Visiting the Colosseum sounds simple—until you realize how many tour options there are. Arena floor? Underground? Full-day combos with the Vatican? With so many variations, it’s easy to book the wrong one and miss what makes the Colosseum truly worth your time. After years of walking these ancient stones with travelers from around the world, we’ve built this no-fluff guide to help you pick the right Colosseum tour for your time, budget, and travel style.
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Should You Take a Tour of The Colosseum?
Yes—if you actually want to understand what you’re looking at.
The Colosseum might be one of the most famous landmarks in the world, but without a guide, most travelers breeze through in 20 minutes and leave without knowing what made it so legendary. A great tour unlocks the layers beneath the ruins: who built it, what really happened inside, and why it still stands today. Whether it’s your first time in Rome or your fifth, this is one site that’s always better with a guide.
Not ready to book? Find out if Colosseum tours are worth it.
Types of Tours Available In/Near The Colosseum
🏟️ Colosseum Entry
👉 See All Privileged Entry Tours
Don’t need special access, but also don’t want to wait in line? These tours are designed for travelers who want a guided experience with faster entry into the Colosseum’s general access levels. It’s all the essential history—with none of the extra logistics.
🕍 Arena Floor Tours
Arena access tours are built around one epic moment: entering through the Gladiator’s Gate and stepping onto the Colosseum’s stage. You’ll look up at the stands from a fighter’s perspective and explore the site with a guide who brings the space—and the bloodsport—back to life. These tours are fast-paced, visceral, and perfect for anyone craving more than just a photo stop.
🔐 Colosseum Underground Tours
Descend into the most restricted part of the Colosseum—the hypogeum. This underground maze of tunnels, elevators, and cages was the backstage engine of ancient Roman spectacle. These tours offer a rare chance to explore it with a licensed expert and limited group access.
🔦 Private Tours
👉 See All Private Colosseum Tours
Want the Colosseum without the crowd? Private tours give you full control over pacing, questions, and access. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, going private turns a big-site experience into something more personal—and often far more memorable.
🛺 Rome on Wheels
👉 See All Rome on Wheels Tours
Prefer sightseeing without the sore feet? These experiences let you take in the Colosseum—and the rest of Rome’s highlights—from the comfort of a tuk tuk, golf cart, or e-bike. They’re great for families, mobility-conscious travelers, or anyone who wants to cover more ground with less effort. The Colosseum is often a photo stop or brief highlight, not the main focus.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Colosseum Tour
After years of guiding travelers through the Colosseum through decades, here’s what we’ve learned:
- Do you want special access? Arena floor and underground tours offer experiences general admission can’t match.
- How much time do you have? Standard tours take 2.5–3 hours. Rome in a Day? Closer to 7–8.
- Are you okay with walking? Most tours involve stairs, uneven ground, and limited shade—especially in the Forum.
- Do crowds bother you? Choose morning or evening time slots for fewer people and better light.
- Traveling with kids or older adults? Golf cart, private, or “Rome on Wheels” options can be much more comfortable.
- Want to ask questions or move at your own pace? Private tours make a huge difference.
🏆 Employee Favorite Picks Featuring The Colosseum
We’ve walked these tours ourselves—here’s what our team genuinely recommends, organized by attraction type and access level:
1. Colosseum Arena Floor Access
- Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour with Roman Forum– For travelers who want a more immersive, emotional view of the Colosseum.
- Semi-Private Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor- All the access, none of the rush. Perfect for families or curious travelers who ask a lot of questions.
2. Colosseum Underground Access
- Colosseum Underground Tour – Underground access, your own expert guide, and no competing for space.
3. Privileged Entry (No Arena or Underground)
- Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill–The classic experience, done better. A solid go-to for first-timers.
4. Private Colosseum Tours
- Private Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor – Arena floor access and private storytelling at your pace.
- Private Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill– A classic deep dive into ancient Rome with your own guide.
- Private Family-Friendly Rome Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour– Kid-friendly fun with games, stories, and zero stress.
