8 Simple ways to skip the line at the Colosseum and how to get in for less.
We decided that was the time to guide you on how to skip the line at the Colosseum. A proper way to avoid the queue that is often outside the beautiful Italian monument. Without booking in advance your Colosseum skip the line tickets, you might wait at least 2 hours or more to get in.
The most famous Rome attraction is obviously one of the most visited, but there are several ways to skip the line at the Colosseum. Planning your trip in advance and purchasing a skip-the-line ticket in advance is one of those, but there are some tricks also for last-minute plans.
Using the Rome Pass is also a good idea to avoid the line at the Colosseum, and also to get it for free! This post will walk you through all the different options to avoid the Colosseum line, discover its history and cross out this from your Rome bucket list.
How to Skip the Line Colosseum
8 ways to skip the Colosseum line
Benefits of Skipping the line at the colosseum
There are 3 main reasons you should look in a skip the line ticket to the colosseum.
The benefit of purchasing this tickets in advance are:
- You will get an overall better experience
- Time saving
- Access to restricted or limited areas
- Learn from a knowledgable guide
- Avoid get in early or standing in queue
Practical info about the Colosseum
The Colosseum is also called Flavian Amphitheatre, a giant amphitheatre built in the Roman Era under the Flavian Emperors. The construction of this massive building began between 70 and 72 CE during the reign of Vespasian. The Colosseum is today the symbol of Rome, just a few steps away from Palatine Hill.
Once upon a time, this was the ludic part of ancient Rome. The famous fights-to-the-death among gladiators, mythology-based dramas and re-enactments of land and sea battles as well as executions, and the dreadful slaughter of wild animals, enslaved people, and champions battling to survive in the arena.
Today, the ruins of Rome don’t give the total effect of how many people can host. The public arena could host tens of thousands of Romans. Initially, in the tyrannical Vespasian reign, the Colosseum was the emperor’s private lake and just later was turned into the most beautiful amphitheatre in the world.
The Colosseum is today one of the most popular attractions in Italy and also on the list of the most visited monuments in Europe. The Ruins of Rome figure in the 7 Wonders of the ancient world and are unmissable sightseeing of Rome. Every year, 6.9 million visitors choose to visit the ancient ruins of the Colosseum.
Nearest metro station: Colosseo (Line B)
Looking for a last-minute ticket? Don’t panic! We have got you covered!
How much time should you spend at the Colosseum?
When visiting the Colosseum without a guide, you should allocate around one hour for your visit. However, if you opt for a guided tour, the duration can range from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the type of Colosseum tour you select.
Places of interest nearby the Colosseum
There are so many activities around the Colosseum that you can take days to discover it all.
Once you finish your visit to one of the seven wanders of the world, walk though the rest of Roman ruins within the Roman forum.
This long road will leave you astonished by the beauty and charming landscape. IF you have time, squeeze in the Palatine hill, with the entrance ticket to the Colosseum you have got it included. CHECK THE TICKETS HERE.
Also you must consider walking torward the Circo Massimo, which is not beautiful as it was in the Roman Era but give you an understanding of the life at that time.
The Roman Baths are fascinating, but are not always open, so check before heading to Rome.
Things to Know When Visiting the Colosseum
Even though it is technically easy to visit the monument and purchase a Skip-the-line Colosseum ticket in advance, some tips can save you time and money.
The same ticket you purchase to get access to the iconic Colosseum also gives you admittance to Palatine Hill and the Forum. It is a combined ticket valid for all the ruins of the Roman Forum.
The ticket for the Colosseum gives you access for one day to all attractions. So, take it slow and enjoy the beautiful monuments, enjoying a stop in the between. This is a bargain, and you can get some more information on our guide to Rome worth a visit!
How long will it take to visit the Colosseum?
Overall, the visit to the Colosseum can take about one hour for standard ticket holders visiting two-tier of the monument; this doesn’t take into account the queue time for the entrance.
However, your time inside this beauty might vary by different factors. The Colosseum is one of the best-preserved monuments of the Roman Era, and like Pompeii, Herculaneum, and many other sites are full of history and plenty to learn and discover.
If you are planning to visit the ground arena, the Underground and the 1st floor, you can understand that your visit will take much longer. Also, a guided tour will have a specific time instead of roaming around. Instead, the ticket to the Colosseum includes a visit to the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, which will leave you more time to not jump from one side to another.
