Forbidden items to enter Coliseum with

Eve, you should be OK with a moderate-sized backpack/daypack. Yes, "introduced" means "brought in." They had a brief security tightening in 2015 when they weren't allowing backpacks of any size at all but it caused such issues that it didn't last long. Still, any sort of specific security concerns could change things again.

More specific text:

"For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened. To facilitate the security checks please insert any object (including mobile phone) in the bag/backpack or in the tray to be included in the X-ray.

It is confirmed the prohibition of bringing backpacks , camping , bulky bags and luggage / trolley, can be introduced 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."

That they mention scanning backpacks indicates that they're currently fine and I haven't read anything to contrary, as we saw during that brief overall ban. It's the bigger types carries by backpackers that they won't allow.

No, there is no sort of bag check at the Colosseum, Forum or Palatine.

Bring the smallest bag you can to guarantee entry. It's up to the guards as to what constitutes "large/voluminous". I don't know what an "average" sized backpack is as I see so many different sizes of them. There is no baggage storage area at the colosseum so if your bag is considered to large you will either need to take it back to your hotel or skip your visit to the colosseum.

Honestly, do you really need to carry around a backpack with you? I'm not trying to be rude but a small purse is really all you need. Rome is a compact city but also has modern conveniences so if you find you really need something, such as a band-aid or sun screen you can always go back to your room or to a convenience store to buy it. Carrying around a back pack will be hot and it will feel very heavy after a few hours.

donna

I've been a little curious about this as well. We typically carry a 20L book bag measuring 17.72" x 10.63" x 7.87" when we travel. I'm hoping it's acceptable in size.

Donna, we take one so I can toss my camera in the bag if I'm not using it for a while or take off layers as the day warms up. Also keep water on us. It's handy and keeps us comfortable.

Julie, just my IMHO but 17" is pretty big. I can't say as it wouldn't be allowed - as they don't state what dimensions "large" is - but something smaller might be better.

The accepted size for Pompeii visitors is roughly 12" X 12"X 6" (30X30X15 cm) and my fave shoulder bag falls a bit under that size: 10" high. I don't use a backpack - or haven't yet - abroad although I have a small one I sometimes use in the U.S. My husband tucks a very lightweight and not overly large drawstring-like backpack bag into his shoulder bag on jacket days that could warm enough to shed them. Both our shoulder bags have end pockets for water bottles.

The Vatican Museums state nothing larger than slightly under 16" X 14" X 6" (40 x 35 x 15 cm) but they also state that rucksacks (backpacks) should be small and "when carried on the shoulders, do not exceed the widest point of the body by more than 15 cm (6")"

The Civita daybag Rick sells is 14" x 11" x 5 ½" but not having been on a tour, I'm unsure how many in his groups use those during the day. Maybe some of the posters with firsthand experience can fill you in?

Thanks, everyone! Donna, I won't be carrying a purse with me. I need a back pack to carry water, any things I purchase, snacks, my umbrella, and even a change of shoes. But I'm only 30 minutes walking distance to my hotel so I may leave it at the hotel and come back for it after the Underground tour.

ONLY 30 minutes walking distance? Isn't that a few miles? I'd rather have a small'ish day bag to keep necessities with me than walk back...

Thanks for the advice Kathy. The backpack doubles in use as my personal item on the plane (and it fits under the seat because I don't stuff it to the max) so it will be coming with us. I don't want to chance losing the bag or losing the tour so I think it would be best to leave it behind that day. I think the lightweight drawstring bag is an excellent idea (it could double as our laundry holder inside our luggage) so I may look into grabbing one before we leave.

Does anyone know if there any other sights in Rome that have size restrictions similar to the Colosseum, without a bag check?

