Any tips for purchasing tickets for the Colosseum?

Buy the Rome Museum pass.

Go to the Forum and Palatine Hill first and buy your ticket there. That ticket covers all three attraction (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine) and after you've toured Forum/Palatine, walk across the street to the Colosseum and get in the short line for people who already have tickets. When we were there, the long line for people without tickets was on the right, inside the entrance, and the short line on the left. Just show them your ticket and ask where you need to go.

Hi Alison--Of all the tips in Rick Steves' Italy, we thought the advice to buy Colosseum tickets at Palatine Hill was the best. The line at the Colosseum was huge, and there was literally no one at Palatine Hill.

Also, you don't have to enter Palatine Hill to buy a ticket at their empty ticket booth. Make sure once you get through the unavoidable Colosseum security line, you don't follow the cattle. Keep walking around and you'll easily walk right in. Josh.

I also used Rick's method and bought a combo ticket on Palatine Hill. I believe the ticket now includes the Roman Forum as well?

It took me a few minutes to find the "correct" Palatine ticket office. I passed a few booths that looked like ticket offices, but the third one (on the left) was the actual ticket office.

At the Colosseum, there was virtually no queue for ticket holders - I walked right in. There's a security check / scanner at the entrance. Once inside you can choose to either rent an Audioguide or take the "official" tour (look to the right - you'll see the booth with the Audioguides). I'd recommend the "official" tour - it was great!

Don't be fooled by the scammers outside offering "English language tours". The official Guide warned us about them. Apparently the Police clear them out every so often, but they always return.

Happy travels!

We went first thing in the day, October, no problem getting our tickets and getting in. When we came out there was a pretty good line and in another hour it had grown to a really big line. I was considering Rick's alternatives but didn't end up needing them.

Thank you for the replies. I had read somewhere about going to Palatine Hill instead to get tickets and we'll definitely try that if we need to. I just wasn't sure if there was a way to get them in advance. Thanks for the tips!

You can also purchase tickets on-line, via ticketclic.it. I just checked, and it seems that, due to such a high demand, on-line purchase for the Colosseum has been temporarily disabled.

But, a few weeks ago, we purchased our tickets on-line and printed them at home. They are good for specific day only, but are valid for entry any time during that day.

Hopefully, this wonderful service will resume.

We did not find the Roma Pass helpful at all, we just got back and not many places were accepting it. We joined a tour group of about 10 people and we had an amazing guide. His English was perfect, he had a great sense of humor and we learned so much and truly enjoyed Colosseum. I would not ever to to the Colosseum without a tour - there is sooooo much to learn.

In reference to my post 2 posts above this, I just checked, and the "print at home" tickets for the Colosseum feature has been restored.

Alison,

The few times I have been there, there have been college students conducting tour groups and they get you inside rather quick. The tour is great, very informative. I would highly recommend it.

Yes I took an English language tour, led by a college student last Sept. and it was very pleasant. While waiting in line someone came up and announced that English language tours could be purchased at a window and led us to it. It was a regular ticket window to the left of the others, and three was no line, it was an official tour too.

we bought the roma pass and used it for the colisseum,forum and palatine hill. we went last saturday around 10am. we first went to the colisseum then over the the forum and palatine hill. in all cases we just were able to by pass all lines purchasing tickets and walk right in. we felt the roma pass was worth the $ 20 euros/pp which includes 3 days of free public transportation, even though it seemed we walked most of it we still used the buses. :):) good luck

Janet, did you use the Roma Pass for the Colosseum? Some have said that if you use it for the Colosseum and the Borghese museum that it pretty much pays for itself.

Which places wouldn't accept the pass? On the Roma Pass website they mention receiving discounts at other attractions. Is this what you're talking about when you mentioned that some places didn't accept it?

Roma Pass

* The overleaf form must be filled in with name,surname and validation date;
* It is validated when the first site/museum is visited;
* Direct access for the first 2 sites. From the 3rd site onwards please apply to the ticket office for discount;
* It must be produced along with your identity papers when required by the staff in charge;
* It will be valid for 3 days from the first entrance