VIP Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Guided Tour
Description
Step back in time on our expertly guided tour of Ancient Rome’s iconic sites: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. With faster access, the comfort of a small group, and insights from an expert guide, this best-value experience offers a deep dive into the Eternal City’s past, all in just 3 unforgettable hours. Your adventure begins inside the Colosseum, where you'll hear stories of gladiators, emperors, and ancient engineering marvels. You’ll get answers to your questions, plus enjoy sweeping views from above the arena that most visitors miss. Next, we’ll head up Palatine Hill, the mythical birthplace of Rome and home to its grandest imperial palaces. Then descend into the Roman Forum, once the bustling heart of Roman politics and daily life. With a streamlined itinerary and small group size, this tour offers comfort, insight, and unbeatable value. Spots are limited! Book now to experience Ancient Rome like never before.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Retrace the steps of the gladiators, accompanied by engaging stories from your expert guide. Learn about the social status of spectators, the norms of ancient entertainment, and the gladiatorial games that captivated audiences. Your guide’s storytelling will bring the monument to life. Please note: we may begin with the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, depending on ticket availability.
The Palatine Hill is one of Rome’s most important and beautiful hills and is a highlight of any city tour. With your guide, explore the birthplace of one of history’s greatest civilizations and the ancient ruins of the Imperial Palace, surrounded by pine trees and views of the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum below.
To understand life in Ancient Rome, visit the Forum. In the city’s political, social, and commercial heart, you will walk the Via Sacra and the Via Nova, weaving around arches and towering temples. See the Senate House and the remains of the Rostra, where Senators made laws and orators addressed the public. Learn about the myth-shrouded Romulus and Julius Caesar from your expert guide. Although less than half of the Forum remains today, your guide will share their extensive knowledge to bring the ancient city to life.
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
- Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. Tickets must match these names; failure to present a voucher with all travellers’ full names at the ticket office may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Each traveller must present a valid passport or ID matching the name provided at booking for entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Tour order may vary: we will start with either the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill depending on ticket times.
- Colosseum admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Tours are discounted on these days.
- Want an upgrade? Check out these other options: VIP Colosseum Tour (12pax), Colosseum Express Arena Tour (24pax)
Reviews(1,695)
The tour is about 2.5 hours long packed with plenty of information and great insight about the structure and history. Please be aware that depending on the time of year you visit, we went in July, it is very hot with limited shade. We are use to the heat so it didn't bother us as much but if you are not use to heat bring an umbrella, water and a mini fan. We jumped passed the long lines right into the Colleseum which was great. Plenty of walking with beautiful sights throughout the tour, wear comfortable shoes. The tour guide was so informative and had us engaged with all the details she provided about the landmarks. She was fantastic! Definitely recommend this tour.
Fine handing of the right amount of details given during the tour. 100's .of facts given and shown. Really enjoyed the whole tour.
We had no idea how much we didnt know about the Coliseum and Palatine Hill. Francesca was very passionate. We would have given 5 stars but the tour was changed and didnt allow Coliseum floor access which is why we booked it
We had an awesome tour this morning with Kopal. She did a great job and was so knowledgeable! We definitely enjoyed the guided tour. Will recommend to friends
Our day at the Colessum with Carpe Diem Tours was great. Our guide Linnea was excellent! She made the 3+ hour tour in the very hot sun fun and exciting. She know so much information about Ancient Roman history. We walked through the Colessum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum while Linnea told stories to captivate the group and keep us interested and entertained. She’s a great storyteller and it was pleasure to have her as our guide. We would highly recommend this tour and to request Linnea if possible.
Thank you, Jordan! We're thrilled you enjoyed your Colosseum tour with Linnea. We're glad her storytelling and knowledge made the experience memorable, even in the heat. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. We appreciate your recommendation!
Our tour took place during the extreme heat wave in June so it was impossible to avoid the heat. There is a lot of history and stories to hear. Our teenagers were done after the first hour or so. Bring extra water.
Thank you, Jason, for sharing your feedback. We understand that the extreme heat made the experience more challenging, especially for younger guests. We appreciate your helpful tips and hope to welcome you back to explore more of Rome in better conditions.
Our tour company, Carpe Diem Tours, and tour guide Francesca were exceptional! From the time we walked up to the meeting spot until the time the tour was finished in the Roman Colosseum it was awesome. Francesca was an archaeologist and a Rome native. She’s actually working on site restoring artifacts. Can’t miss proposition, Carpe, Diem Tours, and Francesca!
Thank you for your exceptional review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience with Francesca and our team. Her expertise as an archaeologist and passion for Rome truly make the history come alive. We greatly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another incredible experience in Rome soon!
We had an excellent experience. Our tour guide, Linea, was great and the company communications was timely and smooth.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had an excellent experience with Linea and appreciated the smooth communication. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable tour in Rome soon!
Tour was not well executed. They forgot to get head sets when we were supposed to start the tour. They had to send someone back for it wasting 30 minutes. This left us barely any time for palatine hill and the Roman forum. The guide didn’t apologize or offer some way to make it up, just kept on blaming other people in the organization and saying it wasn’t his fault. He is also spoke very poor English. He could deliver most of his talking points, but could not answer questions because of the language barrier. It was great seeing these sites, but I would never use the company again. Worst tour company I have ever used.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. We understand how frustrating the delays and communication issues were, and we apologize for the impact they had on your tour time. We appreciate your comments regarding the guide and organization, and we will use this feedback to improve our service and guest experience. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
This is a must tour if you are interested in history. Our tour guide, Francesca, was born and raised in Rome and was an archaeologist. She had so much passion and love for her job and her descriptions made the visuals come to life. It is a long tour but very much worth it.
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring Rome’s ancient history with Francesca. Her passion and expertise truly make the experience special, and we're glad her storytelling brought the sites to life. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable tour!
