the building was stripped away to be used as construction material before various popes and city governments decided to protect it from further harm.
More recently, the Colosseum underwent a large scale restoration project to clean the facade of dirt, grime and pollution.
Tens of thousands of people visit the Colosseum each month, and in the summer tourist season it can be a daunting task to plan an enjoyable time at Rome’s busiest attraction. Follow my tips below to easily add a stop at the Colosseum to your Rome itinerary.
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Why should you visit the Colosseum?
The Colosseum is one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven years old, making it one of the oldest and best preserved human-made structures in the world. And it is still there, standing. It is a great privilege to be able to visit the Colosseum and witness the immense reach of history in action.
Rome is so alluring largely due to the ancient buildings and bits of history that are around every corner in the center of the city. The Colosseum complex is the crown jewel of these ancient wonders and with just a little planning can easily be added to a Rome itinerary.
Before You Go: Plan Ahead
This is so important.
Tickets to big attractions like the Colosseum sell out. If you know you are planning a trip to Italy, as soon as you confirm your dates start looking for a Colosseum tour or get on the colosseo.it website and see which entry tickets are available.
It’s much easier to get last minute tickets if you are going in off months – November through April – but if you are traveling in the summer or early fall, start to look at your ticket options early.
Where is the Colosseum?
The Colosseum is located at Piazza del Colosseo, 1, in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill are clustered together in Rome’s Parco Archaeologica.
How do you get to the Colosseum?
Depending on where you are staying in Rome, you may be able to walk over. From Termini it is about 20 minutes. From the Centro Storico neighborhood it will take about 15 minutes. If you are staying in Monti it’s right outside your door.
The colosseum.org website suggests the Metro B line, bus lines 51, 75, 81, 85, 87, and 118 and Tramway line 3. Always double check bus routes in Rome as they change frequently.
Ask your hotel concierge to hail a taxi for you or use the itTaxi app to schedule a ride. Uber is also a good option in Rome.
Use the Rome2Rio to determine the best way to get to the Colosseum from your starting location.
How do you buy tickets to visit the Colosseum?
If you are not planning to take a guided tour of the Colosseum, the best way to purchase tickets is on the official Parco Archeologico del Colosseo ticketing website: https://ticketing.colosseo.it/
You can purchase basic arena only tickets as well as tickets that include various add-ons, like a combination ticket for the Colosseum and Forum or a ticket that includes the underground levels of the Colosseum. Pick the tickets that most appeal to your interests.
As of August 2025 there are no official nighttime Colosseum tours running.
If you are thinking about taking a guided tour then your ticket purchase will probably be part of the price you pay for your tour. However, this isn’t always true – some types of tours offered by independent tour guides will still require ticket purchase so make sure you read the description of your tour thoroughly.
Again, choose the tour that works best for your particular interests, whether it is seeing the underground of the Colosseum or combining your tour with another attraction.
Should you take a guided tour or visit the Colosseum on your own?
I’m team guided tour. While I understand the desire to roam independently and also the realities of travel budgets, there are clear benefits to taking a guided tour.
- Entering through the group gate with your guide. This moves you into the Colosseum more efficiently than the main gate.
- Making sense of the chaos. Even during the off season the Colosseum is busy and if you are there in the summer or early fall the crowds will be daunting. A guide ensures that you see the important sights inside the Colosseum and keeps you from wandering around without a goal.
- Possibly skipping the line. Tour companies often offer skip the line tickets to their guests. You will go through the group gate anyway with a guide, but if you are doing a combined Colosseum and Forum tour you may be able to skip the line into the Forum.
- Tour guides are generally people who live and work in the area that they are conducting tours and have a lot of local knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise hear if you are touring alone. Also, tour companies often employ historians, teachers, artists and other types of experts to conduct their tours, creating a deeper, richer experience.
If you are doing a lot of sightseeing in Rome and need to prioritize which guided tours you are going to purchase, I would rank a guided tour of the Vatican Museums higher than one for the Colosseum. However, I think a guided Colosseum tour is valuable and you may want to look for a tour that covers both.
I’m inside the Colosseum. Now what?
If you are planning to tour the Colosseum on your own, I suggest adding an audio guide to your phone from a reputable company. Context Travel and Rick Steves both have audio tours for the Colosseum.
Another option is the My Colosseum app, available for android and iOS, that has options for various tours with waypoints you can move through at your own pace.
What other attractions are nearby?
The Colosseum is part of an archaeological complex that includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, both are well worth the time to visit.
The Arch of Constantine is next to the Colosseum and Mamertine Prison is nearby.
I usually suggest pairing the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill with a visit to the Capitoline Museums, which are within walking distance of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.
What should I do after I visit the Colosseum?
After you have spent time in the Colosseum, head over to the entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Start with Palatine Hill then make your way through the Forum.
After exiting the Forum, take a lunch break and then proceed to the Capitoline Museums.
Finish your day with a rooftop Aperol Spritz or dinner.
Important to know:
It’s impossible to schedule every activity you are doing for first thing in the morning, but the Colosseum is one of the most visited attractions in the world, with over 12 million people walking through the gates in 2023 alone. Make it the first stop of the day on your itinerary.
And make sure you take your passport! You will be asked to show your passport upon entering the Colosseum. You are supposed to have it on you at all times while in Italy, but not everybody carries their passport with them or might carry a photocopy of it. However, you will be denied entry into the Colosseum without it.
Wondering how to incorporate the Colosseum into a complete Rome itinerary? Take a look at our suggested 3 Day Rome itinerary here.
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