The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are two landmarks rarely left off any Rome itinerary, but visitors can spend more time queuing outside than exploring inside. This private tour offers pickup from your centrally-located hotel and skip-the-line access to both—and upgrades for hotel drop-off and access to the Arena Floor.

Private tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in Rome
Avoid the queues with skip-the-line access to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
Great-value tour includes hotel pickup and entrance fees
Upgrade for hotel drop-off and access to the Arena Floor

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Get a fully immersive Colosseum and Forum tour with skip-the-line entry and hotel pickup.

What's Included

Private Walking Tour
Professional Licensed Blue Badge Tour Guide
Hotel pickup with Sanitized Vehicle (centrally located hotels. Within Aurelian Walls)
Skip-the-line Tickets
Arena Access and drop off service (if Luxury Version selected)

Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick up from hotel if centrally located (within the Aurelian Walls)

What To Expect

Your tour begins with a morning or afternoon pickup (depending on the option chosen) from your central Rome hotel by your private guide. Set out to explore Rome’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, starting with a tour of the mighty Colosseum.

Using your skip-the-line tickets, gain priority admission to the grand amphitheater and marvel at the spectacular 60,000-seat arena. As you admire the impressively preserved ruins, listen as your guide brings the Colosseum back to life, telling stories of ancient Roman emperors, gladiator games, and wild beast fights. If you’ve booked the upgraded tour, you’ll also get access to the Arena Floor.

Continue to the Roman Forum, the grand centerpiece of ancient Rome, where the remarkably preserved temples, basilicas, and public squares offer a fascinating glimpse into Roman life. While you’re there, hear the story of the Lapis Niger, an ancient Latin text housed in the base of one of the columns in the Forum, and visit the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, once home to the virgin priests of Vesta.

Your tour concludes at the Colosseum, or with drop-off at your hotel if you’ve booked the “Luxury” upgrade.

Colosseum

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Arch of Constantine (Pass By)

Tempio di Vesta (Pass By)

Piazza del Colosseo (Pass By)

Foro di Cesare (Pass By)

Via dei Fori Imperiali (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with mobility issues or those using a wheelchair

Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
Please be aware that to enter the Colosseum it is necessary to pass a metal detector security check
Large bags and backpacks are not allowed
Be prepared to climb uneven steps and explore an archaeological site - wear good shoes. Anticipate Rome's intense heat in the summer - you may want to bring a small umbrella to block the sun as well as unexpected, sudden rainfall
Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

559 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 559 reviews

Mary & Glenda from New York

Mary_C, Apr 2024

On my trip to the Colosseum and Roman Private Tour with Viator, I had the pleasure of being guided by the knowledgeable and friendly Arnella her passion for the city and its history truly elevated the experience. Arnella also spoke Latin, she translated a lot of the scripting on the stones

Perfect way to spend a morning

Dave_C, Apr 2024

Our tour of the Colosseum and Forum was simply amazing! Our guide was gracious and helped us understand and appreciate the rich history of Rome. We came knowing a little but left learning so much!

Great tour!

meghanechapman, Apr 2024

Excellent tour-very knowledgeable. Took us through Colusseum and beyond. Grabbed us a cab at the end.

Colosseum with Mirta

Anthony_D, Apr 2024

We had a fantastic tour with Mirta. Mirta was very knowledgeable and easily navigated bad weather for a memorable Colosseum experience.

Invaluable experience

Juan_P, Apr 2024

Cannot state enough the value of having this personal experience with a guide as amazing as Eleonora. I have been a student of Roman history for many years and still learnt so much from her. My son, who is normally board through tours, really enjoyed it and learnt a lot himself. Amazing tour and even better tour guide!

Private tour

Heidi_K, Apr 2024

Private tour is definitely way to go. We learned so much. Floor of coliseum is worth extra. Pick up from hotel made our first day in Rome so much easier!

Coliseum

Leslee_D, Mar 2024

Great guide. Very informative and kept the interest of my 12 year old grandson. I highly recommend this tour

Great experience

Jessica_O, Mar 2024

Francesa was very knowledgeable and very animated. This made our tour wonderful. It was pouring rain but she helped make it more fun. Worth doing.

Great experience!

Robert_H, Dec 2023

Alessandro was great guide. He is an architect so extremely knowledgeable about the structures. He also took great photos and had excellent advice on best photo loactions.

Rome Christmas 2023

Christopher_C, Dec 2023

Francesca was amazing! She made it fun and interactive for my 2 children which went a long way after all the pictures and walking. Would recommend doing an even longer tour as there is a lot to see.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Francesca as your guide! We're delighted to hear that she made the tour fun and interactive for your children, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to your visit. We appreciate your recommendation to consider a longer tour, as there is indeed a wealth of fascinating sights to explore. If you ever decide to embark on more adventures or return for further exploration, we'd be thrilled to assist you again. Thank you for choosing us, and we're glad Francesca could contribute to making your experience memorable. We look forward to the possibility of serving you and your family in the future. Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Incredible Tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum

Tim_D, Dec 2023

We had a very nice tour with Emanuele. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the subject of our tours and even had a binder of pictures, drawings and renderings of how the Colosseum and Roman Forum looked during their peak. Given his years of experience and Art History knowledge he even had information about subjects that were not technically part of our tour but was more than happy to share with us as we queried him with questions about Roman history and Art. Sometimes guides can move through the tour too quickly to make sure they cover all the topics and subjects, but we never felt rushed and still covered all the major points of interest.. and then some. 10/10 for us. Thanks1

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Tim, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had a very nice tour with Emanuele. His passion for the subject, extensive knowledge, and the visual aids he provided truly enhanced your experience. It's fantastic that he not only covered the major points of interest but also went beyond, sharing additional insights into Roman history and art. We're glad you felt the pace was just right, and your 10/10 rating means a lot to us. Thanks for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for more enriching tours in the future. Grazie! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Rome

Margaret_M, Nov 2023

If I could give 10 stars I would Our guide Luigi was the best ! !! and despite the inclement weather we gained tremendous insight to the Colosseum and Forum.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your enthusiastic feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your experience with Luigi was so exceptional that you would give it 10 stars if you could. It's wonderful that despite the inclement weather, you gained tremendous insight into the Colosseum and Forum. Your positive comments about Luigi's guidance are truly appreciated, and we'll make sure to share your feedback with him. If you ever plan to explore more historical sites or have other interests, we'd be delighted to welcome you back for more insightful and enjoyable tours in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Perfect vist to the Collosseum and Roman Forum.

