Colosseum, Rome: Tips for Your First Visit

The Colosseum is one of those landmarks that looks incredible in photographs but feels even more impressive in person. Located in the heart of Rome, Italy, this ancient amphitheatre is one of the Seven World Wonders and famous for its gladiatorial battles and fascinating history spanning nearly 2,000 years. I visited the Colosseum last month and had a pretty good time. What made my visit especially memorable was learning about its many uses throughout history from my tour guide, including periods when people lived and worked inside the structure long after the gladiatorial games had ended. Here’s how this adventure went, plus everything you need to know about visiting the Colosseum for the first time.

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Brief History of the Colosseum

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was constructed around AD 70–72 and officially inaugurated in AD 80. It was built to host public entertainment, including gladiatorial combat, animal hunts and other elaborate spectacles. At its height, the Colosseum could accommodate up to 70,000 spectators. Its design featured multiple levels of seating, numerous entrances and an ingenious system of corridors that helped large crowds enter and exit efficiently. Over the centuries, it experienced earthquakes, stone removal for building other structures, changing ownership and several new uses. During medieval Rome, parts of the structure were adapted into residential quarters, workshops, storage spaces, animal shelters and even churches! Today, the Colosseum is an open-air museum, attracting millions of visitors who come to explore its extraordinary past.

Inside the Colosseum

We met our guide 20 minutes before the start of our 8:30am tour and were fitted with green stickers and headsets to keep our group together. Our guide was super knowledgeable and began sharing the history of the Colosseum even before we got inside. Security was airport style, and we had to show our tickets about 5 times before we could put them away which was a bit annoying, but I guess they’re being cautious. Going up and down the Colosseum’s stairs was quite a workout and trip hazard! I can imagine they would’ve had quite a few stampedes back in the day.

Pro Tip: Book travel insurance before your trip.

Despite the deliberate dismantling of Colosseum’s walls over the centuries, so much of it remains intact to this day! My tour took me to the first floor, its seating tiers and viewpoints so I could look across the arena and appreciate the sheer scale of the amphitheatre, its columns, arches and corridors. For an additional cost, it is also possible to access the:

• Arena: a central area where gladiators and other performers once appeared.
• Hypogeum: The exclusive underground chambers and passages, accessible only with qualifying tickets or tours.

Tips for Visiting the Colosseum for the First Time

It’s possible to see the Colosseum for free from the outside, but I believe it’s worth going inside to fully appreciate the landmark. As such, these are my top six tips to make the most of your experience:

1. Book your Colosseum tickets in advance. The Colosseum is one of Rome’s most popular attractions, so tickets can sell out, particularly during busy travel periods. Booking ahead helps you secure a suitable entry time and avoid the uncertainty of arriving without a reservation. You can purchase tickets through the official website or choose a guided, skip-the-line experience through GetYourGuide like I did to avoid waiting in queue for hours outside.
2. Visit early or late in the day. An early (before 10am) or late (after 3pm) entry is the best choice if you want to explore outside the busiest hours. It can also be more comfortable during Rome’s hotter months.
3. Wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll encounter ancient stone surfaces, stairs and uneven ground. You’ll be walking for hours, especially if you plan to explore the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same day.
4. Bring water and sun protection. Rome can become very hot, particularly in summer, and some areas have limited shade. Carry water, wear sunscreen and consider a hat.
5. Carry government-issued ID like your passport as required by the ticket rules, and arrive early enough to complete security checks.
6. A tour guide is optional, but I highly recommend having one to explain the building’s history, architecture and gladiatorial spectacles in greater detail.

The Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Part of the Roman Forum

Many tickets combine the Colosseum with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as these archaeological sites are close together, making them convenient to explore in one itinerary. My ticket did just that, so after spending an hour inside the Colosseum, we headed over to these spots for the greater portion of my tour. The Roman Forum was once the heart of ancient Roman public life BC, housing important government buildings, temples, marketplaces and gathering spaces. Nearby, Palatine Hill is one of Rome’s oldest areas of settlement and, according to legend, the birthplace of the city. It later became a prestigious residential area for Roman emperors, offering impressive views over the Forum and surrounding ruins. There was so much to see, and yet so much more is still waiting to be unearthed by archaeologists. Our formal guided tour came to an end after 3 or 3.5 hours, and we were left to explore the Forum on our own. However, we opted to leave shortly after as we were famished and saturated with information. But, everything was quite impressive– especially the Arch of Titus pictured below.

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Arch of Titus

Wrap Up

My first visit to the Colosseum was a positive experience, and I particularly appreciated learning about its history beyond the gladiatorial games on my guided tour. The Colosseum is a World Wonder and one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, so taking the time to understand its past makes the experience even more rewarding. Whether you’re visiting Rome for 3 days like I did, or spending a longer holiday exploring the city, the Colosseum deserves a place on your itinerary. So, have you ever visited the Colosseum or would you like to visit? Sound off in the comments section below!

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