Rome's Ancient Wonders Tour

From€46

3 hours

Province of Rome, Italy

About this activity

Experience Rome's ancient history with skip-the-line access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, guided by experts offering historical insights and panoramic city views.

Highlights

Skip-the-line access to Colosseum
Explore the Roman Forum's ancient ruins
Stroll through Palatine Hill's gardens
Learn from expert guides
Enjoy panoramic city views

Full description

Step back in time and immerse yourself in Rome's rich history with our exclusive tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Skip the lines and delve into the stories of gladiators, emperors, and ancient civilizations. Our expert guides will bring these iconic sites to life, sharing fascinating tales and historical insights. As you wander through the Roman Forum's ancient ruins and Palatine Hill's lush gardens, you'll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the Eternal City. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and unforgettable experiences, making it a must-do for any traveler seeking to uncover the secrets of Rome's past.

Included / Excluded

Skip-the-line access to Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
Expert guided tour with historical insights
Panoramic views of Rome's iconic landmarks

Food and beverages

Itinerary

It was obtained by cutting the Quirinale and the Campidoglio slopes, connected by a mountain saddle. The excavation works were probably started under Domitian, in parallel with the arrangement of the Forum of Nerva. The undertaking, which had to be interrupted after the death of this emperor, murdered in a conspiracy in 96 AD, was continued by Trajan and financed with the booty obtained from the conquest of Dacia (now Romania), conducted in two subsequent military campaigns (101 -102 and 105-106 AD) and ended with the defeat and submission of the Dacians and the death of their king Decebalus. The architect of the work was Apollodorus of Damascus, a military engineer who had accompanied the emperor in the victorious war. The plan of Trajan's Forum was more articulated and complex than that of its predecessors: it included a vast square flanked by porticoes with exedras behind them, dominated on one side by the imposing Basilica Ulpia, behind which stood the Trajan's Column.

Duration: 20 minAdmission: YES

Trajan's Column narrates in images the two military campaigns of 101-102 and 105-106 AD. with which the emperor Trajan (98-117 AD) conquered Dacia, mainly corresponding to present-day Romania. Thanks to the extraordinary war booty, Trajan was able to build the most majestic of the Forums of Rome, which took its name from him and was inaugurated in 112 AD. The Column was erected in the center of a courtyard delimited by the monumental entrance to the Forum by the Basilica Ulpia and by the two libraries to the east and west. It rests on a base decorated with bas-reliefs depicting stacks of weapons. The shaft, 100 Roman feet high (30 meters), is composed of 17 colossal rocks of white Carrara marble, with a diameter of almost 4 meters. Inside is a spiral staircase of 185 steps leading to the top. The frieze is arranged around the shaft, imagined as a spirally wrapped scroll, approximately 200 meters long in total and densely animated with scenes with about 2,500 characters.

Duration: 10 minAdmission: YES

Roman Forum, Latin Forum Romanum, the most important forum in ancient Rome, is situated on low ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. The Roman Forum was the scene of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats in republican times and was lined with shops and open-air markets. Under the empire, when it primarily became a centre for religious and secular spectacles and ceremonies, it was the site of many of the city’s most imposing temples and monuments. Among the structures surviving in whole or in part are the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of the Deified Caesar, the Mamertine Prison, the Curia (senate house), the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Romulus, the Arch of Titus, the Arch of Septimius Severus, and the Cloaca Maxima.

Duration: 45 minAdmission: YES

The Palatine Hill, (/ˈpælətaɪn/; Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; Italian: Palatino [palaˈtiːno]) which is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire." The site is now mainly a large open-air museum while the Palatine Museum houses many finds from the excavations here and from other ancient Italian sites. Imperial palaces were built here, starting with Augustus. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the rich. The hill originally had two summits separated by depression; the highest part was called Palatium and the other Germalus (or Cermalus). Using the Forma Urbis its perimeter enclosed 63 acres (25 ha); while the Regional Catalogues of the 4th century enclose 131 acres (53 ha).

Duration: 30 minAdmission: YES

The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch in Rome dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, the arch spans the Via Triumphalis, the route taken by victorious military leaders when they entered the city in a triumphal procession. Dedicated in 315, it is the largest Roman triumphal arch, with overall dimensions of 21 m (69 ft) high, 25.9 m (85 ft) wide and 7.4 m (24 ft) deep. It has three bays, the central one being 11.5 m (38 ft) high and 6.5 m (21 ft) wide and the laterals 7.4 m (24 ft) by 3.4 m (11 ft) each. The arch is constructed of brick-faced concrete riveted in marble. Though dedicated to Constantine, much of the sculptural decoration consists of reliefs and statues removed from earlier triumphal monuments dedicated to Trajan (98–117), Hadrian (117–138) and Marcus Aurelius (161)

Duration: 10 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE

Your guide will show you the best-preserved part of the Colosseum, entertain you with tales of sea battles, and tell you about the Gladiator's combats and animal fights. Imagine the roar of the crowd as their blood-lust was met. Called by the ancient Romans "Anphitheatrum Flavlum" (Flavian Amphitheatre), the Colosseum is the most famous and impressive monument of ancient Rome and the largest amphitheater in the world. The name is undoubtedly linked to the large size of the building but derives above all from the fact that nearby, there was a colossal statue of Nero and bronze. In 1990, the Colosseum, along with all the historical centre of Rome, the Vatican extraterritorial zones in Italy and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, while in July 2007 was included among the New seven Wonders of the World.

