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Tours/Rome/Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs

Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus

3.8(20)Rome1–8 hours
VIATOR4.0(1)TRIPADVISOR3.7(19)
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
+8 photos
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus
Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus

At a glance

Duration
1–8 hours
Price from
$65 / person
Location
Rome, Italy
Rating
3.8 / 5 · 20 reviews
Group
Small group, up to 30
Cancellation
See policy below
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Gray Line I Love Rome by Carrani Tours
Meeting point
Colle Oppio Park - Via delle Terme di Tito, corner of Via Nicola Salvi, inside the park - 15 minutes before the start of your tour (please look for the I Love Rome logo carried by our staff).Gray Line - I Love Rome office

Description

Discover the best of Rome with our Essential Colosseum Combo Pass! Start your day with a panoramic Open Bus tour through Rome, where you’ll enjoy a non-stop journey past the city’s most famous landmarks. Please note, with the One Run ticket, you will not be able to hop off the bus, but you can listen to the fascinating commentary available in 12 languages, including special tracks for children. If you prefer the flexibility to hop on and off at different stops, you can easily upgrade to a full Hop-on-Hop-off ticket onboard. After your bus tour, dive into ancient history with a stress-free escorted entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors as you explore these iconic sites at your leisure. This combo pass is perfect for first-time visitors to Rome who want to see the city’s top attractions with ease and convenience.

Schedule & prices

Runs
Every day
Start times
8:15 AM, 9:15 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM
Next available
Sat, Oct 17
Adult (ages 18+)
$65
Child (ages 3–17)
$35
Infant (ages 0–2)
Free

Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.

Tour Options

Open Bus & Escorted Colosseum

Itinerary

Palatine Hill
Admission included60 min

The Palatino is one of the Seven Hills of Rome, located between the Velabro and the Roman Forum, and is one of the oldest parts of the city. The site is now a great open air museum and can be visited during the day.

Colosseum
Admission included120 min

The Colosseum, originally known as Amphitheatrum Flavium or simply as Amphitheatrum, is the largest amphitheatre in the world, located in the center of the city of Rome. Here is a monument that will be more famous than any other human work. " With these words martial describes the Colosseum, which became from the moment of its realization, a real symbolic representation of the city of Rome.

Roman Forum
Admission included60 min

It is an archaeological area of Rome. Constituted by the stratification of the remains of those buildings and monuments of heterogeneous eras that for much of the ancient history of Rome represented the political, juridical, religious and economic center of the City of Rome, as well as the Neuralgic center Of the entire Roman civilization.

What's included

Included
Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person); reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
Open Bus One Run ticket and escorted entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
Audio commentary available in 12 languages, plus special tracks for children
Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
Option to upgrade to a Hop-on-Hop-off ticket onboard for more flexibility
Not included
Guided tours
Food, drinks, and gratuities
Hop-on-Hop-off ticket option
All services not mentioned under "Inclusions"

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

3.8
20 reviews
5
9
4
4
3
3
2
1
1
3

How it compares in Rome

  • Starting price $65 is 43% below the typical $113 for tours of similar length in Rome

Excurgo comparison of 8,082 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
  • Duration: Valid until the site closes on your booked day. Colosseum entry at the selected time is mandatory.
  • Please Note: STOP 6 will be at Lungotevere Tor di Nona 7 (Between via Panico and Via Mastro)
  • Colosseum entrance meeting point for ticket redemption: Parco Colle Oppio, corner of Via delle Terme di Tito and Via Nicola Salvi, inside the park
  • From November to March: bus operates 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM. Last bus 5:45 PM from Termini Station (Stop 1)
  • From April to October: bus operates 8:30 AM to 6:45 PM. Last bus 6:45 PM from Termini Station (Stop 1)
  • Due to ongoing maintenance work, stop no. 3 Colosseo is temporarily unavailable for boarding and drop-off until further notice
  • Wear comfortable shoes and bring water & sunscreen during summer.
  • The areas are not wheelchair accessible and may pose challenges for individuals with mobility issues.
  • Guests with pacemakers must present a certificate to bypass security screening.
  • Not recommended for individuals with impaired mobility

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

0+ days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus take?

Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus lasts about 1–8 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.

How much does Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus cost?

Prices start at $65 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:15 AM, 9:15 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM.

How much does Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus cost for children?

Children aged 3–17 pay from $35, adults from $65. Infants go free.

Can I cancel Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus for free?

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Colle Oppio Park - Via delle Terme di Tito, corner of Via Nicola Salvi, inside the park - 15 minutes before the start of your tour (please look for the I Love Rome logo carried by our staff). Gray Line - I Love Rome office. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The areas are not wheelchair accessible and may pose challenges for individuals with mobility issues. Not recommended for individuals with impaired mobility

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus worth it?

Travellers rate it 3.8 out of 5 across 20 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Gray Line I Love Rome by Carrani Tours.

Reviews(20)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

Y
yry20
January 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Open Bus

Great experience! 😃 The staff were friendly and helpful. The open bus voucher can be used on other days (remember, it is only one run) 🚌. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️

Operator response

Dear customer, It is a pleasure to read that the experience at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, together with the Open Bus service, met expectations so positively. The appreciation for the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff is particularly valued, as great care is taken every day to support guests in the best possible way. It is also appreciated that the flexibility of the Open Bus voucher, which can be used on a different day for a single run, was found useful. Best regards I Love Rome Hop On Hop Off City Tour

T
tarikeo2025
June 23, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Rude Bus Tour Operator

Using the first portion of the combo pass went relatively well–it was easy to find the ‘I love Rome’ group near the park, and my mom and I got our colosseum tickets swiftly, in the form of a piece of paper, and were able to begin the self-guided tour. At this point, we realized the ticket was valid for 24 hours so we could have time to see the colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill into the next day if needed. Please note this 24 hour detail will matter later. What a gorgeous piece of history to have seen. However, the second half of this pass (ie one round of the Open Bus ticket on the Gray Line - I Love Rome), and in particular the bus tour operator’s nasty behavior, soured me and my mom’s whole experience. We encountered a bus tour operator who harassed us about our tickets and tried to make us pay 15 euros extra because he himself did not understand how the combo pass worked/had apparently never seen it before. INCIDENT DETAILS - **Monday June 16 - started bus tour around 6:00pm/Reached final stop #1 Bus Terminal at 6:49pm in Rome** My mom and I showed our tickets to the bus tour operator (ie the guy speaking into the microphone saying each stop). The man could not understand the two mobile tickets we showed him (one from TripAdvisor and another directly from booking). He proceeded to ask us to pay the full price to do the bus tour. I insisted that we had paid for the ride already and showed him the ticket details again. He then asked about the length we had of the bus tour. I told him 24 hours as I thought this time also applied to the bus portion of the combo pass. The man was visibly unsure about the details of our ticket, however instead of double checking the details (when I provided him everything) he did not confirm anything and instead printed out a 24 hour pass for my mom and I. Then let us go upstairs to do the tour. Not even 15 minutes into the ride, the man storms up the stairs visibly agitated and comes to me to state that the tickets my mom and I had were for 1 full bus tour (all 8 stops x1) , not 24 hours, and proceeds to blame us for this mishap. He demands we return the ticket and pay the difference of 15 euros because he gave us the wrong pass. I proceeded to explain to the man that we already paid for the bus tour and that the 24 hour wording on the ticket was confusing, and I asked why he himself did not confirm the right details on his end before handing us the tickets. I also state that we do not plan to use the bus tour beyond that day anyhow. The man proceeds to raise his voice and continue demanding we pay the difference. My mom steps in to reiterate my points, as we’re trying to clear up the misunderstanding. At this point, is still raising his voice at us, while other passengers look on at the scene. It escalates to the point where the bus tour operator tells us “No, you were the ones confused” refusing to take accountability for his actions (not verifying/checking our tickets properly). My mom then lets him know we will inform his manager of this rude behavior and he storms back down to the lower deck. About 10 minutes later, he comes back up to loosely apologize (probably to save face) it seemed very ingenuine. Again, I would like to reiterate that this man was very rude to my mom and I. In his words it was “our fault” and “we were confused” about the booking when he did not do his due diligence nor his job to double check the details of our tickets on his end, before handing us a 24 hour pass. He seemed to be acting as if we were trying to cheat him out of a free 24 hour pass even though we *consistently* told him we would not be using it the next day. He is the one who gave us the pass and somehow it was our fault? I will never use this bus company again because of the lack of respect and nastiness from this employee. His name starts with an M, he is of southeast Asian descent, and was riding a bus with license plate number FK 527LV at the time of the incident.

