How much is it to tour the Colosseum in Rome? If you were to purchase a ticket when you arrive at this massive, ancient structure, it usually isn’t much more than 12 euros.
However, this general admission ticket doesn’t provide much value. These are some of the top Colosseum tours available. Several of these tours also include access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Some are guided, giving you more of the history and legends of the Colosseum.
Best Colosseum Tours in Rome
| Private VIP Colosseum Underground Tour Walking Tour | Rome Colosseum by Night with Underground & Arena Floor Tour | Skip the Line Colosseum Tour for Kids and families | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Private Underground Tour | Best Colosseum Night Tour | Best Colosseum Family Tour | |
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| Departure: | Metro station Colosseo (ground level) by the green souvenir kiosk | Largo Gaetana Agnesi | Piazza del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM |
| Start: | 9:00 AM | 7:00 or 8:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| Duration: | 3 Hours | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Includes: | Skip-the-line access, licensed tour guide, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill | Special access to the Colosseum and Roman Forum | Private guided tour with Priority access, professional archaeologist and historian guide |
We’ve chosen these top Colosseum tours because they offer a wide range of experiences and will fit into everyone’s budget.
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Roman Colosseum Tours For 2023
- Private VIP Colosseum Underground Tour Walking Tour
- Rome Colosseum by Night with Underground & Arena Floor Tour
- Skip the Line Colosseum Tour for Kids and families
- Rome Skip-the-Line Colosseum & Arena Floor Guided tour
- Skip-the-Line: Colosseum & Ancient Rome Walking Tour
Colosseum Tour Reviews
1. Best Private Underground Tour: Private VIP Colosseum Underground Tour Walking Tour
- Departure Point: Metro station Colosseo (ground level) by the green souvenir kiosk
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Duration: 3 hours
- Includes: Skip-the-line access, licensed tour guide, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
If you are looking for the best Colosseum underground tour that is also a private tour that allows you to skip the long lines, this is the one for you! Beginning at the iconic Colosseum, you’ll learn about the technological marvels of ancient Rome that allowed architects to build on such a massive scale. Construction of the Colosseum includes the structure seen from above as well as underground.
If your question is, “Can you tour the Roman Colosseum?” then your answer is, most definitely, yes. Under the arena, you’ll explore the maze of tunnels and rooms where gladiators prepared to battle each other and wild animals, taking center stage above. This underground construction dates back to the 5th-century AD.
On Via Sacra, in the Roman Forum, you’ll see ruins of ancient markets as well as those of several buildings that formed the government center. Today, the Roman Forum is referred to as the birthplace of ancient Rome.
After touring the Roman Forum, you’ll then head to Palatine Hill. Enjoy the panoramic views and take pictures of the city the ancient Roman soldiers called home and would finally see again, sometimes after years away during times of war or conquest. Palatine Hill is in the center of Rome and looks out at it in all directions.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Rome Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. Best Night Tour: Rome Colosseum by Night with Underground & Arena Floor Tour
- Departure Point: Via del Colosseo 24
- Departure Time: 7:00 or 8:00 PM
- Duration: 2 hours
- Includes: Special nighttime access to the Colosseum, underground access, arena floor access, headsets
If you are looking for the best Colosseum night tour and avoid the crowds, this tour is for you. A tour of the Colosseum at night is an eerie experience and should not be missed!
With this tour you get a much more personal experience without the daytime crowds. Your guide will give you an intimate tour while explaining all the history of the Colosseum.
You will have plenty of time to explore independently with access to both the maze of tunnels and rooms underneath the arena and the second floor where the Emperor’s Box once was.
Once you are done with exploring the tunnels, you will then get to see the underground dungeons, where combatants waited their turn to do battle on the Colosseum floor.
You will also see the cages where the tigers were kept. Admire the amazing engineering skill of the ancient Romans where they created wooden elevators to transport the combatants and the tigers up to the Colosseum floor.
With the nighttime tour you will be able to almost hear the screaming crowds and sounds of the tigers!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Search For Other Top Rated Rome Experiences You May Enjoy:
3. Best Family Tour: Skip the Line Colosseum Tour for Kids and families
- Departure Point: Piazza del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM
- Departure Time: 1:00 PM
- Duration: 2 hours
- Includes: Private guided tour with Priority access, professional archaeologist and historian guide
Families who would like to see the Colosseum will really appreciate this tour! This two hour tour with skip-the-line access is specifically designed with families in mind. The tour guides will give commentary that adults and children both will understand.
The guide make the history and significance interesting to your children to keep them interested. This private guided tour will give you more access and you won’t need to wait in lines to purchase admission tickets.
During your guided tour of the Colosseum, you will learn about the seating arrangements, by social class as well as wealth. The construction of the Colosseum took many years and technology new to the Roman Empire.
You’ll also learn of the gladiator games and see the underground rooms where they prepared. While the gladiatorial games were banned in 438, the violet fights between wild animals continued for nearly a century.
After your two-hour, guided tour of the Colosseum, you will be given your tickets to access both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. While these tickets must be used on the same day as your Colosseum tour, you’ll also be provided with a map to help you explore the area.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Best Budget Tour: Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Departure Point: Colosseo Metro Station, Line B Exit
- Departure Time: 10:40 AM, 1:20 PM
- Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes (approx.)
