Has anyone taken the 45-60 minute tour offered by the Colosseum office itself? I will be visiting Rome with my family in November and have three kids who don't necessarily have the attention span for the three hour tours most third party tours call for. I understand the tickets are free for those under 18, but I will need to purchase tickets for all five of us online, ahead of time and then purchase the tour separately once inside the Colosseum - near the ticket booth. Can anyone confirm or offer feedback on these tours?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15831 posts
I understand the tickets are free for those under 18, but I will need
to purchase tickets for all five of us online, ahead of time and then
purchase the tour separately once inside the Colosseum - near the
ticket booth.
Not quite. Entry tickets are free for minors under age 18 but the tour is not: only for children under the age of 12.
This would be the tour you want:
http://ecm.coopculture.it/index.php?option=com_snapp&view=event&id=E6A1B5B3-BFDA-AC94-6929-0161B2E3A0C0&catalogid=5FF3365D-8688-FC84-2265-01651507C590&lang=en
To make it simple, I would book both the tickets and tours for your entire group at one time. Under "Buy now":
Adults: entry ticket + tour + reservation fee: 19.00€ PP
Children under 18 and over age 11: free entry ticket + tour + reservation fee: 7.00€ PP
Children under 12: free entry ticket + free tour + reservation fee: 2.00€ PP
Choose the pickup@ticket office option, which I believe will autofill anyway as "free" tickets can't be printed out at home.
Those 3-hour tours you're looking at almost certainly include the Palatine and Forum: the € 5,00 coopculture tour is Colosseum ONLY and only the general-public sections, not the underground or upper tiers. I haven't taken it myself but it's a very economical option for families, especially if the children are short-attention-span young.
Posted by
OP
CA, USA
266 posts
Right - that's actually what I meant - free tickets for 18 and under but not free tour. Wondering if it was good/do we really need a longer one, etc?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15831 posts
This is what didn't read quite right:
I understand the tickets are free for those under 18, but I will need
to purchase tickets for all five of us online, ahead of time and
then purchase the tour separately once inside
You can buy and pay for both your adult entry tickets AND your tour, for adults and the children, online in advance. No need for money to change hands once you are through security and arrive at the events desk at the appointed time.
Posted by
OP
CA, USA
266 posts
Thanks, Kathy! This is better than what the RS guidebook suggests (buy tickets online, but buy tour in person). Very thankful we will not be there in the heat and hopefully will not encounter hordes of crowds.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15831 posts
When you go to make your booking on the site (you'll need to choose.a day and time slot), you'll see the choices. Just choose the number of applicable entry + tour tickets for you and your children.
After you've taken your tour, you can use your entry tickets for the Forum and Palatine, if you wish.
Posted by
32 posts
If you already have the Roma Pass and plan to use it for free entry to the Colosseum, can you purchase just the Official Guided Tour? On the official site referenced above, there is an option to schedule an entry time by choosing "free ticket + Tour + Reservation" for 7 euros. Would that work?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15831 posts
My best guess is that it would work. But it's a guess. Would love to see some others weigh in on that.