On page 843 of the Rick Steves 2019 Italy book, there is a mention of this tour but my group can't figure discern where/how to make the strongly advised advance reservations? We want to explore the Colosseum but aren't sure which pass to get or what website to get this tour that's mentioned. Help please!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15807 posts
This is the website and tour you are looking for:
For adult tickets, you want the "full entrance ticket € 12,00 + guided tour € 15,00" option (+ € 2,00 fee).
WHEN tickets will become available for your dates in Rome is the tricky part, and they sell out very, very quickly.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm
"The openings of the reservations are organized gradually and on a quarterly and weekly basis, in order to avoid any kind of early acquisition and to guarantee ticket’s availabilities as close as possible to the entrance date. Every first Monday of the month at 9:00 a.m. it will be possible to book for the next month. Every Monday at 9:00 a.m. (ROME TIME!!) it will be possible to book for the following week. You can refer to the NEWS section on the website homepage to be acquainted with the reservations opening dates."
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
2731 posts
There is another option for you. Although they cost more, Walks of Italy has several Colosseum tours:
https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Awesome! Thank you everyone!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
2 posts
I had previously spoken to a friend who had woken up at the exact time (3:00 AM Atlanta, GA time) in order to call and book the tickets for her and her family's trip. I was under the impression that if I wanted to go on Saturday, October 26th, 2019, then those tickets would be available the first Monday of the month before...which would be Monday, September 2nd, 2019.
My question continues because it looks like tickets are available all the way through September when you look at the website (link below)...which according to the theory above, wouldn't they not be available until the 1st Monday of August (and it is only June 7th)...?
If anyone knows any clarification about the ticket release process or can help me further understand, I'd greatly appreciate it! I'm definitely willing to wake up at 3:00 AM in order to get the tickets on the only day we can see the Colosseum, I just don't want them to sell out before I know they are available! :)
Thank you & best wishes!
Posted by
Phoenix, AZ
110 posts
They have changed the booking release dates frequently since January, as of right now they have released the quarterly booking for July-Sept, according to the site. Keep looking at the site and monitoring the release dates for October. I was on first thing when they released the July tickets, 2 computers and I still was not able to get tickets for 5. October should have less people trying to get tickets but be ready when they are released. We ended up choosing the Spanish tour and we're very happy we were able to get that tour.
OPENING BOOKING
QUARTERLY OPENING JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019
Tuesday, May 21st at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale of the first set of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Coliseum arena, in quarterly availability for the months of July August and September 2019 will be released both online and through the call center.
Wednesday, May 22nd at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale of the second set of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Coliseum arena, in quarterly availability for the months of July August and September 2019 will be released both online and through call centers.
Thursday, May 23rd at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale for the underground, the belvedere and the combined underground belvedere tour, in quarterly availability for the months of July, August and September will be available online only.
MONTHLY OPENING
Every first Tuesday of the month :
June 4th at 3 pm (italian time): The pre-sale of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Coliseum arena, in the monthly availability for July 2019 will be released both online and through the call center.
July 2nd at 3 pm (italian time): The pre-sale of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Coliseum arena, in the monthly availability for August 2019 will be available both online and through the call center.
Every first Thursday of the month:
June 6th at 3 pm (italian time): The pre-sale for the underground, the belvedere and the combined underground belvedere tour, in the monthly availability for July will be released online only.
July 4th at 3 pm (italian time): The pre-sale for the underground, the belvedere and the combined underground belvedere tour, in the monthly availability for August will be released online only.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
2 posts
Thank you so much for the information! Did you pull the opening booking from somewhere? If so, I’d love to know your resource!
Also, if I understood correctly and the release schedule stays the same…
Tickets for the combined underground belvedere tour for Saturday, October 26, 2019, will be released on the following:
Quarterly (2nd month of the quarter on the 2nd to last Thursday of the month) – this would be Thursday, August 22nd at 3:00 p.m. (Italian time) for Oct., Nov., & Dec.
Monthly (1st Thursday of the month prior to the month you want to go) – this would be Thursday, September 5th at 3:00 p.m. (Italian time)
Does that seem correct? I greatly appreciate your help!! 😊
Deidra
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15807 posts
Did you pull the opening booking from somewhere? If so, I’d love to
know your resource!
Deirdra, that info came from the coopculture website. This page, righthand column.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/the-colosseum.cfm
Click on the [++] sign under...
"QUARTERLY OPENING JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019Tuesday, May 21st at 3 pm (italian time): The pre-sale of the first set of tickets with scheduled entrance…"
...to reveal full ticket-release schedule information.
And yes, much has changed since this original post back in January!
Editing to add, as you're only concerned with the Underground+Panoramic combo tours - which are the first to sell out and can do so within minutes - you can ignore everything else.
Posted by
Phoenix, AZ
110 posts
Hi Florida Girl,
I just realized I did not include the URL for the release dates. Here it is: https://www.coopculture.it/en/ticket.cfm?office=Colosseo%2C%20Sotterranei%20%2C%20Terzo%20Ordine%20e%20Belvedere&id=0&evento=6
You will find the Oct-Dec release dates towards the bottom of the page. It looks like the first release date for the combined underground belvedere tour is July 25, 2019.
QUARTERLY OPENING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019
Tuesday, July 23rd at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale of the first set of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Colosseum arena, with quarterly availability for the months of October, November and December 2019 will be released both online and through the call center.
Wednesday, July 24th at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale of the second set of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Colosseum arena, with quarterly availability for the months of October November and December 2019 will be released both online and through the call center.
Thursday, July 25th at 3 pm (italian time):
The pre-sale for the underground, the belvedere and the combined underground belvedere tour, with quarterly availability for the months of October, November and December will be released online only.
Friday, July 26th at 3 pm (italian time):
Domus Aurea, Terme di Caracalla, Villa dei Quintili, Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella, Siti ad apertura periodica, Palazzo Massimo, Terme di Diocleziano, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi for October, November and December.
MONTHLY OPENING
Every first Tuesday of the month :
September 3rd at 3pm (italian time): The pre-sale of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Colosseum arena, in the monthly availability for October will be released both online and through the call center.
October 1st at 3pm (italian time): The pre-sale of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Colosseum arena, in the monthly availability for November will be released both online and through the call center.
November 5 at 3pm (italian time): The pre-sale of tickets with scheduled entrance time for the ordinary access of the Colosseum, of tickets with scheduled entrance time to the Colosseum arena, in the monthly availability for December will be released both online and through the call center.
I hope this helps!
Posted by
Westland, MI
723 posts
I obtained 2 tickets for the combined Underground / Belvedere in August 2018 for October 9, 2018. The tickets were offered at 2 a.m. and they were snapped up immediately. I wouldn't be leisurely if it's important to you. The 5th level was incredible!