Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor & Roman Forum | Semi-Private Tour
Description
Revel in an experience once reserved for gladiators alone as you walk through the ancient gates that lead to the Colosseum Arena Floor. This carefully crafted itinerary includes the Gladiators Gate of the Colosseum and the Arena floor, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to give you a complete perspective on one of history’s most epic civilizations. Not only will you be following in the footsteps of gladiators, you’ll also get a 360° panorama from where it was possible to see all 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators with a brilliantly executed narrative from a passionate guide. After your guided Colosseum tour, you’ll head past the Arch of Constantine and into the Roman Forum. You’ll never be a number in a small group of only 12 people or fewer. This Colosseum Tour allows for the personal attention you won’t find with larger groups.
Tour Options
Itinerary
If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Rome’s iconic Flavian Amphitheater then this gladiator’s Arena Colosseum Tour is for you. After avoiding wainting in long lines, and heading to this amazing edifice’s backdoor, a.k.a. ‘the gladiator’s entrance’, you’ll be treated to sections that are completely closed off to standard ticket-holders. Our Colosseum Tour with arena floor access lets you stand exactly where the heat of the action took place. Seeing the Colosseum from these totally unique perspectives is an emotional rush, heightened by the captivating historic narrative supplied by your passionate guide, who’ll separate fact from myth on one of the most intriguing sites in the world. Find out what each area of the Colosseum was used for, the engineering feats behind every brick, and how this bloodthirsty ring reflected the political and social values of Ancient Rome herself.
Following your exclusive Colosseum tour, we'll visit the adjacent triumphal arch – a towering masterpiece in white marble, which brims with intriguing details. Emperor Constantine had the monument erected in 315 AD to commemorate his victory over Maxentius a few years earlier – a battle he claimed to have won with the help of Christ himself. Despite his assertion, there are no Christian symbols in the arc. Instead, there are statues of Dacian prisoners and reliefs picturing Marcus Aurelius giving bread to the poor. The inside of the arch shows Emperor Trajan’s victory over the Dacians.
Avoid waiting in lines to enter the Roman Forum too, where you'll find yourself immersed in what once was the pulsing heart of one of the greatest ancient civilizations the world has ever known. See the incredible ruins of temples, and timeless columns as your guide wanders through the pages of history together for an incredible portrait of Ancient Rome.
Overshadowed by the Colosseum and Roman Forum, in reality, it’s the Palatine Hill that casts its shadow over both. Legend says it was here that Romulus founded Rome, setting the history we all know in motion, and the archaeological record confirms settlements began on this hilltop as early as the 8th century BC. This hill was so lavish in its heyday that the word “palace” actually derives from it. Follow your guide for some of the best views of the Caput Mundi, looking over the Forum on one side, the Circus Maximus on the other, and explore the extravagant remains of many an imperial palace.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Names on the reservation MUST be the same as your ID or YOU WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY to the Colosseum.
- 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 timed 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(266)
Carlotta was fantastic! Thank you so much,
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. It helps us a great deal, and we genuinely appreciate you choosing to book with us and for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Carlotta was fantastic and that you felt the overall experience was well worth it! We love fostering the perfect environment for guests to create lasting memories, and we thoroughly enjoy hearing that they had fun exploring with their guide. Thank you for choosing What a Life Tours. We look forward to hosting you on future adventures! Until next time, we wish you safe travels, all the very best, and many more amazing adventures along the way. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Kind regards, Carima
Tonia was great. Full of information and sn engaging! She tailored the trip to interest our teens and took care to give us breaks from the heat. It was a highlight of our trip.
Dear Marisa_H, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that Tonia made your tour such a memorable highlight of your trip. Her passion for sharing the history of Rome, along with her engaging and informative approach, truly helps create a special experience for every guest. We love that she was able to tailor the tour to your teens' interests and make sure everyone stayed comfortable while exploring in the heat. A great guide knows how to balance fascinating stories, personal connections, and thoughtful breaks along the way to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Tonia. Thank you for choosing to explore with us, and we hope to welcome you and your family back to Rome again soon! Kind regards, Carima
It’s long and hot in the summer. However, Tonia was amazing, paced our group well and made the most of the shade. She was very knowledgeable and took extra care with my 79 year old mom.