Furthermore, the ticket to the Colosseum includes the visit to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, and you need to account for the visit timing. Purchasing the ticket in advance to skip the queue can boost your visit ahead.
When is the colosseum open?
The Colosseum of Rome is open every day except on some particular religious public holidays. The Colosseum is closed on Christmas Day, 25th December and on the 1st of January, New Year’s Day.
The opening and closing times vary per seasonality. In winter, it closes early; in Summer instead, there are long hours, and the monument is open for extraordinary night tours.
The last admission is always one hour before the closing time.
Colosseum opening hours 2023 |
The Colosseum opens daily from 9 am to 4.30 pm in winter. During summer, the colosseum observe longer hours, closing around 7.00 pm. Check out accurate and up-to date information on the official website.
Jan 2nd – Feb 15th | 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Feb 16th – Mar 1st | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mar 1st – Mar 25th | 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Mar 26th – Aug 31st | 9:00 am – 7:15 pm
Sept 1st – Sept 30th | 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Oct 1st – Oct 28th | 9:00 am – 6:30 pm
Oct 29th – Dec 31st | 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Best time to visit the Colosseum in Rome
It is also an excellent time to explore Rome and visit the Colosseum. However, sometimes you can skip the lines at the Colosseum or at least avoid the huge crowds queuing around the monument to get inside.
In 2019, the last year when travel was permitted easily and safely, the Colosseum welcomed over 7 million tourists. You can easily understand that every day, every week, the Colosseum is busy and packed with curious travellers in line for hours to visit the ancient amphitheatre.
The best time to visit the Colosseum is in the low season. Rome in winter is beautiful, and you should take this occasion to discover the city’s beautiful monuments. Travelling to Rome in November, December, January, and February can allow you to experience the city with fewer tourists around.
Visiting the Colosseum in winter can boost your expectations without annoying queuing outside the monuments. If in Rome to visit the Colosseum, avoid the period that is going from March to mid-October. Especially during the Easter holidays, the coliseum is always crowded with overbooking.
Colosseum Skip the line tickets
How much does it cost to visit the Colosseum?
The price to visit the colosseum might vary, because of the period or the kind of ticket. There are two main kinds of tickets for the Rome Italy Colosseum, the Standard and the Full Experience. Let’s see what is included in each one:
Check the availability
Colosseum Standard Ticket
Standard ticket price | €16 for an adult — Free under 18 | BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE
Reduction and Discount | Europeans aged between 18-25 tickets for €2
Fees | €2 Obligatory booking fee for advanced bookings
Colosseum Full Experience Ticket
The second option for a single ticket to the Colosseum is the Full Experience entrance. It costs €24 (including the €2 fee for advance bookings, which is mandatory). The difference between the regular ticket and this is that the full-experience Colosseum ticket allows you to the Colosseum underground and the Arena Floor.
This is an unmissable experience to do in Rome and a bargain for the price. The Colosseum Full experience ticket gives you access to all other ruins, the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Super Sites with the ticket valid for two days, one for the Colosseum and one for the rest.
The Colosseum Full Experience has a discounted ticket for Europeans aged 18-25 for €2.
Palatine Hill, Colosseum and Roman Forum Skip-the-line
What’s included in your ticket to the Colosseum?
The standard ticket for the Colosseum doesn’t include only the Flavian Amphitheatre but also access to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.
This is not only one of the most suggestive parts of Rome, but from Palatine Hill, you can get some of the most beautiful views over Rome.
The entrance ticket to the Colosseum gives you one access to each monument and is not permitted re-entry. The Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are all together, and we suggest splitting the visits of the Colosseum in the morning and the rest in the afternoon.
Take a break at lunchtime to enjoy the surrounding area.
DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR THE COLOSSEUM
Young Discount | As said before, some discounted tickets are available. Young people between 18-25 with a valid European document are entitled to a discounted Colosseum ticket. This costs only €2, plus €2 of a fee to reserve. Check it now!
Rome’s visitors’ Card | You can take advantage of Colosseum discounts by purchasing in advance your Rome visitors card. This allows you to get into some monuments for free, or get a discount on the entrance price. Buy your Rome visitors Card.
List of what you can’t bring inside the Colosseum
Use the Colosseum as one of your free entries with the RomaPass
Purchasing a Rome Pass for the attraction of the beautiful city, you can get a free entry to the Colosseum or as part of a discount for the entrance ticket.
