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My husband was able to score tickets for the summer night tour of the Colosseum. It was perfect. I can't imagine being able to enjoy it during the day in this heat wave. It was so cool to be able to go underground and be so close to ancient history.
I've always loved reading about Roman history, so finally seeing the Colosseum in person this October was incredible. Even in the "off season," it was busy, which shows how high up the list it is for any visitor. Walking through the structure and looking down into the arena from above, I could really picture the energy of the crowds and the events that once took place there. The Colosseum is huge, up to 50,000 people once packed inside, and it was used for all sorts of public spectacles, not just gladiator fights. I'd recommend taking a guided tour if you can; it helps skip the ticket line and gives context that really adds to the experience. Also, make sure to explore the area around it--the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are right next door and worth the time. If you're in Rome and even a little curious about history, the Colosseum is absolutely worth seeing. It really brings ancient Rome to life.
Beginning in the eighth century B.C., ancient Rome grew from a small town on central Italy's Tiber River into an empire that at its peak encompassed most of continental Europe, Britain, much of western Asia, northern Africa, and the Mediterranean islands. Nowhere on Earth captures the spectacle of ancient Rome quite like the Colosseum. Towering above the eastern edge of the Roman Forum, covering more than six acres, the Colosseum remains one of the world's most famous architectural marvels and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, where my partner, our friends, family member, and I were able to obtain 8:30am entry for self-guided exploration of the first and second levels but not to the arena floor where the gladiators fought. The ticket also includes visits to the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forum, and the Palatine Hill. Upon arrival, as one walks around the outside, one senses how huge it is, measuring approximately 620 feet in length, 513 feet in width, and over 160 feet in height, with an efficient network of arches, corridors, and staircases to accommodate rapid filling and evacuation for more than 50,000 people. To enter, one must arrive 15 minutes before the time specified on the ticket. However, it was crowded in mid-September during the week, which would be overwhelming, particularly around peak hours. On the other hand, the line for security checks was short. It looked very simple on the outside, but it has a very complex interior structure. One can see a lot from the first ring: the center stage/games area; the seating sections reserved for the emperor, the vestal virgins, and the senators; an overview of the now-exposed underground facilities; and the walls of rising seats above you. It can also get crowded here, and one might have to wait for visitors to move on to get a clear viewpoint. This is a building that captured our imagination since its construction and continues to be this symbol of Rome's power, of Rome's brilliance, which we can recommend.
Needless to say, this is a must see whenever you're in Rome even if you don't plan on going inside! I walked or ran by it almost every day when I was in town to run the Rome Marathon. Even what's left of it was an awesome structure to see in person! Be sure to bring your patience as the surrounding areas will be crowded with tourists and more tourists!
Last time I was here was 12 years ago- so much history! The view at night is gorgeous . Make sure to visit the gladiator arena
Came at the end of November of 2025, and it was crowded most of the time had a line to go everywhere. The normal pass has limited access: only to the ground level and to go around the colosseo. The view is majestic and the architecture is full of details and its surprising that it was done centuries ago... Definitely worth coming to this place!
It was a good visit to the Colosseo. Overall it was quick and easy to access and easy to follow. I recommend coming by while in Rome. There's different levels of the Colosseo and you can get different views of it. Overall great stop!
This might be one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. You need to be physically and mentally prepared for long lines and wait times. We booked a tour through a 3rd party, and were spared much of that waiting, at a cost. That said, once we were inside, the history and nostalgia were captivating. Truly a highlight in my life. Did you know that il Colosseo was once covered in polished marble, and that it was stripped to build out the Vatican?
