Visiting the Colosseum is probably on top of your bucket list for your trip to Italy’s capital Rome. It is a magnificent structure, located in the center of the city for two millennia, and is also a symbol of Rome’s history which practically flows from it.
Of course, you will not be the only person with the idea of exploring the seven wonders of the world. Colosseum is also one of the seven wonders and is one of the most known attractions of Rome. Thousands of visitors come to Rome each day just to see this ancient beauty. In fact, so many visitors came each day that a visitor cap was imposed in 2019, limiting visitor numbers to 3,000.
This means that planning your trip to the Colosseum is more important than ever. If you will not then you will take the real risk of missing out this place and will not be able to explore this incredible building.
I have visited the Rome Colosseum several times and based on my experience, I want to help in planning your Colosseum trip with a detailed guide.
Where is the Colosseum?
The Colosseum lies at the centre of Rome, near the Roman Forum and other influential ancient structures such as Circo Maximus.
Colosseum’s full street address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1,00184 Comune di Roma RM.
The Colosseum is a short way to the southeast attraction, like the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. It is expected to take about 25 minutes to walk from this part of the city to the Colosseum.
How to reach the Colosseum?
There are many options to reach the Colosseum depending on from where you are coming.
It is about 20-30 minutes walk from the popular area of Pantheon and to the Piazza Navona, where we often recommend people to look for accommodation.
You can also go to the Colosseum by Metro, with Colosseo station lying directly across the road from Colosseum. Currently, line B operates at this stop.
There are also many bus routes for the Colosseum. If you bought a Roma Pass or the Rome and Vatican Pass (also known as the Omnia Rome and Vatican card), you will automatically able to access the public transport in the city, which would make it an effective alternative to get to the Colosseum.
You can also use Hop-on Hop-off bus services in Rome, the Colosseum is a halt for the majority of these bus services. The Hop-on Hop-off bus is also included with Rome and Vatican passes, or you can also buy these tickets separately, whatever you are most comfortable with.
Rome also has a lot of taxi services, so you can use one of these to reach the Colosseum. When taking a taxi to Rome, always make sure the meter is running.
What to See and Do in the Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built in human history. Not just the amphitheater, there is a lot more to see here.
Colosseum is divided into several areas. You can see the Colosseum exterior without any ticket to see how impressive its architecture is.
Inside the main sections of the amphitheater, there is a seating area, which spreads over four main levels. The main area, Arena of the Colosseum was the fighting area of that time, its floor was made of wood which was perished long ago but a small section is still left.
Below the area of the arena, there is the hypogeum. This two-storey section of the Colosseum completely lies under the arena and this is the Colosseum underground area where gladiators, animals and visual pieces are kept.
Colosseum Popular Tickets and Tours
Visiting the Colosseum with a general ticket will get you access to the first and second floors of the Colosseum, which gives an excellent view of the structure.
If you want to explore the Colosseum underground area then book a guided tour because this area is only accessible with licensed guides. This tour will include both the arena and underground areas, as well as a tour to the third ring of the structure. For more information see our ticket and tours type.
Finally, it is worth noting that even not being a part of the Colosseum, many tickets and tours for the Colosseum include access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, located right next to the Colosseum. This is where Rome’s business took place and is worth to be a part of your trip.
There are a variety of other tours available. From a private tour to a group tour, choose what suits you the best with the best available price in the business.
