What to See & Do Inside the Colosseum

Walk the arena, explore the underground tunnels, and uncover the secrets of Rome’s most iconic monument.

Step Into Ancient Rome

Visiting the Colosseum is like stepping into a time machine into the world of ancient Rome. It towers in the city’s historic center and is one of the most visited attractions in the world.

This colossal stone arena once shook with the roar of 50,000 cheers as gladiators clashed in the dust, wild exotic beasts leapt from cages, and entire naval battles unfolded on the flooded stage.

Ground Floor

Most visitors begin their tour on the ground floor. This level functioned as the main artery of the Colosseum and was designed to move tens of thousands of people quickly and efficiently.

Here you get a real sense of the Colosseum’s scale:

• Massive arches that tower overhead
• Corridors stretching in every direction
• Vaulted ceilings still hint at the grandeur of the original entrance

Along the walls, you’ll find niches that once held statues of gods, emperors, and symbolic figures, which helped set the scene before spectators even reached their seats.

This floor also reveals how the Colosseum was a machine designed to efficiently move huge crowds. Spectators entered through numbered gates, then flowed through the corridors toward the staircases that led them to their seats.

Arena Floor

The arena floor is the heart of the Colosseum. It’s the stage where Rome’s most dramatic events and spectacles took place, from brutal gladiator fights, wild animal hunts, and executions staged as public entertainment.

Elaborate sets were sometimes hauled up from the hypogeum below, which transformed the arena into a forest or a mythological backdrop.

Ancient writers even describe the floor being flooded for mock naval battles in the earliest years. The sandy surface absorbed blood and sweat, and hidden trapdoors brought animals and scenery up on stage from the hypogeum below.

Today, visitors can stand on a reconstructed platform and get a taste of what it was like to stand on the arena floor amidst the towering walls of the Colosseum.

Key landmarks:

• East side: The Gladiators’ Gate (Porta Triumphalis) – the entrance fighters used, and the exit for those who survived
• West side: The Gate of Death (Porta Libitinensis) – where animals and the bodies of the defeated were carried out
• North side: The Emperor’s Box – reserved for the emperor and his guests

Note: An arena ticket is needed to visit this floor.

Reserve Arena Access »

Underground (Hypogeum)

Beneath the arena is the hypogeum, which served as the backstage of the Colosseum. It was a two-level network of corridors, cells, and pulley systems.

This is where animals were kept in cages, gladiators waited in holding rooms, and teams of stagehands worked the massive wooden winches and counterweights that powered elevators and trapdoors.

At its peak, the system included around 60 lifts capable of sending animals or scenery up into the arena in seconds.

Walking here today, you can still see traces of these systems:

• Stone corridors and holding pens
• Slots and post holes that used to anchor the machinery down
• A reconstructed wooden lift that demonstrates how ropes and pulleys worked together to raise platforms to the arena floor
• Ancient drainage channels that carried away blood, water, and debris

The hypogeum is only accessible with a guided tour or special ticket, but it is one of the most atmospheric parts of the visit.

Book Underground Tour »

Second Floor Exhibitions & Seating Area

The second level houses exhibitions with gladiator helmets, fragments of armor, inscriptions, and reconstructed displays. Some pieces are genuine finds, while others are detailed replicas based on artifacts discovered at Pompeii and other Roman sites. 

The galleries here also host occasional rotating exhibitions, so depending on when you visit, you might see special displays alongside the permanent collection.

The second floor also lets you access the balcony, where you can look both inward at the arena floor and outward toward the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. 

From this vantage point, you can see the hierarchy of how Roman society was divided:

• The Podium (closest to the action) – reserved for senators, priests, and the city’s most powerful citizens
• Middle rows – ordinary Romans
• Highest seats – women and the poor

Fun fact: Seating rules were written into law, so breaking them wasn’t just considered rude, it was illegal.

Upper Levels (3rd–5th Floors)

Climbing to the upper levels rewards you with some of the best views in Rome. From here, you can look down across the arena and out over the Forum, Palatine Hill, and the city skyline.