Duration: 25 minAdmission: NO

Roman Forum The new Museum of the Roman Forum The House of the Vestals Palatine Palatine Museum Nymphaeum of the Rain Domus Tiberiana Museum of the Domus Tiberiana Deposits on Display 2024 The first true Imperial residence. With the consolidation of the power of the Julio-Claudian family during the course of the 1st century AD, the private home of Tiberius Claudius Nero (father of the future emperor Nero) in which Germanicus, Claudius and Caligula (who was killed in a cryptoporticus of the domus in 41 AD) also lived, following the devastating fire of 64 AD, began its transformation into a true imperial palace.

Duration: 20 minAdmission: YES

Meeting point

Start Location

Unknown location

Important information

Know before you book

This tour is conducted in English; please ensure you understand the language.
Photography is allowed; however, tripods and professional equipment may be restricted.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Know before you go

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
Be prepared for some walking and uneven terrain.

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

At the time of booking, travelers must provide their full name and date of birth. Security will prevent you from entering the site if the information provided is not accurate and/or don't match the one on your ID.
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.
For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened.
For the Self Audio Guided Tour Option,s Smartphones to download the App for the audioguide must be of the latest generation (No older than the year 2020)
Forbidden objects inside the Roman Forum: bottles and glasses containers, alcoholic beverages and aerosols, backpacks, camping, bulky bags and luggage / trolley, knives, selfie sticks
Can be introduced medium and small size backpacks to shoulder, which must be checked, as any other bag, with metal detectors, opened and visually inspected by the Urbe Security Institute, responsible for the entrance inspection
Please notice that the Roman Forum Administration, which depends on the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities has the faculty to close the Roman Forum, or parts of it, with or without notice, for events, strikes, heavy rain, or any other reason. In which case, we will offer an alternative itinerary as it seems fit and offer a partial refund
Activity subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather conditions, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
Changes on the bookings will not be accepted within 24hrs of the starting time of the tour. In that instance, no refund will be issued.
Pets are not allowed, unless they have a service animal certification
The Management does not distribute individual tickets. We will have one group ticket for the entire group. For this reason, we are not able to give tickets to late arrivals that missed the tour!
Every refund request MUST be done within and not later 48 hours from the day of the tour
Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.
Please note that the service includes an exterior tour of Colosseum.
The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions (ice, rain, or high temperatures) or other events beyond the travel agency's control.

Traveler reviews

4.3

8 reviews

Provides tickets but...

Provides tickets but limited detailed information Following where to go was not easy to align to the pre recorded talking points

Paul_HNov 19, 2025VIATOR

Great to get shorter lines and some interesting history

This allowed us easy entry into the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Our tour guide talked to us a while while about Roman history while we just had to stand there in the heat. Not my favorite part, might have been nice if she could have walked and talked while we looked at things. Overall a very cool experience though. Incredible sites to see!

Bryan_MJul 28, 2024VIATOR

Great tour.

Great tour. Highly recommended for a quick entrance into the colosseum and very informative. We had an amazing experience.

svX1794KCJul 31, 2023TRIPADVISOR

Fantastic Tour

It was amazing tour. Our guide explained very well. The tour was easy to find and well organised. It´s totally worth it to have such a great tour. Would recommend!

ayeshak831Jul 13, 2023TRIPADVISOR

Colosseum

Short tour, small group, fast entry, good guide Only I was disappointed that the headphones that were supposed to be a one -time, guide picked up; olso we get them in a small bags, but not packed normally

VilmaV315Feb 18, 2020TRIPADVISOR

Additional information

At the time of booking, travelers must provide their full name and date of birth. Security will prevent you from entering the site if the information provided is not accurate and/or don't match the one on your ID. 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. For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened. For the Self Audio Guided Tour Option,s Smartphones to download the App for the audioguide must be of the latest generation (No older than the year 2020) Forbidden objects inside the Roman Forum: bottles and glasses containers, alcoholic beverages and aerosols, backpacks, camping, bulky bags and luggage / trolley, knives, selfie sticks Can be introduced medium and small size backpacks to shoulder, which must be checked, as any other bag, with metal detectors, opened and visually inspected by the Urbe Security Institute, responsible for the entrance inspection Please notice that the Roman Forum Administration, which depends on the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities has the faculty to close the Roman Forum, or parts of it, with or without notice, for events, strikes, heavy rain, or any other reason. In which case, we will offer an alternative itinerary as it seems fit and offer a partial refund Activity subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather conditions, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund. Changes on the bookings will not be accepted within 24hrs of the starting time of the tour. In that instance, no refund will be issued. Pets are not allowed, unless they have a service animal certification The Management does not distribute individual tickets. We will have one group ticket for the entire group. For this reason, we are not able to give tickets to late arrivals that missed the tour! Every refund request MUST be done within and not later 48 hours from the day of the tour Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons. Please note that the service includes an exterior tour of Colosseum. The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions (ice, rain, or high temperatures) or other events beyond the travel agency's control.

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