Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum Live Guide or Audio App
Description
Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Official Guided Tour Colosseum Group Tours with our local expert guides for an unforgettable experience. Immerse Yourself in the History in this 2.5-hour tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum in Rome goes back in time. Bypass the queue at the Colosseum to avoid long waits. Explore the first and second tiers for great views. Then walk through the ruins of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with your guide, an art and archaeology expert history come to life!! For travelers who chose the Colosseum Arena Option: Colosseum Arena and Roman Forum Tour Meet your guide and enjoy special priority access that leads you directly to the Arena of the Colosseum. Visit the Roman Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, for a truly unforgettable experience. Or visit at your own pace by booking the option Audio-Guided tour of the Colosseum/Palatine Hill/Roman Forum with Multilingual storytelling in English/Chinese/German/French/Italian/Spanish.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your journey with a visit to Rome's symbolic monument with a tour that makes it easy and fun for all ages. Learn about the amphitheater’s history from an official tour guide with an art and archaeology background. Learn about the spectacular games and bloody battles that were held inside. Hear about the techniques of construction invented by the Romans, the incredible ability of the gladiators, the violent fighting between exotic animals, and the high level of technology achieved by Roman engineers to build the Colosseum. Walk around the first tiers and see the arena to learn about the trapdoors and all the mechanisms used to animate the games. Your guide will keep you entertained with stories of sea-battles, the cages where lions were kept before the games started, the rooms in which gladiators were waiting before they reached the arena, the executions, and the excitement of the spectators attending the most spectacular, fantastic, and expensive games in human history.
After the Colosseum, you will walk through Palatine Hill, where you will be able to explore the site of an older settlement from the 9th century BC. Admire the first settlements of the city of Rome and the Hippodrome, an elliptical sunken garden from the Palace of Domitian. Here, enjoy an impressive view of the Circus Maximus and the valley of the Roman Forum. Learn about the legend of Romulus and Remus, the abandoned brothers raised by a she-wolf who once they grew older, fought each other for power and control.
You will finish this amazing experience with a visit to the Roman Forum, one of the most important archaeological areas in the world with some of Ancient Rome's most evocative ruins, including the Temple of Julius Caesar, Arch of Titus, House of the Vestal Virgins, Senate House and Basilica of Maxentius. Admire the Roman Forum's Sacred Way, the triumphal road where the Centurions of Caesar marched after their return from countless battles and conquests.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We are not responsable if you provide us with wrong information.
- PLEASE NOTE: as for the Colosseum new management, it might take few minutes to grab tickets for kids (if any of them are in the group) so the activity can suffer 20/30 min variation due to organizational reasons
- The order in which the sites are visited during the tour can vary
- Discounts for children under 18 years is applied only with a valid ID card!
- Please note that for safety reasons the Colosseum can accommodate up to 3.000 people at once.This could lead to delays in access to the site, even for pre-booked visitors.
- For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Forbidden objects inside the Colosseum: bottles and glasses containers, alcholic beverages and aerosols, backpacks, camping, bulky bags and luggage / trolley
- Please notice that the Colosseum Administration, which depends on the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities has the faculty to close the Colosseum, or parts of it, with or without notice, for events, strikes, heavy rain, or any other reason. In which case, we will offer an alternative itinerary as it seems fit and offer a partial refund
- Activity not recommended for people with motor lag
- No change on a booking can be accepted less than one week before the time of the tour. In that instance, no refund will be issued.
- For the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED
- The meeting point for the group guided tour is at Piazza San Clemente. Our Staff will wait for you at the entrance to the Basilica, holding a "Tour in the city" sign. MANDATORY meeting time 20 minutes prior to tour departure time
- In case of late arrival or cancellation beyond the limits indicated in the cancellation policy by the customer, a refund is not foreseen.
- The duration of the tour may vary according to the time taken to access the monument. The tour duration is always at least 2 hours and will always be at most 3 hours.
- The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions (ice, rain, or high temperatures) or other events beyond the travel agency's control.
- To download the Audioguide application you need a latest-generation smartphone not produced before 2020. We recommend bringing headphones.
- Last Minute TICKET & SELF AUDIOGUIDED: if you choose this option, It is mandatory for every customer to have a mobile phone. You must download the application, and once installed, you will need to download the QR codes provided. These QR codes must be presented at the entrance for access. Without the QR codes, entry will not be allowed.
