Last Updated on December 11, 2024 by Leslie Stroud <!– %AUTHOR_NAME% –>

Most dreams of traveling to Europe include the epicenter of ancient history and the “eternal city” – Rome, Italy.  Many consider it the birthplace of art itself, and Rome literally consists of layer upon layer of ancient history that is constantly being unearthed and discovered.  Several locals told us during our month-long stay that Roman locals are generally not impressed with the ruins. They have become inconveniences because everything is an ancient monument; they’re everywhere!  

Rome beckons to travel lovers, and you may be worried about whether it’s good to visit with kids.  The resounding answer is yes!  Italians love kids l(as do many Mediterranean countries), and welcome them with open arms.  You’ll likely receive special treatment when exploring Rome with kids.

Not only will the endless history fascinate you, but the kids can really get into it, too.  Stories of the gladiators, Roman emperors, and Roman life need no embellishment to fascinate the younger travelers.

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Overall, we struggled during our time in Rome due to a bad Airbnb and the dirtiness of the area we stayed in.  The trash collection was on strike when we visited, and disgusting only begins to describe the atmosphere.  However, it is a magical city, and subsequent visits have restored our love for this Italian dame.

Fun Facts About the Roman Colosseum

The top priority on your list of sights to see in Rome should be the Colosseum.  While it is a lot of walking and a long visit, kids love to see this colossal monument in person.  All of our kids were fascinated by the depth of the history there.  Here are some fun facts to get you excited about your visit!

• Emperor Vespasian commissioned the Colosseum around 73-75 AD and used tens of thousands of slaves to build it in around 7-8 years.  This alone is mind-boggling.

• It is the largest amphitheater in the world, at 89 meters long and 156 meters wide. At 50 meters high, it’s about the same height as a 12-story building.

• Built strictly for entertainment (which sometimes included executions), entry was free to all Roman citizens for life.  It was an epicenter of entertainment and often included all-day outings and cooking meals over fires.  Think of it as the original tailgating!

• The Colosseum had 80 different entrances, with different privileges to enter,  and could hold up to 50,000 people. The Emperor and other nobles had specific areas in which to sit (VIP sections), and you could view the bathrooms (imagine the logistics of this in a stadium even today).

• Our visit to Rome in October was hot and sweaty.  We learned the Colosseum had a special awning – designed by the Roman navy – that could be opened to protect spectators from the fierce heat of the Roman sun. It was called the velarium and was made of canvas, covering the seating area.

• The backstage crew of the day was astounding.  Trap doors beneath the Colosseum floor hid elevators powered by slaves pulling ropes. A fully grown live elephant could appear from beneath the stage in seconds!

• The opening ceremony of the Colosseum included 100 days of festivities and games and the killing of 5,000 animals in one day.  The meat from these animals was distributed to the crowd.  Imagine both seeing and eating a giraffe on the same day as an everyday Roman citizen in Italy.

• The Colosseum hosted gladiatorial fights, full naval battle reenactments, and more. Can you imagine it filling with water and full-sized ships battling?  That sounds better than any movie I’ve seen.

• Gladiator fights were abolished in 404 AD.  They did not all have to be to the death, as depicted in the movies.  Sometimes it was just fighting.  Gladiators were usually slaves, but they could also be volunteers.  They could rise through the ranks and retire rich and famous.

• The Colosseum has suffered at least four earthquakes and three major fires over the course of its history. We are all grateful it has survived for nearly 2000 years.

• The Colosseum has become a symbol against the death penalty. The Colosseum lighting shifts from white to gold for 48 hours when a death sentence is commuted or abolished anywhere in the world. 

• While impossible to know with certainty, it is believed that as many as 400,000 people, including gladiators, slaves, convicts, prisoners, and myriad other entertainers, perished in the Colosseum over the 350 or so years during which it was used for human bloodsports and spectacles.

Visiting the Colosseum in Rome With Kids

When To Visit the Colosseum With Kids

When considering a visit to the Colosseum, you’ll need to consider both time of year and time of day.  Both can greatly affect your visit to this iconic tourist location.  The Colosseum can receive 12 million visitors annually; no day exists that will be just your family.  However, you can maximize your options to create a better experience with kids.