The Colosseum -- come for the history, stay because you're still waiting to hear "Are you not entertained?" echo through the stone. If you want to feel small, insignificant, and totally wowed, step inside the Colosseum. Pictures don't prepare you. This thing is massive. The ancient Romans didn't just build stadiums -- they built a statement, and nearly 2,000 years later it's still standing stronger than half the hotels on the Vegas strip. History check: Construction kicked off under Emperor Vespasian in AD 72, and his son Titus wrapped it up in AD 80. It could hold somewhere between 50,000-80,000 screaming Romans, all of them showing up to watch gladiators, wild animal hunts, mock naval battles, and a few thousand other events that would make modern NFL games look like a church picnic. And here's the kicker: they've done an incredible job refurbishing the inside. New exhibits line the corridors, the underground hypogeum (the maze where fighters and lions waited their turn) has been restored and opened for tours, and they even added a modern elevator so you can get between levels without feeling like you're on a gladiator training montage. With the restorations and displays, this isn't just a "walk in, take a selfie, walk out" situation -- it's a full-day affair. The scale of it makes you pause. You're walking where emperors stood, looking up at arches that have survived earthquakes, wars, looting, and centuries of tourists. You realize the Colosseum is less a ruin and more a survivor. And no, Russell Crowe wasn't there. I checked. "It's brutal, it's beautiful, it's Rome distilled -- glory and gore, still standing." Bottom line: Between the restoration work, the exhibits, and the sheer atmosphere, the Colosseum isn't just a bucket-list item -- it's a bucket that overflows.
The Colosseum is Rome's original multipurpose arena, brought to you by 1st-century imperial ego and a bloodlust budget that would make Hollywood blush. Built in eight years, because apparently slave labor and divine confidence are the ultimate project management tools. It's officially called the Flavian Amphitheater, but let's be honest "Colosseum" just sounds cooler. Probably because it was built next to a colossal statue of Nero, who thought the best way to be remembered was to build a 100-foot-tall bronze version of himself. What a humble guy. Anyway, the Colosseum. It's big. It's round(ish). It's missing a few chunks thanks to earthquakes, vandals, and that one time the Catholic Church thought it'd make a great quarry. Yes, parts of your local church may literally be made from ancient death-sport arena scraps. Blessings all around. Some for you, some for me. Inside? Back in the day, it seated 50,000 people who came to watch their favorite Netflix series: Live Gladiator Fights, Season Infinity. Lions? Check. Naval battles? Yup, they flooded the place. Prisoners forced to reenact mythology with a 100% fatality rate? That's dinner and a show. Modern visitors are now obsessed with its bones, snapping selfies while ignoring the fact that this is essentially a 2,000-year-old murder dome. And yet, there's something romantic about it. Probably because nothing says "eternal city" like scaffolding and a souvenir vendor catcalling tourists in broken English including me. So yes, go see the Colosseum. Take in the grandeur. But please remember humanity's timeless thirst for spectacle and egoism.
The Colosseum in Rome is known for being the world's largest amphitheater ever built and largest one standing in the world! Built between 72-80 AD on the site of Nero's Golden Palace. It only took 8 years to build and notably no concrete was used to build the main structure. 85,000 people could fit in it! It's where everyone went to watch gladiator fights and mock sea battles. It had 24 manual operated elevators to transport animals. It has 80 entrances and underground tunnels and chambers called Hypogeum. One of the 8 wonders of the world and amazing both inside and out!! Very amazing to see the architecture and walk on the path of past victors and losers!
The Colosseum is the most incredible thing I've ever seen on this planet. Nothing prepares you for standing in front of it in real life. The scale, the power, the history, everything about it is absolutely breathtaking. You can feel the history the moment you step inside. Knowing what happened there centuries ago gives you literal shivers. It's emotional, intense, and awe-inspiring all at once. Every stone tells a story, and it makes you feel so small in the best way possible. This is not just a landmark, it's an experience that stays with you forever. If you come to Rome and don't see the Colosseum, you missed everything. Rating: 10/10 -- unforgettable, unreal, legendary
The colosseum is one of the wonders of the world and is a must see when in Rome. We arrived late and were questioned about it and were asked to show proof as to why. We came in the afternoon on a summer, so it was hot. We walked around and admired the feat of human engineering. Afterwards, we made our way to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (included in ticket).
