Maximize your limited time in Rome and bypass the seemingly endless ticket line at the Colosseum. The special ticket further grants you exclusive access to the arena floor where gladiators once stood. Listen as your guide goes beyond what you get in a typical audio guide. Hear the behind-the-scenes history of fighters, spectators, and more. Afterward, use the time you saved to explore other attractions, enjoy Italian food, or simply relax.

Skip the long line to the city’s most popular attraction
Enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Colosseum
Experience the arena from a unique vantage point
Take advantage of your limited vacation time

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This express tour explores both the arena floor and 2nd level in a short period of time.

What's Included

Official Live Guide
Arena Floor restricted area
Fast Track Entrance/Gladiator Door
Headsets
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour
Admission Fees

Food and drinks
Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Santi Cosma e Damiano
Via dei Fori Imperiali, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Meet in front of the Basilica San Cosma and Damiano. Look for tour greeters in red Show Me Italy jackets/shirts. They will be waiting next to the large red pillar just in front of the church on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

End point

Largo della Salara Vecchia
L.go della Salara Vecchia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

What To Expect

This tour makes a comprehensive visit to Rome’s Colosseum as easy as possible and grants exclusive access to the Colosseum arena floor, which is usually off-limits to regular visitors.

Skip ticket lines and bypass the crowds struggling to get into the popular attraction through the gladiator entrance and spend about an hour exploring the site. Follow your guide through the ground floor and second level while listening to detailed accounts of the historical games and battles.

Continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the birthplace of Rome, and spend about 45 minutes touring each attraction before finishing the tour at the Forum.

Colosseum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
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.
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.
The meeting time is subject to change. In this case, you will be contacted in advance via email

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time of the tour
• Refunds will not be provided for no-shows or late arrivals. If you are late to the meeting point, you will not be able to join your tour.
• Toilets are limited, use the toilet before arriving for the tour. (Breaks made when possible)
• No weapons (pocket knives), glass bottles or large backpacks
• Tours will run rain or shine (unless closed for safety reasons)
There are mandatory security checks al all entry points to the sites. The wait time time for the security check can be considerable during peak times/seasons and has nothing to do with the ticket line
The names provided at the time of the booking cannot be changed.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

2,367 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 2,367 reviews

Historical

Kelle_C, Apr 2024

Very informative. Tour guide was an historian and very knowledgeable. Enjoyed the history of the area and putting into perspective with the different Caesar’s.

Perfect

Susan_S, Apr 2024

Excellent guide! Very informative and attention to detail! Would definitely enjoy other tours with this guide!

Colosseum in Rome

Sarah_F, Apr 2024

A lovely tour, hard on the feet, must wear comfortable shoes. Very hot advisable to do tour in the morning

Great experience!

meera_l, Apr 2024

Seeing the ancient Roman sites was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed having a tour guide who was very knowledgeable and nice explaining so much of the history. It was a very interesting tour.

When going to Italy with...

Christina_H, Apr 2024

When going to Italy with kids, getting a tour guide and skipping the lines is worth every penny. We really enjoyed getting to hear such detail about the history. The amount of time felt a little rushed, but overall it was really good. Some of the guests on the tour got separated from us briefly, due to some needing to use an elevator, but our guide found them and handled it well.

Colosseum with Max.

Jay_W, Apr 2024

We had a great time on our tour of the Colosseum and Palatine Hill with Max. We appreciated his expert knowledge, and he did a great job of keeping our group together. I would take this tour again!

Awesome!

Matthew_P, Apr 2024

Was a good tour of the main sites of Roman history. Our tour leader Humi was very very good at her job. Funny, controlled, organised and passionate. She handled a very late group joining the tour like a professional, including their ailments without getting frustrated. The downfall is that the forum and hill was rushed. Maybe a better way is to have the ticket usable after the tour to go back and explore more of the forum at your own pace. Otherwise lovely day.

Great experience

Arjyadeep_R, Apr 2024

It was a great tour. Our guide Scott was really knowledgeable and he supervised the tour extremely well. Given that it involves a lot of walking, he ensured that everyone can do the trip at their own pace. He was meticulous in explaining each and every bit of the history and made the tour more fun by cracking jokes. He ensured that the tour remains lively all throughout. All in all a highly recommended tour.

Amazing!

Kayla_P, Apr 2024

Lumi was amazing. She made this tour brilliant. Her knowledge is extraordinary and odd things that no one would normally pay attention to or ask about, she pointed out. She kept it educational whilst making sure we had a good laugh throughout. The day was fantastic and I would go again. It did feel short at the time, however, if I hadn't had a guide like Lumi I wouldn't have been so driven to find out more.

Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill

Emily_E, Apr 2024

This was a great tour and our guide, Lumi, was very knowledgeable and funny. She was also considerate and gracious with our large group as we had two kids with us and made sure they saw the sights. This moved at a quick pace but there was so much to see between the colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Obviously a must do if you’re in the area.

Access all areas!

Sophie_B, Apr 2024

Excellent guide. Scott did an amazing job recreating Roman history for a group that ranged in age from 11 to 78!

An interesting history lesson

Gary_B, Apr 2024

The locations visited need to be seen to be believed. A must visit for any visitors to Rome. Well worth the cost of the tour to have a knowledgeable guide.

Knowledge friendly guide...

Julie_S, Apr 2024

Knowledge friendly guide very helpful took upto parts of coliseum we wouldn't have seen Very food English

Well paced tour

James_H, Apr 2024

Our guide Humi led us around the Colosseum like a pro! She engaged us with the centuries of history and all it's twists and turns. We had time to take photos and never felt rushed.

Enjoyable & Professional

John_S, Apr 2024

Fabrizio? was a great guide - knowledgeable and good jokes, keeping everyone engaged. He also has good rapport with security, making the checkpoints quick and painless.

Unreal

Lucas_P, Apr 2024

Our tour guide who was called Roger, was absolutely brilliant, an unreal experience. Would 100% recommend.

Inspiring, breathtaking, and. Dream come true

Randall_B, Apr 2024

Absolutely inspiring. This was at the top of my bucket list. Can’t wait to bring my family with next time.

Excellent guide!

Robert_F, Apr 2024

Guide was exceptionally knowledgable, and made the whole experience. I'm sure Viator doesn't pay him enough. Promote that man!

Ok tour

Justine_H, Apr 2024

I have been to the Colosseum before on this tour and this time it was not as good. The guide did not know we paid to go to the bottom level. We had to go all the way back down. The guide was very informative but wasted so much time talking we didn’t get a chance to really walk around.

Great tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum

Barry_B, Apr 2024

Really good tour. Hit all the key points. Guide was informative and considered the needs of the group.

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