Madhouse at the Colosseum

Laurel,

Thanks for the warning. Hopefully that will help any forum members who may be visiting the Colosseum in the near future. There was airport-style security last time I was there, but it sounds like it's become much more extensive.

Yes, Ken, apparently so! I thought perhaps it was just Easter, but Sonia leads me to understand it is a frequent occurence.

Even back in December, security lines were long and not moving quickly.

Thanks Zoe. Funny we have not seen mention of the "skip-the-line" line not being of much help.

It's not just the security line. Sometimes they reach their capacity limit and don't allow anyone else inside. This can happen at any time with any ticket type so people should be aware. Purchasing entry tickets online means you skip the ticket lines which can get very long. It doesn't mean you skip ALL lines. Everyone must still go through security and if the site has reached capacity no one gets to enter until enough people leave.

Donna

Thanks Donna. My tour guide contact told me the ticket line is actually pretty short now, at least shorter than the "skip-the-line" line. Ironic, no?

I worked so hard to find the tickets. Now I saw this post. I'm not thrill about this.

There is no way to guarantee short waits either with or without pre-purchased tickets. Everyone wants to visit the same few sites when they are in Rome so those few sites tend to be over crowded. All you can do is wait in the line if there is one or come back and hope the line is shorter.

Donna

And it isn't even high season yet!

Laurel, do you think it was especially busy with visitors who stayed on after the Easter holiday?

Kathy, I thought that might be the case, but Sonia said it is "usually like this." I would advise anyone and everyone to get into some sort of a group tour. Wasting an hour or more in a line is terrible.

Good to know, I'm going to be there on the 20th of April. Plan to go in the afternoon/evening. Haven't bought tickets or a tour as yet...

Jumpin' Jupiter! Glad we saw the thing when we did (Oct. 2007) and waltzed right in with tickets from the Palatine. It wasn't even a highlight of our Rome trips but I do understand why everyone wants to see it at least once.

Great info, Laurel.

Can't you get in via the Palantine and somehow cross into the Colosseum?

You can cross between Palatine and Forum (they are adjacent to one another) but you have to completely leave either area to access the Colosseum.

I was there today -- tour through Through Eternity -- and our guide said that although last week was a nightmare, for her as well, things have ironed out considerably. It was easy and screening went fast. They were thorough as the airport but moved along. Just my experience today.

Janie, I think it does go smoothly with a guide as you can go through the group line. Was there a huge line across the piazza for the self-touring folks?

Nigel, FYI, it was easy to enter at the Forum and Palatine entrances, but to enter the Colosseo requires bags to be x-rayed and bodies to go through the magnetometer.

Hi Laurel, well, for sure there was a longer line for people not on organized tours, as will always be the case, but it wasn't a snafu. There were lots of people there, but I didn't see the security line being the holdup. Last week the tour guides experienced more problems than usual too. I hope the possible improvement will stick for all!

We have purchased tickets online for the Underground tour of the Colosseum that begins at 12:30. What happens if we aren't through the 'skip the line' security line by the start of our tour time? Do we lose out?

Ipenfiel, I do not have any advice for you except to give yourselves at least 90 minutes in case the lines continue.

I, too, am looking at purchasing Colosseum underground tickets, but for 4:20 in the afternoon because the earlier is sold out on the day I'll be there. I am planning to get the Roma Pass and will use that for the entrance fee. Like another poster, I'm concerned if I purchase the underground tour (is it correct that just the tour and reservation is 11 euro) that I will get stuck in the security line and won't get to the front in time for the tour. Should I be worried? Does anyone know? I guess I will just go as suggested and arrive at least 1.5 hours ahead of time.

If I have Roma Pass, and purchase the underground tour ticket online, how does this work upon arrival? I just get in the skip-the-line line, then go through security, then is there a place to meet the tour group after that?

Thank you!

Hi Laurel, I didn't see a very long line. And we had to go through security like everyone else.

Wanted to add though -- many tours aren't that expensive, and time is $$. Not trying to say everyone has the same disposable income, because we have relatively little, but putting that advance planning and a little investment into having that guided tour from Through Eternity saved us money and headaches. We took the colloseum tour yesterday and the Vatican museums today.

The official website itself says to add extra time in order to get through security. If you are going during a very busy time, such as Easter was, you should give yourself at least an hour, perhaps more, to get through security. If you're more than a few minutes late for the start of the tour they probably won't let you catch up to it.

Donna

This information is very helpful, as are the comments.

If I wanted to do just a Colosseum tour (not underground), is there a particular tour company you all like or recommend? Thanks.

Just call and book through the official site. It will cost 5 euros in addition to the entry tickets.

Donna

The number you need to call for tour reservations is here:

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

The € 5.00 fee is in addition to the tickets just to get in. Order those here:

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