Dear Stephanie_L, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for choosing to book your Colosseum experience with us! We're delighted to hear that Tonia had such a positive impact on your visit. It's wonderful to know that you found the tour well-paced and appreciated the extra care she took to ensure your mother was comfortable throughout the experience. Providing this level of care and attention is exactly what we strive for, and we're so pleased to hear that Tonia delivered on that! Thank you once again for choosing What a Life Tours. We'd be delighted to welcome you and your mom back for another adventure in the future. Until then, we wish you both safe travels and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
Vasco our tour guide was fantastic. He was so friendly and knowledgable about the entire aspect of the tour. He was funny and kept everyone involved asking questions and keeping everyone's interest. He gave everyone food and gelato recommendations and took pictures for the groups. The overall experience was fantastic.
Dear Traveller, Thank you for choosing to book your Colosseum experience with us and for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Vasco had such a positive impact on your tour experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. It's always rewarding to hear how our guides go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for our guests, and we're thrilled this was the case for you! We're so pleased you had a fantastic time! Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best. We hope to welcome you back for another What a Life Tours adventure in the future! Kind regards, Carima
Vasco was absolutely the best tour guide we have ever had in our lives. He was very knowledgeable and engaging which made the experience much better than we were expecting. 10/10 person and tour guide!
Dear Tyler_G, Thank you for sharing your feedback and for choosing What a Life Tours! Wow! To be dubbed the best tour guide you've ever had is truly an amazing compliment, and we're absolutely thrilled Vasco exceeded your expectations! We truly are fortunate to work with such incredible guides, and we're so happy his knowledge and engaging personality made your experience even better than you had imagined. We'll be sure to pass along your wonderful feedback to Vasco; we know he'll be delighted to hear it! Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
It’s super hot in the summer and unfortunately still have to lineup !! The tour itself was good - you learned a lot and vasco tries to answer every question. Make sure to bring lots of water!
Dear Charmane_S, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your Colosseum experience! The line you're referring to is the mandatory security check that all visitors entering the Colosseum must go through, and therefore, despite the weather, this check will always take place. You're a real trooper for making it through the tour in these summer conditions! Yes, water during the summer is absolutely a must! Thank you for the tip for future travellers; our guides always ensure that guests stay hydrated throughout the tours. Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
The tour was supposed to cover the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in 3 hours. The tour was completely unbalanced… we spent 80% of the time at the Colosseum and barely 20% at the Roman Forum. Too much irrelevant information at the Colosseum and 300 meters from one entrance to another in the forum with pointed and questionable information regarding relevance… we are encouraged to walk it ourselves! This tour absolutely needs to be rebalanced to cover both hills of the Roman Forum and reduce the time at the Colosseum! Prepare for the heat with several bottles of water, a hat, and snacks.
Wonderful tour! Learned a lot about the history of the coliseum. The meeting place was easy to find and the tour guide was very knowledgeable
Dear Juan_B, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the meeting point easy to locate. We strive to provide detailed and clear communication before each tour so our guests can enjoy a seamless and stress-free start to their experience! It's great to know that your guide's knowledge helped bring the history of the Colosseum to life, making the tour both informative and memorable. We truly appreciate your feedback and are grateful that you chose to explore this iconic landmark with us. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! Kind regards, Carima
Such a good tour with Robert. Amazing to see all that we did on a very hot day. Appreciate Robert’s patience ~ our taxi didn’t drop us at the right place. Thank you for sharing these experiences and making forever memories!
Dear Nora_S, Thank you for sharing your feedback and for choosing to book with What a Life Tours. We're delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time exploring the Colosseum with Robert! We love creating memorable experiences for our guests, and it's always a joy to hear that we were able to foster the kind of environment where lasting memories are made. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey! Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best. Until next time! Kind regards, Carima
The BEST! You cannot beat this tour. Our amazing tour guide made us so excited. He was completely knowledgeable and knew everything about everything that has to do with the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the ruins. My kids were with us and had a blast.. 10/10 all day.
Dear Liz_S, It means the world to us that you consider our Colosseum tour "the best." We work hard to create unforgettable experiences for our guests, so your kind words truly mean a great deal to us. We're delighted that we were able to create wonderful memories for you and your children. Thank you for choosing What a Life Tours. We would be thrilled to welcome you back for future adventures. Until then, safe travels and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
