As far as historical places go, this is up at the top of the list. The shear magnitude of the structure, and the amount of it still standing is impressive. The issue is the crowds...we came during early peak season and it took an hour to get in with "skip the line" passes. Crowds are problematic everywhere in Rome, so expect to wait for a good view. read more

Colosseo after COVID-19 is much more desert, but this makes more impression. If you will have a trip to Italy watch first tps://viktor-alfredo.com/ It is my travel blog with much good information from an expat read more

amazing. support a local student and take one of their tours. they are good humoured and informative. read more

This is probably the best attraction in Rome. Waiting is long, there are plenty of folks trying sell guided tour. Prepare to walk a bit and go up and down on stairs. I am sharing my video clip from my last trip. https://youtu.be/TSZo8NdB9vU read more

So awesome to see this in person and walk around the ancient ruins. Although i did not visit the Colosseum with a tour group, i soaked up a lot of knowledge just from the information provided throughout the anything but obscure landmark. I think the the Colosseum is definetely worthy of investing in a tour guide or group. Especially so if you are a history buff like myself! read more

It was all I expected. With a Rick Steves tour that I downloaded into my phone, we had a perfect visit. An amazing place! Glad there is so much left to it. read more

This is simply a must-do. The self-guided audio tour was great. It's a beautiful landmark - grand! It is a thrill to pass by in a cab. Breathtaking! read more

Incredible to see in person. Ticket is pretty cheap - only 12 euro to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. We didn't go with a tour group, but I think we did okay observing on our own. There are a lot of posts that talk about the history of the Colosseum, which helped to put things in perspective. Overall, it was a great experience, it's a can't miss while you're in Rome! read more

Il Colosseo is by far my favorite place in the world! It is absolutely stunning in person and I can't believe how well it has held up despite the passage of time. If you are in Rome, this a place you must visit, I guarantee you won't regret it. You can buy your tickets online so that you don't have to stand in line for too long. Public transportation is easily accessible as well. There is a subway station and a bus stop with numerous routes that make a stop here. Wear comfortable walking shoes because some of the walking here is a bit difficult! Definitely go up top if you can but be wary that some of the steps are uneven so watch where you're going! You can also get beautiful views up top. There is also a small gift shop inside and the staff was really helpful. read more

You know those moments where you are in complete awe of something that you thought you would never see in person... I had one of those as we walked up to the Colosseum. Seriously it took my breath away. I know ruins are not really everyone's cup of tea, but I am obsessed with ruins, I don't know why and I have no clue where it came from, but if there is a ruined abbey near me, I will go and spend a day there... same with the Colosseum. I noticed that some reviewers were saying do not pay to go in... here is my advice: 1) If you can go during Italy's culture week usually sometime in the latter half of April... it is free! 2) Remember that you admission to the Colosseum is also admission for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. 3) If you are really struggling with an extremely tight budget, the outside is pretty amazing and if you are not a history buff or geek out over ruins then it may not be worth the investment... however, before you take your trip to Italy, you should seriously include admission to everything you want to see in your budget... and there is an awful lot to see in Rome. Get there early so you don't have to spend too much time in line, do the Colosseum, then have lunch, and do the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill... do not wait in line for tickets at the Roman Forum... the line there moves slower than the one at the Colosseum because there are only two ticket desks and people are constantly cutting the line. We also did not do the guided tour or the audio tour, we, again, had a book that we used and it was very handy, plus you can move at your own pace. read more

Another cool note, just recalled....remembered the tour guide explaining the reason why no doors exist is that they were poached for the steel??? read more

After learning so much about the ancient Romans and their ways for many years I was so excited to finally get to see the Colosseum in real life. It's just as impressive as everyone makes out. Walking around the incredible structure and learning all about what happened there, it's really quite amazing to stand in the spot where for centuries people have witnessed brutal violence. There is always a really long line to get in, but the line moves quite quickly. Definitely is much quieter in the winter months. Well worth a visit. read more

The area around the Colosseum is absolutely stunning and breathtaking. The fact that SO much history happened here is amazing. I would recommend doing a tour of the Colosseum if budget allows. The structure has obviously faded over the hundreds of years since it was built, but the fact that they haven't restored it adds to the awesomeness! read more

Pretty dope structure... definitely not worth the wait though. I'd recommend purchasing a skip the line "tour" ticket from external vendors and going off on your own. read more

