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A day out at the Coliseum
This September we took a short trip to Rome with Mechthild Kreuser, adaptive yoga teacher and mindfulness coach.
We had previously visited Apulia, where we are organising together an adaptive yoga retreat in June 2025. This is the story of our morning visit to the Coliseum, where we very excited to try out the famous elevator!
We had previously visited Apulia, where we are organising together an adaptive yoga retreat in June 2025. This is the story of our morning visit to the Coliseum, where we very excited to try out the famous elevator!
What a view! Eleonora (left) and Mechthild on the balconies of the Coliseum
Disclaimer: the visit was not really organised, we just looked at the website and understood about the free entrance (+1) and that we just had to show up - the rest we improvised and discovered on the spot.
We went by car, and were able, after a few minutes of searching, to park very nearby the Coliseum and walk from there.
There is a Metro station right in front of the Coliseum entrance, so that is a good option too (mind that sometimes elevators might not work, so that is a bit of a risk).
The area just around the Coliseum is not super easy to navigate, the ancient road is very bumpy, and in some spots it can be a challenge - but it was worth it.
The accessible elevator was our big highlight, because of the million times you hear "we can't make it accessible, it's a heritage site". Guess what?
The Coliseum now has even 2 elevators, and nobody is traumatised about it.
We went by car, and were able, after a few minutes of searching, to park very nearby the Coliseum and walk from there.
There is a Metro station right in front of the Coliseum entrance, so that is a good option too (mind that sometimes elevators might not work, so that is a bit of a risk).
The area just around the Coliseum is not super easy to navigate, the ancient road is very bumpy, and in some spots it can be a challenge - but it was worth it.
The accessible elevator was our big highlight, because of the million times you hear "we can't make it accessible, it's a heritage site". Guess what?
The Coliseum now has even 2 elevators, and nobody is traumatised about it.
Thumbs up for...
The accessibilility of the first floor of the Coliseum is great: not only the pavimentation allows for smooth wheeling, but access is guaranteed by the famous elevator.
We were surprised to discover that there are two elevators in the Coliseum: one which has been active for many years now, is free and you just queue up and wait for your turn. This one takes you to the first floor, where you get a great view of everything.
But there is also a brand new one, inaugurated in 2023, which is a panoramic elevator, and takes you much higher. Basically, you are up where the emperor was (just guessing) - however, since you are not the emperor, you need to book more or less one month in advance, as tickets are sold out pretty quickly.
This was not super clear from the booking website of the Coliseum, but we went there to explore, so clearly...we'll have to come again. An excuse as good as any other!
DON'T DO LIKE US, BOOK IN ADVANCE THE PANORAMIC LIFT
We were surprised to discover that there are two elevators in the Coliseum: one which has been active for many years now, is free and you just queue up and wait for your turn. This one takes you to the first floor, where you get a great view of everything.
But there is also a brand new one, inaugurated in 2023, which is a panoramic elevator, and takes you much higher. Basically, you are up where the emperor was (just guessing) - however, since you are not the emperor, you need to book more or less one month in advance, as tickets are sold out pretty quickly.
This was not super clear from the booking website of the Coliseum, but we went there to explore, so clearly...we'll have to come again. An excuse as good as any other!
DON'T DO LIKE US, BOOK IN ADVANCE THE PANORAMIC LIFT
More nice perks
The gift shop is a bit crowded but is placed on the first floor and has a ton of cute or interesting things to buy - and some good stuff to read if you want to go beyond The Gladiator (strongly advised!).
Free entrance for you and your +1 - just arrive at the main entrance and introduce yourself to the staff with the yellow vests and they will let you in, and you get to skip the neverending queue. It takes a bit to go by the people who are inside queueing, but once you skip that part you can go directly to booth Number 10 and you get your two free tickets.
Viewpoints - most viewpoints are made so that you can get a good look at the entirety of the ground floor, which is stunning. This is great because the wall is a bit high.
Free water! Rome in summer is very - very - very hot. So bring your water bottle and fill up at the free water fountain on the first floor.
Thumbs down
We found that the exit itinerary was confusing: also the ground floor, which you have to cross in order to go out, is very bumpy. It is not as bad as the outside of the Coliseum, but it is a rather coarse pavimentation, and quite a few rampy bits up and down, so some help might be needed.
Also, once we were out, we encountered a part with the worst cobblestone ever, and had to cross some puddles and some rough ground bits. The exit itinerary for wheelchair users should be re-designed, so that people can have a more comfortable - and shorter - exit itinerary.
The toilets: we tested the women's accessible toilets, and found that there is just one, and it is on top of a rather steep and narrow ramp. This means you have to ask everyone to budge, so you can go up (with help). If you have a wide wheelchair, then everyone has to get off to let you through. Don't be shy, just ask in English, everyone is a tourist there! The same happens for the way out, which is the same steep ramp.
Also, the setup of the bathroom, not the best, as it is missing a proper grab bar on side.
Easy fix: it would be enough to leave the ramp to access the toilets (now used by everyone, and crowded) exclusively for using the accessible toilet, and leave the others to use the steps (which are now used just the exit). Basically invert the entrance and exit flow for the “regular” toilets - leaving people who need to use the ramp enough space to go up and down at all times.
If the team of the Parco of the Colosseo is reading, happy to receive a coffee in exchange for the tip - or a cappuccino, but only before 11am of course 😄.
Also, once we were out, we encountered a part with the worst cobblestone ever, and had to cross some puddles and some rough ground bits. The exit itinerary for wheelchair users should be re-designed, so that people can have a more comfortable - and shorter - exit itinerary.
The toilets: we tested the women's accessible toilets, and found that there is just one, and it is on top of a rather steep and narrow ramp. This means you have to ask everyone to budge, so you can go up (with help). If you have a wide wheelchair, then everyone has to get off to let you through. Don't be shy, just ask in English, everyone is a tourist there! The same happens for the way out, which is the same steep ramp.
Also, the setup of the bathroom, not the best, as it is missing a proper grab bar on side.
Easy fix: it would be enough to leave the ramp to access the toilets (now used by everyone, and crowded) exclusively for using the accessible toilet, and leave the others to use the steps (which are now used just the exit). Basically invert the entrance and exit flow for the “regular” toilets - leaving people who need to use the ramp enough space to go up and down at all times.
If the team of the Parco of the Colosseo is reading, happy to receive a coffee in exchange for the tip - or a cappuccino, but only before 11am of course 😄.
Steep and narrow ramp to the ladies' accessible toilet
Inside the toilet, with only one proper grab bar
Entrance to the accessible toilet on the narrow corridor
Adaptive Yoga Retreat 2025
If you are a fan of yoga, or would like to try out something new, Mechthild and I are organising an adaptive Yoga retreat in Salento, Italy, in June 2025.
Want to be informed? Sign up for the newsletter using the form on this page!
If you want to know more about Mechthild's yoga and activities, you can visite her website Inklusiv Achtsamkeit and follow Mechthild on Instagram.
Want to be informed? Sign up for the newsletter using the form on this page!
If you want to know more about Mechthild's yoga and activities, you can visite her website Inklusiv Achtsamkeit and follow Mechthild on Instagram.
Have you visited the Coliseum?
Tell us all about it in the comments below!