Rome is a very expensive city to visit. It is like New York in that there are plenty of very up scale places to stay but finding quality budget hotels can be a challenge. Fortunately I have been scouring the Internet and asking some of my friends who live in Rome for some of the best budget hotels in the city. Some considerations were made when I ever write something on hotels in any city. First I always consider the location of the hotel. It does not make a whole lot of sense to find a budget hotel but then have to spend half the day traveling to where you want to visit. So that is why I created a series on budget hotels broken down by location to the major tourist attractions so that you can find where you really want to stay.

Many of the following hotels are clean and high quality. Some lack some of the amenities that you would find in some of the higher class hotels but that is something you can expect from a budget hotel. I made sure to only select the 2 and 3 star hotels so that most budgets can be accommodated.

Hotel Colosseum
Via Sforza, 10 – 00184
One of Romes better hotels as this hotel is topped with a terrace on the roof affording the guests a unique 360 degree view of the city. The hotel is on one of Rome’s highest hills so the view is quite spectacular and will surely enhance your stay here. Consisting of seven floors this is one of the larger hotels around the Colosseum.

Hotel Borromeo
Via Cavour, 117 – 00184
Being so close to the Coloseeum this hotel is in the heart of the city and where all the action is. A smaller hotel then the Hotel Colosseum this hotel still can accommodate disabled and elderly tourists. Equipped with a elevator it should be easier to get to your room after a long day’s walking around the city.

Hotel Edera
Via Angelo Poliziano, 75 – 00184
A larger five storied hotel that is equipped with an elevator this hotel is also very near to the Colosseum. This hotel also has a terrace that overlooks the city and parking is available for only 20 euros a night so you can park your car as well.

Hotel Saturnia
Via Ruinaglia, 6 – 00184
This is one of the better budget hotels to stay in Rome. It is family run with all rooms coming equipped with a private bathroom and television set.

Hotel Adas
Via Cavour, 233 – 00184
A recently renovated hotel this is very close to the heart of the city and all of the attractions. This hotel is unique in that it is separated on two floors of the building. The hotel occupies the second and sixth floor and the elevator only goes up to the fifth so if you are unlucky enough to get a room on the sixth floor you will have to climb up one flight of stairs. Also this is one place that offers wireless internet connections so you can stay in touch with friends and family back home.

Most of these hotels are up on the higher hills in Rome so if you get an opportunity to stay in any one of them be sure to pick the hotels with the rooftop terraces as that will surely make the stay even more enjoyable. Nothing is better then seeing the sun set or rise in this glorious city and to do so from a unique vantage point makes it all the better.

The Coliseum was the largest amphitheatre in Rome. The construction of the Coliseum started under the reign of Emperor Vespasian in around 70-70 AD and completed under the reign of Titus in 80 AD. The Coliseum was further customized and modified under the emperor Domitian. This was the first permanent amphitheatre to be built in Rome between the Esquiline, Caelian, and Palatine Hills.

An Iconic Symbol

The Coliseum is seen as an iconic symbol of imperial Rome. It held the capacity to accommodate about 50,000 spectators and has eight entrances. The amphitheatre is 50 meters high and 185 meters long. The Coliseum was built for gladiatorial contests and various public spectacles like, classical dramas, mock sea battles, and animal hunts till the early medieval period. Later, it was used for other purposes like a Christian shrine, a fortress, for housing, and for conducting workshops. Presently, the building has suffered damages as a result of earthquakes and the work stone robbers but it is still among the most famous tourist attractions in Rome and arguably the whole world.

Major Tourist Attraction

The Coliseum is known for its great works of architecture and engineering. It also reflects the grandeur and cruelty of the Roman World. The monument is famous for its grand size and the efficient organization of a large crowd viewing the different spectacles. This makes it one of the greatest works of the Roman period. Tourists from all over the world visit it. A museum is also built on the upper floor of the outer wall building, which is dedicated to Eros. The Coliseum also has a lift to the first floor. This makes the monument easily accessible to people with a handicap and children. Other facilities at the site are toilets, bookshop, and souvenir shops.

Tickets, Cards, and Passes

The tickets for the Coliseum can be bought at the site, online, or also booked through a telephone. The normal price of a ticket is 9 Euros (liable to change). The entry is free for EU citizens who are under-18 years and over 65 years. An archeologia-card is also available for 20 Euros, which is valid for a period 7 days for visiting 9 sites in Rome including the Coliseum. A Roma pass is also valid for a period of 3 days for visiting the Coliseum and other famous museums and archaeological sites of the city. The price of the ticket, card and pass may vary during Coliseum exhibitions. One can also book a guided tour conducted by professional guides.

How to get there

The Coliseum is located in the center of Rome. The monument can be reached using a bus, taxi, shuttle, trams or trains. It is located near Piazza Venezia and is close to the Forums. Another rapid form of transportation that you can use is the Metro. After reaching the Metro station, one can get a taxi parking and bike rental outside the station. On Sundays, bicycles and stroller are also allowed on roads as a means of transportation.

Best Time for Visiting
There are few months in a year, which are best suited for your Rome visit. These are –
1.    October- This is the best month of the year to visit. The temperature in this month is very pleasant.
2.    January- After the New Year, there is a gradual fall in the tourists visiting here. This is a suitable time for tourists who want to avoid crowds.
3.    Easter Week- This week may fall between mid-March or mid-April and the city is overcrowded with pilgrims and tourists.
4.    July and August- These are the peak months for tourist’s season. These seasons have comparatively less rain and are a bit humid.
The Coliseum was the only stone structured amphitheater built during the grandeur days of the Roman Empire.

Today, the Coliseum is partially in a ruined state but still remains one of the most renowned architectural monuments of the Roman period. The monument still holds the same brand integrity and respect after so many years of its construction.