Operator response

Dear Customer, we're glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, but we are truly sorry for what happened on board our Open Bus. Thank you for providing such a detailed account of the incident — this allowed us to identify the staff member involved (on the bus with license plate FK 527LV), and we will certainly take appropriate internal action. The behavior you described does not reflect the level of professionalism and courtesy we strive to uphold every day. While we understand that you completed the bus tour, we also acknowledge that the experience was tainted by the mishandling of a misunderstanding. If you would like to write to us at openbus@graylinerome.it, we would be happy to investigate the matter further and offer you a refund for the Open Bus portion of your ticket as a gesture of goodwill and to sincerely apologize for what occurred. Best regards, I Love Rome Hop On Hop Off City Tour

S
scflores1
June 18, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Not worth the price

This is not a tour the escorted entrance is nothing more than a person handing you tickets telling you to stand in line The bus was also disappointing. No guide . Basically a taxi ride

Operator response

Dear traveler - thank you for your feedback on the Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus. We’d like to clarify that this product is not a guided tour but an "only tickets" package. The product description specifies that it includes escorted assistance to help you access the Colosseum more smoothly and stress-free, with the support of our staff on-site. This said, we appreciate your comments, as they help us improve communication about our offerings. We hope you’ll consider exploring other tours with us in the future that may better align with your expectations, maybe with a local guide, which is a real special experience - an expert's insight in a city like Rome is indispensable. Kind regards, Gray Line Rome

S
snookjen
June 13, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Overall VERY Happy!

The meeting place was a little hard to find but this tour met our needs. You meet at the park meeting place and receive your tickets. Then you go off on your own with your tickets and a map. There is not tour guide and we were ok with that. When we got to the bus, we learned that our ticket was not the on/off type so we rode it for a full cycle and then got off. Again, that was fine for us but I don't think it was made clear when I purchased. Overall VERY HAPPY!

Operator response

Colosseum Escorted Entrance Combo Pass with Open Bus We're so glad to hear that the tour worked well for you and gave you the flexibility to explore at your own pace! 🗺️ It sounds like you made the most of your day and enjoyed the experience, even with a few minor surprises. 😊 We understand how a clearer explanation of the ticket type and easier directions to the meeting point could make things even smoother, so we truly value your feedback. 🚍✨ It helps us improve and create better experiences for all our guests. It’s fantastic to hear that, overall, you were “VERY HAPPY”! 💛 We’d be delighted to have you join us again for another adventure in the future! Gray Line Rome City Tours

A
Andreas T
April 24, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Absolute rip-off

The "accompaniment" was to give us the tickets. Normal price is only 18€, under 25 only 2€. Bus is not needed at all, everything is together. And the worst: It is required for the admission of the ID. We didn't have one! So the overpriced cards also expired.

Operator response

Sehr geehrte Kundin - es tut uns leid, dass Sie unseren Open Bus-Service als unnötig empfunden haben. Unser Ziel war es, diese beiden Dienstleistungen – eine Panoramatour und die Unterstützung beim Zugang zum Kolosseum – zu kombinieren, um unseren Kunden ein bereicherndes Erlebnis zu bieten. Was die Ausweispflicht betrifft, möchten wir klarstellen, dass dies eine Vorgabe der Behörden ist, die das Kolosseum verwalten. Diese Regelung liegt außerhalb unserer Kontrolle (Carrani Tours - Gray Line Rome). Unabhängig von der Plattform, über die Sie das Produkt erworben haben, war diese Information jedoch angegeben. Es tut uns leid, wenn Sie dies nicht bemerkt haben. Falls Sie das Ticket hingegen an einem Kiosk oder bei einem Wiederverkäufer gekauft haben, bedauern wir, dass diese Information nicht korrekt weitergegeben wurde. Wir werden uns bemühen, sicherzustellen, dass dies in Zukunft nicht mehr passiert. Gray Line Rome

