How To Choose a Colosseum Tour

The cost of visiting Rome’s top sights can add up quickly, so make every cent count with a group tour. You’ll enjoy the perks of guaranteed tickets and a guide without the hefty price tag of a private visit. Group tours generally include a guided visit inside the Colosseum plus the nearby ancient Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so you can cover three ancient sites in just a few hours.

Rome is stuffed with blockbuster historic and cultural sights, and most travelers want to cover at least the headliners during their visit. If you’re trying to optimize your time, choose an express Colosseum tour that includes skip-the-line admission and a quick 1-hour overview of the highlights of this vast amphitheater. These bite-sized tours do not include the Forum or Palatine Hill, though some bundle them in a pass, so you can visit on the same day at your own pace.

If Roman culture is your passion, take a deep dive into the Colosseum’s history with a full tour that begins in the underground warren of corridors and chambers that once held gladiators and wild animals. Then follow your guide upstairs to the arena floor (entering through the Gladiator’s Gate), where battles to the death took place, and then explore the tiers of seats. Skip-the-line admission ensures that you’ll be able to cover it all, plus take in the Roman Forum and Palatine.

Rome’s ancient treasures can be a challenge for young children who haven’t studied Roman history yet. Make your Colosseum visit fun and engaging for the entire family with a kid-focused tour that uses scavenger hunts, quizzes, games, and other interactive activities to bring the complex ruins to life. Fast-track tickets ensure that kids aren’t stuck in a long line, while the energetic pace will get you through the Colosseum and Roman Forum before your kid’s patience runs out.

Make the most of your day in Rome by stretching your sightseeing time into the evening hours with an after-hours Colosseum tour. Avoid the midday heat and take in the amphitheater at its most picturesque after the crowds have moved on. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are closed after sunset, so nighttime tours focus on the amphitheater and generally last less than two hours—leaving you plenty of time for dinner before or after your visit.

If this is your first foray into the Eternal City, you probably have a long list of attractions to check off your list. Instead of dealing with the tricky logistics of multiple tours and tickets, choose an all-in-one experience that stops at both the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, and also includes the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and other highlights, so you can cover the best in Rome in one day.

There is no more dazzling backdrop than the Colosseum, so pair your visit to this iconic sight with a private photoshoot for a one-of-a-kind memento of your time in Rome. Meet a professional local photographer and pose in front of its soaring facade. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or a group of family or friends, you’ll go home with a personalized, lasting souvenir. You can download your edited digital photos within a few days after your visit.

Visiting the Colosseum with the set itinerary and quick pace of a group tour can be a chore, so if you want a more relaxed experience with plenty of time to interact with your guide, a private tour is your best bet. Zip past the crowds with skip-the-line admission and then explore the ground floor and tiers of seats at a leisurely pace as you learn about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Most private tours also include a visit to the Forum and Palatine Hill.

Get a better understanding of the Colosseum’s history and construction while taking in the arena at your own pace with a downloadable audio guide on your smartphone or other smart devices. You’ll skip the line thanks to an e-ticket and linger as long as you’d like as you listen to in-depth commentary about the amphitheater and its long history. A self-guided audio tour is also a great option for budget travelers.