Question about Colosseum Underground tickets
Jun 1st, 2016, 08:30 PM
#1
Question about Colosseum Underground tickets
Family members who have never visited Rome bought tickets for the Colosseum Underground and third tier tour on http://www.coopculture.it/
I did this tour about five years ago, in early April, and cannot for the life of me remember what the process was for picking up the actual tickets, waiting in line, etc. I will be joining them in Rome, but not until a few days after they arrive in Rome.
My family members have a reservation for the early afternoon in high summer. At what time should they plan to arrive at the Colosseum to queue @ Will Call?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
I did this tour about five years ago, in early April, and cannot for the life of me remember what the process was for picking up the actual tickets, waiting in line, etc. I will be joining them in Rome, but not until a few days after they arrive in Rome.
My family members have a reservation for the early afternoon in high summer. At what time should they plan to arrive at the Colosseum to queue @ Will Call?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Jun 1st, 2016, 08:55 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You don't queue at regular line.
Read the email that came with the reservation confirmation. At the bottom it would say something like:
<i>Attached you will find the tickets to print, that allows you to go directly to the turstile without queuing.
We will verify the correctness of your purchase at the turstile. In case of wrong ticket type purchase, you will be asked to buy the correct tickets. </i>
At the turnstyle, the staff will direct you to a reserved ticket window. You need enough time to retrieve the 1) entry ticket 2) tour stickers 3) and find the assembly point on ground floor past the ticket booth you would be told to go 10-15 min before the tour starts.
An easier way to coordinate the time is to go early enough to do the general ground and the 2nd level on your own before the underground tour. These are not part of the tour and anyone with the entry ticket (part of the underground tour purchase) can do. Verify the assembly location first you venture off. What you would be doing is using the buffer time to protect the tour time. If you got in early, look around on your own first. If you ended up getting in later, go straight to the tour assembly point.
Read the email that came with the reservation confirmation. At the bottom it would say something like:
<i>Attached you will find the tickets to print, that allows you to go directly to the turstile without queuing.
We will verify the correctness of your purchase at the turstile. In case of wrong ticket type purchase, you will be asked to buy the correct tickets. </i>
At the turnstyle, the staff will direct you to a reserved ticket window. You need enough time to retrieve the 1) entry ticket 2) tour stickers 3) and find the assembly point on ground floor past the ticket booth you would be told to go 10-15 min before the tour starts.
An easier way to coordinate the time is to go early enough to do the general ground and the 2nd level on your own before the underground tour. These are not part of the tour and anyone with the entry ticket (part of the underground tour purchase) can do. Verify the assembly location first you venture off. What you would be doing is using the buffer time to protect the tour time. If you got in early, look around on your own first. If you ended up getting in later, go straight to the tour assembly point.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 02:12 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The above post from Greg is all incorrect - there are now long, long security lines you need to pass through before you get to change your print online voucher for tickets. These lines are similar to airport security and were introduced in June last year.
Allow at least two hours before your tour time to (a) get through security and (b) line up at the exchange your voucher window to get your sticker and barcode ticket for the Underground tour.
Allow at least two hours before your tour time to (a) get through security and (b) line up at the exchange your voucher window to get your sticker and barcode ticket for the Underground tour.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 10:53 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I waited nearly an hour, under the broiling sun, to get in last June, even though we already had tickets. There have been reports on Tripadvisor of people missing their tours because of the long waits.
It's not just security, although that's part of the problem, because it was greatly beefed up after specific terroristic threats. The other problem is that there's a limit of 3000 on the number of people who can be inside at one time. That limit is being reached much more often than it used to be. When we were waiting we were told that it was because too many people were inside.
My visit was before the latest security increases, which happened last October, I think. So I think 2 hours is not a bad estimate. It may not take that long, but be prepared.
There are certain places in Rome I just won't go in the summer. The Vatican Museums is one. I wasn't expecting the long wait at the Colosseum, but now that's another. They have an evening tour that should be must less crowded. However, that doesn't include entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which, dare I say, are a lot more interesting to me than the Colosseum.
It's not just security, although that's part of the problem, because it was greatly beefed up after specific terroristic threats. The other problem is that there's a limit of 3000 on the number of people who can be inside at one time. That limit is being reached much more often than it used to be. When we were waiting we were told that it was because too many people were inside.
My visit was before the latest security increases, which happened last October, I think. So I think 2 hours is not a bad estimate. It may not take that long, but be prepared.
There are certain places in Rome I just won't go in the summer. The Vatican Museums is one. I wasn't expecting the long wait at the Colosseum, but now that's another. They have an evening tour that should be must less crowded. However, that doesn't include entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which, dare I say, are a lot more interesting to me than the Colosseum.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 06:50 PM
#6
bvlenci, do you remember what time you were trying to get into the Colosseum last June? I am just trying to give my family members a good idea of when they should plan to arrive and how long of a wait to prepare for. Their Colosseum Underground tour is scheduled for right around 11am, I believe.
