Our full family guide to visiting the Colosseum with kids: practical tips, best Colosseum tickets for families, best family tours of the Colosseum and fun ideas to keep the kids entertained. Updated in April 2024
For many kids, a visit to the Colosseum is the most anticipated bit of a trip to Rome and I tell you: it never disappoints.
The Colosseum is every little bit as magnificent and, well, colossal as you may expect!
It doesn’t matter how many times you see it: it is so peculiar and distinctive that it always stops in your tracks.
I know this well. Born and raised in Rome, I used to pass the Colosseum on my way to work every day and every single morning and evening I would have the air knocked out of my lungs in awe. It is just that beautiful.
Seeing the Colosseum from the outside is highly satisfactory; however, I highly recommend a visit inside, even with young kids.
The arena is impressive and there is a lot a guided tour of the Colosseum can teach, about the Colosseum and Ancient Rome in genera.
A visit to the Colosseum with kids is a great way to get them to learn about ancient Rome and about some aspects of Roman daily life that schools often fail to evoke but make the whole civilization come to life.
I have visited the Colosseum many times, with the kids and without, and I make a point of going regularly, when new parts open or new tours are offered.
These are my first hand experience top tips for visiting Rome Colosseum with kids.
Have you checked out our Rome with kids travel guide for families yet? It is free and packed with useful info for families with kids!
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Practical tips for visiting the Colosseum with kids
Book as early as possible
The Colosseum is visited by a crazy high number of tourists each day and tickets book out fast.
I highly recommend you book your Colosseum tickets as soon as you have your Rome dates. If going via a tour operator, this may be up several months in advance (they keep an eye on the ticket release date for you and secure them as soon as they come out).
If going direct through the Colosseum ticket provider, you can get tickets from 30 days ahead only.
Colosseum booking system need to know!
How early you can book your colosseum ticket depends on the ticket / tour you choose.
The cheaper, official tickets you buy directly from the Colosseum only come available 30 days ahead of your desired day, then come out in smaller batches up until the day of the visit.
These tickets are very hard to get, therefore some patience is needed.
Private ticket providers are sometimes able to offer tickets with much longer notice.
This is part of the reason why they charge so much more: if you have specific dates when you need your tour, this is often the best option.
You can read my full article on the best ticket options for the Colosseum here
Get a guided tour (or at least an audio guide)
I believe you can see most of Rome without a tour but the Colosseum is an exception.
The attraction is full of history you want some guidance to understand what you are seeing as the info panels inside it are few and far between, as well as not really satisfactory.
Depending on your children and budget, you may want to get the free audioguides to the attraction or book a guided tour.
The Colosseum itself offers good free audio guides to the Colosseum and the Forum/ Palatine Hill.
The are called:
- Parco Colosseo
- Y & Co
You can download them for free from the App Store on your phone: I highly recommend you do it before your visit, so you don’t have to rely on the patchy wi-fi of the area.
If you prefer to get a Colosseum tour, the best guided tours of the Colosseum for families are (see also table below):
Colosseum Tour For Kids (Private Tour) by LivTours: this is an excellent family tour of the Colosseum with a scavenger hunt approach, offer by one of the best family tour providers in Italy.
Colosseum tour for kids by Mariaclaudia Tours: this is an excellent tours for kids age 6 to 11 years of age. The tour doesn’t include access to the underground or arena area; however, it is engaging, fun and well priced and an excellent option for that age. Tell Mariaclaudia you are a Mama Loves Rome reader!
Colosseum & Ancient Rome Family Tour for Kids by Raphael Kids Tours of Rome: this is another great option for families with kids who want a Colosseum tour with a guide that puts the kids at the center of the experience with anectodes and guessing them just for them
Best Colosseum tickets for families + best family tours of the Colosseum
There are so many ticket and tour options for the Colosseum, picking the right one can be overwhelming.
