Guided Tour of Rome's Ancient Sites
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Colosseum
- Explore the Roman Forum's ancient ruins
- Visit Palatine Hill's imperial palaces
- Learn from an expert English-speaking guide
- Use headsets for clear audio during the tour
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Headsets for clear audio during the tour
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
Built in 80 AD, the Colosseum in one of the ancient world's longest surviving monuments. Discover the hidden details in its facade as your guide describes the incredible "100 Day of Games" that celebrated the Colosseum's inauguration. Imagine the roar of the crowds that once filled the arena as you learn about the gladiator battles that took place center stage.
Delve into the layers of history and architecture as you follow your guide through the Roman Forum. Discover the Temple of Julius Caesar and the House of the Vestal Virgin as your guide describes what life was like in Ancient Rome.
Discover what remains of the emperors' palaces as you stroll the lofty heights of the Palatine Hill. Learn about the foundation of Rome and its legendary characters, like Romulus and Remus, as you enjoy breathtaking views of the Roman skyline.
Meeting point
Start Location
Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
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
- Wheelchair Accessible
Good to know
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the starting time
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Refunds will not be provided for no-shows or late arrivals. If you are late to arrive at the meeting point, you will not be able to join your tour.
- Tours will run rain or shine (unless the monument is closed by the official administration for safety reasons)
- The tour itinerary can start with either the Colosseum or the Palatine Hill/Roman.
- The meeting time can be subject to change. In this case, we will call/text you in advance to let you know.
- Aerosols, sharp objects and large backpacks will not be allowed
- There are mandatory security checks at all entry points to the sites. The time spent in the security line varies and this line cannot be ‘skipped.’ The wait time for the security check can be considerable during peak times/seasons and has nothing to do with the ticket line.
- When booking for children under 18 years, a government-issued ID/passport will be required when entering the monument. Failure to bring an ID with you can result in the security staff refusing you entrance to the monument.
- 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.
- The itinerary may vary, the tour may start at either the Colosseum or the Roman Forum.
Traveler reviews
Change in policy meant not guide in Colosseum
Unfortunately we didn’t get what we booked. Due to a change at the coliseum the guide wasn’t allowed into there to give a guided tour. This was very disappointing and we only found out the day or two before. There were lots of other guides in the coliseum not sure what changed. Also the time of our tour was changed. Just sharing in case other people had anything booked afterwards.
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY TO BOOK ANY TOUR!!!! Very unprofessional with no information shared and the guides for 8:30 am tour has not arrived. Office is closed so you can’t follow up either. Some people had their timings changed without prior notice . Super frustrating!
Do not buy - it's a scam
A real scam. I bought 2 tickets to see the Coliseum and its inside with a guide. The day before the visit, I receive an email stating that the guide won't be able to go inside with us and that we need to buy our ticket ourselves! They say we'll have a guide explainig the coliseum from the outside only. This is not what I paid for. We didn't accept this and ask for a refund. BUT the policy stipulate that refund is possible 7 days prior to the event, but they changed the service the day before!!! Again, what a scam. I asked for a refund but radio silence. I haven't heard from them since.
Do not book with this tour group
We were advised only the day before that the guided tour of the collesuem could no longer be offered, but we would still get the guided tour of roman forum. We showed up at our designated tour time and waited 45 min just to be told that our tour guide did not show up. Would not recommend booking this through Viator or any 3rd party reseller. I recommend booking directly on the colleseum website so you can guarantee not to be dissappointed.
Shady, Chaotic, and a Complete Waste of Time
I arrived at the meeting point 15 minutes early as instructed, but check‑in was slow — I stood in line for about 30 minutes. After checking in we were given a group color and told to wait; there were only two people handling check‑ins while more than a hundred people waited, which made the situation chaotic and several groups were upset about delays. After an hour of waiting with my group we pushed through the check‑in line to speak with staff; they directed us to the manager. The manager told us our guide was “over there.” We went to where he indicated but the guide was not present. Returning to the manager, he said he called her and that she was on her way, but by then we had missed our assigned entry window into the Colosseum. We waited another 15 minutes and the guide still never arrived. When we asked for a refund we had to wait in line behind four other groups who had also experienced guide no‑shows. We lost our entire morning, had no entry tickets or tour, and had to be very assertive to get anyone to help us. This was a chaotic mess — AVOID SHOW ME ITALY TOURS