Magpie
5.0(48 reviews)

Ancient Rome Full Day Tour: Colosseum and Exclusive Sites

From€600
7 hours
Province of Rome, Italy

About this activity

Experience Rome's ancient history with skip-the-line access to iconic sites and expert guidance, including hidden gems like the House of the Vestals.

Highlights

  • Skip-the-line access to Colosseum
  • Expert archaeologist-led tour
  • Explore Roman Forum's ancient ruins
  • Visit Palatine Hill's imperial palaces
  • Discover hidden sites like House of the Vestals

Full description

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the grandeur of Ancient Rome on this comprehensive full-day tour. With skip-the-line access, you'll explore the Colosseum's iconic amphitheater, the Roman Forum's bustling marketplace, and Palatine Hill's imperial palaces. Led by an expert archaeologist, you'll uncover the rich history and lesser-known stories of these ancient sites. This tour also includes visits to hidden gems like the House of the Vestals and the Temple of Romulus, offering a unique perspective on Rome's storied past. Don't miss this opportunity to walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators alike!

Included / Excluded

  • Skip-the-line access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
  • Guided tour with an expert archaeologist
  • Visit to lesser-known sites like the House of the Vestals and the Temple of Romulus
  • Meals and beverages

Itinerary

1

Mamertine Prison visit

Duration: 45 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2

Palatine and Forum with Super Sites visit

Duration: 2h 20mAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3

Forma Urbis

Duration: 40 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
4

Walk to Celio & lunch break

Duration: 1h 15mAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
5

San Clemente Basilica: an adventure into the mysteries of underground Rome! Explore the stunning 13th-century church of San Clemente, and then the surprising layers of archaeology beneath your feet. Wander into the cavernous subterranean 4th-century church, with frescoes from the 9th century. Then down another level to a murky and mysterious pagan temple to Mithras... and yet another level and walk through a 1st century House!

Duration: 1 hourAdmission: YES
6

You will stand where the gladiators once prepared to face over 80,000 spectators. Discover the history of the thrilling games, wild beast hunts, grand theatrical performances, and legendary gladiatorial combats.

Duration: 1h 30mAdmission: YES

Meeting point

Start Location

Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Important information

Know before you book

  • The tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language.
  • Photography is allowed, but tripods and flash are prohibited inside the sites.
  • The tour operates rain or shine; check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated throughout the tour.
  • Be prepared for a full day of walking and exploration.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

  • Stroller Accessible
  • Easy Public Transport

Good to know

  • **All Colosseum tours require photo ID for all participants; plan to bring your passports on the day of your tour. Failure to show identification will result in the denial of entry to the site.**
  • The itinerary described above is a suggested order and indication of the various experiences. These may slightly vary according to the day of the week and ongoing restoration efforts
  • Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter
  • The house of Augustus is closed on Monday and the House of Livia is closed on Tuesday. All other days of the week both are open. If you prefer to see one or the other, please book accordingly and inform your guide at the start of the tour.
  • Tours run rain or shine. We recommend coming prepared if rainy weather is expected
  • Comfortable walking shoes recommended
  • Lunch is not included in the price of the tour

Traveler reviews

5.0
48 reviews
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Great Tour with Sara

Had a great tour by Sara (SaraRock)! She gave us great information and was very knowledgeable on how to navigate the lines to get us through quickly. She answered our questions and always encouraged us to ask more to meet all our queries. I'd recommend her and this tour :) the colosseum portion was especially interesting!

sloanel838Jul 5, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Great time with Rival

Excellent tour, didn't have to wait in long lines and Ribal was excellent. Very knowledgeable and accommodating.

chrisbV4312CNJul 2, 2026TRIPADVISOR

All good. Except the area to meet was very hard to find.

Valentina was a peach. She’s a doll. Wonderful and informative.

Z5478YGchrisrJun 20, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Our Magical Tour

Lucina Was an amazing guide for us! She was very knowledgeable & had interesting details & photos about what we were seeing. We enjoyed our comprehensive tour & would happily book another with her. We loved exploring the ancient spaces with lots of helpful & unique information.

Case901cJun 3, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Amazing Experience!

Wonderful experience exploring the Colosseum, the Forum and super sites with our personal guide. Andy was attentive to our needs and very knowledgeable. We all enjoyed the day including our two college age sons who said it was the best part of our time in Rome. I can’t recommend this experience, or our guide Andy, enough!

VczykMay 27, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Additional information

**All Colosseum tours require photo ID for all participants; plan to bring your passports on the day of your tour. Failure to show identification will result in the denial of entry to the site.** The itinerary described above is a suggested order and indication of the various experiences. These may slightly vary according to the day of the week and ongoing restoration efforts Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter The house of Augustus is closed on Monday and the House of Livia is closed on Tuesday. All other days of the week both are open. If you prefer to see one or the other, please book accordingly and inform your guide at the start of the tour. Tours run rain or shine. We recommend coming prepared if rainy weather is expected Comfortable walking shoes recommended Lunch is not included in the price of the tour
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