Is a Colosseum Tour Worth It?

When planning a trip to Rome there are many things to look forward to. You’ll eat pasta, drink wine, see the Sistine Chapel, and above all else, check out the Colosseum. I have personally heard so many people say, “you don’t even need to go inside, the outside is the best part.” Are they right? Is it worth it to go inside the Colosseum let alone take a tour?

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Pro Tip: If you are considering tours, also check out if a Vatican tour is worth it.

What Does it Mean to “See The Colosseum”?

Before deciding if it is worth it to enter the Colosseum or take a tour, it is important to understand what you are going to see.

The Colosseum

The Best Colosseum Tours to Take and Why

The Colosseum is a massive amphitheater that once seated up to 80,000 people for bloody and murderous events of all sorts. It is a sort of oval structure surrounded by 240 exterior arches that served as both entranceways and structural support. The building has served as the model for professional sports stadiums since its conception.

When you purchase a general admission ticket to enter the Colosseum it includes access to the first and second floors, but not to the arena floor where the Gladiators fought. There are all types of upgraded admissions that visit other areas which is what we recommend doing. More on that further down.

The admission ticket for the Colosseum automatically includes the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.

The Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is a massive archaeological site that was once the home of many Roman Emperors. The word “palace” derives from the word “palatine” since this was where the Emperor’s palaces were. Why did they build their palaces here?

A few reasons, but above all, it was where the modest “hut” of Romulus once was. Romulus founded Rome atop the Palatine Hill and archaeologists believe to have found the structural remains of his home which you can see on top of the hill. There is a lot of speculation here, but it makes sense that Romulus would have lived in this position.

The ruins that are visible on the Palatine Hill are vast and expansive. Definitely check out our article on the top things to see on the Palatine Hill.

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is normally visited last in sequence but is definitely one of the most sought-after archaeological sites on Earth. It is home to grand edifices of deep historical importance. There are two triumphant arches including the Arch of Titus which gives us an early, but advanced view of specialism in art that was not paralleled until the proto-renaissance and renaissance.

You can read our article on the top things to see in the Roman Forum, but these archeological sites make purchasing a ticket to the Colosseum quintessential. You’ve come all that way not to walk inside? Now, is a tour of the Colosseum worth it?

Is a Tour of the Colosseum Worth the Money?

The Best Rome Tours to Take and Why?

Short Answer: Yes, if you have a great guide and small group.

We are a tour company, so we are obviously going to say yes. That said, we were not forced to become a tour company – we chose this route because tours should enhance your experience in many ways beyond learning. We realized not all tours are created equally and here is what we do to make them definitely worth taking. Check out the best Colosseum tours for in-depth info.

Privileged Access Areas

As mentioned before, general admission to the Colosseum is pretty basic, but there is so much more to experience with an upgraded tour. There are all types of upgraded admissions that we procure and offer with our guided tours:

Colosseum Underground

Easily the most sought-after reservation, the Colosseum Underground ticket allows visitors to visit the Ippogium below the stage where the wild animals and at times gladiators emerged from trap doors! You’ll even see replicas of ancient elevators and trap doors. We have a few tours that include this area at various price points:

• Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (most popular)
• VIP Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground and Arena Floor (least expensive)
• Colosseum Underground + Belevedere Top Level Tour (most premium)

Colosseum Arena Floor

The word “arena” derives from the Latin word meaning sand. This is because the Colosseum floor was covered with sand, to soak up the blood, and was referred to as the “arena”.

While the arena today is merely re-constructed, it is still very cool. It is also a very affordable tour to purchase which makes it popular. Here are the tours, including all of the above products, which include the Arena of the Colosseum.

• Arena Floor Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum
• Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (most popular)
• VIP Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground and Arena Floor (least expensive)
• Colosseum Underground + Belevedere Top Level Tour (most premium)

Colosseum Top Levels Tours

There are also additional levels you can visit which offer stunning views and far fewer visitors. General admission allows you access to the first two floors and the top levels tour goes to the 3rd, 4th, and sometimes 5th level. Check out our tour which includes the top levels:

• Colosseum Underground + Belevedere Top Level Tour (most premium)

Skip-the-Line Access

This is what really sets our tours apart from the rest. We have a special collaboration with the Vatican, so all of our tours skip the lines for tickets. We also have expedited security lines to enter which vastly decrease wait times to enter this popular attraction that fills up fast.

Great Tour Guides

The key to a great tour is a knowledgeable tour guide. The best guides can make anything that is uninteresting become interesting. When you couple a great guide with an incredible monument like the Colosseum you can get one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

You are talking about an archeological site in the center of one of the most important cities on Earth over the last two thousand years. The Colosseum was put to use for hundreds of years and saw many faces throughout time. People used to fight, at times, to the death, inside this building which makes it unreal, to say the least.

We work closely with the best tour guides to hone and improve their skills to bring the most interesting factoids and anecdotes to the surface. We have worked with guides on their language skill, history, presence, and even first aid! We’re committed to attracting the best and most engaging guides so you get a high-quality tour that you will remember.

Stories

Here are some facts you might not know: Have you heard all the stories of Christians dying inside the Colosseum? Well, it’s likely not true and the Colosseum is only a nickname!

While there is a ton of history packed into the Colosseum tour, there are also so many stories, myth-busting, and anecdotes that you would never hear otherwise. Guides understand that in order for you to stay engaged to a tour, you have to weave in scandals and anecdotes to keep things exciting!

So, is a Colosseum tour worth it? More than you can imagine!