Colosseum Private Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Description
Our Private Colosseum Tour is designed for history buffs and curious travelers alike, with the common thread of leaving standard tours in the dust. Not only will you have the complete attention of your guide, but you’ll also be able to customize the tour based on your preferences, which means spending more time exploring the Forum, or seeing specific areas of Palatine Hill. Whatever the case, you’ll have ample opportunity to enjoy your personal expert’s invaluable insight. After the Colosseum, you’ll stand before the Arch of Constantine, built by Rome’s first Christian emperor in the early 4th century AD, before heading into the Roman Forum. Welcome to one of the most influential archeological sites on the planet! With a detailed Forum visit under your belt, you’ll then walk up the Palatine Hill for sweeping views over Rome. Rome's very origins can be traced back to the top of the hill where you will enjoy wonderful panoramic shots and also relaxing silence.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Revel in exquisite antiquity as your guide dazzles you with tales from the Roman Empire on this afternoon tour of the Colosseum. This carefully crafted itinerary also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – without waiting in any lines - to give you a complete perspective on one of the most important civilizations in history. If you truly want to immerse yourself into the Eternal City’s 2500+ years of intriguing history, there is no better place to start than the Colosseum. The most spectacular edifice of Ancient Rome still in existence, this immortal amphitheater has a past filled with equal parts gore and glory – just like the Roman Empire itself. Over time, the boundary of history and legend may have been blurred out, but your guide will help you debunk the myths and shock you with stories even more jaw-dropping the ones you’ve seen played out on the silver screen. From wicked emperors to gruesome gladiator fights, we’ll delve right into the excitement from the get go!
Every inch of this massive triumphal arch is covered by carvings and sculptures, making it a veritable billboard, made to advertise the achievements of Constantine in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Curiously, much of its decoration was cobbled together from monuments built by earlier emperors, more specifically those of Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. These were all men that Constantine considered to have been the great rulers of the 2nd century AD and with whom he most wanted to be associated. This triumphal landmark also acts as an everlasting testimony of the victory of Constantine and the end of persecutions against Christians.
This was once the central hub of the sprawling empire, where the early Romans would mix and mingle throughout its glory days. As you gaze upon towering triumphal arches and the imposing remnants of senate houses and hallowed temples, you’ll be mesmerized by the stories that have transpired on this very ground. Get the inside scoop on Marc Antony and Cleopatra’s epic love story and hear the thrilling tale of the conspiracy that cost Julius Caesar his life – but also learn how the great Roman Empire slowly began to crumble towards its dramatic demise in 500 AD.
According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the birthplace of Romulus and Remus, the twin-brothers who were suckled by a she-wolf and later became the founders of Rome. Literary sources imply that the city Romulus founded was confined primarily to this hill, where Romulus dwelt in a hut in the south-west corner, which was continually restored in his honor. This was also where very famous and rich Romans lived and where ultimately also where the Emporers chose to move their gigantic residences. Embrace the mesmerizing panoramic views and architectural remnants of this once mystical site now overtaken with lush vegetation, and take a journey through the vestiges of history to imagine the splendor and vivacity of this ancient settlement
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking as all spots are strictly personal and need to be reserved in advance.
- Please bring a valid ID document (no photocopies!) for each participant - documents will be checked and they must match the names on the voucher.
- The final start time of the tour might be updated up to a week in advance as there can be some changes for logistical reasons.
- Please plan on being at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time.
- We are unable to accommodate late arrivals as we have a time entrance to respect. Missed tours due to late arrivals are non-refundable. Please allow extra time to reach the meeting point as Rome's streets can be confusing.
- The itinerary is subject to change depending on the timed entry slot of the Colosseum.
Reviews(127)
Bosco was our guide and he was great! This was a private tour with just our party. Bosco was very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed our tour! If it is super hot, be prepared with water, sunscreen, hats etc. Our tour was 3 hours in the hot sun with little shade. The Colosseum is amazing and fascinating. It’s a must see despite the crowds. We probably didn’t need to see palatine hill or the forum. It was interesting but our family would have preferred spending more time in the colosseum dungeons and platform of the arena. Thank you Bosco for a wonderful time!
Dear Rachel_S, Thank you for sharing your feedback and for choosing to explore the Colosseum with us! You're an absolute trooper for completing the tour in the heat! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Bosco. He'll be so pleased to know that his knowledge and friendly approach made your private tour so enjoyable. We also appreciate your helpful tips for future visitors; Rome's summer sun can certainly be intense, so bringing plenty of water, sunscreen, and hats is definitely the way to go. Thank you as well for sharing your thoughts on the itinerary. Just to note, the tour you booked included the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, which is why those were the sites covered. Access to the Colosseum Underground is part of an entirely different tour and would need to be arranged and communicated well in advance. Nevertheless, we're so glad this didn't dampen your overall experience and that you were still able to enjoy your time exploring one of Rome's most iconic landmarks. It was a pleasure to be part of your visit, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon. Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
We enjoyed our private tour through the Coliseum. Imaginations run wild as our tour guide walked us around and explained all that happened during the Gladiator days. What an experience and eye opening insight to how the Coliseum was built and pillaged. The pass allowed us to skip the looooooong lines and our guide exceeded our expectations with her knowledge. Highly recommended.