12 years ago
12 years ago
12 years ago
There was no greater travesty in our Globus tour than spending barely two hours at one of the most famous Roman landmarks in history. We had scarcely enough time to glance passingly at the interior before shuffled off to other nearby spots. Approaching the Flavian Amphitheatre is like avoiding the swingshot on American Gladiators (holy crud, that was a pop culture reference to a twenty-year old competition program; I'm so sorry). At the Colosseum, what you dodge are the dozens of street vendors selling you overpriced or illegal goods. Prada handbags from atop a blanket next to a bus stop--seems legit. A dozen other peddlers sold needed water, which I still declined. I found one painter rendering an image onto a handheld canvas, his completed works for sale before him, tempting if I hadn't seen five other individuals selling identical illustrations the previous hour. This was a fraud imitating actual talent. The rest of the sellers sold basically one thing and one thing only...iPhone monopods, or more annoyingly dubbed a "selfie-stick". You'd think one vendor would be enough, two maybe, three tops, but I counted close to ten. One thing I have to ask is that if you're travelling all the way to Rome, wouldn't you have already bought the stupid selfie stick? The Colosseum is incredible, way larger than the photos imply. I was dumbstruck at its scale and history, more so than most other religious themed constructs built and visited later. The Colosseum has limited access, allowing you to only access the stands...sorry to those wanting to stride across the gladiator grounds. Remember, the grounds are missing, allowing you to see into the catacombs where the fighters prepared. You saw the film; that was no stretch of the imagination. They really did lift the warriors via platform into the arena. Although you're able to access higher areas, as part of the Globus tour, we had no allotted time to access them. Like the Vatican, the Colosseum is another location demanding a full day, not part of an afternoon. If I had the time, I'd have done three loops of the stands, one for each level. The current state of the Colosseum is a bizarre mixed state of history. The way it looks now is not the way it ever looked when it was functional--not unlike the castles I visited in the UK, many with different parts restored to different points in history. One section looked brand new, a recreation of the Colosseum's zenith, and as you walk around, it's like approaching the event horizon of a black hole. The centuries approach with every step until crumbled ruins remain. Only images and models show what it really looked like in its original splendor. A few minutes crawl away is the Arch of Constantine, an impressive 21 meter high arch. Both it and the Colosseum mark an amazing era in the history of the region, when people were killed in the name of the mob, unlike centuries later when they were killed in the name of God. Somehow, the Colosseum feels a tad more genuine, even honest. Bread and circuses, and I rather be distracted by the games played than by scriptures read. read more
11 years ago
The grandness is stunning. I think everything about it was great except the fact that the road is so close. I wish this man made marvel wasn't so close to another man made road. read more
8 years ago
9 years ago
The Colosseum is brilliant, if you are coming to Rome it is the place to go. The building itself is spectacular. Once inside, you can walk through a museum which is mainly located on the second floor. I found the museum informative with a lot of artefacts to keep you interest in the history of this magnificent building. There are shops located throughout the site where you can find souvenirs and refreshment, only thing I would say is that the refreshments seemed to sell out quickly. To combat this you can find taps on each floor to fill up your water bottles - as long as you don't mind the queue. The water is cold and refreshing - perfect for a warm summer day. Outside the Colosseum there are a lot of tour guides offering tours, sometimes it is worth listening to them as they can show you where to queue and inform you on how long you will be waiting. This is a must see landmark of Rome and something you will never forget. read more
8 years ago
18 years ago
18 years ago
we didn't have a tour guide just wandered with a guide book. The more we learned the sadder we felt, there really was some horrendous acts of cruelty. It's an amazing building to have survived so long and try as we could we just couldn't imagine it filled with water for boat battles. Security is very tight - airport scanners, but didn't take too long. The children loved the gift shops. read more
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I had tickets for a guided tour on a Monday morning and already at 09AM, it was full of people outside. Had to wait about 30min in line before I could collect tickets and then another hour before the tour started but it was well worth the wait! Our guide did a great job and had a lot of interesting stories to tell about the place, it really felt like you could get a glimpse of what it might have looked in this arena 2,000 years ago. One of the highlights was seeing the lower floor Hypogeum, where the animals and gladiators were kept. A bit of a labyrinth with lots of passages and rooms. It`s not without being amazed at how they managed to build this enormous arena without all the technical means at hand today. Really fascinating! Expect to spend from 1.5 to 3 hours once you are in. read more
