Discover the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on a walking tour of Ancient Rome. With your guide and group, you’ll visit the historic amphitheater with a skip-the-line ticket to bypass the long general entrance line. Learn about the gladiatorial battles that took place inside the arena, then head outside for a walk around Palatine Hill and the ruins of the Roman Forum.

Avoid a long wait to enter the Colosseum with a skip-the-line ticket
Stroll around Palatine Hill and learn about the palaces of the Roman emperors
Visit the Roman Forum to see temples, arches, and religious monuments
Enjoy a small-group experience with no more than 25 people per group

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

A few daily start times—especially the 10am tour—are great for beating the later afternoon heat.

What's Included

Professional guide for 3 hours (if option selected)
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Skip the line Colosseum
Skip the line Roman Forum (if option selected)
Skip the line Palatine Hill (if option selected)

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transportation to/from attractions

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Santi Cosma e Damiano
Via dei Fori Imperiali, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
The meeting point is in the square in front, OUTSIDE, of the Basilica of Santi Cosma and Damiano, the church is located on Via dei Fori Imperiali (half way) & is close the entrance of the Roman Forum. You will see our staff in front of the Basilica wearing a uniform with the logos of the company.

End point

Roman Forum
Via della Salara Vecchia, 5/6, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

What To Expect

Choose from one of several start times through the morning and afternoon when you book. Then on the day, head to the meeting point on Via Frangipane, near the entrance to the Roman Forum.

With your guide and group, you’ll skip the general entrance line with your fast-access ticket, and step inside the ancient Colosseum. Once the site of brutal gladiatorial battle, the amphitheater was the go-to place for the ancient Romans’ entertainment. Hear about the gladiators, wild animals, emperors, and senators as you explore, and imagine the roar of the crowds, centuries ago.

From the Colosseum, you’ll continue to Palatine Hill to see where the emperors built their lavish palaces. Gaze at the view over Circus Maximus where chariot races were held, and look down at the ruined temples of the Roman Forum. Then, get a close-up view as you head inside the forum itself to learn about daily life in Ancient Rome.

After three hours, your tour ends outside the Roman Forum.

Colosseum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Normal sized backpacks are permitted as huge backpacks will not be admitted
Stroller accessible
Small group tour average 26 people (maximum 28 people)
Near public transportation
Please be aware that to enter the Colosseum it is necessary to pass a metal detector security check; although skip the line tickets are included, there may be some wait time to pass through security checks
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Please note: if you arrive late you might lose the entrance or a part of the tour

Please bring a copy of your ID or driver license since it is necessary for the entrance at the Colosseum
Please note: the order of the itinerary might change. It is possible that you will visit first the Roman Forum and then the Colosseum
The meeting time can be subject of a slight change. In this case we will call/text you in advance.
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Please Note: In some areas the stroller must be carried by yourself due to architectural restrictions
Please show up 10 minutes before the tour to do the check in
Please note that you will be asked a full refundable 10 euros deposit at the meeting point in order to ensure all the radios are given back to the guide or our staff. Once you return the radios you will be refunded your 10 euros. If you don't give back the radios you will be charged 30 euros for each of them.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travellers

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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

4.5

322 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 322 reviews

Captivating. Wear good footwear

Oksana_M, Sept 2023

Great tour, loved the guide, she kept us interested. Tour is a little long, but covers a lot. Please bring refillable water bottle and very comfy footwear.

Our guide, George, was...

Sandra_S, Sept 2023

Our guide, George, was amazing! He was very detailed, honest, thoughtful, ensured everyone understood and saw everything that was to be seen! Kudos to George!!

Colloseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill

Jayleah_B, Sept 2023

Very knowledgeable tour guide that made the experience fun and accommodating to everyone. Our group had a great experience!

Good tour, wish the company hadn’t cancelled the colleseum tour last minute

David_O, Aug 2023

The palletine Hill and forum was excellent. Renata was a brilliant tour guide. Extremely good with young children. The disappointment was the colleseum part was cancelled by Viator last minute so is being refunded. We had to organise a tour with a separate company.

Terrible and not clear when booking

Arben_C, Aug 2023

Do not book 10 minutes before the tour because there no tickets given out but just the voucher. I had no time to go to the meeting point to find the guide. I never ended up taking the tour, it was too late. As off today I have not heard from Viator in regards to e refund or an extended voucher for another time.

colosseum tour

ildiko_k, Aug 2023

very knowledgeable guide, but got long winded at some points, plus the heat outside made it harder to focus, but overall enjoyable

It was a great tour!

Jessica_C, Aug 2023

We did an early tour it was less crowded, perfect for pictures! Less time in the hot sun too! The tour overall was great/good although our guide was very bias when providing the context of the history in the colosseum.