- Includes: Small group tour with local guide, skip-the-line access, access to normally off-limits areas of the Colosseum
After meeting with your 5-star rating tour guide, you’ll head inside the Colosseum with your skip-the-line ticket. Your guide will tell you the history of the Colosseum and the role it played in ancient Rome.
While hearing the legends of the Colosseum re-told by an expert guide, you’ll be taken on a walk through the Gladiator’s Gate. This is the large gate that would open to allow the gladiator’s access to the arena, where they would fight to the death.
As you are guided around the open areas of the arena floor, a place usually not available to tourists, you’ll also be able to view the lift. This lift would open and bring many of the wild animals right into the middle of the arena.
The Colosseum was constructed in the 1st-century and has stood the test of time. Your guide will give you the details on just what this iconic building has gone through over nearly 2,000 years of its history.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Best Guided Tour: Rome Colosseum with Access to the Gladiator Arena
- Departure Point: Via del Colosseo 24
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM, 2:30 PM
- Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
- Includes: Expert tour guide, headsets, skip-the-line privileged access to the Colosseum and gladiator arena
If your goal is to see and learn the history of the Colosseum, this small-group, guided tour is ideal. Not only will you learn the history of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, you will learn about what life was like for both the wealthy and everyday citizens.
Your skip-the-line access will get into the Colosseum as your guide recounts the history of the most iconic structure of ancient Rome. Your headsets will allow you to hear your guide clearly.
While visiting the tomb of Julius Cesar, you’ll learn about many of ancient Rome’s emperor’s, some famous for their greatness and some notorious for their evil ways.
As you are touring the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, also with skip-the-line access, you’ll take a stroll down Via Sacra. This was the “Main Street” of ancient Rome. The ruins of many shops are still visible here, giving you an idea of life was like for the common folk.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Rome Travel Guide
In TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2020, Rome was ranked as the #3 Top Destination in the World.
If you want to get the most out of your trip to Rome, it’s important to see the Colosseum. It is an iconic structure of ancient Rome and is a symbol of the culture of Rome as well. Visit the Colosseum and surrounding ancient buildings with a tour.
As you learn more about vacationing in Rome,you may want to plan for a few extra days to truly get the most out of your time in this ancient city. What attractions are you looking forward to the most when you visit Rome?
Where do you plan on staying? We’d love to hear about your plans! If you’ve already visited Rome, let us know what you enjoyed the most.
Airports & Entry
When headed to Rome, you’ll most likely land at the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. This airport is the largest in Italy. Most foreign tourists, no matter their final destination in Italy, land in Rome. This means the airport is usually very crowded. However, this airport is also fairly easy to navigate.
To visit Italy, you must have a valid passport that has at least six months remaining before expiration. You can stay up to 90 days in the country for business or tourist reasons without a visa so long as your passport is valid.
Planning Tips
Before you start packing your bags, you’ll want to know how to make your trip easier and how to get the most out of your time in Rome. These top 5 planning tips can help you do just that.
Even standing outside the monstrous architectural wonder that is the Colosseum, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed at the technology and hard work necessary to build it. When visiting it, you will want to make sure you get the most out of the opportunity.
Tip #1: Wear Comfortable Shoes
It might be safe to say that you will want to wear comfortable shoes when touring many areas of Rome. However, there is no place in the city that requires comfortable walking shoes (can you link to a buying guide for shoes to this guide?) than the Colosseum.
This is a very large structure and many tours will take you up into the stands, onto the arena floor, or even into the underground tunnels and rooms where gladiators prepared for battle. With so much to see, you may spend hours here, and most of it spent walking.
Your best bet is to bring a comfortable pair of shoes from home, so you know they won’t hurt your feet with constant walking.
Tip #2: Take a Tour of the Colosseum
When standing in line to purchase a general admission ticket to the Colosseum, you may be waiting for quite a while. Plus, the general admission price doesn’t include priority access or access to other areas of the Colosseum.
When you purchase a ticket for a guided tour of the Colosseum, you will usually also receive skip-the-line access. This means that you will enter the Colosseum with your guide without having to stand in line. Many of these tours also offer access to areas of the structure that most people aren’t able to see.
One of the best reasons to invest in a tour of the Colosseum is that your guide will also be able to explain the different areas of the structure that you visit. Learning not just the history but also the time-true stories and legends can make your trip to the Colosseum a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tip #3: Arrive Early, Stay Late
The Colosseum opens for visitors at 8:30 AM. Many guided tours will start between 8 and 9:30 AM. Those that start before the day’s official opening can provide a wonderful experience, seeing the Colosseum and its marvels without crowds.
If you are also going to be visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, be sure to stay in the area until after sunset. Seeing the Colosseum lit up at night is a view not to be missed.
Tip #4: The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Even many of the general admissions tickets to the Colosseum will provide access, or a discounted rate, for entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well. With a guided tour, you can also see all three locations. This is a great way to spend a day and you will be able to experience some of the most popular attractions in Rome all in one day.
