Private Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
See the Colosseum and ancient Rome like a VIP, with Gladiator’s Gate, Temple of Caesar, and more!
Looking for the ultimate private Colosseum experience? This in-depth tour will make you the envy of other Colosseum visitors, with special access to the Arena Floor and a guided exploration of the ancient Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Join your expert local guide as you step through the infamous Gladiator’s Gate to stand where battles once raged, explore the tiers where Rome’s elite once sat, and see the places where ancient Roman society once thrived.
- VIP private Colosseum tour
- Special Arena Floor access
- Unique perspectives of the Colosseum
- Ancient Roman Forum
- Arch of Constantine
- Arch of Titus
- Temple of Julius Caesar
- Senate House
- Palatine Hill
After meeting your guide near the Colosseo metro stop, you'll take a short stroll to a special entrance into the mighty Colosseum. You'll skip the line to step through the Gladiator's Gate (or Gate of Death) and onto the reconstructed Arena Floor, before ascending to see the first and second tiers of the ancient stadium. Along the way, your guide will tell stories of the battles, animal hunts, public executions, and astounding mock sea battles that once took place here.
Your private tour doesn't end at the Colosseum, as your guide leads you on a fascinating walking tour of the ancient Roman Forum and up to historic Palatine Hill. With a range of start times to suit your Rome plans, it's the best way for your private group or family to experience this iconic arena!
Private Colosseum and Ancient Rome Tour Description
Your 3-hour guided tour includes:
Private Colosseum tour with skip-the-line tickets
Special access to the Arena Floor
First and second tier access at the Colosseum
Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
A private and professional English-speaking guide
Please note that depending on the assigned entry time for the Colosseum, your tour might enter the Roman Forum first and end in the Colosseum.
Colosseum Arena Floor Tickets
Travel back in time as you trace the footsteps of gladiators on the Arena Floor. After entering the Colosseum via a special entrance, you'll walk under a great archway known as the Gate of Death (or Gladiator's Gate) and out onto the reconstructed Arena Floor, where the savage games once took place. The Gate of Death earned its name because only the dead passed through this exit after losing their lives in battle. Most visitors enter at the busy main gate, but this tour brings you through the backdoor entrance.
Facing death at the hands of ferocious human or animal opponents, gladiators fought surrounded by 60,000 screaming spectators. Most Colosseum visitors aren’t allowed on the Arena Floor, but this private tour includes privileged access. It's a unique chance to imagine the fear and adrenaline that competitors must have felt so many years ago.
Roman Colosseum History
After the Arena Floor, you'll go on a journey to the Colosseum's first and second levels. See where emperors sat and learn the rules of the gladiatorial games for both competitors and spectators. Learn why the ancient amphitheater was named the Colosseum, plus many more interesting facts. You'll spend an amazing 1.5 hours exploring the top attraction in Rome with your expert Roman guide.
Guided Roman Forum Tour
Not far from the Colosseum sits the Roman Forum, and your private guide will lead you through these ancient ruins on a guided walking tour. This Roman archaeological site was once the location of downtown ancient Rome. You'll visit some of the most famous Roman Forum buildings including the Temple of Julius Caesar, Arch of Titus, the Roman Senate House, and more. Re-live ancient history as you walk down the same roads taken by famous Roman emperors and philosophers.
Climb Palatine Hill
From the ancient downtown, your guide will lead you to a place we like to think of as the Beverly Hills of Ancient Rome. Climb the Palatine Hill and take in the views over Circus Maximus. You'll explore the 2,000 year old palaces and learn stories of Rome's rich and famous. This awe-inspiring area of towering pine trees, majestic ruins, and unparalleled views were where Romulus was said to have founded Rome in 753 BC.
By the end of your 3-hour private tour, you'll leave the Colosseum and Forum with a camera full of incredible pictures and a mind full of knowledge about life in ancient Rome.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
101 total reviews
Leave a reviewGreat private tour, our kids loved it.
WESLEY HOWSARE
The tour guide was very informative and gave us plenty of history lessons about the sites. We met outside of the Colosseum at the location listed in the description. We had some difficulty finding the location because we were unfamiliar with the area and we were walking from our hotel. And I really didn't pay much attention to the instructions. But we got there early and just kept walking around the colosseum until we found our guide holding a The Roman Guy sign about 5 minutes before the tour started. This is a walking tour with some stairs at the Colosseum, and Palatine Hill is mostly an uphill trek, but not too steep. The walking was not a problem for us being in our 40s and average size. It was maybe a total of 5000 steps since the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum are relatively close together. Our guide took plenty of photos for us and gave us lots of fun facts along the way. She already had entry passes and she was able to walk us through some areas blocked off for regular visitors. She went our pace and told us we could spend more or less time wherever we like. Our kids (in their early 20s) enjoyed it and thought it was very fun. I would definitely recommend this tour.
William Lamkin
Do this - Worth it!
Kirsten Niernberg
We did a private tour a month ago, around Christmas, so I sadly cannot remember our guide's name but she was amazing! Seriously - you don't want to spend hours in a crowded tour of the Colosseum. You won't learn anything, you'll take pictures, it'll be fine but kinda forgettable - I've done it. If you have this in your budget, DO THIS INSTEAD. The private experience is so worth it. Our guide used to be an Archeologist and was a wealth of information, plus she answered all of our million questions! Great great tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Archaeological sites have uneven terrain so wear comfortable sneakers. Bring sunscreen and a water bottle during the hot summer months. If you want to remain in the Forum after your tour, bringing a light snack is recommended.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
This private tour is your best bet if you have concerns about navigating the Colosseum. Our private tours offer more flexibility in terms of pace and special accommodations. Just get in touch before your tour if there's something we should know!
What happens if it rains?
We run our Colosseum tours rain or shine. If rainfall is extremely heavy, the Colosseum management sometimes closes the restricted areas for safety reasons.
Is there any chance my tour might be canceled or moved to a different day?
Yes. Obtaining reservations for this tour is a complicated process, but we are the best at managing shifting appointments due to our long history of guiding tours in Rome. However, we don't always receive new tour appointments every day. While this is rare, it could happen. We will let you know at least 7 days prior to your tour if this is the case for you. In that case, you'd be entitled to a 100% refund if we can't offer a satisfactory start time for you.
Does this tour include access to the Colosseum Underground/Dungeons?
This tour does not include the Colosseum Underground, but we do offer a small group tour with access to the Underground.
I don't see any availability. Can I still book a private tour?
Just get in touch with us, we'll do our best to accommodate your group. Our contact information is at the bottom of this page.
What times can I go on this tour?
If there is a specific time you'd like to start your tour, please contact us by phone or email. Our contact information is at the bottom of this page.
What to bring?
Archaeological sites have uneven terrain so wear comfortable sneakers. Bring sunscreen and a water bottle during the hot summer months. If you want to remain in the Forum after your tour, bringing a light snack is recommended.
Does the Arena Floor ever close to the public?
Sometimes the Colosseum closes access to the more restricted areas with little notice. This usually happens in cases of heavy rainfall or an emergency repair. If this happens, we will visit other areas of the Colosseum, and the tour will continue with the same duration. As the Arena Floor is only a portion of this tour, there are no refunds if Colosseum Management closes it at short notice.
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