See the Colosseum and other sites of Ancient Rome from an art history perspective during this private tour with a specialized guide. After skipping the main entrance line to the Colosseum with your priority-access ticket, you’ll tour the amphitheater and hear tales about its brutal history. Then walk over to the Roman Forum, see the Arch of Constantine and enjoy views of the ancient ruins from Palatine Hill. Throughout your tour, enjoy in-depth commentary tailored to your interests.

Skip the entrance line to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill
Enjoy privileged, personalized attention from a guide on this special private art tour
Customize the tour to suit your own interests
Listen to commentary from a specialized art history guide

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

Scratch beyond the surface with this private tour that's led by an art historian.

What's Included

Guided private walking tour with commentary for your group only
Reserved Skip-the-Line Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Headsets to hear the guide clearly

Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Largo Gaetana Agnesi
Largo Gaetana Agnesi, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
At Largo Gaetana Agnesi, above the 2nd floor of the metro line B (blue line) stop "Colosseo". Your guide coordinator will be waiting here wearing a blue City Wonders polo shirt or jacket for easy recognition.

End point

Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

What To Expect

Your walking tour starts at Colle Oppio, from where you can admire a view of the Roman Forum and Colosseum, Rome’s most iconic ancient landmark. Then head down the hill and enter the Colosseum with your skip-the-line ticket, which allows you to jump past the main entrance queue.

Inside, walk around the arena with your art history guide, listening to stories about the gory gladiator battles and other brutal events that once took place here. Then exit the Colosseum and walk over to Palatine Hill, stopping at the Arch of Constantine on the way. Walk up the hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, for a view of the Roman Forum and Nero’s Circus Maximus, where chariot races used to take place.

Finally, stroll along Via Sacra, aka ‘Sacred Way,’ the main road through the Roman Forum that connected the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill and was once used for Roman triumph ceremonies. Your tour ends here, from where you can continue exploring on your own.

Please note: As this is a private tour, your specialized art history guide can tailor the commentary to suit your interests. When booking, please list any special interests you have, such as architecture, art or culture, so your guide can prepare.

Colosseum

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Only small bags are allowed
Near public transportation

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
We may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

4.5

200 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 200 reviews

Take this tour-magnifico!

Tracie_S, Mar 2023

Viola was an amazing guide. She was so knowledgeable and really worked hard to ensure we got as much information as possible. She was also conscientious about our comfort as this tour had a lot of walking. She is an excellent guide. You should request her.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!

Ana_B, Dec 2022

Do not waste your money. They give you a random place to meet but not contact. Hundreds of dollars in the toilet.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hello Ana_B, We are sincerely sorry to hear that you were unable to join your tour of the Colosseum with us. On the booking voucher we always include directions to the meeting point along with GPS coordinates and pictures. Please forward us your booking confirmation voucher at edgar.chavero@citywonders.com so that we may take a closer look at exactly what happened in your case. If there was a mistake made on our end, we will without a doubt accomodate you in any way we can. Apologies for any and all inconveniences caused on your travels. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders

Great private tour

Lennie_K, Aug 2022

A great private tour with an accredited archeologist with so much passion in her work. Olga was a great guide, local to Rome. English is her second language but communication wasn’t a problem. The passion in her words was what we appreciated more than her full command of the English language. This area is extremely busy and it was so nice to have a private tour where we could move at whatever pace we chose. It’s also amazing to have a guide who actually uncovered areas of the tour areas and worked at these sites.

Skip the tour buy your own tickets

Craig_N, Aug 2022

Our Guide’s English was poor for a guide. She was unsure of what lines we needed to be in and took more time explaining the history of the building outside the building then showing us the building. We didn’t spend much time in the Colosseum. Palatine Hill was great but you don’t need a guide to enjoy it. Skip the tour, by your own tickets.

awesomeness!

Francis_G, Apr 2022

Elisabeth was amazing - so amazingly knowledgeable and informative, and great at answering all our questions. We learned a ton and had a great time. Highest recommendation. Highest recommendation!!

Great Experience!

Caroline_E, Oct 2019

What a great way to see the sites. Our guide was Agata and she was terrific! Very knowledgeable and friendly. We had some great discussions.

