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Differences in reserved tickets for Colosseum

I was looking on the official site for purchasing reserved tickets for the Colosseum for Sept. 2020. It looks like I can't get tickets yet for that month; however, I have a question concerning which tickets to buy. I was planning to just get the regular tickets for the Colosseum, the Forum, & Palatine (no guides). I noticed, though, that there is also one of the Full Experience tickets that says "Full Experience - Arena" and the description of it says "Colosseum with Arena". Does that mean that the regular Colosseum ticket does not have admission to the same areas as the one that says "with Arena"? I don't want to buy tickets & then find out we can't get into some part of the Colosseum that we don't want to miss.

Posted by
15679 posts

There are parts of the Colosseum which cannot be accessed without a guided tour. These would be the underground, third tier, Belvedere level (currently closed; no idea when it'll open again) and arena floor.

Short story long, no, a regular ("ordinary") entrance ticket for the Colosseum will not allow you access to the arena floor. Last I knew, the "Full Experience Arena" ticket was only for visitors who were bringing their own licensed guide or group tours headed by a licensed guide.

https://ecm.coopculture.it/index.php?option=com_snapp&view=event&id=AB280C3F-0F05-9C9F-4627-016EA89608BE&catalogid=40E313E1-6A26-DC30-1068-016F3790DB36&lang=en

Posted by
55 posts

pjac, I recently purchased these tickets. The arena is open to individuals without a guide. If you get to the page where you choose a day and scroll down a little, there is the "access mode" section. It states the arena is open for tour guides and individuals without a guide.

Jen

Posted by
15679 posts

I'll agree that it sure looks like it can be visited without a guide but I would confirm that in advance with coopculture? The reason I'm a little skeptical is that too many folks have mistakenly bought tickets for this other ticket (linked below) without realizing that it's FOR SURE only for guides bringing groups or persons bringing their own guide. They don't exactly make that crystal clear!

https://ecm.coopculture.it/index.php?option=com_snapp&view=event&id=D36B17ED-8EE9-E7C6-39F6-016ED55DF189&catalogid=FBC810DF-454C-1B93-6796-016F37949DF8&lang=en

To contact coopculture:
info@coopculture.it

Posted by
55 posts

Kathy, I agree the guidelines are confusing with so many options. However, the link you provided is for the underground tour. The "full experience ticket with arena" clearly states on the reservation page it is open to individuals without a guide. Also, there is a youtube video by RomeWise, where this specific ticket was tried out. Apparently you go in, have about 15 minutes to take pictures then are ushered out to wonder around the rest of the monument.

Posted by
15679 posts

I know the link with the nebulous language was for a different ticket/tour, Jennifer; just used it as an example. Again, I don't personally trust coopculture to have changed the previous policy regarding the arena and to have communicated that clearly. I'm also not seeing more than one single comment out there from a visitor claiming to have seen that area on their own. That personally makes me cautious enough not to trust the verbiage on the site without further clarification.

To add: I'm crossing fingers that the policy DID change (sure looks like it!), now allows access to that area without a guide, and that they STICK to the new policy! Would love to hear from travelers who've recently purchased that particular ticket and how it worked for them.