We answer the most common questions for visiting the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine: what the ticket includes, how to enter the gladiators' Arena, the free days, getting there, skipping the line, going with kids, booking with ID, how long it takes and how to combine it with the Vatican.
The €18 ticket is combined and includes the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre), the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. It's valid for 24 hours and allows one entry to each site. It does not include the gladiators' Arena, the underground or a guide or audio guide, which are booked separately. You'll find the full breakdown in the guide to hours and prices.
Yes, but not with the basic ticket. The Arena is the central floor reconstructed over the underground, and to step onto it you need a special ticket or the guided tour with Arena access, with limited places that sell out weeks in advance. It's the "inside" image of the Colosseum everyone is after.
The hypogeum is the network of tunnels and cells beneath the Arena where the gladiators, the wild beasts and the show's machinery were prepared. Access is very limited and only available on specific tours; it's not included in the standard ticket or on free days.
It's free on the first Sunday of each month and on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November. On those days you can't book online, there's a physical first-come queue and the Arena and underground stay closed. We explain it straight in the guide to free Colosseum entry.
The most convenient option is metro Line B, stop Colosseo, whose exit is opposite the monument. The number 3 tram and buses along Via dei Fori Imperiali also serve it. From Piazza Venezia it's about 15 minutes on foot. All the details are in the guide on how to get to the Colosseum.
By booking a ticket online with a time slot and skip-the-line access, or by going in on a guided tour through a reserved entrance. That way you skip the box-office queue. Also avoid the first Sunday of the month and free-entry dates. You'll find all the tricks in the guide on how to skip the line.
Yes. It's a place that fascinates children with its gladiator stories. To make it work, book skip-the-line access to avoid waits in the sun and, if you like, a family guided tour that adapts the pace and the storytelling for the youngest ones.
Yes. The ticket is personal: the name on the ticket must match the ID document. Always bring your ID card or passport, and for reduced fares (EU 18–24 years, €2) or free entry (under-18s), a document proving age or nationality.
The Colosseum interior takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. If you also visit the Roman Forum and the Palatine, allow between 3 and 4 hours for the whole complex. The guided tour with Arena access lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. Remember the ticket is valid for 24 hours, so you can split the visit over two days.
Yes, but it's worth organising: they're two of the largest sites in Rome. The usual approach is to dedicate the morning to one and the afternoon to the other, booking both with skip-the-line access and a time slot. Combining the Colosseum in the morning and the Vatican Museums in the afternoon works well if you don't want to rush.
Tickets and tours booked through Civitatis usually offer free cancellation depending on the activity, with instant confirmation. Always check the specific conditions of each activity before booking, as some fares may have different terms.
The Colosseum has lifts and ramps that allow access to much of the monument, although some areas, due to their age, have uneven floors and changes in level. The Roman Forum and the Palatine have more difficult sections. It's worth checking the accessibility conditions when booking.
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