Best Time of Year To Visit the Colosseum

June takes the cake as the best month to visit the Colosseum.  Europe as a whole doesn’t finish school until the end of June, as we have learned since living in Portugal.  If your kids are getting out at the end of May, plan your European visit for June.  

Do NOT visit in August!  This is when Europe goes on vacation, and everything is super crowded.

The winter months (excluding the end-of-year holiday period) are also quiet, particularly on weekdays.

Colosseum Hours

The Colosseum is open almost every day from 9am to one hour before sunset, which usually means:

•  08.30 am- 4.30 pm: November to February 15
•  08.30 am- 5.00 pm: from February 16 to March 15
•  08.30 am – 5.30 pm: from March 16 to the last Saturday of March
•  08.30 am – 7.15 pm: from the last Sunday of March to August 31
•  08.30 am – 7.00 pm: from September 1 to September 30
•  08.30 am – 6.30 pm: from October 1 to the last Saturday of October 

The Colosseum is free to visit on the first Sunday of every month. The Colosseum is closed on Christmas Day (December 25th), New Year’s Day (January 1st), and Labor Day (May 1st).

Best Time of Day To Visit the Colosseum

As with most touristy spots, early mornings or late afternoons offer the best time to visit the Colosseum.  Lunchtime or right after lunch can also be a good time.  The crowds are smaller, and the pictures will be their best as well.  Operating on the “golden hour” mentality from photography translates well when it comes to heavy touristy spots.

Best Way To Get Tickets to the Colosseum for Families

Like many touristy things in Europe, tickets can be a bit of a game played with unsuspecting tourists!  One thing we didn’t love about Rome was the feeling that if someone could take advantage of us, they would.  It seems to be part of the culture, unfortunately.  You won’t be treated poorly, but you might pay exponentially more than you need to.

This mentality applies to getting tickets to the Colosseum.  Hundreds of tours are offered at many price points.  They are not necessarily bad or something to be avoided.  It’s best to understand the situation and make the best choice for you.

All tickets are timed and therefore ‘skip the line.’ Skip the line refers to buying tickets ahead and not needing to line up for the ticket office.  With online, timed tickets, the concept of ‘skip the line’ has become a thing of the past. If you buy tickets online, you go directly to the ticket holders’ gate and go straight inside.  The only line is security, and this cannot be skipped.

Types of Tickets To Enter the Colosseum

Several ticket types are available to enter the Colosseum at different price points.  Consider what might be best for your family.

• Full experience general entry + arena: This is a standard entry ticket with the added bonus of allowing you onto the arena floor, which is where the gladiators fought.  While it’s a great ticket to have, it’s slightly trickier to secure as demand is high.
• Full experience with underground access: This is a ticket that allows access to the underground area of the Colosseum.  This was not available when we went, but I would have LOVED to see it.  This is an excellent ticket IF you can get, it but availability is so limited, it is exceptionally hard to secure
• Full experience with attico access: This is a standard entry ticket with additional access to the top tier of the Colosseum, by a panoramic elevator. An excellent choice provided you are not afraid of heights!

Buying Tickets to the Colosseum From the Official Website

Here’s the skinny on buying tickets: you can get them much cheaper on the official website, Colosseo.it.  However, going this route has some downsides:

Benefits

• Cheaper.  Tickets start at around $16 for an adult entry
• Kids under 18 are free!  Tour companies aren’t going to tell you that.
  • You’ll need to obtain a free ticket at the cash desk located inside the Colosseum after you go through the security line
• You can hire a tour guide, should you want one, easily outside the Colosseum.  Alternatively, you can use the official app, a free app called Parco Colosseo.  It has tour-based guides to the Colosseum and the Forum/ Palatine Hill.
• EU citizens between the ages of 18 to 25 can get an additional 2€ discount.

