William W.
Yelp
The day before our visit to the Roman Forum, our private guide to the Vatican gave us the most valuable tip; you'll be disappointed by the interior of the Colosseum, but you'll be amazed by the Forum and the great pictures you can take of the Colosseum from there. But go in the late afternoon. He was right!!!
The following day, we were standing in front of the Colosseum and thrilled to be there. Such a mighty structure standing the test of time, an icon whose images you've seen your entire life. But as promised, we were underwhelmed by the interior.
Then we proceeded to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. With so many underwhelming, overbilled sites across Rome, the Forum was a rare attraction that actually exceeded its reputation! With such wonderfully refurbished ruins, you can vividly imagine what it was like to walk the streets of the centerpiece of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago.
We marveled at the sophistication that existed so many thousands of years prior to our existence. The craftsmanship and details were remarkable for such a primitive time. We've visited many, many ruins throughout the world, Turkey, Egypt, Malta, Peru, Hungary, you name it. But these were so expansive, so advanced for its time, so aesthetically pleasing, so historically important. And you'll have perfect, unobstructed views of the Colosseum's exterior from here.
But what about the block-long lines during the high season? Here's the trick! Go on a Sunday afternoon around 3.5 hours before sunset (about 5:00 p.m. during the summer). Visit the ticket office just down San Gregorio Street from the southwest corner of the Colosseum (don't stand in line at the busier ticket office at the Colosseum). Buy tickets for the Forum and Palatine Hill only. You'll have no line, no stress, no hordes of tourists. Within the first hour, you'll begin to notice that you practically have the place to yourselves. The throngs of people who visited the site early in the morning are worn out and back at the hotel. The sun will dip to the perfect angle for glorious shots of the western walls of the Colosseum.
About two hours in, you'll almost be alone in the compound as you're now 30 minutes from closing time. Spend another half hour leisurely strolling through these magnificent ruins. One hour before sunset, they close up shop after you've spent 2.5 hours on a peaceful visit to one of Rome's most iconic locations!