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.
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 4 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:
- Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour Through the Gladiator’s Gate
- Rome in a Day Tour Including the Colosseum and Vatican Museums
- Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Not ready to book a tour? See if a Colosseum tour is worth it.
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 sites 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:
- 7 hours
- 90 minutes at the Vatican and Sistine Chapel
- 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 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.
Not ready to book a tour? See if a Colosseum tour is worth it.
Colosseum Opening Hours
- January 2nd to February 15th: 8:30 am – 4.30 pm, Last entrance 3:30 pm
- February 16th to March 15th: 8:30 am – 5 pm, Last entrance 4 pm
- Mar 16th – Last Saturday of March: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
- Last Sunday of March – Sept 30th: 8:30 am – 7:15 pm
- Oct 1st – Oct 26th: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
- Oct 27th – Dec 31st: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Colosseum CLOSED: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th
Ticket office: Closes one hour before closing time
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.
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.