Colosseum Tours and Activities

Italy which includes night scenes, heritage architecture and a city
Colosseum
Colosseum
Colosseum
Colosseum


The 2,000-year-old Colosseum is an architectural masterpiece of the ancient world and a must-visit on any trip to Rome.

Work on the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world, was started under the rule of the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD and completed ten years later by his successor and heir, Titus. In its day, it could hold a crowd of 50,000 rowdy Romans who would cheer and hurl abuse at the gladiators performing in the bloody entertainments down below. Although the thronging masses are now a distant memory, the physical building is very much still in existence despite being rocked by earthquakes, ransacked by stone thieves and eroded by air pollution.Canny travellers can book in advance, avoiding the lengthy queues, and gain access to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum on a single ticket. Audio guides are available and provide a more in-depth experience, but joining a special tour is the best way of making the most of this unique attraction.Once inside, you can explore the labyrinthine warren of tunnels and shafts that make up the hypogeum, the area underneath the original floor of the arena. From here you can get a real feeling of what it must have been like for a gladiator waiting to enter the arena. The re-enactments of battles and spectacular events that were held there would have involved sophisticated scenery and all manner of beasts from all over the Empire, including rhinos, elephants, tigers and even crocodiles. The upper levels and outer sections of the amphitheatre are also accessible and provide a fascinating insight into how the whole building was put together, including the different tiers of arches and supporting walls.Even though the gladiators, wild animals and bloodshed are a thing of the past, the complex is still used to this day for musical and theatrical events of a more leisurely nature.

The Colosseum is located in the centre of Rome and is served by buses and the nearby Colosseo Metro station.

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Top Colosseum Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Hotel Imperiale by OMNIA hotels

Hotel Imperiale by OMNIA hotels

4 out of 5
Via Vittorio Veneto, 24, Rome, RM
Hotel Imperiale by OMNIA hotels
citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina

citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina

4 out of 5
LUNGOTEVERE DE CENCI 5-8, Rome, RM
citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina
Napoleon Hotel

Napoleon Hotel

4 out of 5
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 105, Rome, RM
Napoleon Hotel
iQ Hotel Roma

iQ Hotel Roma

4 out of 5
Via Firenze, 8, Rome, RM
iQ Hotel Roma
The Hive Hotel

The Hive Hotel

4 out of 5
Via Torino 6, Rome, RM
The Hive Hotel
The Social Hub Rome

The Social Hub Rome

Viale Scalo San Lorenzo 10, Rome, RM
The Social Hub Rome
Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo

Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo

4 out of 5
Via Labicana 144, Rome, RM
Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo
Hotel Artemide

Hotel Artemide

4 out of 5
Via Nazionale 22, Rome, RM
Hotel Artemide
Hotel Quirinale

Hotel Quirinale

4 out of 5
Via Nazionale 7, Rome, RM
Hotel Quirinale
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.