Rome Attractions
The Colosseum is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, but to truly appreciate its history, architecture, and hidden stories, a guided tour is the best way to experience it.
While you can explore on your own, a guide brings the ancient amphitheater to life, sharing fascinating tales of gladiators, emperors, and the grandeur of ancient Rome.
A guided tour also allows you to skip the long lines, access restricted areas like the Underground and Arena Floor, and get in-depth historical insights from expert guides.
There are many types of guided tours available, catering to different interests and budgets.
You can opt for a basic tour covering the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, or choose a more exclusive experience that grants access to the Arena Floor and Underground Chambers.
Some guided tours even combine a visit to the Vatican Museums, allowing you to see multiple historic sites in one day.
This article will help you choose the best Colosseum tour for your visit.
Types of Colosseum Guided Tour
While booking a guided tour of the Colosseum, you can stick to the most basic experience – a tour of only the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Or elevate your experience by adding the Colosseum’s Underground and Arena to your tour.
Guided tours are also available in combination with nearby attractions such as the Vatican Museums.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Languages |
| Guided tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine | 3 hours | €54 | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Guided tour of Colosseum, Arena, Forum & Palatine | 3 hours | €65 | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Guided tour of Colosseum, Arena, Underground, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill | 3 hours | €95 | English, Spanish |
| Colosseum, Roman Forum & Vatican Museums: Guided Tour | 7 hours | €84 | English |
Note: When booking tickets, please make sure you select your preferred language for the guided tour. The maximum group size for all these tours is 25.
Colosseum, Arena, Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill: Guided Tour
This guided tour of the Colosseum provides the best and most immersive experience as you get access to all the remarkable icons.
This tour gives you access to all the attractions within the Colosseum complex: the Colosseum, Arena Floor, Underground Chambers, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
As part of this tour, you will walk through the hidden underground tunnels where gladiators and wild animals awaited their fate, then step onto the Arena Floor for a gladiator’s perspective of the ancient battles.
With skip-the-line entry, your expert guide will also take you through the Roman Forum, the heart of Roman civilization, and then head to Palatine Hill, the legendary founding site of Rome.
Access to: Colosseum, Arena, Underground, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Duration: 3 hours
Time slots: 9 am to 1 pm
Price: Starts from €95
Note: Check out this tour if you want to explore the Roman attractions in a smaller group.
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: Guided Tour
This is the most popular guided tour. In three hours, the local guide will take you through the main attractions.
With skip-the-line access, you’ll step inside the Colosseum, where gladiators once battled. An expert guide will bring history to life with fascinating stories. Then, you’ll move on to the Forum and Palatine Hill.
Access to: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
Time slots: 8.15 am to 2 pm
Price: Starts from €54
Tip: Choosing the right time to visit is just as important as picking the right tour. Our guide on the best and worst times to visit the Colosseum will help you avoid crowds and long waits.
Get the Rome Tourist Digital Pass and save big! Customize your own package and get skip-the-line entry to Rome’s famous attractions.
Colosseum, Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: Guided Tour
This guided tour of the Colosseum grants exclusive access to the Arena Floor. However, it doesn’t include access to the Underground.
Once you have explored the floor where the Gladiators fought for their lives, you will explore the rest of the ancient stadium attractions.
Access to: Colosseum, Arena Floor, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
Duration: 3 hours
Time slots: 8.30 am to 4 pm
Price: Starts from €74
Did you know you can enter through the Colosseum’s ‘Death Gate’ for a unique experience? Find out about all the Colosseum entrances.
As the sun sets and the crowds reduce, explore this iconic landmark under the enchanting glow of evening lights. Book your Sunset and Night Tour of the Colosseum now!
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Vatican Museums: Guided Tour
If you are short on time, the guided tour of the Colosseum and Vatican Museum is just what you need.
These tours start anytime from 8.15 am to 10.15 am and last seven hours.
You will start with a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, with fast-track entry, and then receive VIP entry to St. Peter’s Basilica.
After lunch, this tour will take you on a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. However, it does not include the Arena and Underground entries.
The tour’s starting point is 100 Viale Vaticano, 00192, Rome. Get Directions
Access to: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica
Duration: 7 hours
Time slots: Starts from 8.15 am to 10.15 am
Price: Starts from €149
Note: If you want to see the Colosseum and Vatican Museum on two different days, you can book this combo tour!
Explore more in a day
Why opt for Colosseum Guided Tour
| Aspect | Guided Tour | Self-Guided |
| Expert guidance | Led by a professional guide | No guidance |
| Information | Detailed explanations with historical context | Information from signs, brochures, or audio guides |
| Access to restricted areas | Often includes special access to areas like the Underground Chambers and Arena floor | Limited to general public areas |
| Level of engagement | Ability to ask questions and engage with the guide | Limited to personal research |
| Cost | Starts from €55 Book now | Starts from €37 Book now |
| Route | Organized and followed in a way to give you maximum coverage | You may miss out on important sections |
| Audio guides and apps | Usually comes with headsets | Have to pay extra for audio guides |
| Crowd management | Guide helps manage and navigate through crowds | Self-managed, difficult to navigate, and may encounter larger crowds |
Know before you go
- All Guided tour tickets include skip-the-line access to the Colosseum, but the security checkpoints cannot be skipped.
- It is mandatory to carry a valid ID during your visit.
- Some tickets require the correct names of the tourists to be entered and verified twice before the trip starts. You will be asked for this information when booking your tickets.
- The order in which the sites are visited during the tour can vary; the Colosseum may be explored first, followed by the archaeological sites, or vice versa.
- When you visit the Colosseum, remember to bring enough water and wear comfortable shoes, as this attraction requires a lot of walking.
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