Drawbacks

• The website offers only limited tickets and only 30 days in advance.  You may not find the date you need for your travel dates.  
• Navigating the website can be difficult.  You’ll need some patience.
• You’ll need to collect tickets for the kids at the ticket window.  This can be confusing and difficult to find as there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of people around the Colosseum when you go.  It might be best to ask for help from someone, but make sure they are a government official and not a tour guide who is going to guide you into their tour and charge you after!

Alternatively, check out the Roma Pass Card. As a fellow travel enthusiast, I’m always excited to share insider tips, and the Roma Pass is such a great deal for visiting Rome! This city card offers free skip-the-line access to your first museum plus discounted entry to over 45 top attractions like the Colosseum, making it the perfect way to see the sights affordably. It also provides discounts on tours, restaurants, and other services so you can make the most of your Roman visit.

Here is a comparative table between the three options for buying Colosseum tickets:

Remember, each option has its perks:

• Buying directly from the official website (Colosseo.it) is the cheapest option, especially for children under 18 who get free entry
  
• Buying tickets at the Colosseum in person is slightly more expensive but more straightforward than the website
  
• Booking through a tour company like GetYourGuide or Viator is the most convenient but also the most expensive option, though it includes skip-the-line access and a tour guide
  
• The Roma Pass is a great alternative that provides free skip-the-line entry to the first site and discounted access to over 45 attractions in Rome

Buying Tickets to the Colosseum in Person

While I don’t recommend this process at the Colosseum, you can potentially find a workaround.  Lines to buy tickets at the Colosseum itself can take hours, averaging around 2-3 hours on most days.

However, there historically have been two other kiosks to buy your tickets in person.  Head to the Roma Tourist Information booth on Via dei Fori Imperiali (you’ll find it marked on Google Maps) and the Biglietteria Foro Romano, located by the Roman Forum exit.  In all scenarios, you’ll need ID for all members of the family, so bring the passports and have them secured away from pickpockets.

Buying Tickets to the Colosseum From a Tour Guide

This option offers much more flexibility and some handholding.  You’ll pay a premium for this, but sometimes it is the best fit for your family.  Don’t feel poorly for going this route, as it does offer some benefits!

Benefits

• Booking months in advance for the exact day you want is possible. 
• No need to secure tickets for children (although they may charge you for the ticket for the kids)
• Added tour bonuses.  Some tours include fun additions, like gelato at the end for the kids.
• Going through a historical site with a guide is a MUST for me.  We learn 5000% more if something is there to explain it.  The guides in Rome are some of the best in the world considering how many visitors they see. They are witty, entertaining, and can really bring the site to life.

Drawbacks

• High cost.  You’ll be paying a premium for them to secure the tickets for you.
• Group dynamics.  Sometimes you can be part of a group that can be tricky with kids.  We’ve taken our five kids on several tours and sometimes the retired traveling group isn’t thrilled.  We forge ahead, but it can make me a little anxious when people are annoyed with my kids.

Tips When Using a Guide To Visit the Colosseum

When you arrive for your tour, be sure to be early.  These tickets are timed, and entry is NOT possible if you’re late.  Your tour guide will leave you. Sadly, we learned the hard way – through experience.   We were running late, and our group left.  My husband was feeling poorly anyway, and we all felt really defeated.  We had spent a small fortune on the tickets for seven people only to have them leave without us.

We didn’t waste time and quickly found another tour company that would take us 30 minutes later, but we ended up paying twice.  Ouch.

Once you find your guide (hopefully they give you good meeting instructions as there will be thousands of people), you’ll get a sticker and be shuffled to security.  

• Be early.  At least 15 minutes, 20 with kids
• Clarify exactly where you are to meet them, and try to get a Whatsapp number to communicate with them.
• Encourage the kids to ask questions.  The guides usually will enjoy their interaction and make it more lively for the kids.
• Bribe the kids with ice cream after the tour if they are well-behaved!