Tip #5: Choose Nearby Accommodations
If the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are on your list of must-visit attractions in Rome, you may want to choose accommodations that are close by. Not only does this make it easier for you to visit these places, but it is also a wonderful area of Rome to stay. Transportation is conveniently located nearby and many tours of other areas of the city have pickup locations in this area as well.
Restaurants & Eating Out
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Right? There is no better time to follow this rule then when it comes to dining. Eating out in Rome is probably much more affordable than you would’ve thought. Of course, you’ll want to savor a true Italian pizza.
The best place for this is La Gatta Mangiona. This casual restaurant is well known for its thin crust pizzas and may very well have been the start of the pizza craze in Rome.
If you’re looking for lighter fare, stop by Il Forno Campo de’ Fiori. The restaurant serves up delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, and light snacks. The bakery next door produces delicious biscuits, pastries, and more. Both the restaurant and the bakery offer take out so you can avoid the long lines.
While there are many places to get your fill of gelato in Rome, the Gelateria del Teatro is one of the most popular. You’ll find all the traditional flavors and occasionally come across an experiment or two. Have you ever tried raspberry and sage gelato?
NOTE: When it comes to leaving a tip at a restaurant, it’s important not to be too generous. Tipping more than 10% is often frowned upon. Also, you’ll rarely have an opportunity to leave a tip when using a debit or credit card. You’ll want to have a few euros on hand for tips as well as small purchases.
Nightlife & Entertainment
The nightlife in Rome is just as mixed as the combination of both ancient and modern seen all over the city. The Antica Enoteca has one of the most extensive wine lists in Rome and offers a rustic and casual atmosphere. If you’re looking for a traditional bar, you’ll want to stop by the American Bar at the Hotel Forum.
When it comes to cocktails, Rome offers ingenuity and imagination. Take the Carbonara Sour at Co.So Cocktail & Social, for example. This delicious cocktail might be a little different, containing black pepper and egg whites along with other ingredients, but is one of their most popular drinks.
If cocktails aren’t your thing and you’d rather sit down with a craft beer, stop by Brasserie 4:20. This small pub is warm and welcoming, and so is their list of craft beers on tap, plus a selection of whiskeys, bourbons, and other fine drinks.
Getting Around
While there is a great public transportation system in place, it’s often easier to get around in Rome by walking. You can get nearly everywhere you need to go by lacing up your tennis shoes and going for a stroll. If you’re going a longer distance, you might want to take a bus. A 100-minute bus ticket is quite affordable, as is the day pass.
Renting a car in Rome isn’t a good idea. Those unfamiliar with the city can have a difficult time maneuvering. If car travel is best, you’ll want to take a taxi. You can only grab a taxi in designated areas. Hailing for a cab outside of these areas is frowned upon.
Taxis can be on the expensive side but if you’re going a fair distance and you’d rather not take a bus, a taxi can be quite effective.
Accommodations
When it comes to accommodations in Rome, you’ll see inexpensive hotels and luxury resorts. The cheaper places to stay are often farther away, very small, or offer very few amenities. Most of these hotels aren’t recommended for tourists.
There is no shortage of luxury hotels in Rome, however. The G-Rough is located inside a 16th-century palazzo and epitomizes the history and art that Rome is famous for.
While staying at a luxury resort is ideal, it may not always be feasible. A great mid-range hotel that offers many of the benefits of a luxury resort without the price tag, is the Nerva Boutique Hotel. With just 19 rooms, guests can enjoy modern design, great food, as well as a great location.
Weather
July and August are the hottest months in Rome. The average temperature is somewhere around 78°F. For many, the 48°F average temperature in Rome in January is very mild. However, if you want to enjoy Rome with better chances of great weather, you’ll want to visit in the spring or the fall.
Attractions
Rome is full of attractions you can visit around your tour of the Colosseum. The National Roman Museum is family-friendly and houses many interesting artifacts. The Basilica of San Clemente is not just a church, but also an archaeological site.
The newer building at the entry level dates back to the 12th-century while you can head downstairs to the original basilica built in the 4th-century AD.
If you’d like to see some of the more ancient attractions around Rome, you have several options. The Roman Forum is the location where Romulus made the founding of the city of Rome official. It was once the epicenter of Roman life.
Ostia Antica is just 25-minutes away by train. This location was once a thriving center of commerce. Today, you can explore over 100 acres of ancient shops, baths, temples, and even apartment buildings and houses.
If you have some extra time, a visit to the Tuscany region should not be missed. With beautiful hilltop towns and wineries you should take a day trip to Tuscany. If might be the highlight of your trip!
If you would like to see more of the Italian coast, a day trip to the Amalfi Coast or Capri should not be missed!
Roman Colosseum Both Seen & Felt
A tour of the Colosseum is a must if you’re planning a vacation to Rome. The architecture, and history contained within the Colosseum simply can’t be experienced anywhere else. Whether you choose a short, 3-hour tour to see the basics or you opt for the VIP Experience, it’s guaranteed this is a trip you’ll never forget.
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour w/ Roman Forum is our Editor's Choice with its combination of sites seen, tours guides and value.
