7 Tips for Visiting the Colosseum for the First Time

Visiting the Colosseum is a non-negotiable if you’re in Rome, but with timed entry tickets that sell out weeks in advance, long lines, and endless crowds, planning your first visit isn’t super straightforward.

I’ve lived in Italy and visited the Colosseum a handful of times and in this article I’m sharing some up-to-date Colosseum tips, including exactly when (and how) to get tickets, why you need to bring your passport, a hidden gem coffeeshop with a view nearby, and more!

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

1. Your ticket also included the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill!

Plan your visit to include exploring these three neighboring sites which make up the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo:

The Colosseum: Rome’s infamous amphitheater where gladiator games and other violent entertainment took place, built in 8-10 years by slaves.
The Roman Forum: Here you can walk the “downtown” streets of ancient Rome, see the grooves in the 2,000-year-old stone streets where chariots passed, and see several temples and government buildings.
Palatine Hill: Considered the birthplace of Rome, Palatine is the centermost of the seven hills of Rome, and has excellent views overlooking the Forum!

2. Go with a local guide, or buy an audio tour

Walking through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a tour guide is genuinely the best way to do it, for several reasons:

Your guide handles purchasing Colosseum tickets, which means you don’t have to worry about logging on and reserving your spot exactly 30 days in advance
Entry is easier and quicker as you get to go through the group entry rather than waiting in the long lines
You’ll actually learn about what you’re seeing through storytelling
Your visit will be more efficient as your guide knows all the most interesting temples, buildings and photo spots

If you can’t afford a live guide, you can also listen to an audio tour—but after doing both on separate Colosseum visit, having a guide is far superior! This is the tour I recommend, which includes pre-purchased entry tickets and an exceptional guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

3. Book your tickets exactly 30 days in advance

If you choose to explore the Colosseum without a guide, you’ll need to snag your tickets online at Colosseo.it. Tickets sell out quickly, especially in the spring and summertime, which is high season for Rome travel.

Tickets are released exactly 30 days in advance (Rome time!), so I recommend setting a calendar reminder to get your tickets on time. Regular entry tickets cost €18.00 per person, or €24.00 for access to the arena floor.

🎟️ Colosseum tip: If entry tickets are sold out, you can usually still snag a spot on a guided tour, which includes entry and lets you skip the line. This is the tour I recommend, which includes the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum.

4. Time your visit to beat the heat

If you’re visiting Rome in the summertime, be prepared for serious heat! Since the majority of the Colosseum (and all of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum) is completely exposed, it’s best to visit early or in the late afternoon to avoid the hottest time of day.

The Colosseum opens at 8:30 and my recommendation is to visit right then! Or, visit closer to closing time. It changes throughout the year, so you can check current opening hours here.

Curious how I incorporate the Colosseum into my Rome adventures? Check out my 3 day Rome itinerary!

5. Bring your passport (or a photo of it)

You’ll need to show a photo ID that matches the name on your Colosseum tickets to enter. And technically, you’re supposed to always have your passport on you when traveling in Italy as a foreigner.

That said, you can also show a photo of your passport when entering, but it is best practice to have your passport with you at all time.

6. Don’t forget the violent history of this place

In the awe of the moment, it can be easy to forget the real meaning of this landmark—especially if you aren’t with a local guide. Yes, it represents Rome, but it also represents the unspeakable brutality of the empire.

Though it is stunning and impressive, we can’t forget that the arena games that took place here led to the deaths of more than 400,000 people and 1 million animals, and the extinction of several animal species. And the Colosseum itself was built by enslaved prisoners—with funding from the Siege of Jerusalem.

7. Grab coffee with a Colosseum view before or after!

One of my favorite hidden gems in Rome is Caffetteria Italia al Vittoriano, a coffeeshop hidden within Altar of the Fatherland, with views over the Roman Forum and Colosseum! Although there are restaurants and cafes closer to the Colosseum, they’re always crowded and overpriced.

Since you have to walk all the way through the giant Altar of the Fatherland building to get to Caffetteria Italia al Vittoriano, this cafe is delightfully uncrowded and has some surprisingly good cappuccinos!