- Not recommended for travelers with walking problems
- Not accessible for walker users
- We kindly inform you that any kind of disability (visual impairment, hearing impairment,... ) or anything that might prevent you to regularly join the tour, MUST BE communicated in advance to our staff at the following email address: tourinthecityrome@gmail.com
Reviews(3,464)
It was a wonderful experience. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. His name was Joseph. It was very hot today so at times I was wanting to go back to the hotel. I stuck it out and was I happy I did. The only thing I didn’t like was out tour was originally at 3:00 the was moved to 330 and once again to 345. If it wasn’t so hot it probably wouldn’t have mattered. I would recommend to friends
Buying the tickets was very smooth. Unfortunatelly the whole tourist sites organisation is extremelly poor - local employees attitude is extremely rude. Also the Coloseum is a mess in term of signs and organization
We are pleased to hear that the ticket purchasing process was smooth. However, we would like to clarify that we are not responsible for the management, organization, signage, or staff of the Colosseum and archaeological sites, as these are managed directly by the relevant authorities and are completely independent of our company. We are sorry that these aspects negatively affected your overall experience. We believe it would have been fairer if the review and rating of our service had focused specifically on the service we provided, while comments regarding the organization of the Colosseum were addressed directly to the site management. Thank you for your understanding.
Absolute shambles of a company. Purchased colosseum ticket with audio tour for me and 10yr old son, audio tour didn’t work everytime I put username & passcode in it gave error message so I messaged and emailed this company but no reply until next day when it was too late. Then they tried to say it was my fault, I must have entered codes wrong, maybe no phone service etc but it was no o of those it’s just the system they used didn’t work. My advice is pay a little more for a proper tour or save yourself a lot of money by just booking entrance ticket only on official Colosseum website because with this company it’s a waste of time and a big disappointment!!!
We are sorry to read your review, but we would like to clarify a few important points: **1. Audio guide service** Our audio guides are used successfully every day by hundreds of customers without any issues. The system is regularly used by visitors to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. **2. Link and internet connection** On the morning of your visit, we sent you the link and instructions to access the audio guide. You then attempted to download the application without a Wi-Fi connection. A stable internet connection is required to download and activate the app correctly before the visit. **3. Assistance provided** When you contacted us, we provided assistance and worked to identify the cause of the problem. We did not simply “blame” you; we explained the possible technical reasons why the application might not have worked correctly in your specific case. **4. Partial refund** Although the entrance tickets were provided correctly, we also issued you a **partial refund** as a gesture of goodwill. We believe this is an important detail that should also be mentioned when describing the overall experience. **5. Booking on the official Colosseum website** Regarding your suggestion to purchase entrance tickets directly from the official Colosseum website, we agree: purchasing directly from the official website is certainly a good option, **provided that tickets are available for the date and time you want**. Customers who book through our service are choosing additional services and assistance alongside their reservation. We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we believe it is only fair to provide the complete context, including the assistance provided and the partial refund already issued.
Smooth. Did exactly what said on the tin.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your review! “Did exactly what it said on the tin” — that’s exactly what we aim for! Simple, smooth, and exactly as promised. We’re very happy to hear everything went perfectly with your Colosseum experience. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Rome soon! Best regards, Tour in the City Team
Unfortunately, we received two different sets of information regarding where to pick up our tickets and then where to enter. It was very busy and hot. an audio tour wasn’t the best for our family. In fact, we did not finish the tour because it was too hot. Probably would go with a live tour next time.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. We would like to clarify a few points regarding your experience. 1. TICKET PICK-UP AND COLOSSEUM ENTRANCE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS We are sorry if there was any confusion regarding the instructions. Please note, however, that the ticket collection point and the entrance to the archaeological area are not necessarily the same location, which may explain why you received different directions. 2. THE HEAT IS UNFORTUNATELY BEYOND OUR CONTROL As you mentioned yourself, Rome was extremely hot and crowded. In fact, you decided not to complete the visit because of the heat. While we completely understand this decision, weather conditions are obviously something that neither our company nor the audio guide can control. 3. AN AUDIO TOUR IS NOT FOR EVERY FAMILY You also mentioned that the audio tour was not the best choice for your family. We appreciate this observation, but this is ultimately a matter of personal preference rather than an issue with the service itself. 4. A LIVE GUIDE MAY INDEED BE A BETTER CHOICE FOR YOU We agree with your final comment: based on your preferences, a live guided tour would probably be a much better option for your family next time, as it provides more interaction and allows the guide to adapt the experience to the group. We appreciate your feedback and hope that, under better weather conditions and with a live guide, your next experience in Rome will be much more enjoyable. Best regards, Tour in the City Team
This experience was subpar, and a very poor value for the money. All guide services were booked, so I went with the audio guide. It was somewhat interesting, but also academic. Lots of facts about the coliseum and the history of Rome, but more like fluff filler.