What a wonderful place...so impressed indeed. Wonderful experience of history. was expecting a ton more people but there were less than I anticipated. it was easy to access and see. read more

An absolutely stunning spot. If you can't go inside (long lines and long waits) outside is just as beautiful. Careful of annoying vendors selling selfie sticks and weird stuff outside. read more

My taxi driver was having a little fun with me since he felt some type of way that I had said Colosseum instead of Colosseo. He was determined to give us a mini italian lesson. CO LO SEO he said I speak spanish so I thought that I was pronouncing it correctly. As we approached the COLOSSEO I was amazed. It is truly beautiful and just amazing that it has managed to survive among present day Rome. There is a long line that moves along quickly, make sure you arrive before the tourist buses start coming in which is usually around 8 to 8:30 am. Once inside, you will find various sections with artifacts and information. Of course they have guided tours and headphones for those who wish to go in depth into the history or you can choose to view at your leisure. Watch out for vendors around the colosseum as they have the highest prices which is to be expected. There are various people dressed in costume outside ready to take pictures. I wanted to but it felt a bit cheesy but if you would like, that is an option. read more

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Not enough can be said about the history here. Pictures don't do justice to it's impressive size, especially given the lack of construction technology available at the time. We did not take a tour but somewhat wished would have. I recommend an audio guide to get the full experience. We used Rick Steves' Audio Europe, which are free audio guides to many European attractions you can download on your phone. The problem with the Colosseum is when we went, logistics were a nightmare. The separate lines for tours/Roma Pass/general admin were not well marked at all, and they didn't have nearly enough workers to get people through security in an efficient manner. Was great to see it once and I recommend everyone do the same, but won't feel the need to go back the next time we visit Rome. read more

I was staying in a hostel just a few blocks away, and each morning I'd wake up and see this amazing piece of history. It was truly breath taking. Everyon writes about the place and gives tips and stuff, but seriously just see the place. It actually might be difficult to NOT see it considering how grand it is. You can spend the money for the tours and check out the "dungeon" but it's kind of not worth it unless you're a super completionist. Don't get suckered by the annoying gypsies selling stuff or trying to force their wares on you outside. Go, circle around this bad boy, then check out the old roman forum for more ruins. If ruins aren't your thing, then I guess skip it all and enjoy some Gelato. If that's not your thing, then why did you come to Rome? read more

Italy has so much history and the Colosseum is one of them. I enjoyed the roman civilization and the structures are amazing to view and definitely can take many pictures. I was disappointed that the book store closed earlier than the Colosseum did. The walk is very steep so where comfortable shoes. read more

If you have ever wanted to feel history completely encompass you, visit the Colosseum. As a history major and a huge fan of Roman history, I could not wait to visit the Colosseum despite my mother saying it was not very exciting. I am happy to say this is absolutely false. Although you can't go into the actual arena, walking around the various levels you are able to explore is more than enough. The line may be a bit long but it is not too crowded inside. An added bonus is that admission includes admission to the ruins of the Forum and temples. read more

After learning so much about the ancient Romans and their ways for many years I was so excited to finally get to see the Colosseum in real life. It's just as impressive as everyone makes out. Walking around the incredible structure and learning all about what happened there, it's really quite amazing to stand in the spot where for centuries people have witnessed brutal violence. There is always a really long line to get in, but the line moves quite quickly. Definitely is much quieter in the winter months. Well worth a visit. read more

Wow, wow, wow, just WOW. This place is spectacular. I don't care how many pictures or videos you see of the Colosseum, it never prepares you for when you witness it firsthand. If you decide to take the metro, you immediately walk right out to this magnificent building. The outside alone is overwhelming. Highly recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid the ticket line (also try not to make eye contact with the cheesy gladiators, they will only slow you down). Once you get through security, you are allowed to walk around at your leisure. I could have spent hours in here taking in the beautiful architecture and history. I am not mcuh of a "history" person but to be able to walk around in a structure that is so ancient and holds so much brutal history is honestly surreal. Wish we got to take advantage of the guided tour where you get to go through the gladiator hallways- you have to purchase this special ticket in advance. Highly recommend this stop if you are visiting the beautiful city of Roma. You will not regret visiting this site. read more

Colosseo - View from the entrance - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM

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Do visit the Colosseum. Do not purchase one of the tours outside unless you want to hear about history not related to the Colosseum and waste a few hours of your life. read more

Please note that my review is based from my visit in 2000 when I was a teenager. I'm a huge history buff and this is definitely a site you have to see when in Rome. I'm merely reviewing because I enjoyed reading all the reviews on this just now (I'm going back to Italy this Spring for another trip). The outside really is more impressive to me than the inside. IMO if you have already done it once, I wouldn't pay to go back inside but maybe just get your photos of it from the outside and walk around it. read more

Went here during the day, but wished I saw the spectacular view of it at night. Yes, it does remind you like you're in the Gladiator movie....walking on the over-size steps, and seeing the main floor arena. However, I thought it would be bigger than it actually was. Also, BEWARE of all the Gypsies & their families who scatter all over the entrance area. My friend had a small travel sling but had it faced towards her back going through the crowds. Luckily I was right behind her & sure-nuff a Gypsie Kid Spotted her purse in a quickness, but as he tried to go for it, I kinda pushed him and said, "WTH Do You Think You're Doing!" So he just looked at me, and scattered off to find his next victim for the day. read more

Find a good tour guide to talk to you about the history of this magnificent structure. There is so much to learn about this city and a lot of it all starts here. read more

This a very beautiful attraction. It's a shame it's been damaged so much. I highly recommend that you can buy tour tickets online to get in faster unless you enjoy waiting a hour in under the sun. It's right outside the metro stop and you should definitely bring water b/c it's very hot. read more

so amazing. seeing the long line and it being a Saturday we didn't go inside. even now me and my fiance both regret that but that just gives a real reason to go back to Rome next year :) the gladiator guys are the most obnoxious in all of Rome! one called me a freak because I ignored him lol. I just smirked at him. we knew they wanted money they didn't want to just take a picture and go on their merry way. after being hounded by the spanish steps and the trevi fountain we just started ignoring anyone trying to talk to us. most of the time pretending not to speak English. he overheard us talking though so he knew we could speak English oops. anyway seeing this place in person is just amazing. I can't even find the words for it. I wish we came back at night as I see someone wrote how amazing it looks lit up. read more

Went twice and they were amazing experiences! It would take at least 1-2 hours to look through the Colosseum throughly and in details. They are way more shaded areas compared to the Forum so that is nice but both are really worth going. There are two lines before going through the security and into the Colosseum; one line is for people with prepaid tickets and one line is for people without. There are a lot of sellers right outside of the Colosseum so if you don't like that you can just avoid them. If you want ice water or selfie sticks or hats or some children books about the Colosseum they usually do walk around selling them. Colosseum have audio explanations and guides as well, but you can also go in without them. They are two floors and the best view to look at the entire center and to take pictures is if you go up the stairs to the second floor. Colosseum can fit up to 50,000 people and sometimes they would filled the Colosseum with water and have naval battles. Emperor have marble sits while he watched his game. Rome subway A (red line) and B (blue line) are horrible therefore the government is building a C line that goes underneath the Colosseum. While they were dipping the ground they found the ancient theatre so they had to redirect the line. They decided that the theatre is more important than the ancient sewer so they will be destroying the sewer to build the C line through that area. read more

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''My wife and I were in Italy in 2011 and the Roman Coliseum is a must see? I must leave 5 stars because whats to dislike when viewing this awesome Historical structure where the mad Roman emperors Blood letting games actually happened!'' I sat in the seat for a moment where the Caesars had sat now only sandstone and stripped of it's original Marble stone which much of the original marble is long gone which saddens me a little bit? I wished for a moment that I possessed a personal time machine to actually witness one of the games in their heyday? Human nature never changes I suppose?'' The Coliseum is smaller inside than what is typically seen in movies? Outside men were posing in Roman Soldier garb for pictures with the tourists for a fee of course!'' 5 stars*****! ''Thank you'' read more

it took my second trip to Rome, a while back, to finally get to see this, but damn, was it worth it! as tacky and touristy as Rome is, you MUST see the Colosseum. otherwise it's like visiting Jerusalem and not going to the Sexateria. brave the lines (but not the lions, those are long gone), the guys dressed as ancient Romans asking for money to take photos with them, the sketchy street vendors, the gypsies, and all other obstacles... there's 2 millenia of history right here. those of us who know our Western history remember that it was only actually used for battles and entertainment for a fraction of that time...but still! walking through these stone constructs you will definitely feel transported back to the days of Rome's imperial glory, decadence, and majesty. listen carefully and you'll hear the roar of the crowds, the smashing of sword on shield, and the thump of fallen warriors' bodies falling to the sand... there is also a museum section with some artifacts on display. make sure to go on a day with clear skies - almost the whole thing is open-air. going with a group may save you some time on line, and it's also less packed in the middle of the week. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! read more