Dear Traci_L, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your private tour of the Colosseum and that your guide helped bring the history of the Gladiator era to life through her engaging storytelling and extensive knowledge. It’s amazing to know that the experience gave you such an eye-opening insight into the history, construction, and legacy of the Colosseum; that is exactly what the tour is intended to do, and we’re so happy to hear it did just that! We’re also so pleased that the skip-the-line access helped you avoid the long queues and made your visit even more enjoyable. It’s fantastic to hear that your guide exceeded your expectations and helped make the experience so memorable. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing to tour with us. We wish you all the very best and hope to welcome you again in the future! Until then, safe travels and all the very best on your continued journey ahead. Kind regards, Carima
I don't know how much I was expecting as this was only the third time l've used a tour guide with varying outcomes but can I say, Carlotta was outstanding! So knowledgable, so passionate and so personal to make sure every question was answered, every detail was covered and when certain things peaked the groups interest, she instinctively carried us in that direction. Could not recommend a more friendly but local and knowledgable tour guide for Rome! Thank you so much for making our trip so special.
Dear Guest, Wow! Reviews like these always serve as a reminder of why we do what we do! We’re so happy to hear that you found your guide to be outstanding! We’re delighted she had such a positive impact on your tour and was able to answer all of the group’s questions whilst paying close attention to everyone’s interests. That’s exactly the type of care and attention we aim for our guides to show our guests, and we’re so pleased to hear that it’s being accomplished. Thank you for choosing us and for taking the time to share such wonderful feedback! Wishing you a great rest of your stay and safe travels home! Kind regards, Carima
Carlotta with What life tours was the best guideI have experienced in Rome. Very engaging and an ex-archeologist !
Dear Guest, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience with Carlotta. She is incredibly engaging, and her background as an archaeologist adds a unique depth to the tour. Carlotta will be delighted to hear that you've dubbed her the best guide during your stay in Rome; that’s certainly not an easy title to earn! Thank you for choosing What a Life Tours. We wish you continued safe travels and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
This was our second tour with What a Life Tours during our visit to Rome and it was exceptional. We had the absolute pleasure of having a private walk around the Colosseum and Roman Forum/Palatine Hill with Carlotta. She was incredibly knowledgeable with professional training in archeology and customized our experience to our preferences. We spent more time around Palatine Hill with it's spectacular views. The tour company did an excellent job rescheduling due to unforeseen circumstances that required us to delay our arrival in Rome. One minor suggestion, the meet up point wasn't very clear and we wasted some time finding Carlotta at the beginning of our tour. These sites are immense and you can't possible cover is one visit, so we came back on our own later in our visit to explore the Forum even further!
Dear Traveller, Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review, and for choosing What a Life Tours twice during your visit to Rome! We’re thrilled to hear that your second experience was just as exceptional and that you enjoyed a private tour with Carlotta. Her professional background in archaeology and ability to tailor the experience to your interests truly make her an outstanding guide, and we’re so glad you appreciated the extra time spent on Palatine Hill and its spectacular views! We’re also happy we were able to assist with rescheduling your tour and make the adjustment as seamless as possible despite the unexpected delay in your arrival. Thank you as well for your helpful feedback regarding the meeting point; we truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will use it to improve clarity for future guests. You’re absolutely right: these sites are vast and impossible to fully cover in just one visit, and it’s wonderful to hear you returned later to explore the Forum even further. We hope to welcome you back on a future trip to Rome. Until then, wishing you all the best and safe travels, and thank you again for choosing What a Life Tours! Kind regards, Carima
My family was very impressed with this company and the guides they provided for the tours we went on while we were in Rome this November/December. Carlotta was full of knowledge and was able to answer the many questions we had along the way. She was also very patient and great with our kids- they really enjoyed it :). Thanks!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your family had such a great experience with us during your time in Rome. Carlotta will be thrilled to know that her knowledge, patience, and care, especially with the kids, made the tour enjoyable for everyone. It’s always our goal to make each experience engaging for all ages, so it means a lot to hear your children enjoyed it too! We're so happy we were able to not only meet but also exceed your expectations. It truly means the world to us that you were impressed with our efforts! Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback. We hope to welcome you and your family on another tour in the future. Until then, we wish you all the best and safe travels! Kind regards, Carima
John gave us an amazing tour! He is so knowledgeable and helpful! Would highly recommend this tour! Thank you, John, for all the time and information you shared with us.
Dear U6932BZfrancescac, Thank you for choosing to book with us! John sends his many thanks! Thank you for the recommendation, it means the world to us, and we'd love to welcome you on future adventures! Until next time, safe travels! Kind regards, Carima
John Tinto was a fountain of knowledge and created a truly engaging tour of the Colosseum and Forum archeological sites. I’ll be unpacking the interesting topics we discussed for a while…
To start with the tour was amazing with so much info from our guide Carlotta , the tour was in English and she was brilliant explaining everything about the colusseum and the gladiators , even though we were unfortunate as my wife had a sun stroke in the middle of tour but Carlotta went out of her way to help us she went above and beyond to make sure we all alright and she didn’t leave us tell she made sure that we were OK , if it wasn’t for her kindness we would have been in a very tough situation, can’t recommend her and her company enough , also I have to mention a gentleman doctor and his kind daughter from California who by luck were in the same group they refuse to carry on with the tour and made sure my wife is Ok too , can’t thank Carlotta enough there is no words to show her how much we appreciate everything she did to help us , much love and regards from us both Hassan & Sam
Amazing tour with John - very knowledgeable and kept our 17 and 12 year olds very engaged for four plus hours in 90 degree heat!