- Private Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Vatican Museums– All the big sights, zero logistics, all privately guided.
5. Sightseeing Tours
- 3-Hour Scenic Golf Cart Tour of Rome in a Small Group– A comfortable, scenic ride past the Colosseum and all of Rome’s major sites in 3 hours. Save your legs.
- Rome at Twilight by Golf Cart– Golden hour views of the Colosseum, Trevi, Pantheon, and more—with zero foot traffic.
- Small Group Tour of Rome at Night by Segway– Glide through ancient Rome on a Segway as you cover centuries of history without breaking a sweat.
6. Combo Tours
- Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums– If you only have one day in Rome, this is the move. All the big names, expertly paced.
How To Decide What’s Best For You
After guiding thousands of travelers through the Colosseum, these are the questions we always ask to help narrow it down.
- Want to walk where gladiators fought? → Book an Arena Floor Access tour.
- Curious about what’s below the surface? → Go for an Underground Tour.
- Hate waiting in line? → Privileged Entry tours skip the hassle.
- Traveling with kids or older adults? → Private tours are flexible and low-stress.
- Prefer wheels over walking? → Choose a Sightseeing Tour with Colosseum views.
- Only have one day in Rome? → A Combo Tour covers the big hitters in one go.
Final Thoughts
We’ve seen it time and time again—visiting the Colosseum can be awe-inspiring or forgettable depending on how you do it.
The right tour makes all the difference. Whether you’re stepping onto the arena floor, exploring the underground, or seeing it from a golf cart at sunset, we built this guide to help you make your time at the Colosseum actually count.
Where To Stay in Rome
Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.
Here’s Where To Stay in Italy’s Most Popular Destinations
Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast, and Capri
Where do you meet?
Ciao Glenda! Thanks for reading our blog. For all of our Colosseum tours, they meet right outside of the Colosseo metro stop. More detailed information can be found upon booking. Hope this helps!
My wife is claustrophobic – what areas of the tour would you recommend to stay away from – e.g. underground?
Ciao Wally! The Colosseum Underground might not be the best option for you guys. I recommend the Colosseum Arena Floor tour, this way you’re only in wide-open spaces.
Thanks Kayla. If we were to book 3 underground tours, is the Underground portion first, last or in between? We thought we could let my wife skip the Underground portion, but meet us for the rest of the tour. Is this even possible to coordinate?
Ciao Wally! Depends which tour you’d like to do. Our Colosseum Underground, Underground + Top Levels, and Night Tour all visit the Colosseum Underground. I recommend calling our travel experts to coordinate the best experience for you and your group! You can reach them at 888-290-5595.
I am planning an analog photography trip to Rome/Italy in October. My daughter, who currently lives in Rome, says that they pass bags through an x-ray scanner when you visit museums. Since I will be carrying film and a film camera, I would like to know whether they will hand check my film and camera instead of sending it through the scanner if I request it.
X-rays will damage film, especially if it is is done repeatedly. I am buying all my film in Italy and developing it there specifically to avoid having to have it x-rayed at airports.
Hi Dave! Thanks for reading our blog. I can’t say that we have a definite answer on this one. You can definitely ask them to hand check your bags, but we guarantee that they will. We recommend using a digital camera to take pictures inside of the Colosseum to avoid this issue. Hope this helps!
Thanks for your reply. I will be carrying a film camera, not digital. I have decided to carry limited film with me on each day’s excursion and log how many times each film is x-rayed so I can keep the x-ray passes to a minimum which will hopefully not be enough to damage the film. I will be buying and developing the film in Italy, so it will not be exposed to x-rays by the airlines.
Ciao Dave! Sounds like a good plan. Always good to be prepared before your trip to Rome!
We are going to be in Rome on November 7th and thinking of taking the VIP night tour. What time does this tour start and end?
Ciao Paul! We would be more than happy to get you all set up. You can contact our travel experts who will help you book your tour at 888-290-5595.