The Rome pass also will help you to jump ahead of the queue and enjoy the Flavian Amphitheatre.
Buy tickets skip the line to Colosseum in advance
Colosseum Skip the line tickets are the best way to save time and money. While travelling extensively in the past few years, we learned that purchasing in advance tickets for the main attraction will let you skip the line.
One of the best advantages of purchasing the ticket in advance is that most are refundable and cancellation fee-free. Check out the best Skip the line tickets to the Colosseum.
Colosseum at night (Pre-booking tickets only)
How many times have we said that Rome at night is one of the most charming cities in the World? Well, you can take the best of Rome with a unique visit to the Colosseum at night. This hassle-free tour of Ancient Rome will show you the best of the Italian Capital at moonlight.
The tour typically starts in the evening, giving you access to exclusive areas of the Amphitheatre, following an English-speaking guide. Not only the main area of the Colosseum but also the underground dungeon, the arena and the 1st floor.
GOOD TO KNOW | Purchase your ticket at least 2 weeks before your trip to Rome. For security reasons, there is an allowance of 3,000 tickets at any given time. Reserve your Colosseum skip the line tickets at night, and your waiting time should be shorter. Skip-the-line ticket holders have priority over the others.
Check the tickets for the Colosseum at night and chose the best for you!
Moonlight walk and priority entrance
Night Tour + Arena floor
Book a small-group guided tour
Rome is often overcrowded, and tour guides are busy with many tourists around. Why don’t you book a small-group guided tour of the Colosseum? This is a semi-private experience that will leave you with memorable moments.
Having a guide dedicated all to you is the best way to recreate the magic of the monument, with stories and facts of Gladiator, romance, and emperor’s impeachments.
Book your small-group guided tours of the Colosseum and enjoy the magic of Roman times. Your ticket is also valid for the Forum and Palatine.
Book a private guided tour of the Colosseum
If you are not a fan of a small group of strangers going on a tour together, make sure to book your private guided tour of the Colosseum. That is indeed a more expensive way to discover the ancient ruins compared to a small-group tour, but you will benefit from one-to-one tips and guides.
This is truly one of the best ways to enjoy the Colosseum; also, if you are a history fan, and definitely worth the price. BOOK HERE YOUR PRIVATE TOUR!
Leave your luggage and large bags at home
It is not allowed to bring backpacks, large bags and suitcases inside the Colosseum. If you want to skip the line at the Colosseum, you should leave these in your accommodation. If you can’t leave it, there are storage lockers just a few meters away from the monument.
The Colosseum is one of the most visited landmarks in Italy and you can expect even the lockers shop to be busy at all times. The locker space has two measures and allows storing from 2 to 4 cabin luggage. Check the nearest storage and book in advance your locker.
Buy tickets at Palatine Hill or the Roman Forum
If you haven’t purchased ahead of your tour of the Roman Forum, you can always purchase it on the day and skip most of the line. On the side of the Colosseum, at a short distance, there is the ticket shop. Usually, the lines at the Roman Forum kiosk and the Palatine Hill are much shorter compared to the main entrance at the Colosseum.
Head to Palatine Hill, which allows you to avoid most of the queue and buy your ticket easily. Remember that the ticket purchased at the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum entrance is valid for two days and there are indeed all three sites.
Colosseum Skip-the-line Self-Guided Virtual Reality Tour
If you like to get into action, why don’t you try the future and innovative 3D reconstruction of the Colosseum and Roman Era? The beautiful Self-Guided Virtual Reality Tour will take you to another level of experiencing sightseeing and places.
Take an animated tour of the Colosseum, exploring one of the most important ancient monuments at your own pace.
This might be the best bargain to explore two of the most incredible sightseeing spots of Rome in one go. The special ticket with a guided tour and skip the line to the Colosseum and the Vatican City will allow you to explore the two sites with an experienced guide.
The tour has multiple choices and can go with a group of 20 people or more, which will change the price. Also, you can get more accurate tours, from 2 to 8 hours and two starting hours at 8.30 am and 10.00 am.
Special ticket | Colosseum and Vatican Tour Skip-the-line
How to Get Free Entry to the Colosseum
- For everyone under 18 years of age
- Roma Pass Holders or Rome City Pass – But you have to choose the Colosseum as one of your free entrance sites.