10 years ago
Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Roma is my favorite place to visit. This is my second time. We actually spent too much time in the forum and missed the coliseum by 10 min. The stop letting people in an hour before they close. Can't wait to visit again. read more
8 years ago
One of the most beautiful sights I've seen. I've always seen pictures in books and on tv but in person it's something different! I'd recommend getting a tour so you actually know more about it and learn the history! read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
This was such an amazing experience except for the guys outside trying to get us to buy bracelets. They wouldn't stop getting close to us trying to put them on our wrists. We had a guided tour and it was very interesting to learn and see everything in person. It's really unexplainable walking through the walls and up the steps in a place where so many have been before us. Everything was awesome except the steep steps going up, nobody really mentioned that before and I think it's a good point to bring up if you're handicapped or disabled. I'm not sure if there is an elevator as I did not see one. I would recommend a skip the line guided tour, it was really worth our time and money. read more
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Such a surreal experience to see this in person. Definitely invest and get the skip the line tickets. Not worth sweating outside in the best to get in to be hot again. But the views are beautiful!!!! read more
Nearly a month ago , I had the amazing pleasure of visiting the Colosseum!! Seeing it in movies, books, magazines and blogs simply does not do it justice! It's massive and it's so full of history ! This landmark is an absolute must see not just for Italy but for your bucket list in general! I was thrilled that we were blessed with gorgeous weather on our visit here! The sky was brilliant blue and the weather was warm! Perfect for tourism and the obligatory photo op! I love sight seeing -and here, at the Colosseum you'll experience that to the fullest! Everywhere around us were ticket/tour scalpers, trying to convince us to purchase a tour to avoid the long lines. However the actual , legitimate ticket booth didn't have a long line, was easy to access and is only 12 euros! We stood in line for about 15 minutes to go through the security-then voila! The best way to tour is just to start at the first floor and then weave your way upwards! The view on the second level was great and we even had the pleasure of a sweet little bird who happens to love pictures! I liked that there are displays with great history and stories that you can't just find online available for you to read while walking through! read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
14 years ago
Now I am obsessed with Italian architecture, so it's surprising to me even that I am giving the Colosseum three stars. But if I gave all Italian landmarks a five, my reviews wouldn't be useful? Now would they? ;) The outside of the Colosseum: * A couple of years ago when it was my very first time in Rome, I missed the Colosseum when it was all lit up, as I was sleeping in the car ride to the apartment. :P The Colosseum lit up is quite a spectacular thing. So if you can, try to see it at night. * If you walk around in the day time, the sheer magnitude of it will be present...the thing is utterly massive. You can go around the whole thing--for free! The inside of the Colosseum: * Once you step in, the beauty of the place will be evident. If you know anything about history, this place will give you goosebumps, about what has gone on there in the past, just who built it and how. Basically the history is immense, but you don't need to go inside to see that, just read a book or stay outside. * Many parts of the Colosseum are either i. under construction ii. ruined (not in ruins) iii. very fragile (it's almost 2000 years old) or iii. the Italian government just won't let into certain spaces. Therefore it can be annoying to some people who can't go onto the most interesting parts...like the Colosseum floor! * The thresholds are very interesting, and made for some very eerie photos. * There isn't much of a view from the inside looking out. * If you go in the morning, it is quite serene, and at certain times you can't hear anything...but some obnoxious folk ruin this. Since I came right when it opened, and bought my tickets in advance, I didn't have to wait. But when I left just before noon there were probably twenty people in line waiting to get in. I suppose some just go to the Colosseum to say they went, but I would say avoid the lines, save your money for other things, and enjoy this beauty from outside--preferably at night. Or by the train station (there is a restaurant there too), man the view from there is fantastic! :] read more
![Colosseo - Interesting angle eh. :] - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/ynp5TxPX9ofNVFbc0OosTg/1000s.jpg "Colosseo - Interesting angle eh. :] - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM")
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