Rome’s Colosseum: Inside the Underground Tour (Here’s How)

Welcome to our series on Discovering Italy, where we explore the sights, flavors, and hidden corners that make this country so unforgettable. In this episode, yep, we're back in Rome. In our first Rome episode, we covered everything you need to know about Vatican City. Now we're headed to one of the world's most legendary landmarks, the Colosseum. Built nearly 2,000 years ago, it's still one of the most awe-inspiring sights you'll ever see. Let's take you inside and show you everything you need to know about visiting this ancient wonder. If you have a passion for travel and want to keep up with the latest reviews, tips, and updates, hit that subscribe button and don't forget to like and share. We really do appreciate the support. Now let's talk about getting to the Colosseum. You've got a few options. And yes, there's actually a Colosseo metro station right across the street, which does make things a little easier. But for us, it was such a beautiful day out, and I'd say only about a 15 to 20 minute walk from our Airbnb, so we decided to just make the trek. And honestly, it's kind of hard to get lost. The Colosseum does stand out a little. Just follow the crowds and you'll get there eventually. We did. Now let's talk about getting your tickets for the Colosseum. We'll head over to the official site where most people will select the individual tickets, though there are a few other options. So we'll click on individual tickets. And here you'll see there are a few choices, from the 24-hour Colosseum Pass, to the Arena Only, to the Forum Super Pass. Now those are great if you're short on time, want to save a little money, or just don't need a guided tour. But for us, we're looking for the full experience. The underground levels, the arena tour, we want it all. So the question is, how early should you buy your tickets? Let's take a closer look. First, the general 24-hour Colosseum tickets, which are pretty easy to get. Even one day out, there are still some later time slots open. But if you look a month ahead, generally most of the time slots are available. Now for something a little bit more in demand. We're going to take a look at the 24-hour Arena Pass. Now for this one, we're just going to take a look at about a month out. You'll still see there's plenty of openings, but the morning does fill up pretty quickly. So book early if you can. Now let's walk you through the tour we actually want. The full experience, underground levels, and arena. Once you click on it, select the number of participants. In our case, that'll be two. And make sure you click on guided tours here. And as you can see, absolutely no availability in the next 30 days. So how do you get tickets then? Here's our YTM pro tip on how to score the best tickets available. Now most of the good tickets are scooped up by bots within seconds. So timing is everything. We logged in exactly 30 days in advance. 8.30am Rome time, which is 2.30 in the morning Eastern time. And absolutely no tickets were available. 3am, still nothing. 3.30? Wait, what? An English tour popped up? Okay, it's a Tuesday in November, but still, very rare. The rule? Take the first tour time that comes available, especially during the high season. No matter the language, English, Italian, or Spanish, they go fast. Our day's tickets sold out within seconds. And if you're visiting in the summer, definitely aim for an early time slot. It gets really hot in the afternoon. And just for a reference, if you only want the general admission tickets, they are released 30 days ahead as well. Right at 8.30am Italian time, in short intervals throughout the day. And here's the ticket they emailed me. Let's take a closer look. Up top, you can see the different Colosseum entrances. It's quite convenient. Down below, you have what's included in the tour, what is not included, some guidelines, and of course, what not to bring. Okay, now that we have our tickets in hand, let's head inside. First stop, the ticket check. And since we arrived pretty early in the morning, the line was short and moved pretty quickly. Later in the afternoon, expect longer lines, maybe some heat, so plan accordingly. Next, through the airport-style security check, which surprisingly was a smooth process and moved pretty quickly. Now it was time to try and find our group. Fortunately, there were signs pointing the way, which led us to this area. A corral where the groups were organized and everything was pretty clearly labeled. And for today's Italian tour, we were group number four. And I think we were the first ones to arrive for our group, which gave us time to take a few photos while the rest of the group filed in. I'd say we had about 15 to 20 people in our group today. Now most people end up booking the Italian tour. It's just easier to get, even if hardly anyone in the group speaks Italian. All right, time to start our tour. Our first stop, the secret mystery gate. What kind of mysteries lie behind here? Okay, actually, it's just a stairwell that leads down to the lowest level of the Colosseum. Down here, it's a maze of ancient corridors, surprisingly well-preserved and honestly, pretty cool to explore. And along these halls, you'll find display cases filled with artifacts, replicas of gladiator gear. And I really like this model, depicting how the pulley system worked