Colosseum Route | Guide for Visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Although an offbeat way to explore the jewels of Rome, this route has many advantages. The biggest one being the entry queue at the Palatine Hill, which tends to be the shortest of all three attractions. By starting your tour at the Palatine Hill, you can save a lot of time that would have otherwise been spent waiting in line at the Colosseum. Many of the ​hop-on hop-off buses have stops between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill entrance, which also makes this a great starting point for your tour.

1. Explore the charming hill and the Palatine Museum.
   
2. Make your way towards the breathtaking Roman Forum. As you make your descend, you will be able to enjoy a great bird's eye view of the ruins.
   
3. Use the exit only gate located right next to the Colosseum to make your way to the ancient amphitheater. If you are visiting all the attractions on the same day, this route will allow you to reach the Colosseum right before closing time when the crowds are low.

If you're a sticker for order, then it is best to visit the Colosseum first. Prepare ahead and book your tickets online. Be sure to opt for ​skip the line tickets or a​ guided tour so you can skip the massive waiting line at the Colosseum.

1. Explore all the levels of the Colosseum, including the newly opened basement and third level.
   
2. Make your way to the Roman Forum. A major disadvantage of this route is the fact that the entrance of the Roman Forum is a long way from the Colosseum. However, once you enter, you will be able to take in sights of ruins of government buildings from the Roman Kingdom, which will make for an insightful peek at ancient Roman architecture.
   
3. Finally, head to the Palatine Hill and get breathtaking views of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Rome from the top of the hill. Make sure to visit the ​Palatine Museum, so you can learn all about the history of Palatine Hill dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic era.

This route is not recommended for those who wish to visit all three sites, and is meant for those who wish to gain an insight into Nero’s architectural vision.

1. The route starts off at the Neronian Cryptoporticus, an underground passage that was a part of the Domus Tiberiana.
   
2. After this head to the Baths of Livia, the first palace built by Nero that extended from the Palatine to the Esquiline.
   
3. The next stop on this route is the porticoed room under the Casina Farnese.
   
4. You will find a Coenatio rotunda, a brick structure at the northern edge of the Vigna Barberini area on the Palatine Hill.
   
5. From the northern offshoots of Vigna Barberini, you can enjoy unparalleled views of the Colosseum Valley.
   
6. Finish off the tour at Oppian Hill Park, an archeological park, where you will find the ruins of ​Domus Aurea.