Visiting Rome's Colosseum

Tickets, Tours, and Visiting Tips

Updated for 2023
The ancient Roman Colosseum is Rome’s most visited sites and one of Italy’s top tourist attractions. It’s best to buy tickets in advance or reserve your time slot (if you have a pass such as Roma Pass, reservation is required). The ticket has a specific entrance time for the Colosseum and currently also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (good for 24 hours).

Note: Guided tours skip the ticket line and usually go through a faster security line

Colosseum Underground and Arena Floor Guided Tours

Parts of the Colosseum that were formerly off limits to visitors can now be seen on special guided tours. These tours visit the arena floor and/or underground, below the floor, where wild animals and gladiators were kept before battles.

Colosseum Night Tours

A great way to visit the Colosseum is on a VIP Colosseum At Night Tour With Underground & Arena Floor, available from May through October. See the Colosseum when it’s closed to the public and not as hot or crowded as during the day.

roman colosseum
View of Roman Colosseum from 5th Level by James Martin

Colosseum Tickets and Tours

Security Measures at the Colosseum

Security measures now require all visitors (including those with skip-the-line passes or on guided tours) to go through a metal detector. So even though you won’t have to wait in the ticket line, you will have to wait in the security line. Backpacks, trolleys, and luggage are not permitted inside the Colosseum and there is no place to store them. Waiting time to go through security can be as long as half an hour or even more at peak times.

  • Tip: Guided tours have special priority entrance so if you book a tour, the line to go through security is usually shorter.

Plan Your Visit to Rome

Where to Stay:
  • Hotel Palazzo Manfredi has a rooftop terrace with view of the Colosseum and some rooms have views of the Roman Forum. The hotel is one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
  • Il Monastero Collection is in a beautiful historic building near the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Circus Maximus.
  • JK Place is a top contemporary boutique hotel, well located between the Pantheon and Spanish Steps.
  • Hotel Residenza di Ripetta is in a former monastery with inner courtyard, between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps.
  • Hotel Residenza in Farnese is a comfortable hotel on Piazza Farnese, near Campo de Fiori.
  • See more Rome Hotels

Make the most of 1 day in Rome with Walks of Italy’s Rome In A Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center.

Tickets for Sites and Museums: See 3 Tickets To Buy Before You Go and more tickets for Rome sites and attractions.

Rome Guide Books:

See more recommended Rome books.

More Roman Ruins and Monuments

rome colosseum
The Roman Colosseum

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Visiting Rome's Colosseum originally appeared on MarthasItaly.com , updated: Sep 10, 2023.