Shorter tour of Colliseum - how to skip the lines?

If you have the Rome card you don't have to wait in line. You could call one of the guides in Rick's book for a good tour. It would probably be best to hire them for more than just the Colliseum. Maybe include a tour of the Forum as well. They may have a suggestion for something cheaper if they themselves cost too much.

You don't need to take a tour to skip the lines. Just visit the official website and book entry tickets. These tickets are valid for entry until December 31, 2014 so you don't need to pick a date or time. Just use the print at home option you'll find on the same page that you enter your personal information on.

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

80 euros for a tour of the colosseum is ridiculous, IMO. You can book the official underground tour including entry tickets for 22 euros.

Donna

Or Roma pass and free RS audio tours (I used both Colosseum and Forum tours)

That's a good idea too. If you want to visit the underground you'll need to book a tour for that by calling the official site. You can use the romapass for free entry and just pay for the underground tour if you want to do that.

Donna

Anyone know if those tickets HAVE to be printed on paper or are they possibly email confirmed so we can just show a barcode to get in with our ipad or iphone, since we will already have the audio tour downloaded on our ipad?Just thinking it would be one less thing for me to lose :) I noticed tickets to the Vatican Museum can be scanned this way.
Joan

There is no mention of them accepting that type of ticket. It's either you print it out or you pick it up. At the Vatican museums they will take the ticket on your iphone but nothing has ever been mentioned about the colosseum using this. If you can't print them at home just pick them up at the colosseum. There is usually never a line of more than one or two people. It's very fast.

Donna

Looks like your plan is coming together. I've certainly enjoyed the Colosseum with just the book description, and having the audio version should be a plus.

I was there 2 weeks ago with the Roma Pass, and I would agree with both Lauras. Use the book and the audio guide. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough--move through the crowds with purpose and do not stand in lines unless you are sure you are supposed to! I had very easy access to all the major sights in Rome and Florence with my Roma Pass and Firenze Card because I just kept walking towards the entrance--invariably there was a specified entrance and a much shorter line, but I noticed people just queuing up in long lines just because that's human nature, sadly. And oh, my gosh, take water and wear a hat! The sun was brutal.