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Colosseum and more

My husband and I will be in Rome for 1 week. We want to take in many of the sites. We want to do the Colosseum, lower and upper tours as well as the main one (am I right about how they are set up?)...and have noted by others that when you buy a ticket or Roma Pass, that the underground/upper level tours are NOT included. So, I am asking, what is your advice?
Get the Roma Pass and just use it other places rather than the Colosseum, and then do the Colosseum separately so we can get both tours? Buy separate tickets everywhere? And admission advice to sites is appreciated! Thanks everyone, I LOVE this! Liz

Posted by
4152 posts

You are correct in that the romapass does not include any tours. If you wish to use the romapass for entry into the colosseum you can still book a tour if you wish. You won't need a tour of the underground and the main levels as the general information is all the same and the two tours would be redundant. I would suggest getting the romapass (if you're visiting 3 or more total sites or will be using public transport a lot) and booking the tour separately. This way you can bypass the lines and still visit the underground/third tier (which can only be seen while on tour). To do this you must call to book the tour. Just call: 011 39 06 399 67 700 during Italian business hours. Tell them you already have entry tickets and just need to book the underground tour (or the regular tour if you choose to do that instead). They will book just the tour which will cost 9 euros each. When you get to Rome just pick up a romapass and you're all set. IF you wish to use the pass for free entry the colosseum will need to be one of the first two sites visited with the pass. donna

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks Donna! I guess I wasn't completely clear, I do not want to book a "tour" but rather, just want to be sure that when we go to the Colosseum, that we also get to see the underground/upper tier. So, let me get this straight...a few people have mentioned that if I get entry to the underground, I do NOT need any other admission ticket. Does that mean the entire Colosseum is included, or that it isn't necessary to see it all? I guess I am unclear how the Colosseum should/could be seen.
Thanks everyone again...like I said, this site is invaluable! Liz

Posted by
4152 posts

You cannot visit the underground/third tier unless you are on a tour. They are not open to the general public so if you don't book a tour you won't get to visit them. If you book a tour of the underground/third tier it will include entry to all of the colosseum. You'll be able to stay as long as you wish after the tour to explore. You will also be allowed to visit the forum and palatine hill later that same day or the next day with your ticket. As for how the colosseum can or should be seen, that's up to you. IF you wish to visit the underground it can only be done on a tour and should be booked before you get to Rome. If you just want general admission, which includes entry to all levels except the underground and third tier, just book entry tickets. These tickets also include the forum and palatine hill as it's a combo site. You can walk around the main areas of the colosseum on your own or book a tour of those areas but the tour won't include the underground/third tier. Likewise, if you book the underground tour it won't include a tour of the main areas. The general information on both tours is the same it's just that they go to different areas of the colosseum. If you book either tour you won't need to book any other entry ticket. That is included in the price. If you book entry tickets it won't include a tour of any kind. Booking either tour or entry tickets allows you to also visit the forum and palatine hill since the three are a combo site. Donna

Posted by
24 posts

Donna, you are SO HELPFUL!! Thanks, I get it now! Well at least that part of my visit...for now! ;)

Posted by
29 posts

If you plan on using the ROMA pass for entry into the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill, you need to call to book your underground tour of the Colosseum. You just need to tell them that you're using the ROMA pass for entry.. You will only be charged for the cost of the tour.. We did this a couple of weeks ago and it worked out great.. Jim

Posted by
360 posts

I just came back from Rome and we did it both ways. Because we took the tour at night and got into the other areas, we still bought the Forum/Colosseum/Palatine Hills combo ticket and went in during the day to see it then too (I love Roman history so I wanted to see it during the day and night and it was worth it). It wasn't much more to get the combo ticket and would highly recommend going through the Forum.

Posted by
4152 posts

The tickets are only sold as combo tickets. You can't buy individual tickets for any of the three sites. Tickets are 12 euros each. Donna