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
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.
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.
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
Colosseum Tour was fabulous
The tour was great and so informative! Humi was a great tour guide. We enjoyed hearing about the colosseum and the Roman forum. The view from Palatine Hill was amazing!
Excellent experience, thank you Tatiana
It was an incredible experience, Tatiana was my guide and she is wonderful. I have always dreamed of coming to Rome, and it was so beautiful to learn all the history; it made it magical. Thank you, Tatiana
Tatiana is highly recommended!👏🏼
Excellent guide! She made me feel many emotions, I loved it, highly recommended!👍🏼✨
Excellent guide! My family and I loved it.
Our guide Tatiana explained the tour very well; she was very kind, has a very pleasant and fun way of explaining, we highly recommend her, we loved taking the tour with her, she told us a lot of history about the place, my family and I loved it.
Caveat Emptor: Paid the premium price, got tye basic tour
Booked and paid $284.14 for a "premium" Colosseum tour advertised with arena floor access and an 8:30am guided entry. None of that happened. Arena floor access was cancelled, our start time was unilaterally pushed to 11:30am, and our guide didn't even come inside the Colosseum with us — we were left to wander on our own. Viator currently advertises a standard Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill tour for $53/person. I paid more than five times that for "premium" features that were never delivered. When I disputed it, Viator's final offer was a 30% refund — essentially telling me it's fine to charge premium prices for a basic, self-guided product. I've had to escalate to a credit card dispute to recover the rest. If you're considering a "premium" Viator tour, read the fine print carefully and don't assume the listed inclusions will actually happen — and know that Viator's customer service will lowball you hard if they don't.