Colosseum

Tours and entrance for the Colosseum

Italy

Things to do in Colosseum

4.5/5 (6963)

Gladiators tended to be criminals, prisoners of war or slaves who were trained to fight in professional schools. As their fame increased, some men even volunteered for the job. Trained gladiators would often fight unskilled criminals and slaves as a form of public execution, though winning a fight against a gladiator could earn a slave his freedom.

Archaeological remains show that gladiators were often overweight, perhaps in order to build a layer of protective fat. They tended to eat a vegetarian diet of fresh vegetables, dried fruit, barley and beans to grow strong bones that would heal quickly.

Gladiators would fight barefoot in pairs for around ten minutes while the audience chanted like modern football crowds. A common chant was "habet, hoc habet” (he’s had it!). A defeated gladiator would raise a finger (if he had any left) and might be pardoned by the games’ sponsor.

In 107AD, the emperor Trajan celebrated a victory with a show that included 5000 pairs of gladiators – the largest contest known to history.

Opening times

  • 8.30am-7.15pm – 30 March-31 August
  • 8.30am-7.00pm – 1-30 September
  • 8.30am-6.30pm – 1-30 October
  • 8.30am-4.30pm – 31 October-15 February
  • 8.30am-5.00pm – 16 February-15 March

Ticket office closes one hour before closing time

About the Colosseum

This massive 50,000-capacity amphitheatre was inaugurated in 80AD with games that lasted 100 days and cost the lives of over 5000 animals. Back then, you could get in for free, though seating arrangements were controlled with pieces of pottery indicating seat numbers. The poor, and women, sat on the upper tiers, while senators and equestrians had seats closer to the action – protected from flying weapons and body parts by a net.

Entertainment at the Colosseum was wild, to say the least. You’d see everything from boat battles to animal battles and gladiators squaring off against each other or unlucky slaves and prisoners. And while gladiators weren’t always fighting to their death – they were too valuable for that – it was still a pretty risky gig.

Today, the vast Colosseum easily swallows the thousands who visit, so it’s advisable to plan ahead, securing access before you go if you want to avoid big crowds. You can maximise your visit inside this stellar landmark by exploring with a guide or snagging access to special areas like the hypogeum or upper levels for a deeper dive into its epic history.

Experiences at the Colosseum often include access to the Forum and Palatine Hill, so planning your day is a smart move. Hit the busy spots early and save Palatine Hill for a more chilled-out afternoon visit. Even with the best plans, things might not run like clockwork, so just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

Address

Piazza del Colosseo, Rome

Getting there

  • By Metro
    • MEB, MEB1: Colosseo
  • By Bus
    • 51, 75, 85, 87, 117,118, N2
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Price (per adult)

£
£

Tickets option

Categories

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52 Experiences
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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour
Attractions & guided tours

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

Enjoy an immersive tour of Ancient Rome, offering special access to some of its most iconic sites.

Duration 3 hours
Available in:

en 

Instant Confirmation
Rome Hop-on Hop-off and Roman Forum Tour from Civitavecchia
Activities

Rome Hop-on Hop-off and Roman Forum Tour from Civitavecchia

Book your Civitavecchia to Rome day tour with transfer, skip-the-line Roman Forum access, Colosseum views, and a Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket

free cancellation
Available in:

en, es 

Rome hop-on hop-off and Castel Sant'Angelo tour from Civitavecchia
Activities

Rome hop-on hop-off and Castel Sant'Angelo tour from Civitavecchia

Book your Civitavecchia to Rome day tour! Discover Castel Sant'Angelo with a guided visit, then explore Rome at your own pace with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, es 

Rome highlights by private electric golf cart with local guide

Rome highlights by private electric golf cart with local guide

Book this private golf cart tour to explore Rome in style. Visit top spots like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Trastevere, all with insider stories from a local guide.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Full-Day Combined Tour of Vatican City and Ancient Rome
Attractions & guided tours

Full-Day Combined Tour of Vatican City and Ancient Rome

Discover Rome's iconic treasures with a combined tour of the Vatican City and ancient Rome. Marvel at art, history, and culture in the Eternal City.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Colosseum and Circus Maximus Experience with Multimedia Video
Attractions & guided tours

Colosseum and Circus Maximus Experience with Multimedia Video

Uncover the Roman Empire on this tour with multimedia video. Explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace and admire the Circus Maximus.

Duration 4 hours
Available in:

en, it, fr, es 

Instant Confirmation
Colosseum with Arena floor and Panoramic Open Bus ride
Attractions & guided tours

Colosseum with Arena floor and Panoramic Open Bus ride

Visit Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and enjoy a panoramic open bus ride to fully immerse yourself in the charm of the eternal city.

Duration 5 hours
Available in:

en, it, fr, es 

Instant Confirmation
Rome Train Trip from Civitavecchia with Hop-On Hop-Off and Colosseo
Hop-on hop-off

Rome Train Trip from Civitavecchia with Hop-On Hop-Off and Colosseo

Discover Rome's attractions with a convenient package from Civitavecchia. Includes train, hop-on hop-off bus ticket, and Colosseum entrance.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +3  pt, ru, zh

Maxi Combo: Colosseum, Vatican Museums and 48h hop-on hop-off bus
Attractions & guided tours

Maxi Combo: Colosseum, Vatican Museums and 48h hop-on hop-off bus

Discover the city of Rome and its history, hop on and off the bus whenever you want, and access the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Vatican: Basilica, Dome and underground early bird tour
Activities

Vatican: Basilica, Dome and underground early bird tour

Admire the stunning frescoes, statues and mosaics of the Basilica and its square, set foot on the summit of the famous Michelangelo's Dome.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

World audio guide with TravelMate app
Attractions & guided tours

World audio guide with TravelMate app

Make the most of your time in 33 cities around the world with this TravelMate app on your smartphone. Listen to detailed audio commentaries in your language.

Flexible
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +2  ru, zh

Instant Confirmation
Italy audio guide with TravelMate app
Attractions & guided tours

Italy audio guide with TravelMate app

Make the most of your time in 14 Italian cities with this TravelMate app on your smartphone. Listen to interesting stories and curiosities narrated in your language.

Flexible
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +2  ru, zh

Instant Confirmation

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Colosseum

Colosseum

Rome

Italy

Reviews Colosseum

3/5
Lucy, 22 Apr 2025

“The colosseum trip was as stated. Good if you want to just check it out by yourself, not so much if you want to get the most out of the experience and actually know what you are looking at. Be warned every day here is oversold so be prepared for crowds. The domus underground experience was falsely advertised. Little to no information about it and no details on how to find it. Quite disappointing”

3/5
Jeremy , 10 Nov 2022

“The travel was nice we really enjoyed Rome but the hotel was really disappointing we choose this one for the rooftop and we arrived there the rooftop was not possible to access also the room was very dirty plus no shower gel no shampoo as well.. the toilet was broken plus the electric cable was all appearing.. when tell the reception about it.. they said they will work on it but when back at the end off the day the room was the same.. have to tell them again and at the end they didn't do anythin”

5/5
Anonymous, 12 Sept 2016

“We could not have asked for more!!! Our guide was was magic and made our experience a once in a lifetime event!!!”

4/5
Anonymous, 19 Mar 2016
Rome