Private Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Rome, Italy
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Ancient Rome without trying to piece together its complex history on your own. This private tour offers a personalized, art history–focused perspective, helping you better understand the Colosseum and surrounding landmarks. With tailored commentary and a seamless route through key sites, you can engage more deeply with Rome’s past while avoiding the limitations of standard group tours.
- Private art tour ensures personalized attention from a dedicated expert
- Flexible itinerary lets you customize the experience to match your interests
- Specialized art history guide brings deeper insight and context to each site
- Colosseum and Palatine Hill skip-the-line access saves time and maximizes your visit
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Scratch beyond the surface with this private tour that's led by an art expert guide.
What's Included
- Guided private walking tour with expert guide for your group only
- Reserved Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Largo Gaetana AgnesiL.go Gaetana Agnesi, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Meet your guide at Largo Gaetana Agnesi, on the little square above the metro line B (blue line) stop "Colosseo". Your guide coordinator will be waiting here wearing a blue City Wonders polo shirt or jacket for easy recognition.
End point
- Palatine HillVia di S. Gregorio, 30, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Itinerary
1
Colosseum
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Palatine Hill
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Roman Forum
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please note: All participant names are required at the time of booking in order to enter the Colosseum.
- Every customer on this tour is required to present a valid government issued ID or Passport at the Colosseum, that matches their name on the reservation, or entry will be refused. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed.
- Please note that the itinerary for our tours may differ from the advertised order of destinations. We assure you that any changes made to the tour itinerary are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience.
- On this tour, some of the venues or parts of the venue may be subject to last-minute, unpredictable closures. When this occurs, we are happy to offer customers an extended tour in keeping with the advertised total length of the tour.
- May experience delays in clearing security checks when entering the venue
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 285 reviews
Tracie_S, Mar 2023
Viola was an amazing guide. She was so knowledgeable and really worked hard to ensure we got as much information as possible. She was also conscientious about our comfort as this tour had a lot of walking. She is an excellent guide. You should request her.
Ana_B, Dec 2022
Do not waste your money. They give you a random place to meet but not contact. Hundreds of dollars in the toilet.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Hello Ana_B,
We are sincerely sorry to hear that you were unable to join your tour of the Colosseum with us. On the booking voucher we always include directions to the meeting point along with GPS coordinates and pictures.
Please forward us your booking confirmation voucher at edgar.chavero@citywonders.com so that we may take a closer look at exactly what happened in your case. If there was a mistake made on our end, we will without a doubt accomodate you in any way we can.
Apologies for any and all inconveniences caused on your travels. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Edgar J.
City Wonders
Lennie_K, Aug 2022
A great private tour with an accredited archeologist with so much passion in her work. Olga was a great guide, local to Rome. English is her second language but communication wasn’t a problem. The passion in her words was what we appreciated more than her full command of the English language. This area is extremely busy and it was so nice to have a private tour where we could move at whatever pace we chose. It’s also amazing to have a guide who actually uncovered areas of the tour areas and worked at these sites.
Craig_N, Aug 2022
Our Guide’s English was poor for a guide. She was unsure of what lines we needed to be in and took more time explaining the history of the building outside the building then showing us the building. We didn’t spend much time in the Colosseum. Palatine Hill was great but you don’t need a guide to enjoy it. Skip the tour, by your own tickets.
Francis_G, Apr 2022
Elisabeth was amazing - so amazingly knowledgeable and informative, and great at answering all our questions. We learned a ton and had a great time. Highest recommendation. Highest recommendation!!
Caroline_E, Oct 2019
What a great way to see the sites. Our guide was Agata and she was terrific! Very knowledgeable and friendly. We had some great discussions.
stephanievallejo7, Oct 2019
We could not have asked for a better tour guide! Emanuela is an expert on ancient Rome and was more than happy to answer any of our (numerous) questions. She really impressed us with how well she knew her subject and we walked away with fascinating facts and stories about Roman history and leadership. The added bonus is that Emanuela is incredibly entertaining! She made us laugh so much it felt like walking around Roman ruins with an old friend. We didn't have to wait in any lines and really made the most of the day. I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about Roman history with an expert without having to wait around with throngs of people. Be sure to bring your walking shoes.
Thank you so much Emanuela! You are fabulous and I hope we see you again!
Ryan_H, Sep 2019
It was perfect. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and sweet. He was helpful and kind. It was a small group (just us, max of 6) and it made it so much easier and more fun.
jason_s, Apr 2019
Excellent tour. Easy to find the tour directors at meeting spot. We have done a lot of tours over the years and our Irish guide was one of the best we have ever had. Extremely educational tour would recommend.
Isaac_H, Mar 2019
The private tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum was fantastic! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour guide Assunta Mari from City Wonder Tours! She was extremely knowledgeable about the sites and made sure we were able to take pictures from the best views. Assunta was extremely friendly immediately putting us at ease and her English was phenomenal. Her knowledge of Roman history as well as Art History brought much more depth to the tour. She told us stories about the Romans of the time and even tried to teach us some Italian words! I highly recommend this private tour and I highly recommend Assunta Mari as a guide!! You will not be disappointed! Thank you Assunta from your new Louisiana friends Ike and Kelli!!
Omar_A, Jul 2018
very well organized, we had 2 little children so we opted for the private experience and for us it was well worth it. the guide Alessandra was patient, nice and informative. we have no regrets.
