There are some tourist attractions that are beyond famous and considered universally to be must-sees while in certain destinations. Among the many iconic examples that you might be thinking about visiting if you book a vacation rental in Rome, the Colosseum looms particularly large – both physically and as a very important part of the city’s cultural identity. However, you might be wondering, is it actually worth visiting?
Skyline Highlight
As the ancient and iconic building, spread over 2 hectares and rising 48m in height, stands out in the skyline of Rome, it is easy enough to pass by for a glimpse during your holiday in Rome. So, if you’ve seen it with your own eyes and snapped a pic, then why go inside?
Make sure you are in the right queue
As noted, there are different queues depending on what kind of experience and/or ticket you have booked. Things can be chaotic upon arrival, especially if it’s a particularly busy time. So, arrive early and be sure that you get in the right queue so you don’t miss your tour or slot and so you don’t waste your time!
Is it better to go for a guided tour of the Colosseum?
Well, this very much depends on your preferences! For those who like to have a knowledgeable guide on hand to ask follow-up questions and to get local insights, a guide is always a good idea. As one visitor says in his Google review of the experience:
“My opening advice is have a guide, pay for the tour, do not go it alone. Though you can get in by just buying a ticket, the experience will be enhanced by having a guide... A good guide will tell you what you are seeing, but also what was and how it evolved to the structure it is today.”
Timothy Carmon
This option does also allow you to go into a shorter queue, as noted above. However, if you’ve pre-booked your ticket and prefer to go without a guide, there are still plenty of resources available to you. You can download an app with the audio-guide or you can simply read the information panels located all around the arena. If it is busy, however, many report that it is hard to get a proper look at things, including these information panels among the crowds, so this is worth keeping in mind. Consider all of this when planning your visit during your stay in one of our villas in Rome.
Make sure your guided tour is legit
Always ensure that you are booking a tour through a trusted source. As you might imagine, due to the demand, there are plenty of fake guided tours for the Colosseum being sold online. In order to avoid falling for this, booking through the official website listing of tours is always a good way to go. If you’re shopping around elsewhere, however, using Trustpilot reviews of companies should help you weed out any scams.
Think about the bathroom
One of the things that many report is that queues for the loo can be a bigger issue than the queues to get into the Colosseum. If you are someone who needs to consider this, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to queue – so no waiting until the last second and maybe schedule some pre-emptive visits before even getting into the building and then, while in the Colosseum, before you feel the urge to go to the bathroom.