to bring the animals into the arena. Remarkably advanced engineering for that time. Nice job, Romans. And don't worry, all the information is in both Italian and English, so you should be covered. Then we came across this really cool arched hallway, playing a short documentary, a mix of history, gladiator trivia, and Colosseum facts. Now we're not going to show you the entire video, just a few highlights. You'll have to come see the rest for yourself. But this video really gave a great visual sense of what life was probably like back then. After the short film, we continued deeper through the tunnels, and every turn felt like you were stepping a little further into history. Now just try to imagine about 2,000 years ago, the chaos going on down here, animals being raised by pulleys, stagehands setting up scenes for the next big show, gladiators pacing nervously waiting for their moment. And even though some of it is in ruins now, you really get a sense of how massive this underground network was. It stretched beneath nearly the entire arena, as we made it down one last corridor. I'd like to think this is where the gladiators once stood, waiting for their cue. You could almost feel that tension, the roar of the crowd just beyond the walls, their fate sealed the moment they stepped forward, the echo of thousands chanting your name, or someone else's. Every step closer, the noise rising, the adrenaline kicking in. This was the moment of truth, the bravery, the fear, the spectacle. It was time for the gladiator. Okay, it's just me, but you get the idea. Now it was time for us to step out onto the arena floor itself, and surprisingly, it really wasn't that crowded. Only a few other tour groups roaming around, so we could really take our time, and not having to wait on other groups was a real luxury, considering it was almost 90 degrees out today. Now this arena floor wasn't just for gladiator combat, it served as a stage for political rallies and public executions, you know, showcasing the might of the Roman Empire, and let's be honest, a lot of testosterone. Now the word arena actually means sand in Latin, fitting since the floor was covered with it, basically used as it was a good surface to soak up blood and other fluids. I know, kind of gross, but that's history for you. And just walking around the arena, you can kind of tell the Romans were way ahead of their time. It was fascinating, the arena floor could be filled with water for mock naval battles, known as Numachi, complete with ships and real combatants. Now as we wandered through these ancient corridors, we found it kind of fascinating to see the remnants of what once was. But now our time underground has come to an end, and it was time to head back up the stairs from whence we came, and back out through the secret mystery gate. But our tour wasn't quite over yet. As part of the guided tour, we also had access to this special podium area, a spot regular visitors just can't reach. And the podium area is located right about here. It was a great spot to get some awesome views and a couple of photos, so of course we had to grab a couple of shots ourselves. And after taking one last look at the arena, our tour was officially over. But our day at the Colosseum definitely wasn't. We decided to spend some extra time exploring the site. These stairways between levels were surprisingly easy to navigate, and not too crowded considering it was the busy season. And if you have the time and still have some energy, definitely wander around after your tour. It's absolutely worth it. And make sure you take the time to explore all the levels. Each spot shows off the Colosseum in a different light, as well as getting in some great photo ops, of course. And you could almost imagine what it was like to be here about 2,000 years ago. Okay, almost. Well, after about three hours here between arriving, our tour, and exploring, it was time for us to say goodbye to the Colosseum. Now after leaving the Colosseum, most people head straight to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. But for us, we thought we'd stick around the Colosseum a little longer to take in a few more of its views, and of course, all of its beauty. And it was such a gorgeous day out, we couldn't resist checking out a few more of the nearby sites. And Rome is so deep and rich in history, you can't really turn a corner without seeing something ancient. It's basically like being in a museum, except you're out in the open air, surrounded by it all. So thank you for joining us on our journey through the Colosseum today. And since it was such a hot day, we decided to grab a few beers, regroup, and head out to see what else Rome has to offer. Now for some final thoughts on the Colosseum. It's an absolute must-see when you're in Rome, whether you just visit with a general admission ticket, or go for the underground and arena tour like we did, it's completely worth it. Make sure you book early and aim for a morning time slot, that way you could avoid the crowds and beat the heat if you go during the high season. Make sure to take your time and explore everything. I hope this helps you plan your own trip to Rome. Safe travels. If you have a passion for travel and want to keep up with the latest reviews, tips, and updates, hit that subscribe button, and don't forget to like and share. We really do appreciate the support.