30 minutes is a little under 2 miles. Great exercise. 😋

I'm a walker too, and two miles is just a warmup on most of our sightseeing days. We can easily have 10 on our feet by Beer o' Clock!. 🍻

The Colosseum/Forum/Palatine are the only ones I'm aware of with size restrictions and no checking service. Doesn't mean I might not have missed a couple. I don't think you'll have an issue anywhere else, though. You could take a run through websites of the attractions you intend to visit? In general, the churches don't have any restrictions that I've ever run into.

I used to use a backpack when traveling but was lucky enough to be in Rome during the 2015 tightening of security so had to rethink what I need to carry. Now I use a small bag that just squeezes in my phone and a tiny snap lock bag with some cash. So approx 15cm x 8cm. I stopped carrying all the extra stuff and now I can't imagine why I thought I needed to carry "everything but the kitchen sink" to enjoy a day out.

I visited the Coliseum with a standard size backpack and it was not a problem. I mean the kind you would take on a bike ride, 21" vertical dimension, about 12" horizontal. One thing to note, no liquids allowed in the Coliseum. I had to delay entry to the next day because I did not want to throw out my hand sanitizer, but in retrospect I probably could have sneaked it in. This was last October, and liquids were allowed at the Forum and the Palatine Hill. They did stop a guy behind me at the Coliseum trying to walk in with a corkscrew. I am pretty sure he had to toss it out.

I don't think anyone has said it yet...... DO NOT put anything in your pack that you can't do without! Since the bag is on your back, you will not be able to see/feel anyone helping themselves to what is in the pack. Where are you keeping your "walking around" money as well as passport, etc? It had best not be in the pack. There are much better options for carrying your day stuff than a backpack (IMHO). Also, your pack just might smack into others while you are touring. Having been the recipient of many "pack attacks" without the owner being aware, I HATE the things.

cbrochu30, my passport and anything worth anything like money, etc. goes in my neck wallet. I'd never keep anything valuable in my backpack. That's a give me!

cbrochu30, my passport and anything worth anything like money, etc.
goes in my neck wallet. I'd never keep anything valuable in my
backpack.

Good girl, Eve. While we don't use money belts or neck wallets, we do have a Pacsafe bag (husband carries) and I have my own method of dealing with the daily cash/card. There are lots of ways to skin that cat.

I think what we individually need for the day depends a lot on how each of us travel? As we almost never see our hotel room between the time we leave it in the morning until we return after dinner at night, I'll carry more than a sightseer who returns more frequently. I also use a camera - not huge but not pocket-sized - instead of a phone, and tend to acquire items during the course of the day, like useful brochures, museum books, etc, to stow away. Anyway, hairbrush, tissues, moleskin (hikers never go anywhere without it), backup camera battery and lens wipes, Advil, water bottle, tiny notebook... I'm not heavily loaded by any means but need a bag of reasonable size.

The will scan your bag. It should be a day pack, tote, handbag not a giant travel or camping sized backpack..not luggage. Why anyone would walk around sight seeing with a giant bag??? I have no idea :).....also drink up, you cannot bring liquids inside, they will make you dump out your liquids prior to entering. The restrooms are on the lower level and I suggest that you visit if you have had a long wait to enter the site. If you need to use the restroom while touring inside you have to walk half the way around and then climb all the way down again and as per usual the lines are pretty long for the ladies room. :) There is a free water refilling station across from the main entrance outside the metro station.

Thanks, guys! And thanks for the information about the restrooms! That's a great tip!

Thanks for asking this, Eve. We leave tomorrow and since we have Gladiator School in the morning and a tour in the afternoon, I think I didn't initially plan to be away from our apartment all day so I will have to bring a small bag. This thread helps me immensely.

I was just here two days go. Normal backpacks are fine. So is bottled water. The sign outside says no glass bottles or alcohol of any kind. Put your water bottle in your backpack before entering. You will be scanned by a metal detector and your bags go through the X-ray scanner. In my opinion no one was really paying that close of attention. The whole security rigamarole was mostly for show. However, I did enter through the group tour entrance. Individual ticket holder entrance experiences may be different.