Colosseum Underground & Forum Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Colosseum's hidden underground chambers
- Stand on the ancient arena floor
- Wander through the Roman Forum's historic ruins
- Visit Palatine Hill with panoramic city views
- Skip the lines and save time
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Expert guided tour of Colosseum Underground or Arena
- Access to Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Skip-the-line entry to all sites
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
Explore the world's most visited monument in the most complete way. Visit areas of the Colosseum not accessible by regular-ticket holders, either step on the Gladiators' Arena floor or descend into the exclusive Underground section (depending on the option selected). Walk the steps of the Gladiators and find yourself in the stage of the most famous games in Ancient Rome. Learn about the innovative building techniques used by the ancient Roman engineers. Travel back in time as you immerse yourself into the history of Ancient Rome and find out about the social and political function of this mighty amphitheater.
After the first part of your tour, head together towards the archeological area of the Roman Forums and Palatine Hill for another 1-hour guided tour.
Start the second part of your tour by exploring one of the largest triumphal arches in Roman history: the Arch of Constantine the Great, before meandering through the ruins of the Roman Forum.
Here, you will immerse yourself in the ruins of ancient temples and will walk the paths of Emperors and Senators. Learn how this beautiful area became the beating heart of Ancient Rome. Hear about the Vestal Virgins and see their gardens and the pagan temple of the Goddess Vesta they served. Learn about the Basilica Julia and the penal system of Ancient Rome and its effects on Christianity. See the temple of Castor and Pollux and the Arch of Titus and learn about the sacking of Jerusalem. Discover the Senate House, where senators met to decide the fate of the Roman Republic and how that climaxed with the murder and cremation of Julius Caesar.
Walk the paths of the Roman Emperors while visiting the hill where the legend of Romulus and Remus places the foundation of the city: the Palatine Hill. Learn how it later became one of the most exclusive areas of Ancient Rome and enjoy breathtaking views over the Colosseum and Roman Forum. From the heights of the Palatine Hill, enjoy a bird's eye view over what is considered to have been the largest structure for public games ever built by mankind, the Circus Maximus.
Meeting point
Start Location
Piazza del Colosseo, 21, Piazza del Colosseo, 21, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
- Photography is allowed, but tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited.
- Large bags and backpacks are not permitted inside the sites.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Be prepared for security checks at the entrance.
Cancellation policy
If you cancel at least 7 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
Good to know
- IMPORTANT: After entering the participants’ names during the booking process, please specify in the “Special Requirements” field who the adults and children are, so we can issue the correct Colosseum tickets. Missing information may result in denied entry.
- Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travellers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Please note that the tickets for this tour are nominative. We will register on them the names you have provided during checkout. Please make sure to provide the names of the people attending the tour as they appear on their ID or passport.
- You will pass through strict security checks both at the Colosseum and at the Roman Forum entrance. Please be aware that security check lines are not skippable.
- The order in which the sites are visited during the tour can vary; either the Colosseum or Forum and Palatine Hill will come first
- A moderate amount of walking and steps are involved; wear comfortable walking shoes
- Please note that the group will leave the meeting point 15 minutes before the starting time in order to pass the security check
- This tour is subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Please be at the meeting point 30 minutes before the tour starts in order to complete the signup. We might not be able to accommodate, refund or reschedule late arrivals
- Flying drones and knives of any kind are strictly forbidden. Neither trolleys and big backpacks nor animals are allowed into the Colosseum. Glass/metal containers and sprays of any kind are also not allowed.
Traveler reviews
Excellent tour and guide
I have used Viator many times to book tours and they have never disappointed! We went with Tourik for a skip the line tour. Our guide was excellent (I wish I wrote down his name so I could share it). He had tremendous knowledge of the Colosseum and the history behind it. Even more impressive was his knowledge of Latin and we loved how he shared certain words that came up during the tour and then what they were in French, Italian, Spanish, and English and the many other words that came from it. Too many to mention but it was fun.
Great history lesson....
Great history lesson. Marco was very insightful. Very cool sights to see. Lots of walking we are comfy shoes.
Easy Access and Great Information
This tour got us on the Colosseum floor. While many other people looked down from above, we got the view from the gladiator’s perspective. Beyond the Colosseum, though, our tour through Palatine Hill would have been a waste of time without the context of our knowledgeable guide. Without a tour like this, you would just wander not knowing what you were looking at.
Wonderful overview of the Colosseum and Palatine Hill
Excellent tour. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. We're really glad that we took the tour rather than going it on our own as the guide was able to get us into some spaces that weren't as crowded (the floor). A note that the steps in the Colosseum are ancient (truly), uneven, and they slightly slope downwards. Even though I'm in great shape and walk constantly, going down the stairs took concentration. Wear shoes with a good grip!
Fantastic tour. ‘
Gabriel was wonderful! So knowledgeable and I feel we really had a thorough tour with him. His use of other diagrams helped make it more comprehensive and understandable as well. A++! Well done! I would go on another tour if I knew her was the guide. We spent ample time in the forum and Palestine hill and the coliseum and I learned things I didn’t know on this tour. I highly recommend it. .