Can anyone tell me what's the deal with getting online tickets for the 3rd Ring, English tour? Every time I go to the Coopculture site, there are only a few days highlighted for tickets and when I click on them, they are no availabilities. I don't need the tickets until the middle of October, but I have been checking for months, always with the same dilemma.
Posted by
61 posts
They go on sale the 3rd monday of the month prior (I think I have that right, but it's on the coopculture website). I woke up at 3am at the end of August to buy for second half of September only to discover that after September 15th they would not have underground and 3rd ring tours available at all (areas closed) during last 2 weeks September.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16435 posts
narcuhc, as of right now there is only ONE DAY each month that you can purchase underground tours, and only for the following month. From the coopculture website (skipping months already past):
"It will be possibile to book on website underground Tours for individuals and underground group entrances every third Monday of the month for the following month:
Friday, September 8 for 16th to 30th September 2017
Monday, September 18 for October 2017
Monday, October 16 for November 2017
Monday, November 20 for December 2017
Any online bookings made before 9.00 am will be not valid."
Note that there is a rare exception for last half of Sept. ticketing due to a special event.
elisern, tickets for the dates you want go on sale THIS FRIDAY.
narcuhc, tickets for October go on sale Monday, Sept. 18th
You must be online at 9:00 AM ROME TIME to book, and it may take some time to get the process done as tickets go very quickly and the amount of traffic on the site can slow it way down. Note also that you must purchase a general-entry ticket to the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine IN ADDITION to the tour: this can be done at the special events desk when you arrive for your tour.
"IN ORDER TO VISIT THE UNDERGROUND IT'S ALSO NECESSARY TO BUY THE COLOSSEUM ENTRANCE TICKET AT THE RESERVATION DESK"
Know also that you will need to go through a security queue to access that desk: I'd plan to be in that line 45 minutes or so before your scheduled tour slot.
Posted by
61 posts
I am so appreciative that you posted this. At end of August when I wasn't able to get any dates past Sept 15th someone posted that the coopculture site said it was closed the last half of September (during my visit), and I was quite disappointed. So it would appear I have another opportunity and I am very excited. I already purchased the colesseum (et al) ticket so just need the 3rd ring tour. Thanks!!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16435 posts
You're welcome. Have the coffee pot ready for that VERY early wake-up time on Friday! :O)
Posted by
OP
35 posts
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your information, Kathy! This has been a really big learning curve for me, but I've learned so much from people like you who have taken the time to help people like myself! I have it marked on my calendar and hope I get tickets. I already bought general admission tickets to the Colosseum. Unfortunately, when I bought tickets online, I apparently hit the wrong button and was told I couldn't print them from my home (I paid full price), so I have to pick up my tickets after I go through security. How does that work IF I get tickets to the 3rd ring? In other words, do I go through security, pick up my general admission tickets, then meet somewhere for the 3rd ring tour?
Posted by
Sunnyvale, CA
148 posts
Donna has the answer here. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/are-there-tickets-for-the-colosseum-underground-and-third-ring-tour
I bought my tickets back in August for September. I think there are a few things to do before you buy the tickets.
1. Call your credit card company to notify them the anticipate purchase from an Italian website.
2. If you have a Desktop or Labtop, use it. Do not use a tablet or phone.
3. If you have ethernet at home, use it. Avoid WiFi, you want to squeeze out much speed as you could.
4. Do a "dry-run" to get familiar and memorize what it would be like to purchase the tickets
5. Open Google Translate in your browser, you may need to translate message in Italian to English.
All the tickets were gone in 15 mins. when I purchased mine, but it is a fun(?) game, so enjoy 8-)
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16435 posts
In other words, do I go through security, pick up my general admission
tickets, then meet somewhere for the 3rd ring tour?
If you manage to get tickets for the Underground/3rd Ring tour, then you'll print out (at home) a confirmation that can be shown at the Colosseum entrance. This will get you into the security line. After you've cleared that line, go to the reservation desk with both that printed confirmation for your tour plus printed (at home) confirmation of your pre-purchase general-entry ticket purchases. You'll pick up all your tickets at one time at the same desk.
I'll add this? If you are unsuccessful snagging Underground tickets, it's not a huge loss. You will get a good view of that area from the arena above. You might be interested in a tour of the main arena? The info you'd get underground - and the tours don't spend that much time down there - is essentially the same as above, tickets are only 5 euro, and may be less laborious to obtain although you can only do it by phone. Scroll down to "Individual Guided Tours":
http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm
Purchasable by phone:
+39 06 399 67 700
Call center hours: monday-friday ROME TIME 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00
saturday 9:00-14:00
Posted by
Los Angeles
305 posts
I did the 2 laptops 1 phone method. One of the laptops connected about the same time I was put on hold on the phone. Used the laptop, got my tickets. Good luck. Be sure and make sure you push the English language button on the pc - helps with the credit card portion :) The third ring ticket is actually a colored sticker for your group. Enjoy your trip!