Excellent Tour with Emanuela!

stephanievallejo7, Oct 2019

We could not have asked for a better tour guide! Emanuela is an expert on ancient Rome and was more than happy to answer any of our (numerous) questions. She really impressed us with how well she knew her subject and we walked away with fascinating facts and stories about Roman history and leadership. The added bonus is that Emanuela is incredibly entertaining! She made us laugh so much it felt like walking around Roman ruins with an old friend. We didn't have to wait in any lines and really made the most of the day. I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about Roman history with an expert without having to wait around with throngs of people. Be sure to bring your walking shoes. Thank you so much Emanuela! You are fabulous and I hope we see you again!

Best Way to Tour the Colosseum

Ryan_H, Sept 2019

It was perfect. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and sweet. He was helpful and kind. It was a small group (just us, max of 6) and it made it so much easier and more fun.

Colosseum Tour

jason_s, Apr 2019

Excellent tour. Easy to find the tour directors at meeting spot. We have done a lot of tours over the years and our Irish guide was one of the best we have ever had. Extremely educational tour would recommend.

Skip the Line Private Tour: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Art History Walking Tour

Isaac_H, Mar 2019

The private tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum was fantastic! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour guide Assunta Mari from City Wonder Tours! She was extremely knowledgeable about the sites and made sure we were able to take pictures from the best views. Assunta was extremely friendly immediately putting us at ease and her English was phenomenal. Her knowledge of Roman history as well as Art History brought much more depth to the tour. She told us stories about the Romans of the time and even tried to teach us some Italian words! I highly recommend this private tour and I highly recommend Assunta Mari as a guide!! You will not be disappointed! Thank you Assunta from your new Louisiana friends Ike and Kelli!!

Excellent experience

Omar_A, July 2018

very well organized, we had 2 little children so we opted for the private experience and for us it was well worth it. the guide Alessandra was patient, nice and informative. we have no regrets.

This was our favorite tour of the...

Danielle H, Dec 2017

This was our favorite tour of the few that we had been on! Our tour guide, Alessandra, was amazing, accommodating and really knew the city and how to think on her feet! The tour had an unexpected closure due to a strike that was happening that day and she was able to whip something up to show us instead! She took us around different parts of Rome and had SO MUCH information to tell us! The tour was only supposed to last 3 hours and because she wanted us to have the full Rome experience she let whoever wanted to continue the tour stick around for an extra 2-3 hours! She was amazing and I highly recommend this company and these tours!

Our tour guide was the absolute...

Stephanie H, July 2017

Our tour guide was the absolute best. She had a masters degree in archeology and had actually worked on some of the archeological sites in Rome. She had a contagious enthusiasm for her subject and really wanted to share it with us. Skip the line great but the best was her oresentation

Totally enjoyed private tour, had...

Daniel F, May 2017

Totally enjoyed private tour, had very knowledgeable guide, took her time and allowed time for questions and photos.

As an archaeology buff, this was a...

JAMES K, Apr 2017

As an archaeology buff, this was a must do experience that exceeded already high expectations. Seeing the colosseum and the forums, and learning their stories on site, created a feeling of awe and wonder that can't be experienced in any other way. The fact that our guide, Alessandra, was herself a professional archaeologist of the classic period added enormously to the experience. She was wonderful.

This tour included the underground...

Carole W, Mar 2017

This tour included the underground area of the Colosseum which added an element of awe to the visit.

We had a fantastically good 3 hour...

Christopher C, Jan 2017

We had a fantastically good 3 hour trip. No long queue for the tickets and a private guide for the two of us. I did not realise that I had arranged for that rather than a group tour but am very glad I did. Our guide was brilliant: well informed took everything at the right pace and was a joy to be with. Quite a lot of walking - but that is because there is a great deal to see. All fascinating and excellently explained.

there were still many lines, not...

Livia W, Oct 2016

there were still many lines, not sure much was gained with skip the line. Our guide wad very knowledgeable. It was a bit too much time at the Colosseum, maybe a half hour less there and longer at the other areas. very knowledgeable guide.

Christina was a fantastic tour...

John_Z, Oct 2016

Christina was a fantastic tour guide! She was so very knowledgeable about the Colosseum and The Forum. I would highly recommend a private tour with her if you can-you will not be disappointed!

Our guide Amanda was brilliant, her...

Bradley J, Sept 2016

Our guide Amanda was brilliant, her combination of passion for and knowledge of her subject matter was exceptional. Ancient Rome came alive !

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