We find this review rather unfair, especially considering what you yourself have stated. **1. YOU BOOKED AT THE LAST MINUTE** You clearly state that **all guided services were already fully booked**, which is precisely why you chose the audio guide option. Unfortunately, when booking at the last minute during high season in Rome, availability is extremely limited. Next time, we strongly recommend booking earlier if you specifically want a live guided tour. **2. NOBODY FORCED YOU TO BOOK OUR SERVICE** The product, what is included, the type of experience and the price are clearly displayed **before completing the purchase**. You were free to accept those conditions or choose another service. **3. LAST-MINUTE TICKETS HAVE A DIFFERENT COST** One of the reasons we are able to offer availability when many other operators are completely sold out is because we have access to **special last-minute ticket solutions**, which can cost us significantly more than standard tickets — in some cases up to three times the normal cost. This is **clearly explained in the product description before purchase**. Therefore, criticizing the price afterwards while having knowingly booked a last-minute option does not give a fair representation of the service provided. **4. AN AUDIO GUIDE IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FACTS AND HISTORY** You describe the content as containing “lots of facts about the Colosseum and the history of Rome,” but that is precisely the purpose of an audio guide to an archaeological and historical site. Calling historical information “fluff filler” is a matter of personal opinion, not evidence that the service was subpar. If a live guide was your preferred experience, the solution was simple: **book sufficiently in advance rather than waiting until all guided tours were sold out.** We accept criticism when a service is not delivered as advertised. However, in this case, you received the option you voluntarily selected, under conditions and at a price presented to you before payment.
Dennis was the most amazing host! He even brought us to a fabulous little coffee shop and then a pasta place where we could grab food to go. He was very patient with us as we stopped in many places to take pictures and do some shopping. He was very knowledgeable about the city. Such a fun way to see Rome!
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a great time exploring Rome with Dennis! It is fantastic to know that you appreciated his knowledge of the city, patience, and personal attention, as well as those special stops for coffee, pasta, photos and even a little shopping along the way. Our golf cart tours are designed to offer a fun, comfortable and flexible way to discover Rome, and we are very happy that Dennis made your experience so memorable. We will be sure to share your kind words with him — he will be thrilled! Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Rome again soon! 🇮🇹 Best regards, Tour in the City Team
Very misleading description when booked, overpriced for what was included, very disappointing. We felt rushed as we had limited time to visit everything and it was not a tour we will remember with pleasure or we would recommend.
We are sorry to read your review, but we strongly disagree with several of your comments and would like to clarify a few important points: **1. WHAT EXACTLY WAS “MISLEADING”?** You state that the tour description was “very misleading”, but you do not explain what exactly you found misleading. Without providing a specific example, it is impossible for us to understand or respond properly to such a serious statement. **2. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE COMPARING THIS TOUR WITH** You do not mention whether you have visited the Colosseum before, which tours you may have taken, or what previous experience you are using as a comparison. Different tours have different itineraries, durations and conditions. **3. COLOSSEUM REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED** The regulations for visiting the Colosseum have changed since last year. Visitors cannot remain inside the Colosseum indefinitely, and the visit is now limited to approximately **75 minutes**. This is a restriction imposed by the archaeological site and is completely outside the control of our company and our guides. **4. EXTREME HEAT AND CUSTOMER SAFETY** Rome is experiencing extremely high temperatures. Our guides have a responsibility to protect our guests and therefore try to minimize unnecessary time standing under direct sunlight whenever possible. This is done for the **comfort and safety of our customers**, not because the guide wants to “rush” the tour. For these reasons, we find it unfair to describe the experience simply as “misleading” and “rushed” without explaining what was allegedly misleading and without taking into consideration the current regulations and visiting conditions at the Colosseum. We are always willing to accept constructive criticism, but criticism should be based on **specific facts**, especially when making such strong claims publicly.
Wonderful to see these monuments to thr past. The heat was a factor in the experience but survived. Stephanie was excellent and knowledgeable. She also was very vigilant in monitoring our group health and water consumption. She went beyond by helping me navigating the taxi.
Hi, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. Summer heat in Rome can definitely be challenging, so we're especially happy that Stephanie's care, knowledge, and attention to everyone's well-being made such a positive difference. It's great to know she also went the extra mile to help you with a taxi after the tour. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Rome! 😊
When you’re in Rome, the Colosseum is a must see. I would highly recommend taking this tour and taking advantage of visiting this amazing archaeological site with a knowledgeable guide. The unexpected surprise on this tour was visiting the Palantine Hill, which no one in our group expected to be as amazing and interesting as it was and we’re so glad we got to see it.!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience at the Colosseum and that our guide helped bring this incredible site to life. It’s exactly what we aim for—making history engaging, informative, and memorable. We especially love that you mentioned Palatine Hill! It’s often an unexpected highlight for many visitors, and we’re so glad it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise for your group as well. Thank you again for your recommendation—we hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience soon!
