Are there lines to get into the Colosseum and the Forum? Fodors website says the Colosseum opens at 9:00 am. We are going in early July. Also, are guides recommended for these sights?

We went to the Colosseum in late April, on a Saturday morning. We waited in line about 1/2 hour. I imagine it would be worse in the summer. There were English speaking 'guides' approching people in line to come join their guided tours, which had line cutting privileges. I think they wanted about 14 Euros to get in the group and get in. Not a bad deal if the lines are really bad, I suppose. There is almost no signage or information when you are inside. We picked up one of the spiral bound guidebooks for about 8 Euros at one of the sidewalk vendors, which had most of the historical sights in Rome, and made a nice souveneer. As for the Forum, there were no lines to speak of when we were there. Beware the area outside the Forum and Colosseum - these were the only places we saw Gipsy pickpockets in Rome. Also, the outdoor eating places in this area are real tourist traps.

We took a tour at the Colosseum like the one Zootsi mentioned. The group was called Discover Rome, I believe. I was a little wary after being approached by a "tour" guide, but everything went as planned and our guide was really informative and very funny. It was well worth the extra 7 or 8 dollars, especially since we skipped right past the long lines outside. They offered other tours as well. <BR><BR>I would also recommend seeing Gladiator before you go, if you haven't already. It really helps you visualize the Colosseum in its operational form.

Inside the colosseum, we rented those earphone gadgets that provide narrative in English. I don't recall how much they cost, but they were not prohibitive, and we thought they enhanced our visit. You can buy a pass at the Colosseum that is could for several days and several other sights, including the Forum. Cuts down on waiting in line at the forum.

I was in Rome last October. I waited in line for about half an hour for the Colosseum and had no wait for the Forum. I did the guided tour offered by the Colosseum and I wouldn't recommend it. Ditto for the audiotour at the Forum. I ended up buying a guide book for the Roman Forum and that worked out better for me plus it was a nice souvenir. If you can find a company that offered good tours of both, it would be ideal. I think Enjoy Rome (www.enjoyrome.com) offers one.

I took an American Express tour that lasted a couple of hours & included the Colosseum & the Foram. We got to go right in & it was great to have a guide fluent in English & so well-versed on the history. I'd recommend it; then if you want, you can return early in a morning if you still haven't had your fill of that area's history. (I had, BTW.)<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

We went to the Colosseum and Forum late in the afternoon (two weeks ago) and walked right in. We bought one of those books with the lift-off pages that shows you the pictures as it looks today and what it probably looked like in its heyday. We still wanted more history and bought another book to bring home. Agree with renting "Gladiator," although we did it backwards -- rented it after we got back home.<BR>One thing you should know, there is only one exit from the Colosseum and it is on the opposite side from the Forum. We had been on that side and walked to where we entered thinking we could exit there as well -- nope! Had to walk back around to other side to exit.<BR>Another thing to consider: The Forum is very hilly and takes a lot of walking. You will get tired!<BR>We loved both sights (our kids did, too!) and consider them two of the highlights of our trip to Europe.<BR>Pam<BR><BR>