Danielle H, Dec 2017
This was our favorite tour of the few that we had been on! Our tour guide, Alessandra, was amazing, accommodating and really knew the city and how to think on her feet! The tour had an unexpected closure due to a strike that was happening that day and she was able to whip something up to show us instead! She took us around different parts of Rome and had SO MUCH information to tell us! The tour was only supposed to last 3 hours and because she wanted us to have the full Rome experience she let whoever wanted to continue the tour stick around for an extra 2-3 hours! She was amazing and I highly recommend this company and these tours!
Stephanie H, Jul 2017
Our tour guide was the absolute best. She had a masters degree in archeology and had actually worked on some of the archeological sites in Rome. She had a contagious enthusiasm for her subject and really wanted to share it with us. Skip the line great but the best was her oresentation
Daniel F, May 2017
Totally enjoyed private tour, had very knowledgeable guide, took her time and allowed time for questions and photos.
JAMES K, Apr 2017
As an archaeology buff, this was a must do experience that exceeded already high expectations. Seeing the colosseum and the forums, and learning their stories on site, created a feeling of awe and wonder that can't be experienced in any other way. The fact that our guide, Alessandra, was herself a professional archaeologist of the classic period added enormously to the experience. She was wonderful.
Carole W, Mar 2017
This tour included the underground area of the Colosseum which added an element of awe to the visit.
Christopher C, Jan 2017
We had a fantastically good 3 hour trip. No long queue for the tickets and a private guide for the two of us. I did not realise that I had arranged for that rather than a group tour but am very glad I did. Our guide was brilliant: well informed took everything at the right pace and was a joy to be with. Quite a lot of walking - but that is because there is a great deal to see. All fascinating and excellently explained.
Livia W, Oct 2016
there were still many lines, not sure much was gained with skip the line. Our guide wad very knowledgeable. It was a bit too much time at the Colosseum, maybe a half hour less there and longer at the other areas. very knowledgeable guide.
John_Z, Oct 2016
Christina was a fantastic tour guide! She was so very knowledgeable about the Colosseum and The Forum. I would highly recommend a private tour with her if you can-you will not be disappointed!
Bradley J, Sep 2016
Our guide Amanda was brilliant, her combination of passion for and knowledge of her subject matter was exceptional. Ancient Rome came alive !
Beth S, Sep 2016
Amanda, our private tour guide, was incredibly knowledgeable about the times and history about the Romans who lived centuries ago. Her explanations of the times went beyond just the historical perspective as she helped us appreciate the lives and challenges of those that walked the streets of Rome over 2000 years ago. Her perspective and knowledge of Rome throughout the centuries was astonishing.
MichaelD_B, Jul 2016
Guide provided information essential to understand an appreciate the structures.
Dale S, Jun 2016
Our guide was perfect! She was an archeologist so very knowledgeable and thorough while still being interesting and fun!! We had so many tours on our trip, unfortunately I can't remember her name, but she was from Rome, and we couldn't have been more happy with her!!
Michael H, Jun 2016
Ms. Selenia was a wonderful guide, knowledgable and very personable. She spoke excellent English, and gave us a very in-depth tour and education about the antiquities we toured. We highly recommend this tour and Ms. Selenia.
Martin_G, Jun 2016
The tour was ok. We did not get 'skip the line' access - we waited twice in general lines. We appeared to get the 'next up' guide from a group being dispatched as private tour clients arrived at a busy organization point. While our guide delivered a reasonable stock tour there was no evidence that she had any particular interest or knowledge about art history of Rome. She made no effort to learn our background or interests.
All this would rate 3 stars at 50/person. At over 150/person, it was just wasted money. We would have done as well in a standard group tour, or even simply using audio guides.
Karen H, May 2016
This tour was amazing!! Our tour guide Gulia sorry if I have spelt it wrong! was so lovely and patient and a wealth of knowledge, not just in the main historical facts but also in unusual and interesting details. My fiancée and I had hardly any knowledge of each site we visited but Gulia has these wonderful books with her which showed pictures of how it looks now and then she pulled over a transparent page with an artists impression of how it once looked. I couldnt recommend this tour enough as its so great to have the personal touch rather than listening to an audio tour. Also skipping the queues will help save you time so you can enjoy more of the sights of Rome!!
Ellen S, May 2016
Our tour guide was very knowledgable and patient. I learned so much that had to do with the history of Rome, which could be applied to sites I saw later during my time in the eternal city. Worth every penny.
Adam_N, May 2016
Davee was an incredible tour guide. We went all over and he took us to the top of the hill, and explained everything about each area. He was fun and engaging and we really enjoyed our time with him.
Mary R, Mar 2016
Traveling with two teenagers. I'm not kidding, this was worth EVERY PENNY!! Our tour guide, Vincenzo, was a student of restoration on the Colosseum and the Forum so he had little known facts and interesting information he'd learned in class. My teenage kids were walking next to him and asking him questions, he was so engaging. He took care of us too - found a way around a long line for immediate entry to the Colosseum. Case in point, it's almost 4 months later and I just asked my son the tour guide's name and without hesitation he said Vincenzo - he definitely made an impression!
solysanti, Feb 2016
This was a great tour. We didn't link what to expect as we did not have any specific request for our guide and just wanted to learn more about the history. We had Amanda as a guide and we totally recommend her! If you want The REAL story of the colosseum, learn what matters, this would be the tour!
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Private Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour
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