Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor

Stand in the spot where gladiators once clashed swords and battles raged before throngs of spectators as you visit the mighty Colosseum and get special access to the arena floor. Afterward, learn what daily life was like in ancient Rome as you walk in the footsteps of everyday citizens among the ruins of the Roman Forum.   

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. 

Spend a full hour exploring the rest of the Colosseum, from the ground floor up to the second tier, where you can see the Roman Forum from a distance before making your way across to Palatine Hill. You'll also get ahead of the crowds at this storied collection of ruins and listen to your guide rebuild ancient Rome from the ground up through captivating stories. Hear tales of war, politics, and betrayal, and get introduced to some of the ancient world's larger-than-life characters as you roam around the markets, roads, and temples where the empire's citizens once lived, played, and prayed. 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. 

Your Colosseum experience also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where Rome's story began. Walk the ancient roads where citizens gathered, politicians plotted, and emperors ruled. From crumbling temples to imperial palaces, your guide will reconstruct a lost world through vivid storytelling that transforms ruins into a living, breathing city.

If you select the VIP Caesar’s Palace & Colosseum option, you’ll go even further—unlocking rare access to the Colosseum’s SUPER Sites within the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. These restricted spaces reveal a more intimate side of ancient Rome, including the House of Augustus, where remarkably preserved frescoes still glow with color after two millennia. Note: The Caesar's Palace & Colosseum option does not include access to the Colosseum's arena floor. 

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. 

Walks Tours is proud to be an Official Parco Archeologico del Colosseo Operator approved to lead guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill.