Tips For Visiting the Colosseum – A Quick Guide

Tips For Visiting the Colosseum – A Quick Guide

If you are planning a visit to Rome and are interested in history, then visiting the Colosseum is a must. This landmark is Rome’s most popular monument and an iconic symbol of the capital of Italy. It’s a very popular destination for tourists though with over 5 million visitors each year. Because of this, it’s essential to plan ahead to ensure your Colosseum visit goes smoothly. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting this famous landmark. Read on for my top tips for visiting the Colosseum.

Buy Your Tickets to the Colosseum in Advance

Since the Colosseum is such a popular tourist attraction, tickets sell out quickly – especially during the high season, which is April to October. Tickets for the Colosseum go on sale 30 days in advance – you can purchase your tickets online or join one of the Colosseum Tours in Rome that includes admission. A guided tour will offer you much better insight into the history of the Colosseum (and Roman history in general). There are lots of different Colosseum tours to choose from – private tours, group tours, audio tours, and more.

Before you book your Colosseum ticket or tour, research the different entry points to the Colosseum. The Colosseum has multiple entrances for different types of tickets so make sure that you are getting the correct ticket to see the parts of the amphitheatre that you are most interested in. Some areas are more accessible than others so investigate this if anyone in your travel party is using a wheelchair.

Choose Your Time to Visit Wisely

If you don’t like crowds and queuing, choose to visit the Colosseum early in the morning or close to closing time. These are the quietest times to visit. Weekdays are also less crowded than weekends. On the first Sunday of each month, you can visit the Colosseum for free – this makes the attraction even more busy than usual so avoid this if you’re happy to pay for your ticket.

If you’re planning to explore the Colosseum on your own, it takes around 1 hour to do so. With a tour, you’ll have a set amount of time which will depend on which tour you choose.

What to Wear and Bring to the Colosseum

When exploring the Colosseum, you’ll be walking a lot and on uneven grounds. You’ll also be walking up and down stairs most likely. Because of this reason, wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.

The Colosseum is exposed to the elements so make sure that you’re wearing suitable clothing for the weather conditions. When the weather is warm, it’s important to wear a sun hat and sun cream. Also take a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated. Likewise, if you’re expecting colder weather or rain, arrive with layers such as a raincoat.

You are allowed to have a small bag or handbag with you when visiting the Colosseum. Larger bags or suitcases are not allowed. All bags will be screened by security and bags and visitors also need to go through a metal detector. To save time, ensure that you adhere to the bag rules and that you are not carrying any prohibited items such as sharp objects, glass bottles, selfie sticks, aerosols, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or weapons. Pets are not allowed either.

One thing that you do need to have with you is a photo ID as random ID checks are performed. It’s also important that the name on your ID matches the name on your ticket.

Keep your belongings and valuables safe and be wary of pickpockets as you always should be in busy tourist attractions.

Conclusion

Visiting the Colosseum is a fantastic experience, and you can ensure that your visit is even better by following the advice above. Get your tickets in advance, choose your visit time carefully, wear comfortable shoes and the right clothing for the weather, and check what you can and cannot have with you – that’s all you need to do to ensure a smooth visit to this iconic landmark.

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