How to Get to the Rome Colosseum

Once you have your tickets to Rome, the first thing to do is to start planning the visits you will make while you are there. Especially for the most popular ones, which require a bit of planning. First of all, get your Colosseum ticket or even, if you prefer, book a ticket to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill that also includes 24-hour access to the tourist bus. This way you won't miss anything!

And now, here's a guide to make getting to the Colosseum, wherever you are, easy, quick and convenient.

Walking in Rome is a must. In addition to being cheap, you can take advantage of the walk to enjoy the city, walk through its streets, squares, fountains... A delight.

Although it may seem like a long walk from the historic centre of Rome, it is well worth it. I'll tell you the most popular distances so you can decide whether you prefer to do it on foot or look for an alternative.

Walking distances to the Colosseum from some of Rome's key sites

• From Piazza Spagna: It will take you 28 minutes on foot as you walk along the little streets surrounding the wonderful Piazza Spagna, Via del Corso and Via dei Fori Imperiali. This walk is a must.
• From Piazza Navona: it will take you 26 minutes to walk a very similar route to the previous one.
• From Monti: only 9 minutes, you have no excuse (plus the views of the Colosseum as you walk down the stairs from Monti are beautiful).
• From Isola Tiberina: Only 24 minutes and you can choose between crossing the Circo Massimo or walking in front of the Teatro Marcello or the Capitoline Museums.
• From the Vatican: 50 minutes. Undoubtedly the longest walk in what is considered the centre of the city, but certainly one of the most fascinating itineraries.

If you're looking for speed, wherever you are, Rome's metro is always a good option. Metro Line B connects the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to the main points of the city.

Plus, the stop (Piazza del Colosseo) is right in front of the entrance to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, just a couple of minutes' walk away. You can't miss it. By the way, get your camera ready because the view of the Colosseum from the exit of the metro stop is going to leave you open-mouthed. Get ready for what's coming!

Maybe walking isn't your thing or you just don't feel like going for a long walk first thing in the morning. Well, to still enjoy the city and its sights but still be comfortable and on a budget, getting around Rome by city bus is a great idea.

Be patient because the traffic is chaotic, the streets are narrow and the bus lines tend to be quite crowded, but at least you'll arrive at the Colosseum more rested. Check Rome's public transport website for more details on timetables, tickets and fares.

Recommended lines

As you will see below, the Colosseum is well connected to the rest of the city:

• Frequent lines that reach the Colosseum: 117, 175, 186, 271, 53, 571, 53, 571, 571, 75, 80, 810, 85, 87.
• Night line that connects you to the Colosseum: the N2.

And if you are thinking of using the tourist bus?

Buying a ticket for Rome's tourist bus is a great idea because this means of transport connects the main touristic points of the city (the Colosseum could not be less), it has a decent frequency and, best of all, it has two floors, one of them uncovered, so you can enjoy the best views while you let yourself go (literally). Doesn't sound so bad now?

And if that's not enough, buy your Colosseum tickets here and you get a combo ticket which includes entry to the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill and unlimited access to the tour bus for 24 hours. All in one!

One of the most universal means of transport, the taxi, also operates in Rome. It's not hard to find one running or waiting for you at a taxi rank (look for them in the main streets or squares of Rome, they are very well signposted).

Tell the driver your destination (and remember to ask him to activate the meter to avoid unpleasant surprises). The Colosseum is fairly central, so it shouldn't cost you too much. Just avoid rush hour to keep your budget in check.

If you want to opt for an experience that's as comfortable as this but at the same time doesn't leave any loose ends, you should know that Uber also works in Rome, and very well. Download the APP, enter the origin and destination address and the map will automatically calculate the route, the price and how many minutes it will take to pick you up.

As soon as you set foot in the city, you'll notice that the traffic in Rome's ancient streets has been completely modernised, welcoming new methods of transport. On the pavements, you'll see dozens of scooters, electric scooters and bikes parked on the pavements, which you can use to get from one part of the city to another.

There are several companies and APPs that manage these vehicles, so I recommend you take a look at the most popular ones to find out the rates. How does it work? Very easy: the APP (whichever one it is) will always have a map of the city that will geolocate you and suggest which scooters, bikes or scooters are closest to you. Book one with a click, activate it and pay only for the minutes you use it. It seems like magic!

Hire a car sharing service and don't worry about anything else.

If you feel safer using something similar but travelling on four wheels, there is a similar service for cars. Car2GO is one of the most international and allows you to rent a vehicle to move around the city and pay only for the minutes you are going to use it.

You don't have to worry about insurance, petrol or taking it to a car rental car park. By the way! If you plan to visit the Colosseum on a Sunday, Via dei Fori Imperiali is pedestrianised all day Sunday, so leave the car for any other day of the week and go for a walk or cycle along one of the most photogenic avenues in the city.