To help you in your choice, I prepared a table with the best Colosseum tickets and tours for families with kids I have come across.
| Name | Type | Main characteristic | Suitable for |
| General entry ticket (Colosseum Direct) | Ticket only | Good value little flexibility, no tour | Families on a budget who don’t want/ can do without a tour |
| Ticket entry to general areas and arena (Colosseum direct) | Ticket only | Good value, little flexibility if you need to change time / day. | Families on a budget, don’t want/ can do without a tour and want to step on the colosseum stage |
| Only available up to April 2024 included Coopculture Accompanied Tour of the Colosseum and Underground area | Ticket only | Good value, little flexibility in case you need to change time / day. Kid-friendly but not for kids as such | Families on a budget, families with kids who don’t mind using an audioguide (free) |
| General entry + arena + underground access with tour (Colosseum direct) | Ticket + tour | Good value, little flexibility in case you need to make any changes. Kid-friendly but not for kids as such | A great option for families with older kids who can follow a standard tour |
| Ticket entry to Colosseum general area, arena and underground (colosseum direct) No tour Visit from May 2024 on | Ticket only | Good value, the most comprehensive ticket in terms of access available | Families on a budget, families with kids who don’t mind using an audioguide (free) |
| Ticket entry to Colosseum general areas and attico For visits from May 2024 on | Ticket only | Good value | Good for families who are not afraid of heights and are happy to go self guided |
| Colosseum Tour for kids with treasure hunt by LivTour | Guided Tour | Kid-centered experience, great guides, high price point, private tour | Families with suitable budget, families with kids who can benefit for a kid center and play centered approach to the visit |
| Colosseum Tour for kids with Raphael Kids Tours | Guided Tour | Kid-centered approach, great guides, high price point | Families with suitable budget, families with kids who can benefit for a kid center and play centered approach to the visit |
| Express Colosseum (with arena floor access) tour by LivTour | Ticket + Guided Tour | Family friendly, high quality small group tour, high end | Families who want a time efficient tour and a high end experience. The tour if family friendly but not ‘for kids’ as such and is therefore best suited to older kids or families with a baby/toddler in a carrier |
| Colosseum Tour for kids by Mariaclaudia Tours | Ticket + Guided Tour | Colosseum tour for kids, aimed at age 6-11, mid range price | Families who want a tour that places children at the center of the experience and do not mind not accessing the underground and arena area. |
| Only available up to April 2024 included Coopculture Didactic Tour of the Colosseum and Underground area | Ticket + Guided Tour | Good value, little flexibility in case you need to change time / day. Kid-friendly but not for kids as such | Families on a budget, families with kids happy to follow a standard guided tour |
How to get kids’ tickets for the Colosseum
Kids’ tickets to enter the Colosseum for free.
If you book entrance via a tour operator, they usually source tickets for you (the ones above do, and this is one of the many reasons why I recommend them)
If you want to go on your own, you can secure kids’ tickets as follows:
From the Colosseo.it website: this is the official website for tickets from May 2024 onwards.
How to get free tickets for kids depends on the type of ticket you need.
>> General entry tickets for kids do not need to be booked. You get adult tickets and the children come in with you. Please find in the image below the official communication about it.
For all other tickets and tours, the option to book free tickets appears when selecting the number of participants. Book on >>> https://ticketing.colosseo.it
You can find here >>> my step by step updated guide to buy Colosseum tickets from the official Colosseum website
From the Coopculture website: this is the official website for ticketing up to April 2024 included. In this case, you can get kids’ tickets in two ways:
From the website, for the tickets that allow this selection (underground and attic)
By collecting tickets once inside the Colosseum, accessing with adult tickets only.
General entrance free tickets must be collected on the day from the ticket booth in Largo della Salaria Vecchia or inside the Colosseim. You go with your child, show your ticket and they issue the free ones.
Tickets for the underground, must be purchased online like adult tickets.
Visiting the Colosseum with kids: practical tips
The best time for visiting the Colosseum with kids
There is no best time to visit the Colosseum with kids. However, some times tend to be better in case of very cold / very hot weather.
