3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in:
English
Overview
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Get the standard Colosseum experience with skip-the-line entry to the first two levels as well as the Forum.
What's Included
Professional guide
Skip-the-Line Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Headsets to hear your guide clearly
Short introduction to Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Fully guided visit of the Colosseum
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Meeting And Pickup
Meeting point
Largo Gaetana Agnesi
Largo Gaetana Agnesi, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Meet your guide at Largo Gaetana Agnesi, on the little square above the metro line B (blue line) stop "Colosseo". Your guide coordinator will be waiting here wearing a blue City Wonders polo shirt or jacket for easy recognition.
End point
Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy
What To Expect
Your Ancient Rome tour starts near Oppian Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, for a view of the Colosseum. Then walk down to the arena with your guide, and skip the main entrance line with your fast-track ticket. Inside, explore the Colosseum’s first and second tiers while listening to stories from your guide about the brutal events that were once held here, like executions and gory gladiator battles. As you stroll around the perimeter of the amphitheater, try to image the ancient crowd of up to 50,000 spectators who cheered as gladiators’ fates were decided by power-hungry emperors. Next, exit the Colosseum and walk over to the Roman Forum, once the political heart of the city. Get an up-close view of ancient remains like the House of the Vestal Virgins and the Temple of Julius Caesar, and then walk up Palatine Hill for another perspective of the ruins, including Circus Maximus, where chariot races once took place. Your tour ends here, from where you can continue exploring on your own. Optional upgrade to the Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour: Underground Chambers, Arena and Upper Tier (3.5 hours) For a more thorough exploration of the Colosseum, select the upgrade option when booking for a tour that includes access to the third tier, the arena floor and the underground chambers—sections of the Colosseum that are either newly opened or typically closed to the general public. You’ll see more than most visitors do. Walk around the reconstructed floor of the arena, where the gladiators once dueled in bloody battles, and look down through the gaps into the underground chambers. Then make your way below ground to explore the chambers themselves, checking out pits where wild animals like tigers and lions were held, before heading up to the third tier for a panoramic view into the Colosseum and out to Palatine Hill. Your tour ends with a visit to the Roman Forum, as described in the standard tour.
Colosseum
Your journey into antiquity begins with the Colosseum, one of the world’s most iconic sights. Your guide will call on their historical and archaeological expertise to tell you all about the battles, both physical and political, that played out in this incredible amphitheater. You might be surprised to learn that ‘Gladiator’ didn’t get everything right and that feats of ancient engineering even allowed the Romans to re-enact naval battles here.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Palatine Hill
The next stop takes you back to the very beginning. The Palatine Hill is the spot Romulus chose to found the city that would become Rome in 753 BC – a decision that ended in tragedy for his brother Remus. Here, steeped in history, you’ll enjoy spectacular views overlooking your next destination: the Roman Forum.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
Italy’s tourist sites are among the most popular in the world. Skip the Line Access and careful planning limit our crowd exposure, but please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours.
Not wheelchair accessible
(Video) Rome Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Small Group Tour
Near public transportation
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
about cancellations.
Traveler Photos
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Traveler Tips
Book early in the day if travelling in summer as the temperatures rise, and often little shade.
be aware that it is very hot during the summer time, take lots of water.
Highly recommended, and plan to stay in the Forum and Palatine Hill after the tour ends, so bring snacks and water!
Reviews
4.5
15,432 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 15,432 reviews
Great guide & no queues
Nickeel_S,
Oct 2022
We had a fabulous experience. Our guide was Giuseppe who was extremely warm and knowledgeable. He really delivers the tour with passion and enthusiasm. Skipped all the lines and enjoyed the rich history of the Colosseum, Forum and the Palatine Hill. Would definitely recommend.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Definitely worth the tour
ROBERT_W,
Oct 2022
Maria Louisa was excellent. Very knowledgeable and kept a good pace but did not rush at any time either. Definitely need good footwear. Also take the time to go back and see other parts of forum and palliatine hill tour does not visit
Great tour and the right way to appreciate colloseum
Yasemin_I,
Oct 2022
Maria was an amazing Guide. Very knowledgeable and just a genuine friendly character. She made the whole visit interesting and without her I wouldn’t have had such an appreciation for what I would have seen. Would definitely recommend her!
Excellent tour with a super friendly, funny and extremely knowledgeable guide.
Fahad_V,
Oct 2022
The Sistine Chapel was amazing and my wife and I loved hearing the stories behind the art. The tour was fast moving and never boring but left you with plenty of time to enjoy the art.