How Your Visit to the Colosseum With Kids Will Go

1. Take public transportation to the metro station right outside the Colosseum.  It will be crowded, but the Colosseum is right in the heart of the city and easy to access.  If needed, you can also use Free Now to call a car.  There are signs in Rome that Uber is illegal, although I’ve also read that it is not if you use Uber X.
2. Once you arrive, you’ll be overwhelmed by the amount of people.  This is normal.
3. Take the time to find your tour guide, collect the tickets for the kids, etc.  If you have more time, explore the outside of the Colosseum.
4. Once your tour starts, or once you are ready to enter at your timed entry time, head to security.  This line alone seems super long, but it moves fairly quickly.
5. Once through security, you’ll tour this magnificent building.  You’ll likely spend about 1.5-2 hours inside, depending on the parts you can see with your ticket.

Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill With Kids

Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum entry will likely be included with your tickets. Iit is always included with the official tickets, but your tour company may or may not advertise this or take you through. This historic site, home to the ruins of several important government buildings, was once the scene of busy Roman life, including gladiator showdowns, public speeches, and criminal trials. It was also the hub of commercial life in Rome.

Kids can be understandably exhausted after touring the Colosseum, especially on a hot day.  They will likely NOT want to go to these two additional spots, but I’d recommend pushing through that resistance.  Climbing the steps to Palatine Hill may send the kids into a full-on mutiny, but it’s worth it.  Seeing these two spots add even more color to Roman life, and you can see some amazing things there.  

We visited and breezed through pretty quickly.  The kids liked exploring and running around after being cooped up in the Colosseum for a while.

Other Tips for Visiting the Colosseum With Kids

• You’ll likely be climbing some stairs (or many).  Wear appropriate footwear.

• The floors can be uneven and not suitable for strollers.  Use a carrier instead.

• Pickpockets love to prey on tourists here.  Make sure your belongings are secure, especially when in a very crowded area.

• DO NOT FORGET the passports.  Everyone is required to present identification.

• Scavenger hunts might be a good idea for smaller children and toddlers.  I found this one online.  Print it before your trip.

• It can be VERY hot and sunny.  Bring sunscreen and hats.

• Wear sensible shoes and clothing for walking.  

• Pack snacks and plenty of water.  There are many cafes and stores around the Colosseum, but they are always busy and overpriced.  

• Your total time for these tours will be a half day, 2-4 hours.  You can grab some gelato (remember the bribe?!) or a meal after.  Your tour guide will have some recommendations.

• Prep the kids for the visit!  This is crucial.  Hop onto YouTube, and watch some kid-friendly videos.  Check out Horrible Histories videos about the Colosseum, including Gladiators versus Animals and Colosseum Training, as well as the always fascinating TED-Ed channel and the short film, A Glimpse of Teenage Life in Ancient Rome.

• While I wouldn’t recommend a stroller, now there are elevators.  They had me use it with a toddler on my back along with the older tour members.

• If you need it, there is a nursing room at the Colosseum.  Ask the staff for directions.

• Don’t bring any big backpacks or luggage as they won’t be allowed inside.  Day bags and diaper bags are allowed but will be searched.

• The gift shop has some really cool stuff, so if the kids have some spending money, bring it along!

Other Activities To Add To Your Colosseum Visit

Consider some of these fun activities before or after your visit to the Colosseum:

• Gladiator Show.  Watch “real” gladiators duel it out!

• Become a gladiator for a day!  We loved this additional experience.

• 3-D Time Elevator Rome. This is a multi-sensory experience that combines video, moving platforms, and surround sound. How cool is that?
  
• Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour for Kids and Families. This tour is ideal for keeping kids engaged, with a specially trained guide who tailors the experience to young explorers!

Plan your trip to Rome and get some budget-friendly tickets from Booking.com, Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Expedia

Find a family-friendly hotel in Rome from Booking.com, Expedia, or Vrbo, (we also love Tripadvisor and Hotels.com)

Discover more of Rome through exciting activities from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator

Need to rent a car? Visit Rentalcars.com / EuropCar

Get insured while traveling with World Nomads / SafetyWing

Want to have a photo shoot while traveling? Check out flytographer!

Capture your best travel memories in Rome as we do with a GoPro, Sony camera, or our favorite drones: DJI FPV, Air, and Mini

Check out your travel necessities from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!

Additional Reading

Traveling In Rome: 28 Of My Best Tips

Pompeii with Kids: What You MUST Know Before Your Visit

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Your Family