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(270)
Excellent, John our tour guide had a lot of knowledge, it was one of our highlights of our visit to Rome.
Dear Guest, Thank you for leaving such wonderful feedback! We're happy you saw the added value in booking our guided small group tour and appreciated John's guidance; we'll be sure to share your feedback with him! It means a great deal to us that the tour was a highlight of your trip to Rome, and we'd be more than happy to host you on future adventures should your travels ever bring you back to the Eternal City! Wishing you a great rest of your stay and many more amazing adventures on your travels! Until next time, all the best! Kind regards, What a Life Tours Team
Our guide John was the very best! Thorough, entertaining and great sense of humor. Very attentive to our needs and our small group of 6 made for a great tour. Highly recommend!
Dear Traveller, John sends his many thanks and is delighted to hear that he made such a positive impact on your experience! We’re so glad you appreciated his delivery style and his sense of humour. That’s exactly the kind of care and personal touch we aim for all our guides to provide, and we’re thrilled to hear that it came through during your tour. We also believe that small groups make for a better tour experience, allowing for more interaction with our guides, easier navigation of the sites, and a more comfortable and engaging experience overall. Thank you so much for your high recommendation and for choosing to book with us. It truly means a great deal to our team. Wishing you safe travels ahead and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
Our guide Manuela was wonderful! So knowledgeable and kind. She made the experience the best despite the heat! Not having to wait in line and having access to all areas of Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, and Colosseum was very special. Manuela helped bring history alive!
Dear Traveller, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for choosing to book your Colosseum experience with us! We're so happy to hear that you found Manuela to be the best guide ever. That is truly no small feat, and not a compliment we take lightly; we're sure it will mean the world to Manuela. That's one of the many perks of having an expert guide lead the experience. They use their expertise to navigate the crowds seamlessly, and because they are familiar with the layout of the sites, they can find shaded areas to stop at in an attempt to make the experience as comfortable as possible for guests, despite the challenges of the crowds and the heat. We're happy you had fun exploring while learning about such iconic sites, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for choosing What a Life Tours, and we wish you safe travels ahead and all the very best! Kind regards, Carima
Vasco was awesome! He made this entire experience great. He knew so much information about everything we were seeing and he took us through the areas in a perfect pace, not too fast not too slow. It was really hot out so he was good about finding shady areas. We had a blast!
Dear Nedim_N, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It means the world to us that Vasco had such a positive impact on your Colosseum experience and helped make your visit so memorable. The care, passion, and attention to detail that Vasco showed are exactly what we hope all of our guides bring to every tour, so we're delighted to hear your experience reflected that. We're also so pleased that everything we curated for you felt just right and that you had such a fantastic time. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback and for choosing What a Life Tours. Your kind words truly mean a great deal to us. We wish you safe travels and hope to welcome you back to Rome again someday! Kind regards, Carima
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
