Colosseum gets more than 7 million tourists yearly, but not everybody can explore what’s under the Roman monument.
If you want to know what went on behind the scenes of the Colosseum, you need to tour its two underground levels.
The underground levels are rarely explored for many reasons, which is why it is a memorable experience.
This article shares everything you must know before booking your Colosseum Underground Tour.
Table of contents
What to expect on the underground tour
Visual Story: 15 must-know tips before visiting Colosseum
What is the Colosseum Underground
The Colosseum in Rome is a stadium-like structure with 50,000 seats and a central area for gladiators to perform.
The fighters performed on the arena floor in the middle of the Colosseum, built of wood and covered with sand.
The Romans built trap doors on this wooden floor for dramatic entries during the gladiator fights.
Under the floor of the Colosseum was a two-story structure full of tunnels, cages, and rooms meant for gladiators and wild animals participating in the shows.
Since the wooden arena floor couldn’t stand the test of time, the Colosseum’s underground is now exposed to all.
The Hypogeum is an underground area with two levels comprising a series of connected corridors and tunnels.
Where to book tickets for Colosseum Underground tour
Tickets for Colosseum Underground tour are available online in advance.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.
Because the attractions sells a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Go to the Colosseum Underground ticket booking page, and select your preferred date, time slot, and number of tickets to buy.
You will receive the ticket confirmation in your email after the booking.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
On the day of your visit, meet your guide at the “Ultimate Italy” office in Via del Colosseo 24, above the second floor of the Colosseum metro stop(blue line). The office is just around the corner from café Rmoma and show your e-ticket on your smartphone.
Carrying a valid ID is mandatory; in case of incorrect personal data, access to the Colosseum will not be possible.
Colosseum Underground tour tickets
The Colosseum Underground level remains rarely explored because the tickets are priced slightly higher.
But most tourists are curious to know what’s under the Colosseum.
If you are keen to travel down into the monument’s dungeons, where gladiators and animals await their frightful future, you can book three types of tickets.
Note: Underground tours involve a fair amount of walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Exclusive Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour
This guided tour of the Colosseum Underground and Arena lasts three hours and is limited to 12 participants.
You get to see behind the scenes of the Colosseum and learn what happened in the famous monument’s chambers.
Then, the guide will walk you around the Roman Forum and show you the fantastic view from the top of Palatine Hill.
Inclusions
- Admission to the restricted area of the Colosseum underground
- Entry to the restricted area of the Colosseum arena
- Access to the Roman Forum
- Access to the Palatine Hill
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Headsets to hear your guide clearly
Adult ticket (17+ years): €109
Child ticket (2 to 16 years): €99
Infant ticket (up to 1 years): €29
Small group tour to Colosseum Underground, Arena Floor & Ancient Rome
Book this 3-hour small group tour and see parts of the Colosseum that are usually restricted on a guided walking tour that gives you special access to the arena floor and the underground tunnels with fast-track entry.
Imagine the roaring crowd as you stand on the arena floor, following in the footsteps of the gladiators.
Afterward, go beneath the Colosseum to view the tunnels leading to the Ludus Magnus, the gladiator training area.
See the elevators that unleash these predators onto the arena floor and the cells intended to house wild creatures.
Continue with a stroll around the Roman Forum and a tour of Palatine Hill’s emperors’ palace remains.
Group Tour in English – Up to 10 People
Adult ticket (18+ years): €130
Child ticket (3 to 17 years): €115
Group Tour in English – Up to 20 People
Adult ticket (18+ years): €110
Child ticket (3 to 17 years): €95
Group Tour in English – Up to 30 People
Adult ticket (18+ years): €100
Child ticket (3 to 17 years): €85
VIP Night Tour with Underground and Arena Access
A knowledgeable guide leads a group of 12 tourists on this VIP night tour for around two hours.
During this VIP access after closing time, visit the arena floor, the high-level seating, and the underground Colosseum.
Inclusions
- Special admission to the Colosseum after closing time
- Access to the Colosseum Arena Floor
- Access to the Colosseum Underground
- Guided tour in English in a group of max. 12 people
- Headsets for the tour
Adult ticket (17+ years): €109
Child ticket (3 to 16 years): €99
Infant ticket (up to 2 years): €29
Can you visit the Colosseum Underground?
Not all Roman Colosseum tickets include access to the Underground.
Visitors can access the Colosseum Underground as part of guided tours led by authorized guides.
In addition to the underground tunnels, these tours include visiting to the rest of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
During the Colosseum Underground Tour, guests learn about the Roman gladiators, their lives, and their fights.
Self-guided tours are not allowed within the Underground.
Tip: With more than 7 million visitors annually, the Colosseum gets sold out often. So it makes better sense to buy Colosseum tickets in advance. If you have already purchased your tickets, look for the line for ‘visitors with reservations’ at the Colosseum entrance.
Is the Colosseum Underground tour worth it?
The Colosseum Underground is a fantastic experience, taking in both the original ruins of the underground level and its reconstructions.
During the tour, you will also see a restored, manually operated elevator to lift gladiators and animals onto the Arena floor.
You will learn how 200 Romans coordinated below the Colosseum to keep the show going on the Arena floor.
Tourists who have toured the underground area of the Colosseum recommend it to everyone.
Some tourists book the Colosseum and Vatican combo tours and see both attractions in a day. At the same time, others prefer to see the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain on the same day.
Want to explore the Roman attraction after dark? Find out everything about Colosseum night tours.
Sources
# Colosseumunderground.tours
# Coopculture.it
# Getyourguide.com
# Freetoursbyfoot.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
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