Colosseum's Underground and the Third Ring tour

Jen,

You'd need a separate ticket to visit the underground & the third ring tour.
Here is the official website for more information:http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

Make sure you're aware of this regulation when visiting the colosseum:

We inform visitors that inside the monument it is strictly forbidden to enter with backpacks, handbags and luggage because of the new safety measure; people with reservations are kindly requested to show up at the ticket office at least 30 minutes before the time previously agreed.

Hi Priscilla

thanks for the info.

in regards to the handbags, are there any lockers they'd provide for this? does this apply to any size of handbags?

TIA

TIA,
This policy just came into effect in January of this year, so I'm not sure how strongly it's being enforced.
As far as I know, there are no storage facilities available at the site.
I'm sure others will chime in with more information.

that will be confusing if we couldn't bring any bag without storage facility..

also i've booked the underground and 3rd ring tour. do you happen to know the meeting point of this tour. in my ticket , it's only written Colosseum.

Cheers

We did this tour last week but before the Paris bombings so it might be a bit different. I brought a small cross body bag and I was fine. My H had his camera around his neck. My interpretation is no backpacks or big bags but small handbags were fine.

The bag restrictions used to be stated on the main webpage for the Colosseum on the Coopculture site but they've since buried it a little:

http://www.coopculture.it/en/the-colosseum.cfm#

However, those same restrictions apply to the Palatine/Forum, and they're slightly more specific on that page:

http://www.coopculture.it/en/heritage.cfm?id=4

Note the word "bulky". The rule of thumb is the smaller, the better. This is especially important right now with the current security level being very high. They tried to ban all but the smallest bags completely for a short time earlier this year when security concerns were elevated but it didn't go especially well so the ban was somewhat relaxed. This is not to say, however, that things could not change in a hurry should they have to deal with a very specific threat so best to be prepared: leave bulky backpacks or larger handbags at the hotel, and bring as little with you as possible.

No. there are no lockers or desks to check large items at any of the three sites. Do note the request to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your tour to pass security. The closest place to check a bag is at Termini station.

Visitors arriving for tours booked through the Coopculture website should take their reservation to the special events desk. Ask the guards directions to that queue - you do not have to deal with the long ticket line - when you arrive.

You will need to check in for the tour to learn where the meeting place is. They don't put it on the voucher. Just show the guard at the front of the lines and he will direct you.

As for bags, just bring a normal sized bag. Nothing over sized. You should be fine with a purse or messenger bag. They are allowing smaller backpacks inside but are restricting the really big ones.

Donna

Hi All,

thanks so much for the info.

I receive a reply and as for the current state
'it is confirmed the prohibition of bringing backpacks, camping, bulky bags and luggage/trolley, but medium and small size backpacks to shoulder, which must be checked, as any other bag, with metal detectors, opened and visually inspected by the Urbe Security Institute, responsible for the entrance inspection, can be introduced.
For this reason, you have to be there at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the guided tour.'

but as Kathy said, things could change especially w/ the recent situation. i just hope that they prepare to store the bags that are not allowed if security level raised as it's troublesome for tourist not bringing a medium backpack at least.

noted for the meeting point, i need to exchange my online voucher with the tickets and they'd let me know where to go.

Also the underground guided tour is actually a complete tour with the upper level for 1.5hours. so not bad for the EUR11 (incl eur2 online boooking) fee.

i just hope that they prepare to store the bags that are not allowed
if security level raised as it's troublesome for tourist not bringing
a medium backpack at least.

As Donna stated, you should be fine with an average-sized bag ( I agree!) but when they first started restricting bags last winter, they did NOT make arrangements for storage. Reports were that people were emptying their large backpacks/ bags of anything important and leaving them on the sidewalk if they didn't want to check them elsewhere. What was considered "large" was up to the guards' judgement.

I have not read that arrangements will be forthcoming for bag-checking services at any of the three sites.

This should not happen to you with a bag of reasonable size unless, as I mentioned earlier, there is a rare and very specific threat which warrants further, temporary restrictions. It's a very long shot but it's impossible to know what the security situation will be over the Christmas season.

TIA,

Have a wonderful trip!

Been following this thread and thanks for the website for the underground colosseum tour. I just booked the tickets for 7 December. We chose to pick up our tickets at the ticket office. Is this the same place as the events desk referred to in previous posts? Also, I understand we need to purchase the colosseum entrance ticket at the reservation desk. Thanks in advance for any additional information....it is always easier when trying to navigate new territory.

Hi Joanne,
The pick up lane is just next to the normal lane / at prenotazioni/reservations desk. I'm not sure if you could buy the entrance ticket there as i think it's just for picking up reserved tickets. Perhaps others could chime in for this matter as I'm also first timer. If u couldn't buy tickets whilst picking up the underground tix, u'd need to queue again in the normal lane which i think would waste ur time twice.

HTH