Aline_B, Nov 2023

I was expecting the Collosseum to be fabulous and it was, but our expert guide brought the Roman Forum to life. Her extensive knowledge and story telling made this experience super special.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Aline, Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's fantastic to hear that while you had high expectations for the Colosseum, your expert guide truly brought the Roman Forum to life and made the entire experience super special. Guides with extensive knowledge and effective storytelling can indeed enhance the historical and cultural significance of a site, making it a more immersive and memorable experience. We're delighted that you had a fabulous tour, and we hope you carry these special memories with you. If you ever decide to explore more historical sites or have other interests, we'd love to welcome you back for more enriching experiences in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Excellent

Jeuarlet_M, Nov 2023

Our guide Gianluca was fantastic! Welll worth the extra cost. vip everything- skipped to all the lines

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Guest, Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Gianluca made your experience exceptional during the tour. Providing a VIP experience with skip-the-line access is part of our commitment to ensuring that our guests have a seamless and enjoyable visit. It's great to know that you found the extra cost well worth it, and we appreciate you recognizing Gianluca's efforts in enhancing your tour. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back on another VIP adventure! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Un giorno perfetto

Matthew_W, Nov 2023

Orella was an exceptional guide. Very knowledgeable, fun, and attentive. She loves her profession and is great at it

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Matthew, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that Orella provided you with an exceptional guiding experience. If you ever plan to explore more, we'd love to have you back for another memorable tour. Thank you for choosing our services, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Highly recommend

Michael_H, Nov 2023

Our tour guide Katie is a historian who is very knowledgeable and friendly. She explained the details with pictures and old photos from her iPad made the Colosseum and Roman Forum live again. We had a most wonderful time and experience. Best value for money.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Michael, Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience with our fantastic tour guide, Katie! It's wonderful to hear that her expertise and friendly demeanor enhanced your visit. We're thrilled that you had a wonderful time and found it to be the best value for money. We appreciate your kind words and hope you have many more enriching travel experiences with us in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Great history lesson!

Arden_C, Oct 2023

The tour guide is an archaeologist so he was very knowledgeable. Why Nero wanted to build the Colosseum at its current location? Why he decided to make the events free for everyone?

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Arden, We're delighted to hear that you found our tour guide's knowledge impressive, especially with their background as an archaeologist. We take good pride in choosing our guides! We look forward to your next adventure for many more anecdotes and interesting facts about Rome's great past. Looking forward to welcoming you again in the Eternal City! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Excellent Guide!

Jennifer_M, Oct 2023

Our guide, Silvia, was fantastic! Her tour of the Colosseum was very interesting and she happily and easily answered all of our questions. I wish I could give this tour 5 stars, but, through no fault at all of this company, I cannot look back on this day and call it “Excellent”. As we were leaving the Colosseum to head to the Forum, a member of our group experienced a medical emergency. Silvia very quickly alerted security and called for an ambulance. She then stayed as long as she could to act as translator. The driver was very prompt to pick us up before the tour, and was very patient at end, eventually returning 4 of us to our accommodations. Silvia was honestly concerned about us, and continued communications into the evening and the next day, making sure we were all okay. She absolutely went above and beyond and I highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Jennifer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent tour with Silvia. We are thrilled to hear that she provided you with a fantastic tour of the Colosseum and that you found her to be an excellent guide, readily addressing all your questions. We appreciate your understanding regarding the unexpected medical emergency that occurred during your tour. As you rightly pointed out, this situation was entirely beyond our control, and we are relieved to hear that Silvia acted promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected group member by contacting security and arranging for an ambulance. We do regret that an event beyond our control prevented you from rating your experience as "Excellent," but we are grateful for your kind words and positive recommendation. Once again, thank you for choosing us, and we hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again in the future for an experience that meets your expectations entirely. Best regards, Eyes of Rome Team

Vatican and of course Michelangelo.

Andrew_R, Oct 2023

Our guide had 22 years of experience and a lovely sense of humour. Thank you Patrizia. Her description of the life and work of the artist and of the history of the Vatican was well chronologies Ed and fun.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Andrew, Thank you for your wonderful review! It sounds like you had a fantastic time with Patrizia as your guide. Her 22 years of experience and delightful sense of humor certainly add an extra layer of enjoyment to the tour. If you ever plan to explore more in the future, please feel free to get in touch. We're here to help and ensure you have more great experiences! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Azzurra was our tour...

Jose_B, Oct 2023

Azzurra was our tour guide and she was amazing. She made us feel so welcomed and explained everything so well in spanish. She was also so kind and patient since we had a one year old in our group. Thank you so much, Azzurra!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Jose, Thank you for sharing your experience with our lovely guide Azzurra. It's wonderful to hear that she made your tour so enjoyable and memorable. Her warm welcome, excellent explanations in Spanish, and patience with a one-year-old in your group are all truly commendable. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her, and we hope you have many more fantastic adventures with us in the future! Best regards, Eyes of Rome Team

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