Which Colosseum Ticket Should I buy?

Here are a few tips on What Colosseum Ticket to buy. Whether you’re already informed or you’re completely new to this, I promise you will find this one helpful.

Hey there, fellow adventurer! Get ready to unlock the secrets of the Colosseum and make the most out of your Rome escapade. Buckle up because I’ve got you covered with the ultimate guide on what Colosseum ticket you should buy in advance. Let’s jump right in!

Picture-Perfect Planning: Why Buying Colosseum Tickets in Advance Matters

Let’s face it, my friend. Waiting in long lines is about as fun as trying to navigate the streets of Rome during rush hour. And who wants to waste precious vacation time standing in the scorching sun? Not you, that’s for sure! Buying your tickets in advance is the ticket (pun intended) to skipping those pesky lines and getting right to the heart of the action.

Think about it, Rome is a mecca for travelers from around the globe. Imagine arriving at your dream destination only to discover that all the tickets are sold out. Heartbreaking, right? That’s why securing your tickets ahead of time is a wise move. No sold-out regrets for you!

What Colosseum Ticket Should I Buy?

Welcome to the granddaddy of them all—the Colosseum! This ancient wonder will leave you in awe and wondering how they threw such legendary parties here. Here are the deets you need to know.

Before continuing, you should definitely check our “Is the Colosseum Underground worth it?” article!

Colosseum Opening times

Check out the opening hours ahead of time, as they can vary. And remember, the early bird gets the best photos and avoids the biggest crowds. Availability is limited, so don’t be fashionably late and risk missing out.

The Colosseum is open every day except for Christmas and January 1st.

From January 2nd to February 28th: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
From March 1st to March 30th: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
From March 31st to September 30th: 8:30 AM – 7:15 PM
From October 1st to December 31st: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

When are Colosseum tickets released?

At the moment, tickets are released 30 days before and again 7 days before. They’re released at the exact time of the entrance time (Italian time, CET). For example, tickets for the entrance of 9:30 AM on April 30th will be released on April 1st at 9:30 AM, and again at 9:30 AM on April 23rd. This is valid for all kinds of Colosseum tickets.

Important note: from May 1st, 2024, the managing body of the Colosseum will change, and also ticket release criteria could be. We still do not have any news about this. 

Where to buy Colosseum tickets?

First important lesson on Colosseum tickets: they’re so hard to get. Agencies, people, birds, and lions want to buy this – you’ll need to be fast to manage this.
DO NOT BUY TICKETS ON THE STREETS: this is valid for any type of ticket. Do not trust anybody you find on the street, mostly they’re scammers or they’ll sell you tickets for the triple price.

On that note, the official Colosseum tickets website is CoopCulture.  Go on reading to acknowledge which one of 10+ kinds of tickets you need to buy.

Which Colosseum tickets should I buy?

Once you’re on CoopCulture you will stressed and confused because you can not understand what to do. This is the first “Be an Italian for 5 minutes” experience you may have.
Here’s why you’re on Rome Travel Tips. Because you need an Italian friend to tell you what to do in this case.

Since we love you guys and we do not want you to be stressed while in the Belpaese, here’s a list of the Colosseum tickets that are available at the moment, with all their inclusions (you’re welcome!):