- Wheelchairs and anyone with a disability, along with a caregiver or companion. (Remember to carry valid medical documentation with you)
- Special visits to the Rome Italy Colosseum
How to visit the Colosseum at night
We have already covered the best part of how to skip the line at the Colosseum, introducing you to night guided tours. These special events are organized to give a different perception of one of the wonders of the world. The Colosseum at night is unique and not many visiting Rome can experience it, so it is worth booking your ticket in advance.
Visiting the Colosseum at night will give you the chance to go underground and visit the dungeon, where the bravest gladiators, wild animals and heroes of ancient Rome stayed before getting into the dangerous arena. Book your ticket to visit the Colosseum at night.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR VISITING ROME, ITALY
Don’t travel anywhere without travel insurance, no matter your journey. We have learned that at our expense, while travelling from Dubrovnik to Hvar, our ferry was cancelled because of rough sea weather.
Even though Rome is safe, the pandemic taught many people that things might go wrong everywhere in the world, and insurance is frequently the only option to mitigate any problems with the least cost or stress to you.
Hey Mondo | COVID-19 coverage, medical expenses and total travel costs. A fantastic app with 24-hour medical care and no extra charges. You can save 5% on your insurance by booking through our link.
SafetyWing | COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and insurance can be purchased while travelling for digital nomads.
WHERE TO GO NEXT?
Every time is good to travel and make new experiences. As London based travel bloggers, it’s easy to find cheap flights and explore new places, even just at the weekend. Italy is our home country, and we explored most of it, and here are some of our favourite guides. Travel with us, and get some inspiration through the gorgeous Italian landscape. See more in Italy Travel Guide.
SEASIDE AND BEACHES
Best Places to visit in Summer in Italy
20 Incredible beaches on Amalfi Coast
ITINERARIES AND GUIDES
What to eat for breakfast in Italy
Cute villages to explore in Emilia Romagna
How to go from Florence to Venice for a day trip
Q&A Visit to the Colosseum in Rome
u003cstrongu003eBest day of the week to visit the Colosseum?u003c/strongu003e
The Colosseum is open all week, every day. The monument closure days are only on December the 25th and January the 1st.
u003cstrongu003eIs there a day of the week that is best for visiting the Colosseum?u003c/strongu003e
The Colosseum is always crowded. Visiting it in the High season, try to avoid the weekend. Go early on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the low season, visit the Colosseum during the week, and enjoy the beautiful u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://italiantripabroad.it/Blog/rome-in-winter/u0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002212548u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022color: var(u002du002dstk-global-color-27229, #003f48);background: linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 50%, var(u002du002dstk-global-color-27309, #cce5ea) 50%)u0022 class=u0022stk-highlightu0022u003eRome in winter.u003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eWhat can you bring inside the Colosseum?u003c/strongu003e
You can bring a bottle of water, food and a small backpack, this must pass through security upon entrance. We suggest you bring water, especially when visiting Rome in summer, the temperatures are extremely hot. You can consume your drinks and food in dedicated areas. You can recharge your portable water bottle in the many fountains around the monument. The small backpack should be very small and be well inspected by security for obvious reasons. u003cstrongu003eTripods or similar are not allowed inside the Colosseum.u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eIs it worth taking a tour of the Colosseum?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eYes. u003c/strongu003eRome has a fascinating history, and it will be a blast if discovered with an experienced guide. Without a tour you need to google it all the time, slowly discovering the history behind it and not knowing facts and legends. If you are not a fan of tours, go for an audio guide.
u003cstrongu003eIs the Colosseum wheelchair accessible?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eYes! u003c/strongu003eIf you have reduced mobility, you can still enjoy most of the beautiful Colosseum. There is an entrance for wheelchairs and an elevator that will bring you between the ground floor and the second floor, it is not yet accessible for the underground and upper tiers.
u003cstrongu003eCan I Visit the Colosseum with my Backpack?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eNo! u003c/strongu003eEven holding a skip the line ticket at the Colosseum is not allowed to enter with backpacks. You can carry a very small bag, but not with luggage and regular backpacks. There is a storage locker a few meters away from the site, or leave it at your accommodation. The security at the entrance gate can refuse the entrance.
u003cstrongu003eCan you use the Roma Pass for Colosseum?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eYes.u003c/strongu003e Rome Pass gives you access to the Colosseum, and you can get your free entrance ticket. With the Roma Monuments Pass you can have the fast skip the line entrance at the Colosseum. However, bear in mind that you must reserve your slot in advance.