The Best Colosseum Tours To Take in 2023 and Why + Map

At almost 164 feet tall, the Colosseum is even more impressive in person. Beginning in A.D. 72, it took 10 years and 60,000 slaves to construct the largest amphitheater in the world. It’s no wonder every traveler to Rome wants to visit it! But with so many types of tickets, tours, and experiences, how do you choose which Colosseum tour is right for you? Read on to find out.

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Pro Tip: Planning your visit to the Colosseum? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you need it. See our Colosseum guide for more planning resources, our top-rated Colosseum tours for a memorable trip, and what to see at the Colosseum.

Our 7 Best Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Tours

We offer many different Colosseum tours with unique experiences and exclusive access. Whether you’re looking to experience the Colosseum as a gladiator on the arena floor or an elite Roman spectator looking down on the brutal games, there’s something for every visitor of this monumental wonder.

Here are the current tours we offer at the Colosseum, followed by detailed descriptions:

1. Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour Through the Gladiator’s Gate
2. Rome in a Day Tour Including the Colosseum and Vatican Museums
3. Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
4. Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
5. VIP Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground and Arena Floor
6. Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Highlights Combo Tour
7. Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum Arena Floor & Catacombs

1. Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour Through the Gladiator’s Gate

Standing on the Arena Floor, let your eyes wander upwards and imagine 60,000 cheering spectators waiting in anticipation for you—their favorite gladiator—to best the challenger in battle. If this sounds like it belongs on your bucket list, you’re in luck.

In the 1990s, a portion of the Arena Floor was reconstructed, making it easier for modern-day visitors to see what the Colosseum looked like in its heyday. This is where Roman gladiators and animals fought—sometimes to the death!

Only a limited number of people with a special Arena Floor reservation are allowed to access this area, so it’s worth planning in advance. Otherwise, you’ll look down on this area wondering how you could have gained access to this unique perspective of the Colosseum. This Arena Floor tour is ideal for anyone looking to get the most out of their visit to the Colosseum.

Highlights:

• 3 hours
• Escape the crowds
• Walk out onto the reconstructed Arena Floor in the heart of the Colosseum
• Includes a skip-the-line guided visit to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum including:
  • Julius Caesar’s Temple
  • Senate House
  • Arch of Titus
  • Arch of Constantine
  • Basilica of Antoninus and Faustina

Not ready to book a tour? Find out why a Colosseum tour is worth it.

2. Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Though we recommend travelers spend several days in Rome to explore the many site in the Eternal City, we understand that sometimes your visit to Rome will only last a day or two. That’s why we designed a tour to help you see the best of Rome quickly.

We recommend this top-selling Rome in a Day Tour for anyone who is in Rome for a short time, as it includes skip-the-line Vatican and Colosseum experiences. You’ll also see top monuments in Rome such as Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Roman Forum. You’ll be amazed at just how much of Rome you can see in a day!

Highlights:

• 8 hours
• 90 minutes at the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica
• 1 hour inside the Colosseum
• Walking tour of downtown Rome
• Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and more

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if Rome tours are worth it.

3. Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour With Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Looking for a Colosseum tour that just explores the outer rings and the second floor in addition to the Roman Forum? And at a great price? This Colosseum tour gets you into the Colosseum quickly and takes you to some awesome viewpoints inside the Colosseum. In addition, you’ll explore the Roman Forum where the wealthy Romans lived in ancient days hearing stories from your storytelling guide.

Highlights:

• 3 hours
• Visit the Colosseum’s first and second tiers
• Visit Palatine Hill and the ancient Roman Forum

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Colosseum Guide for more info.

4. Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The Underground of the Colosseum is in high demand with limited ticket availability, which means this tour often sells out during the busy season. So, make sure you book well in advance.

Not only do you gain exclusive access to the Underground, but you’ll also get the opportunity to walk out on the re-created Arena Floor where the gladiatorial matches took place. You’ll gaze upwards and imagine the roar of the spectators who came to watch the most exciting games of their era.

This tour also includes a visit to the amazing Roman Forum which helps visitors imagine what life was really like in ancient Rome. The Colosseum Underground Tour is a behind-the-scenes, full-package kind of tour for people who want to feel like VIPs on vacation.

Highlights:

• 3.5 hours
• Go underground to the dungeons with an expert guide
• Walk onto the reconstructed Arena Floor where the brutal games took place
• Visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Not ready to book a tour? Find out why a Colosseum tour is worth it.

5. VIP Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground and Arena Floor

Want an experience even more exclusive than our daytime Underground tour? Well, you’re in luck! Our Colosseum Night Tour is one of the most exclusive experiences you can get in Rome. Again, since the Underground is so exclusive, tickets sell out extremely fast, so plan ahead!

Experience the Colosseum Arena Floor and Underground under the moonlight with almost no crowds since most people visit the Colosseum during the day. You’ll avoid the crowds and the heat as you explore popular areas of the Colosseum.

And of course, you’ll have a chance to see one of Rome’s most beautiful photo spots over the scene of ancient Rome as you admire the Roman Forum from above, all lit up at night.

Highlights:

• 2.5 hours
• Walk along the Roman Forum
• Exclusive vibes with almost no one else in the Colosseum
• Explore the Colosseum’s Underground with an expert, English-speaking guide
• Walk onto the Arena Floor

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if Rome tours are worth it.

6. Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Highlights Combo Tour

Just want a tour of the Vatican and the Colosseum? This combo tour gets you more bang for your buck by combining them! You’ll enjoy skip-the-line entry at both the Colosseum and the Vatican.

First, dive into ancient Roman history at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill where you’ll walk in the steps of gladiators and emperors. After lunch, rejoin the tour at the Vatican to hear stories of papal intrigue and see some of the world’s most celebrated artworks by masters like Raphael and Michelangelo, and of course, the Sistine Chapel.

Highlights:

• 8.5 hours (with lunch break)
• Skip-the-line entry to the Colosseum
• Colosseum tour with first and second tier access
• Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican
• Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Colosseum.

7. Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum and Arena Floor & Catacombs

For a deeper dive into Rome’s most ancient sites, book this tour. With transportation include, this tour makes it easy for you to go beyond the city to explore the Rome Catacombs and Capuchin Crypts. You’ll head underground and hear stories of the thousands of friars buried there that will make for great stories to tell your friends back home.

What else do you get? A tour of the mighty Colosseum, including the Arena Floor where gladiators once fought. You’ll feel like a celebrity as your guide leads you into the amphitheater in a way most tourists don’t get to do. After a day exploring ancient Rome, you’ll be impressed at the legacy the Roman Empire left behind.

Highlights:

• 8 hours (with lunch break)
• Skip-the-line entry to the Colosseum
• Colosseum tour with first and second-tier access
• Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Transportation to the Rome Catacombs
• Guided tour of the catacombs and crypts

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Rome Catacombs tour is worth it.

Tips for Visiting the Colosseum

• Wear comfortable shoes! Not only will you walk during the tour but the ground outside the Colosseum is made of large and small cobblestones which can be slippery or uneven.
• Always keep an eye on your belongings. It’s a crowded area with people who may want to take advantage of distracted tourists.
• Water is important. Bring a reusable bottle and fill it up with the helpful free fountains around the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the rest of the city.
• Address: Piazza del Colosseo
• How to get to the Colosseum by public transport:
  • Metro B – Colosseo stop
  • Bus: Line 75; 81; 673; 175; 204
  • Tram: Line 3

Not ready to book a tour? Find out why a Colosseum tour is worth it.