• Ordinary tickets – 18€/person – free for under 18s. This includes access to His Majesty the Colosseum (no arena, no underground, no attic, no guide), Roman Forum (“normal” areas), and Palatine Hill (“normal” areas). Just the basic version of the ticket, 1st and 2nd floor of the Colosseum.
  You can access the Colosseum 15 minutes before or then the entrance time on the ticket, and you can access the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill within the next 48 hours.
•  Ordinary tickets with English guide – 23€/person – 7€/under 18s. This is basically the same ticket as the one above, except that you get a fantastic (yes, I’m ironic) group tour, run by the CoopCulture staff. The great news is that you can skip the tour and use this as a normal ticket when others are finished.
• Ordinary tickets with French guide – 23€/person – 7€/under 18s. This is the same as above, but in French; Howdy, French friends!
• Ordinary tickets with Spanish guide – 23€/person – 7€/under 18s. This is the same as above, but in Spanish; Hola!
• Ordinary tickets with audioguide – 23.50€/person – 7.50€/under 18s. This one gives the same access as all ordinary tickets, but you’ll get an awesome audioguide. Note that they’ll let you download an app which through you will get your audio guide. This is available in all languages, even Latin (no, I’m not joking, the audioguide is also in Latin for real).
• Ordinary tickets with audio-video-guide – 24€/person – 8€/under 18s. This is the improved version of the audioguide – on the app you’ll get you will see also short videos.
• Arena tickets – 24€/person – free for under 18s. Here things are starting a bit trendier. The arena tickets give you access to all the sites of the ordinary ticket, plus (obviously) the arena, and also S.U.P.E.R. sites into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. These areas are open only to those who have purchased more expensive tickets.
• Underground tickets – 24€/person – free for under 18s. Hey you! I know you were looking for this one! Basically, this one gives you access to everything except for the Attic. This one’s not a guided tour.
• Underground tickets with English speaking guide –  34€/person – 12€/under 18s. This one is the same as above, but it includes a group tour of the Underground. I know you were looking for this!
• Full Experience Attic – 24€/person – free for under 18s – This is the one you should get. This won’t give you access to the Arena or the Underground, but it will take you high in the sky. You’ll see Rome from the Colosseum’s point of view. Trust a local!
• Forum Super Pass – 18€/person – free for under18s – this one is for those who don’t want to get inside the Colosseum – it gives you access only to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill SUPER areas.

How do I redeem my free Colosseum ticket?

Here’s another FAQ. Colosseum’s website is not clear about this, but I’m here to help you!

As you probably know, under 18s do not pay for some of the tickets listed above (read carefully!). Now you may say “I can not find them on the website linked!” – the reason is because they’re not bookable online.

All you have to do is go to the Colosseum entrance, show your adult tickets, and tell the staff you’re traveling with an under-18.  They will guide you to the cash register where you will redeem your free tickets.

What should I do if Colosseum tickets are sold out on CoopCulture?

Well, if you read carefully the ticket release process and tickets are actually sold out, you do have not many chances. Do not even hope for tickets to be magically released (they won’t) again.
You can just try with resellers. I know you do not want to pay triple the price for it, that’s why I searched out the best resellers for you.

Here are a few tries you can give if Colosseum tickets are sold out on the official website.

• Colosseum tickets with Multimedia Video
• Colosseum skip-the-line
• Colosseum Underground Private Tour
• Colosseum Arena Group Tour
• Colosseum Underground and Roman Forum Small Group Tour

General tips from Locals

Here are a few tips we can give you, maybe this will help to let you live the Colosseum as a local.

• Do not purchase tickets on the streets – they will scam you or sell you tickets at triple the price
• During summer, always bring water – the Colosseum is under the sun all year long and it could be very hot!
• Unlikely the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum does not have a dress code – free those shoulders and knees!
• If you did not manage to get a ticket and want to try to get in line – you’re welcome to do it, but be aware that you could be waiting in line for hours, under the sun.
• Do not buy anything from anyone!  No water, no bracelets, no tickets, nothing!
• Always be aware of your pockets! Pickpockets are waiting for distracted tourists. Do not make their lives even easier!
• Last, but absolutely not least: DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING YOU SEE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COLOSSEUM! Be respectful to it and to Italians. Do not touch, sit, write or whatever comes to your mind when you’re there. All you’re allowed to do is watch, learn, listen, and be stunned. If I wasn’t persuasive enough, there are huge fines and (in some cases) years of prison for those who are disrespectful. You’ve been warned!

Conclusion

Here are all of our tips. Read them, learn them, share them. We’re pretty sure these will help you choose the best Colosseum ticket, the one that will create lasting memories and will let you say: “Thanks a lot, Rome Travel Tips!”.