Two stars? What? Don't get me wrong, it's a massive structure, and the history behind it is cool. If you have plenty of time in Italy, go inside, or if you are nearby you should totally see it from the outside. It is two stars in comparison to several key tourist alternatives in Rome. As a point of comparison, I would far rather spend the money to see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel again (and pay for the early morning access tour), than to see the Collosseum at night without the crowds. (I think we paid the same for each tour, and don't get me wrong, the tour guides in each case did a fabulous job.) But we spent 4 hours at the Vatican, and I could easily spend another 4 hours there. Conversely, we spent an hour at the Collosseum without crowds and that was more than enough. Similarly, I happily spent 3 hours at the Uffizi. Point is: gaze upon the Collosseum from the outside. Admire it. I don't think you really need to go inside, especially if you're going to be fighting with the daytime tourists. Heck, I went without the crowds, and while it was cool, it wasn't nearly as impressive as many other sights you can see. read more

Really nice to go in the late evening. The summer heat has cooled down and the hordes of tourist groups have left.

There are a few different tour options for The Colosseum. I can not stress to you enough that you should go on Trip Advisor and find an "Extended Tour". There are tours that will take you down into the basement, where the slaves and prisoners were kept (and where, once, they flooded it for a naval battle). There are also a couple other off-limits places that only special tours go. Not all tours do this. It is more than worth the extra effort. The tour guide we had was an awesome lady with 3 degrees and a doctorate in history, specializing in Rome. I'm usually not a sight-seeing kind of tourist. I prefer to enjoy a place and its culture more than seeing buildings that are no longer used for anything but tourism attractions. Rome is not like that, however. Is the building no longer used? No, it isn't. Is it full of tourists? Yes, it is. BUT, and this is the important part, there is such an overwhelming sense of history in these places that it's impossible not to enjoy just being there. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of years of history have taken place in buildings like these. I enjoyed myself here more than I expected, certainly, but also thoroughly. read more

History. Magical. Pay for the tour. Go Big. This is one of the greatest structures in the world.

Nice to look at from the outside but way too overpriced for what you actually get. Street vendors outside gotten on our nerves a lot but there's nothing you can do about that. I would definitely come back to see the Colosseum but not go back inside to visit it. read more

Terrible staff, misleading tour tickets - beware! Do not buy any tickets to the colosseum in advance unless you actually receive a time stamped ticket for your entrance/tour! There are two lines there: one for those with time stamped tickets and one to buy tickets. Most tickets purchased in advance are actually vouchers that have no time and you cannot enter without a time stamped ticket. There is no one working around the colosseum that is informed and can provide you with correct line and access information. They do not know what is a good ticket and give you incorrect information. If you decide to just get in the ticket line and talk to someone at the window then you receive no help. While we were waiting within 20 feet of the ticket window, we saw 25+ people told that they could not be helped, could not enter and would have to try to get a refund from the advance purchase company which most do not grant. In addition to the confusion, the window workers clearly did not care and were openly rude and even laughed about customers to other workers. Obviously, the Italian tourism group does not care because even managers seem approving of this behavior. When you do eventually buy a ticket it will be stamped for later in the day or the following day. Then you will need to get in the extremely long line to wait for entrance with time stamped tickets. Bring an umbrella if the sun is out as it is a fairly miserable experience. Also beware of the hawkers selling tour tickets along the line at the colosseum. Your call, but seeing the Colosseum from the outside might save a lot of headaches. read more

This is definitely a MUST SEE in Roma! Book a tour to avoid the long lines.

As most who travel to Rome know this is a must see! BUT do yourself a favor and pre book a tour with a skip the line tour group!!! The lines for tickets are VERY long and hot in the summer. I used Viator and got the upgraded tours which gets you into areas of the Colosseo that are not accessible with the regular ticket. WELL worth the extra price!!! read more