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The Best Colosseum Tours To Take in 2023 and Why + Map
The Roman Guy
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.
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
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:
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
March 16th to March 31st: 8:30 – 5:30 pm, Last entrance 4:30 pm
April 1st to August 31st: 8:30 am – 7:15 pm, Last entrance 6:15 pm
September 1st to September 30th: 8:30 am – 7 pm, Last entrance 6 pm
October 1st to October 27th: 8:30 am – 6.30 pm, Last entrance 5:30 pm
October 28th to December 31st: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Last entrance 3:30 pm
Colosseum CLOSED: January 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.
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!
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.
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.