G
guillaumecM3284IE
March 6, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
disappointing

disappointing, no more value to take by this site. as much take his tickets directly via the site of the parcel. obliged to wait for the appointment for visit of the parcel to do the rest. l audioguide is just for the bus. we recommend you an individual guide (Annalisa)

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Cher Guillaume, merci pour votre retour. Nous sommes désolés que votre expérience n’ait pas été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Il semble que vous ayez réservé l’option "seulement billet", qui inclut l’entrée au Colisée mais sans visite guidée. Notre équipe est là pour faciliter l’accès, mais les files d’attente pour les contrôles de sécurité sont obligatoires pour tous les visiteurs et indépendantes de notre organisation. Effectivement, nos visites guidées offrent une expérience plus immersive et sont parmi nos best-sellers, mais elles impliquent un coût supplémentaire. Nous espérons vous revoir bientôt pour vous faire découvrir Rome sous un autre angle ! Bien cordialement, l’équipe de Gray Line Rome

C
Claire H
February 28, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Hectic, lots of people, would have been better, prob, to have had an escorted tour. lots of people even in low season

Just given ticket, not escorted into the colesseum. Queue to Paletine Hill so did not enter. Bus trip and audio information good.

Operator response

Thank you for booking with us and for sharing your feedback! We completely understand that visiting such an iconic site like the Colosseum can feel overwhelming, even during the low season. An escorted tour definitely provides a smoother and more immersive experience, as our guides can navigate the crowds and share fascinating insights along the way. We’re glad you enjoyed the open bus trip and the audio commentary! If you return to Rome, we’d love to welcome you on one of our guided tours for an even more enriching experience. Safe travels! Best regards, Gray Line Rome

C
craig m
March 29, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing your amazing guide

This was a great tour and the guild was really knowledgeable and learned where we were all from and tried to engage with us all. The colosseum was amazing and I feel like I spent more time in the places than I would if I was just buying a normal ticket and I came out feeling that I had a lot better experience for this. Only down point was I didn’t realise the hop on hop off ticket was only for one circuit and not actually hop on hop off

Operator response

Dear Craig, thanks a lot for your feedback and for choosing us in the first place! We rely on our clients feedback to continue to better our services! Best regards, Gray Line Rome

M
Morgantrish
March 18, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Better off on your own.

The guide did her best in trying circumstances. The Colosseum and forum were PACKED and it seemed much of the tour was taken with group control in a crowd- rushing us through. We booked it because we were last minute and it was the only entry ticket we could find. We would have been better off on our own w an audio guide

Operator response

Dear customer, thank you for trying it with us and we’re sorry the Colosseum was so busy! Our professional guides are experienced storytellers but a huge crowd isn’t always easy to handle! In fact we appreciate your feedback, it’s been noted and it’ll make us better. Best regards, Gray Line Rome

J
junew2016
November 21, 2022 · via Tripadvisor
Very knowledgeable guide

Great guide (whose name I have forgotten sorry!) who provided a very comprehensive and informative tour of the Colosseum and the Roman forum area. We learnt a lot and because it was just myself and my husband we had plenty of opportunity to ask lots of questions. We were astonished to discover that our guide had visited a Roman site local to our home in the UK and got the feeling that he was a real expert. He suggested a couple of other sites to visit in Rome. The only downside to the tour was that the instructions about the hop on off bus. We had a ticket from the previous day that got us to the Colosseum but the representative from Gray Line I Love Rome was doubtful that the bus staff would accept the ticket that I had downloaded on my phone and was unavailable to provide a paper voucher that would work. My husband and I then walked to the church suggested by our guide and then on to the Pantheon and then back to our hotel near the Trevi fountain - completing 8 miles during the day. Fortunately the very wet weather of the morning had passed and we walked in sunshine.

Operator response

Thank you so much attending and we're glad your local guide in the Colosseum led a successful tour! We appreciate your feedback, it's been noted and we'll pass it to the Hop on Hop off division asap! Best regards, Gray Line Rome Feedbacks Team

$65/ person
3.8(20)
Duration1–8 hours
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Cancellation

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