When booking your Colosseum tickets, I recommend you pick one of the following times.
In winter, opt for the middle of the day: I went at 1pm and it was wonderful as the sun was just high enough to give you some warmth (you want it, especially if visiting the underground part, where you get quite chilly)
In any other season, opt for early in the morning or, with older kids, for the evening tour. In the busy and hotter seasons the Colosseum still retains some shade but it can get hot so working around the weather is best!
Leave the stroller at home (maybe)
The Colosseum is accessible to strollers but it is not easy to visit with wheels because of the crowds.
If you can, opt for a carrier instead.
If you cannot leave the stroller at home, don’t worry: there are lifts inside and most parts are accessible.
The big exception is the upper ring: in this case, you will have to close the stroller and hoist it up on your shoulders.
Be prepared to have your baby changing bag scanned/ opened
For safety reasons, the Colosseum does not allow entering with bulky rucksacks and bags (think: large luggage, full on backpacking gear etc).
Normal size handbags are not a problem and baby changing bags are allowed.
However, security at the Colosseum is airport style and they will ask you to scan your bag or, potentially, they may ask you to open it.
Good to know! There is a nursing room inside the Colosseum! Ask the staff to direct you to it any time you need it.
Wear proper shoes
There is no dress code for the Colosseum (unlike the Vatican, which has one due to its religious nature) but for practical reasons, you want to make sure you have good walking shoes when visiting.
While the terrain here is not hard to negotiate, inside the Colosseum there are many steps and a lot of standing is required: comfortable shoes for you and the kids will go a long way.
You can find here >>> my recommended shoes for Rome travel
Bring snacks
Around the Colosseum there are several bars and cafes but the cost of most of them is crazy high due to the proximity to the star of Rome sightseeing.
With kids, I find it easier to carry my own snacks: while you cannot eat inside the Colosseum, you can go to the park in front just before for a picnic: sightseeing with kids is better on a full stomach!
Bring a bottle for water
The Colosseum is equipped with free drinking fountains both inside and outside.
Bring your won bottle so you can fill it up for free (no glass, for safety reasons)
Make time for the souvenir shop
The Colosseum also has a souvenir shop inside and they do sell pretty cool things for kids so having some cash may be handy should you want to treat your kids to a little something (a friend got an archaeologist kit for her son, really fun!)
Get a ‘then and now’ book
The Colosseum is incredible to see as a ruin but makes even more an impression on kids once they see what it looked like at the time of its splendor.
My favorite way to get that ‘wooooow’ factor out of the children is showing them color reconstructions of the Colosseum as it used to be. You can get specialized books about it in many Rome’s bookshops or even before you go from Amazon.
Start from the outside
Once you have your Colosseum tickets you may want to just dash in but don’t. Rather, take your time to get the kids to see the outside as well.
The outside of the Colosseum has incredible stories to tell. Did you know the are of the Colosseum used to be a large pond? And that beside it used to stand a colossal statue of Nero that was visible from the whole of the city (you can still see where the base was). And how about the holes: can you guess why there are so many, on Colosseum’s marble?
These and more fun facts will help the kids engage with the Colosseum and make the place come to life even before you go in.
Careful about ‘gladiators’ posing for photos
For many years, outside the Colosseum you had actors dressed up in gladiator costumes charging exorbitant prices for a photo.
The practice is now illegal in Rome and you should not have issues with it but since gladiators are an appealing sight for kids, make sure if there are any in the vicinity you don’t fall into the trap of taking a photo of them and being charged the world.
Visit the underground level
The most interesting part of the Colosseum with kids is, I believe, the underground level. This is where all the props for the shows were kept and where you can learn about the inner workings of the theater.
Nowadays, you can even see the lift that they used to hoist the animals to the arena: imagine groups of men pulling ropes to lift an elephant or a lion into the Colosseum! You can see a reconstruction of the lift if visiting the underground and it is really impressive
Good to know: tickets for the underground area are hard to get as there is limited availability to access this live archaeological dig. I highly recommend you don’t promise your kids access to this part until you have secured your spot!