Our guide was amazing....
Shawn_R,
Oct 2022
Our guide was amazing. She brought the history of the colosseum to life. We completely enjoyed our tour!
Tired and bored guide
Michaela_M,
Oct 2022
Seeing the colosseum was going to be the highlight of my holiday but felt the guide was bored and probably at the end of her very busy season. People were asking her questions and she would answer not relating to the question. Small group means up to 22 people but thankfully we were given radios so we could hear her clearly. Other tour guides had pictures of what each area would have looked like back in the time, our tired guide kept saying you will need to use your imagination.
Amazing!
Nicole_S,
Oct 2022
She showed us photos and was very knowledgeable and able to answer questions we had. She was easy to follow, to hear, and to understand.
Guide was great. 22...
Laresa_F,
Oct 2022
Guide was great. 22 people almost too many. Would have preferred a smaller group. The sites had great access
Great info! But be ready for any weather, rain or shine.
Brittany_G,
Oct 2022
Interesting tour, I learned a lot. Even with it raining, our tour guide was very detailed and didn’t let this affect our tour. I would just be aware that if it rains, you can still get a good tour in but bring an umbrella or wear a waterproof jacket with hood to get the most of your experience. We saw 3 sights and even though you skip over a lot of the exhibit as far as artifacts go, your tour guide gives so much info that those aren’t necessarily needed.
Rainy day fun
Elizabeth_A,
Oct 2022
Roman forum- too much time in coliseum-fabulous guide- smart, knowledgeable- very educated - fun experience even in the rain!
Tour of the Colosseum
Renee_C,
Oct 2022
Nicola was outstanding. Very knowledgeable and engaging. I learned so much about a place and a time period I’d studied in school. He really brought it to life and made it so much fun. Thank you.
Excellent experience
Brittany_B,
Oct 2022
Our tour guide Maria Luisa was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and we learned so much from her.
Great experience in Rome
Anirudh_T,
Oct 2022
Our guide was funny and informative. She shared a lot of details about the Coleseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum.
Amphitheatre
HansUlrich_F,
Oct 2022
Very good tour. I recommend it very much. The guid was precessional. It was a really interesting tour.
Hopeful that I’m still able to take advantage of this opportunity.
mfaustatlanticbbnet,
Oct 2022
The only reason why I marked this as average was I was unable to go on the original date due to health reasons and I asked to have it pushed back until October 22 and they pushed it to October 12 which is the day we boarded our cruise ship. I am hopeful that you will allow us to take this tour on the 22nd as originally approved by the person I was talking with at the place that we met them. I was ill and dizzy and could not have walked all that way.
I did have fun
Veronica_H,
Oct 2022
It was a good tour, the problem was the weather. It rained, I had trouble walking. The pathway was slippery
Great tour!
Steve_H,
Oct 2022
Our tour guide eddy (eddy with a y) was very knowledgeable and fun. We had a great time and the tour was on point. Thank you eddy for a great experience.
Lovely tour excellent guide
talia_r,
Oct 2022
We loved this tour we learnt so much and it was really easy to go straight in with the guide and there were no queuing. It was a little hard to find the meeting point after you get off the metro you have to go upstairs in the metro station and meeting point is in the centre on the left , it took us a bit of time to find, but we got there leave plenty of time for your destination arrival Time. And be careful there’s lots of pick pockets abut in the area. We did the tour with Silvia rana. We really enjoyed this tour, Silvia was so passionate and knew everything about the history . It was raining and she made sure everyone had time to stop take photos and stay dry whilst we were stopped. She even brought sweets for us all for energy. She made us feel safe and answered all of our questions about the history and more. She asked us how far we wanted to go and if we wanted to take the easy medium or hard route and was very thoughtful and spoke to all of us on the tour. Keep up the good work Silvia , love from wales :)
Colloseum tour.
Paul_V,
Oct 2022
Excellent tour with Maria Louise as our guide.Very engaging, knowledgeable and friendly.Top guide!
Excellent Tour
jewelhll,
Oct 2022
Maria our Tour Guide was excellent she was so thorough and also was so detailed about her knowlege of the Colosseum. I recommend this tour for eveyone.
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Questions?
Product code: 3731COLOSSEUM
FAQs
How long does it take to see the Colosseum Roman Forum and Palatine Hill? ›
The Roman Forum and Palatine hill are just beside the Colosseum and you can visit both in the same day. A short visit to the Colosseum can take as little as 45 minutes and the Forum is only a minute across the road. Here, you can spend an hour, four or even a day.