Our tour guide was...

John_C, Aug 2023

Our tour guide was excellent. His knowledge was exceptional. He was very focused on our group and our well-being, keeping us in the shade ect. Thank you!

All In One Ancient Rome

Michael_D, July 2023

Giorgio was an excellent tour guide and was extremely knowledgeable and funny throughout our trip to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. He was very patient accommodating to our group and made everyone feel extremely welcome. I would highly recommend one of his tours!

Bucket list

Laura_M, July 2023

Our tour of the colosseum was much anticipated, a dream myself and my partner were fortunate enough to experience (despite the heat). What made it absolutely fantastic was our tour guide. He was charismatic, funny, engaging and full of knowledge. I’m not 100% sure of his name but I think it was Georgio. We send praise and thanks to this young man who made our tour memorable and a wonderful experience. Thank you. Would highly recommend. Laura & Joe (Scotland) x

Rome in one day

Jen_F, July 2023

Very knowledgeable tour guide. Beautiful structures. Also made the best use of the ever so fleeting shade.

Fine time

Daniel_C, July 2023

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and took her time. (Felt like she was probably in academia). Skipped right past the long lines, only a short line to go thru security. Only feedback would be to “read the room” - less bathroom and water breaks and OK to speed up when it’s 103 degrees outside!

Well organized, knowledgeable guide, confusing options

Shelley_P, July 2023

Booking this one was not as easy as other tours. The Viator description was deceiving. We reached out to Viator and when they were no help we were able to email the tour operator directly and they helped us get the exact features we wanted with a small upgrade fee. They were very friendly and helpful. Paolo was very helpful and knowledgeable about the history of how the popes and artists interacted with the colosseum. I enjoyed his talk. My brother (who knows a lot about the colosseum) thought he repeated too much and talked too much about popes and not enough about the colosseum itself or Ancient Rome. Paolo found us shade whenever we needed and made sure we found all the opportunities for water as it was a very hot afternoon. Location, meeting point and getting into the colosseum were very well organized and quick.The pace was good especially considering the heat. We got to enter the arena floor and that was a nice perk. I gave it a five and my brother a three and half.

Thumbs up

Pedro_V, July 2023

Let’s go with the good. Love the caring of our tour guide for the kids (Sandra?). Complete & comprehensive explanations. Some trouble w/the equipment prevents a 5 star. Good coordination to locate them b4 the tour.

Great guide made a great day

Naomi_T, July 2023

We really had a great day with tour guide Andrade, who was passionate and knowledgeable and brought the history of this amazing landmark to life. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and our family is grateful she shared it with us

Very in depth information, mostly focused on the Forum.

KellyLowry, June 2023

This tour had a ton of information, but we expected it to be more focused on the Colosseum. It was actually 2 hours and 10 minutes at the Forum first and then 20 minutes of waiting in line at the Colosseum and then watching a video outside the Colosseum. The information provided on the Colosseum was only about 15-20 minutes. The information was good and would be ideal for someone that is an engineer or history buff.

Knowledgeable tour guide.

Jennifer_G, June 2023

It was all really great. The subfloor and explanation was very interesting. She was accommodating and very knowledgeable.

Tremendous insight

Nancy_H, June 2023

The historical knowledge and perspective of our guide. We learned of the rise, the tremendous influence and expansion of the Roman Empire and of the corruption, decadence and fall of a great Nation and the rejection of not only the bad but sadly also the hood and great as the world slid into the dark ages. Great perspective!

Started an hour late

Brittany_R, June 2023

This tour was about what we expected. Diego the guide was amazing and informative. The colosseum was super crowded - not as bad as the Vatican, but still crazy. You will still be waiting in ridiculous lines, so don’t be fooled by the phrase “skip the line.” Tours like this are the only feasible way into the colosseum, but they all seem to be the same quality. We were able to hear the guide well - so that’s a plus. Our “small group” was 28 people…. I’m a teacher and that is certainly not what I would call a small group. Our tour tickets were set to start at 9:30, we arrived at 9:20 as directed in the instructions…. Our tour began at 10:20……We asked others in our group what time their ticket was for and they said 10:00….. so???? Don’t make any other plans immediately after because this tour company has absolutely no respect for the time frame you choose and pay for. So all in all - Diego was awesome, but the touring company itself is about as crappy as all the others. If you’re coming during peak season, just book the cheapest tour you can find early and expect it to be crowded and not to start on time.

Guided tours are the way to go, but non-English speakers not so much

Wayne_F, June 2023

Easy to get through a with guide. But unfortunately, guide was very hard to understand so it’s almost like you’re on your own and it moves very quickly.

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