I waited too long to purchase Colosseum tickets. Now, the only tickets available (without using a separate tour group) are in the afternoon: 1320 and later. We will be in Rome Aug 28-31 and I was thinking of going on our second day in Rome (the 29th). What else is in the area to do/see before this? Would it be good to push back the timed entry to allow more time for something else? I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by locating this inconveniently! I know it will be hotter at this time, but there's not much that can be done about that now. I just can't pay the higher prices.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
Just as a suggestion? There are still tickets available on the 29th for the 45-minute tour of the Colosseum in English. Right now, 2 tickets are available for the 9:30 AM slot and 16 for the 11:00 AM slot. This is a VERY economical tour - only 5 euros more than a reserved, € 14,00 regular-entry ticket - and will end up at € 19,00 euro per adult. You can stay inside the site as a long as you wish after your tour, and your tickets include entry to the Palatine/Forum after your tour as well.
Editing to add: there are MANY tickets still available for Oct. 30th, 9:30 slot for this same tour, if that makes a difference? Either date, it's a way to get inside earlier without spending a lot of $$$! :O)
Posted by
OP
74 posts
Thank you SO much for noticing the available tickets! I swear that there were NO tickets when I wrote! I nabbed the 9:30 tickets after navigating the Italian reservation and payment forms. My phone didn't translate into English like my computer would have. I'm getting so excited for this trip!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
You're welcome! You know, people get themselves into such a wad trying to get the coopculture tours which include the underground - and which have become really difficult to land - that they completely overlook this 45-minute one. Thing is, those tours which do include the bottom level don't spend that much time down there, you can see down into it from above, and you're given the same info about it on tours which doesn't physically go down there, as in your case.
So as you're also on a budget, you did good! :O)
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
Editing to add....
You must have just deleted your post about the Vatican Museums? I was halfway through a response, which was no, not to use the scant time you have left for yet another visit there. There's so much more to Rome; go see something else. :O)
Posted by
OP
74 posts
Glad you noticed the deleted post. I must have done that in my feverish/foolish-late-night-fog. Too bad because I had the whole itinerary on there! But, your input is appreciated. I just hate to have to rush DS through. We will read up and figure out what is most important to see while there. Part of my dismay was that I did the math wrong to begin with, I thought we had 5 hours there. Then, when I booked, the earliest tickets available were for 7:30, so now down to 3 1/2 hours, in a museum that can take ALL DAY.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
We will read up and figure out what is most important to see while
there
Only parts of the Vatican museums are open at night, not that you could EVEN cover the everything in a day anyway as they're too vast. The sections open at night are judged to be the highlights:
Gregorian Egyptian Museum, Pio Clementino Museum, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, Gallery of the Geographical Maps, Raphael’s Rooms, Borgia Apartment, Collection of Contemporary Art, Sistine Chapel, Galleries of the Vatican Apostolic Library.
But again, it's just one small part of a very old and fascinating city so don't miss some of its other many treasures! Is your son, the avid historian/archeologist, doing some reading as well so he might have a few ideas of things, aside from the Vatican, Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, he might want to explore? Looking for ideas?
Posted by
OP
74 posts
Not yet. He has a whole car ride from Tennessee to Washington State and then the long trip by plane to help me out. He's taking a rather laid back attitude to all of this, which is slightly frustrating me. He's a laid back person to begin with, but COME ON! Show some enthusiasm and help me with the planning already!!! He told me, "Don't worry about it. I'll be back in Rome." So, if that is true, I don't have to worry about him missing something. :-)
Yes, looking for ideas. I'd like to include a catacomb tour. Maybe the Borghese Gallery. Not sure about the Capitoline or National Museum. Remember that ancient history is the focus over art.
See my latest post where I put the itinerary (again).
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
Yep, I've just posted some ideas to your itinerary thread. :O)