What is the difference between Roman Forum and Palatine Hill? ›Palatine Hill is not technically a part of the Roman Forum but, from the perspective of a tourist, they are effectively the same site, in that a ticket gives you entry to both and you'll move between the two without realising exactly where one ends and the other begins.
Is Palatine Hill near the Colosseum? ›The Palatine is located close to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, in the historic center of Rome. It's also walking distance from the Circus Maximus and Piazza Venezia. The area around the Palatine is well-served by public transport, and is only a short walk from the metro station Colosseo (Line B).
Is Palatine Hill worth visiting? ›YES. The Palatine Hill is worth visiting and I am not just saying this because I am a Roman history graduate with a passion for Rome. I recommend visiting the Palatine because it is one of the most beautiful photo spots in Rome as well as one of the most important landmarks in the city.
How much time do you need at Palatine Hill? ›3-4 hours, esp if you do skip the line and do the guided tours, which we did and loved.
Is a tour of the Roman Forum worth it? ›The Forum is one of the most spectacular sights in Rome — a vast, ruin-filled area that speaks to the glory days of the Roman Empire. It's one of the most-photographed — and photogenic — areas of Rome, and it's worth several hours of your time. Yet this sprawling archaeological site can feel overwhelming in scale.
Can you go to Roman Forum before Colosseum? ›You can of course visit the Forum first before going to the Colosseum but remember you still have to honor the time-slot you booked to visit the Colosseum so don't 'activate' your ticket by entering the Forum more than 24 hours before your Colosseum time slot.
Can I visit Palatine Hill before Colosseum? ›Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum tickets, entrance gates and tours. The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) and the Palatine Hill are located in the same archaeological area and count as one admission. The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are adjacent to each other and you can walk freely between the two.
Do you need tickets for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill? ›So, yes, you need to buy a ticket for the Roman Forum. You can buy your Colosseum ticket at the ticket office. Still, we recommend buying your Colosseum Skip-the-line ticket in advance online. Some days during the year have free admission to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum.
How do I get to Palatine Hill from the Colosseum? ›The best way to get from Colosseum to Roman Forum and Palatine Hill without a car is to bus which takes 13 min and costs €1 - €7.
Can you see Palatine Hill without a ticket? ›
Admission to the Palatine in Rome is free and there is less queuing at the reserved special entrance. The Palatine Hills is the oldest inhabited part of the city, and is considered to be the birthplace of the Roman empire.
How much does it cost to go to Palatine Hill? ›Standard price for entry to the Palatine Hill
A standard ticket costs 16€. There is a 2€ fee to pre-book this ticket in advance, which is now the only way to book, so the ticket comes to 18€ for adults.
Palatine Hill is open daily from 10:30 AM - 7:15 PM, with last entry at 6:15 PM. Palatine Hill is closed on 1 January and 25 December.
How much does it cost to visit the Roman Forum? ›The Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum have separate ticket entrances, but all three sites can be accessed via one admission ticket. Tickets cost 12 euros (less than $15) for adults and 7.50 euros (or about $9.30) for kids. The tickets grants you access to all three sites; you can walk around each freely.
Does the Colosseum have a dress code? ›Unlike the holy sites you might visit in Rome, there is no set dress code for visiting the Colosseum. Wear comfortable clothes - no heels or stiff shirts - as you will be doing a lot of walking around on your visit.
Does the Roman Forum have a dress code? ›Not at all like the Holy destinations and places of worship in Rome, there are no clothing standards for the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Can I visit Palatine Hill before Colosseum? ›Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum tickets, entrance gates and tours. The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) and the Palatine Hill are located in the same archaeological area and count as one admission. The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are adjacent to each other and you can walk freely between the two.
How long is Roman Forum tour? ›This post is a self-guided tour of the Forum in Rome as well as the adjacent Imperial Fori. The tour should take approximately 1 hour or just a bit less than that.
Can you go to Roman Forum before Colosseum? ›You can of course visit the Forum first before going to the Colosseum but remember you still have to honor the time-slot you booked to visit the Colosseum so don't 'activate' your ticket by entering the Forum more than 24 hours before your Colosseum time slot.
What time does the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill close? ›Colosseum Hours
The Roman Forum is open daily from 10:30 AM to 07:15 PM. Last admission is one hour before closing time. The Roman Forum is closed on 1 January and 25 December. Palatine Hill is open daily from 10:30 AM - 7:15 PM, with last entry at 6:15 PM.