C
Wonderful experience
We really enjoyed our tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum. Vincenzo was an extremely knowledgeable guide and taught us so much in 3 hours. The visit to the well preserved House of Augustus was amazing!
Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor
+13 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $72 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 4,175 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 16
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 3 days before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Walks - Italy & Spain
- Meeting point
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Via delle Terme di Tito, 72 (Oppio Caffè). Meet directly across the street from Oppio Caffè at the gated entrance to Colle Oppio Park.
Description
Get a gladiator’s view of the Colosseum, then explore the Roman Forum on a walking tour through the heart of ancient Rome. With special access ticket, you'll enter the arena via the Gladiator’s Gate, stand where gladiators once fought, hear tales of ruthless crowds and emperors, then explore the Colosseum’s first and second levels with your guide. Finish with a tour of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with even more stories that bring the ruins to life.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 21 times a day, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Next available
- Mon, Oct 19
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $72
- Child (ages 2–17)
- $66
- Infant (ages 0–1)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $764.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 2:15 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:11 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 35 of the next 62 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Colosseum
Meet your guide near the formidable hulk of the Colosseum, the gigantic arena that drew Romans of all walks of life to watch violent fights between gladiators and beasts. Bypass the crowds and head straight inside, entering the Colosseum through a special gate once used by gladiators themselves. Walk right onto the arena floor—an area not usually accessible to the public—and learn about the harrowing events that took place here for entertainment's sake centuries ago. If you want to enter through the legendary Gladiator's Gate and walk directly onto the arena floor, select the Gladiator's Gate Group Tour option at time of booking. Short on time? The Arena Express option offers a streamlined experience with a guided tour of the Colosseum arena floor and the Roman Forum. While the Colosseum Express option includes a guided tour of the Colosseum's first and second tiers (no arena floor) and the flexibility to explore the Forum on your own afterward.
If option with the guided Roman Forum selected: The adventure continues at the Roman Forum. You’ll appreciate having a historian as a guide here. As you wander the streets, they can make sense of the ruins for you, pointing out the subtle differences that reveal whether the structure is a moneylender’s shop, public bath, or any number of common ancient structures. Learn what life was like in the days of Caesar, Nero, and Hadrian, and how Roman society functioned.
Palatine Hill
Finally, climb the hill to see the palaces of Palatine Hill, built on the grounds where Romulus and Remus were discovered by the she-wolf in the legend of Rome’s founding. After an incredible day of making ancient history come to life, you’ll part from your group feeling more in touch with the beautiful ruins of Rome. If you choose the Colosseum & SUPER Sites tour when booking, your Palatine Hill and Roman Forum tour (which will take place before your Colosseum visit) includes access to the SUPER Sites. Normally off-limits to visitors with standard access tickets, these are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful ancient ruins in all of Rome. One highlight is the Casa di Augusto, the house of Caesar Augustus, with vibrant frescoes that rival those in Pompeii.
What's included
Included
Local English-speaking guide
Small group of 16 guests maximum
Colosseum & SUPER Sites option: Access to Roman Forum SUPER Sites
Colosseum entrance ticket (€24)
Headset (groups over 6 people)
Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
Ticket for Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (if option selected)
Special access to Colosseum Arena Floor (if option selected)
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
4,175 reviews
How it compares in Rome
- No. 23 by number of reviews among 8,082 tours in Rome
- Starting price $72 is 36% 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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and match the names on their ID. The Colosseum requires all guests (including children) to present government ID at the time of entry. Therefore any guest that does not submit their name in advance of the tour, or who does not bring their ID to the meeting point, will be refused participation without refund. Name corrections are possible up to 7 days before the visit. After this, changes may not be possible.
- The Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill may close occasionally. We'll notify you of any changes in advance if possible. For last-minute closures, updates will be given at the start of the tour.
- Walks is an Official Parco Archeologico del Colosseo Operator approved to lead guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill.
- Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests.
Cancellation
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
3+ days before100% refund
0–3 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $72 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $764. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 21 departures a day between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 2–17 pay from $66, adults from $72. Infants go free.
Does this tour sell out?
It can: 35 of the next 62 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 3 days before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Via delle Terme di Tito, 72 (Oppio Caffè). Meet directly across the street from Oppio Caffè at the gated entrance to Colle Oppio Park. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers. The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and match the names on their ID. The Colosseum requires all guests (including children) to present government ID at the time of entry. Therefore any guest that does not submit their name in advance of the tour, or who does not bring their ID to the meeting point, will be refused participation without refund. Name corrections are possible up to 7 days before the visit. After this, changes may not be possible.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
Reviews(4,175)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
B
Great tour with a great guide ( stefano)
Great experience. Stefano was OUTSTANDING. Definitely great for the family. He gave a lot of context and history and made it fun for the kids.
K
An amazing engineering achievement!
The Coliseum is one of those places that are beyond description. The enormous size of the place and the amazing engineering and construction required to build it is incomprehensible. Every stadium built today still resembles this place. Anne our tour guide was wonderful. She explained everything in full detail and answered all of our questions. She navigated us through a very crowded place while providing details all along the way. I highly recommend both Anne and the tour without hesitation.
C
Informative, interesting and enjoyable!
Be on time and make sure about the meeting point as every local had a different opinion as to the meeting point. The tour group helped us out soooo much though and were able to connect us to our group before the timed entry. Our guide was excellent excellent excellent. She was not only knowledgeable but very kind and respectful and sincere. She absolutely engaged us in all the tales of the locations. Really informative and very highly recommended. A fantastic tour.
C
Disappointed
Disappointed Guide very difficult to identify missed our tour as a result. Not sure if we want to re book Viator blame tour operator. Tour operator blames Viator.
B
Pricey but worth it
It was a very useful tour to book. There are long lines and large crowds to popular places such as the colosseum. Although a bit pricey, the tour included the colosseum as well as other sites. The tour guide was great at explaining and navigating through crowds.
A
Stranded outside the Colosseum for three hours
We booked for two people. Names were mixed up full name of one ticket was correct, and the other was the mix of both names. Because of this only one could see this event. Be careful because if your name is not correct when you show your passport or license, they will not allow you in and they will not credit you. We are very disappointed with this company for not giving us a credit. Will not use via tour again.
M
Dario was excellent!
Dario was very funny and knowledgeable! We appreciated his love of history and debunking historical myths!
Z
The Perfect Length
Excellent tour and just the right length at 2 hours. Our guide Valerio was a wealth of knowledge and gave us a new appreciation of the history.
R
Colosseum tour
It was easy to find our tour guide at the meeting place and our tour guide, Jaber, was very informative and entertaining. The only thing I would say is he moved too fast and it was hard for the group to keep up. It was very warm and going a little slower would have been helpful. Very educational tour.
Compare similar tours in Rome
- Lowest price: Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor — $72
- Best rated: Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access — 4.8 (990 reviews)
- Shortest: Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access — 2h 30min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor | 3 hours | 4.7 (4,175) | $72 | |
 Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access | 2h 30min | 4.8 (990) | $97 | View |
 Walk the Arena Floor: The Colosseum via the Gladiator’s Gate | 2h 30min | 4.6 (168) | $99 | View |
 Private Gladiator’s Gate with Colosseum Access and Arena Floor | 3h 20min | 5.0 (1) | $383 | View |
 Colosseum Special Access on Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palaces | 3 hours | 4.5 (311) | $131 | View |
 Colosseum with Arena Floor Access, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill | 1h 30min–3h | 4.5 (347) | $91 | View |
 Colosseum Arena Floor And Gladiator's Gate of Death 10 pax max | 2h 30min | 4.2 (15) | $114 | View |
from$72
4.7(4,175) Free cancellation