These tiers once held Rome’s poorest citizens and most women. They were crammed onto wooden benches, and it was a long, steep climb with narrow corridors. The seats were less comfortable, but spectators here enjoyed cool breezes and a sweeping panorama of the city.

The upper ring was closed to the public for decades and only reopened in 2021 after restoration. Walking here gives you a sense of just how high the Colosseum once rose and how massive the crowds must have felt packed into every tier. Ancient writers even joked about being stuck up in the nosebleeds and how difficult it was to follow the action below.

As you explore these levels, look for the small round holes in the stone. These held the wooden masts of the velarium. This was a giant canvas awning that shaded the audience. These masts were operated by sailors and known as one of the Colosseum’s most impressive feats of engineering.

Access to these levels requires a Full Experience ticket, but for many visitors, the perspective from the top is worth it.

Hidden Details

The Colosseum isn’t just about grand arches and gladiators – some of its most fascinating stories are hiding in plain sight.

If you look closely at the stone seating, you can spot faint graffiti scratched by spectators, including names, symbols, and doodles left behind nearly 2,000 years ago. It’s the ancient equivalent of carving your initials into a stadium seat.

On the arena floor near the podium on the north side, you’ll see a Christian cross. It was placed here in the 1700s by Pope Benedict XIV, who consecrated the amphitheater as a sacred site of martyrdom. Although historians debate whether Christians were actually executed in the Colosseum, this act gave the monument new meaning and, importantly, saved it from further being quarried for stone.

Tucked deeper in the ruins are the remains of small medieval chapels where Romans once prayed inside what had become a vast, half-ruined shell.

Over 200 plant and bird species have made their homes in the cracks and ledges of the structures, accidentally turning the amphitheater into a kind of accidental urban sanctuary.

Conservation is also a significant part of the Colosseum’s ongoing story. You may see scaffolding or fenced-off areas where teams are working to protect the stone. Workers ensure these structures don’t spoil the views, and show just how much conservation goes into keeping the Colosseum open to the public.

Is Going Inside Worth It?

The Colosseum is impressive from the outside, but its true impact is only felt once you step through the arches.

Standing beneath the massive walls, hearing echoes in the corridors, and looking down into the arena gives a sense of scale and atmosphere you simply cannot get from the square.

From the street, you see a ruin. From inside, you see how it worked:

• The tunnels beneath your feet
• The seating carved by rank
• The engineering details that made the games possible

Even small touches, like ancient graffiti or the worn grooves of staircases, connect you directly to the Romans who once filled the stands.

For most visitors, going inside is the difference between looking at a monument and experiencing a piece of history.

Explore Beyond the Roman Colosseum

A ticket to the Colosseum also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, both within easy walking distance.

The Roman Forum

The Forum was the political and commercial heart of ancient Rome, filled with temples, basilicas, and the remains of triumphal arches.

Palatine Hill

Climbing the Palatine gives you sweeping views over the Forum on one side and the Circus Maximus on the other, along with ruins of imperial palaces.

Arch of Constantine

Right outside the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine, built in the 4th century to celebrate Constantine’s victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

It is one of the best-preserved triumphal arches in Rome and is worth a closer look before or after your visit.

Exploring these sites together gives context to the Colosseum. The amphitheater was never an isolated monument, but part of a wider archaeological park that tells the story of Roman power, religion, and daily life.

Tips For Your Visit

A visit to the Colosseum is unforgettable, but a little preparation goes a long way.

1. Comfortable shoes are a must, since you’ll be covering a lot of ground on uneven ancient stone.
2. In the summer, carry water, as the heat inside the amphitheater can be intense and shade is scarce.
3. Security is strict, so avoid bringing large bags or bulky items that won’t make it through the gates.
4. Reserve your tickets online to skip lines. Consider standard entry for basics or upgrade to access special areas like the arena floor or underground tunnels. A good guide can also point out details you might otherwise miss.
5. Crowds are part of the experience, but timing helps. Early mornings and late afternoons are generally quieter, while evening tours create a dramatic atmosphere with the Colosseum lit against the night sky.
6. Your ticket also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so plan at least half a day if you want to take it all in. The Roma Pass offers great value for multiple attractions.