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 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.
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VIP Arena small group Colosseum tour with Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Access the majestic Colosseum and enjoy free time inside the amphitheater to take incredible photos and find out about its importance!
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Colosseum and Roman Forum Small-Group Tour with Local Guide
Book now for an unforgettable small-group experience to discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum with a local guide!
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Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill guided tour
Book your spot for this 3-hour Ancient Rome tour and explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with an expert guide!
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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

VIP Arena small group Colosseum tour with Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Access the majestic Colosseum and enjoy free time inside the amphitheater to take incredible photos and find out about its importance!
en

Colosseum and Roman Forum Small-Group Tour with Local Guide
Book now for an unforgettable small-group experience to discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum with a local guide!
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Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill guided tour
Book your spot for this 3-hour Ancient Rome tour and explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with an expert guide!
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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.
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Colosseum with the arena floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour
Experience ancient Rome at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Walk in gladiators' footsteps and discover daily life in the heart of the Empire.
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Colosseum express tour with expert guide
Explore the Colosseum with an expert English-speaking guide on a 1.5-hour express tour and visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own after your tour.
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Outside Colosseum virtual reality experience with audio guide
Wander around the Colosseum exterior while listening to enlightening commentary from one of the city's leading academic libraries.
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Colosseum visit and virtual reality experience with audio guide
Join an innovative tour and delve into the history of the Colosseum with an animated and interactive 3D certified reconstruction.
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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.

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.
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Colosseum, Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour
Enjoy an immersive, insightful experience of Ancient Rome, offering special access to some of its most iconic sites.
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Reviews Colosseum
“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”
“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.”
