Colosseum with 12 year olds

[Melon2312]

We’re going to Rome at the end of August with two 12 year old boys.

We obviously want to see the colosseum but I can’t figure out the best way to do it, there’s so much information out there it gets overwhelming! Do we do a guided tour or self guide, is it worth doing the underground bit as well? Any advice from anyone who’s been with similar aged kids would be welcome 🙏

Yes book a tour. We only managed to get the regular tour (no colosseum floor or underground). It was really good and I wish we could have seen more. That was just me and DH though, but I think our similar aged DC would have enjoyed it too.

Ps book soon as they sell out. And also the booking site is only open during Italian working hours. Took me a while to figure that one out as I kept on trying to book in the evening and not being able to access the website!

Book a tour.

We went in, commented on it being big and round (which is obvious from the outside) and were in and out in about 10 minutes.

It needs a tour.

We took our kids when they were 13 and 11 years old. We booked the holiday including a tour through trailfinders - it was a tour specifically for kids in English and was excellent. There were only 3 families and it was very interactive and relevant to the kids.

It depends how into history you are. We spent an hour there, it was super quiet as end of the day in February. Loved it though.
Do buy tickets in advance though as the big queue is for buying tickets not to get in!
I thought Pula was better though

If you are into the Romans the Forum is better and you can self guide round there.

Who do people recommend booking a tour with?

I don't think it matters, it just takes you up a level from 'I suppose the animals were down there ' 'yes suppose they were.... shall we go and get an ice cream '

Never been anywhere before or since that so much needed added direction.

Book a tour with arena floor access. We did a joint tour with that and Pallatine Hill as a package.

Thanks everyone. I think I’m leaning towards booking a tour, my son is reasonably into history and I think it will be more meaningful than just going and looking around (which I think is what I did when I went 20 years ago although can’t quite remember!)

should I book the tour through the official website?

I’ll get shot for this but get them to watch Gladiator the movie beforehand and don’t bother with a tour. Honestly it explains it all well including where the animals were kept and they’ll get a feel for how grand and huge it was in its prime. We loved looking round but I saw lots of kids and teens on tours looking utterly bored. (We went on honeymoon).

For 12 year olds make sure you visit the huge McDonald’s by the Spanish steps - it’s absolutely massive and they’ll love it.

And get some pancakes by the Trevi fountain. 😁

If you do book a tour, I'd recommend one specifically for kids, rather than a general one aimed at adults. My kids (despite having two parents who LOVE history, monuments, culture, etc) were utter philistines until they were about 15. We took them to some amazing places and they really weren't very interested. In Rome, they weren't bothered by the Colosseum and only gave our guide the most scant attention - they much preferred clambering around in the Forum and eating ice cream!

100% tour, you just don't get the detail to understand without. Lots of kid friendly ones in English. We booked through viatour, not cheap but absolutely worth it. Included palatine hill which again if you just walk round yourself you won't appreciate the stories of the people who lived there which really bring the place to life.

I'm doing Florence next month and asked a similar question about tours. I've concluded that monuments and buildings are best with guides, whereas museums it's nice to do without as you can read labels of exhibits yourself and go at your own pace. Maybe not everyone's preference.

@Pigeonqueen we’ve already watched Gladiator and my son loved it, so he’s excited to see it in the flesh! I totally get your point about kids being bored on tours, but we’re bringing a friend to keep him entertained and I do think they’ll at least be a little bit interested in some of the history, history is one of my sons favourite subjects at school.

@CatWontBudge I don’t suppose you could share a link to the specific tour you booked by any chance? Did it include the underground bit?

This is who we used -

www.takewalks.com/rome-tours/colosseum-tours-rome/

@TedWilson thanks, I take it you’d recommend them then? Did you have kids with you? Doesn’t look like that one has the underground area included but no idea if that’s really worthwhile or not?

@Melon2312 yes they were very good and my parents went with them since as well. I didn't have kids with me but there were kids on the tour. We went on the arena floor I don't think you can go underground or you couldn't when we went - was 4 years ago so may have changed!

We went and weren't able to get the underground tour but we did get the 'attic in panoramic lift' ticket which includes entry and it was well worth it. The coliseum was rammed but the attic was very quiet and the birds eye view was incredible. It was too busy for us to look at the main exhibit tbh so I was very glad we did that. I think you get the idea just by looking and experiencing it (not too denigrate a tour, we just couldn't handle the crowds).

We did a private tour aimed at children with this company https://www.mammamiatours.com/rometoursforkids.html

it was a few years ago, but I recall it being good and DS enjoyed it.

Book in advance
And do it for the early morning tour.

It gets sooooooo busy.

We used "get your guide" colloseum, forum and palatine hill

Official (ie. From the colosseo.it website) tickets for the underground are harder to get than Taylor Swift tickets. I panicked and accidentally booked a tour in Italian. And the tour operators can’t get them anymore - they’re cancelling all their underground tours last minute and switching them out for non underground. Honestly, I’d just get normal tickets, via the official website, unless you’r desperately interested in the Colosseum specifically.

Do go to Ostia Antica- it’s fab.

Following this because we go in August with Dd 14 and DD 12 and all the Facebook group info is scaring me! So much information and stories of yours being cancelled etc. I'm not sure what I need to book or how!

Agree the underground included tickets are basically impossible to get

The arena included tickets are worthwhile and are possible if you book quickly after release (I think tickets are released 30 days ahead from memory, sometimes more are released later)

If you don’t want a tour I recommend the Rick Steves app, it has a good child friendly guide to the Colosseum you can read out, at your own pace.

We did a kids tour last time. First thing in the morning too as it’s blazing hot.