Don’t miss the attic
If the underground is the best part of the Colosseum for kids in terms of learning, the most impressive part in terms of looks is the belvedere.
Very high up and offering incredible views, this is likely to be a hit with kids even just for the height but it is also a great place to learn about the layout of Rome: from here, you see the forum nearby and, in the distance, St Peter.
Be ready for some gory stories
The Colosseum often piques the attention of kids because of the stories of the gladiators and this needs a mention, in case you have sensitive kids.
The bulk of facts and stories about the Colosseum is actually not about the fighting and the gory details of them. Indeed, taking a Colosseum tour teaches us that gladiators didn’t fight to their deaths and not all shows had to end in a bloodbath.
However, the Colosseum was a place of death and some of the stories you will here are disturbing (this is where executions took place and Romans did not go for quick and painless).
I believe it is important to know this in case you have a sensitive or young child: I did find some of them myself awful to listen too – thankfully it is easy to turn the attention of your child momentarily away for the guide when it comes to that parts of the tour.
Should you visit the Colosseum and the forum? Or just one?
The Colosseum and the forum are beside each other and the tickets for one allow access to the second too.
The Colosseum is usually what captures the attention of children the most but I highly recommend you take the time to visit the forum too and the Palatine in particular. Get the audio guide as there are no info panels there.
You can find here >>> my guide to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Rome Colosseum or Coliseum?
Before we start with our tips for visiting the Colosseum with family, I just want to mention a spelling thing. Online, you will often see the Colosseum spelled either Colosseum or Coliseum, however, the two words have different meanings.
The Colosseum is the Rome building, taking its name from the colossal statue of Nero that used to be beside it.
Coliseum on the other hand is the name given to modern arenas and sports stadium with elliptical shape.
So in Rome, if you want to see the amphitheater that used to have gladiators’ battled and animal fight, you want the Colosseum or, in Italian: il Colosseo.
How long do you need to visit the Colosseum with kids?
A standard visit to the Colosseum lasts less than 2 hours, about 3 if you get a family tour that includes the forum too.
Personally, I believe you need a full morning to see the two attractions and you need to factor in a lot of walking.
Other things you need to know for visiting the Colosseum with kids
Transport
The best way to reach the Colosseum is by public transport: the metro stops right in front of it and kids go free. An easy and budget friendly way to start your visit.
The Colosseum is in the center of modern Rome and you do not need to plan a day trip to it. If staying in the city center you may be able to reach it on foot.
Cost and opening hours
Kids under 18 go free
The Colosseum is open almost every day from 9 am 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 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 last Saturday of October
The Colosseum is free to visit on the first Sunday of every month. The Colosseum is closed on Christmas day (25th December), new years day (1st January) and Labor day (1st May).
For security reasons, at the entrance you will be asked to open your bags for security and pass a metal detector.
What to bring when visiting the Colosseum with kids
- Non slip sole shoes
- Baby carrier
- Weather appropriate attire (sun hat for summer, proper winter clothing in winter)
- A small bag that will pass security restrictions
- Snacks and water for outside
- Change for the bathrooms outside and the souvenir show
- A ‘there and now’ book
I hope you found this short guide to visiting the Colosseum with kids useful.
If you have any questions about this attractions and how to visit with kids, don’t forget to join my Facebook groups ‘Italy travel with kids – ideas and advice‘ where you can ask questions and share stories with other like minded parents.
Safe travels!
Colosseum with kids – additional resources for families:
Find here >>> Fun facts about the Colosseum for kids
Find here >>> Fun and interesting facts about the Roman gladiators
Find here >>> Introduction to games and shows in ancient Rome
Find here >>> Great hotels close to the Colosseum
Not sure how to include the Colosseum in your Rome itinerary with kids? Find some suggestions:
