Difference Between Colosseum Tours

They are different. The regular tour only takes you through the main level of the Colosseum. The Underground/Third Ring tour takes you beneath the main level as well as to the very top level. Once you complete the Underground/Third ring tour, you may go through the main level on your own.

In 2012, we simply signed up for the Underground tour at the window past the entrance to the Colosseum, once we'd gotten in with our Roma Passes. The next tour was departing in less than 20 minutes. This was in December and was over 2 years ago, so maybe the process has changed.

However you sign up for an underground tour, it was definitely worth seeing up-close the water channeling used to fill and drain the arena for mock naval battles. We were also on the ground floor, looking up at the seats, a perspective that people who don't go on the Underground tour miss. The upper ring portion gives you a perspective on what women spectators (who weren't allowed to sit father down, with the men) experienced. If you're stair-challenged, an elevator is available - ask your guide.

Thank you for your replies! It helped a lot!

Does the ticket for the Underground and Third Ring tour include the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum?

Yes - it is a combo ticket for both sights.

We did the underground and 3rd ring last year. We were staying within spitting distance of the Colosseum (you could see it out the window of the apmt - 2 min walk and you were there) so I didn't book the tour ahead. This was 1st week of Sept. I walked over one morning as soon as they opened and was able to book a spot for a tour later that afternoon. Mind you, I was prepared for disappointment and was OK if we didn't do the underground. And we did have 5 days there, so I would have booked one over the next few days if I couldn't get one that day.

And yeah - I liked the more expanded tour. To go down below was neat...and the views from the top tier was pretty cool.

No, the tour ticket does not include the palatine hill or forum. Your "entry" ticket gets you into those two sites, it has nothing to do with the underground tour. When you book the underground tour online you must also book entry tickets. The tour cost does not include entry tickets so be sure to add those to your cart. Entry tickets are not date nor time specific but tours are so choose the dates and times that best work for you.

Donna

Did you guys order from Coopculture.it?

http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

The site has had problems for the last two days with thousands of people trying to book the underground tour. They have fixed the problem so you should be fine ordering your tickets. It will cost you 25 euros each to book tickets and the tour.

Just as an F.Y.I. to everyone, the tickets to the colosseum are not time nor date specific. They can be used at any time through the end of this year. For this reason they cannot sell out. Tours are date and time specific and those can and do sell out.

Donna

Thank you Donna!

I ordered just the Underground and Third Ring tickets online because for some reason I wasn't able to find the entry tickets. I am assuming that I can buy entry tickets when we arrive there since we don't need a reservation.. am I correct?

So glad to get clarification on needing both the entry tickets and tour tickets! If you are doing the Underground/3rd Ring tour, should you bother allowing time to see the regular areas (main floor)?

Of course, it's a wonderful site that should be fully explored. You can stay as long as you wish after the tour is over.

Donna

I'll second donna's recommendation to fully explore the Colosseum, although if one's tired and/or strapped for time, you will be able to view the "main" ring from other parts of the structure. Being on that "main" ring, however, will give you a different vantage point (including working your way through other visitors) and let you see some parts closer-up than if you saw them from below or above.

The underground tour is amazing. You go underground and see where the animals and gladiators were kept; they still have some of the stone mechanisms in the ground that were used for hoisting the cages up. You also go to the top, which is a great view, and walk out on the stage. We took a tour; the guide was invaluable in recreating what it was like. When you are done, you can stay in the 'regular' areas for as long as you want. I highly recommend Walks of Italy. We did the underground colosseum, Forum and Palatine tour. I had done this a few times before on my own and this was by far worth the $$. Here is the tour we did. Good luck!

https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/colosseum-underground-tours?gclid=CM6ckaS-jMUCFU4Q7Aodj0gANw