Things to do in Colosseum
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
Our recommendations in Colosseum
Colosseum & Roman Forum small-group tour with a local guide
Book now for an unforgettable small-group experience to discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum with and a local expert guide!
en, it
Private tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with local expert guide
Explore the Colosseum, visit the Roman Forum archeological site, walk up the Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient areas of Rome, and look down at Circus Maximus.
en, it, fr, es, de
Colosseum & arena floor private tour with local expert guide
Don't miss the chance to enjoy a private tour with access to the Colosseum's arena floor by the Gladiator's entrance.
en, it, fr, es
Discover the beauty of Rome in just 72 hours with the Rome Pass card. Take advantage of special reductions and discounts in Italy's stunning capital.
Colosseum & Roman Forum small-group tour with a local guide
Book now for an unforgettable small-group experience to discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum with and a local expert guide!
en, it
Private tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with local expert guide
Explore the Colosseum, visit the Roman Forum archeological site, walk up the Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient areas of Rome, and look down at Circus Maximus.
en, it, fr, es, de
Colosseum & arena floor private tour with local expert guide
Don't miss the chance to enjoy a private tour with access to the Colosseum's arena floor by the Gladiator's entrance.
en, it, fr, es
Discover the beauty of Rome in just 72 hours with the Rome Pass card. Take advantage of special reductions and discounts in Italy's stunning capital.
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine tour with Vatican Museums upgrade
Visit the Vatican and the Colosseum in this day tour of Rome. Discover the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Roman forum.
en
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour
Book your experience, and live the best of ancient Rome with an expert local guide to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
en
Guided tour of Colosseum Gladiator's Gate and Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
See the Colosseum through the gladiator's gate and visit the Arena floor. Enjoy a tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with your expert local guide.
en
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.
en, it, fr, es, de, +2 ru, zh
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.
en, it, fr, es, de, +2 ru, zh
Must Sees of Ancient Rome with a local guide
Discover Ancient Rome on a guided tour with a local guide and admire the Italian capital.
en, it
Rome self-guided walking tour in AR
Discover the Colosseum through this augment reality tour.
en
Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour
Book this 3-hour tour to discover the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a guide.
es
How to get there
Colosseum
Rome
Italy
Reviews Colosseum
“On the whole it was good, however the guide was very hard to understand so was hard to follow everything he was saying.”
“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”
“I would not recommend this tour, because the guide had very broken English & hard to follow.”
“We could not have asked for more!!! Our guide was was magic and made our experience a once in a lifetime event!!!”