Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

Badge of Excellence

Rome, Italy

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.3

· Kristen_B ·

Nov 2025

Amazing even in spite of the crowds… very well organized. Good communication and customer service. Would definitely recommend!

· Steve_L ·

Mar 2026

All in all, a very positive experience. Our tour guide Stefano was very knowledgeable and helpful and the hearing devices were very helpful. The tour was the right length. Don’t forget to bring id or passport to enter the Forum, Colosseum, etc.

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Overview

See iconic monuments and ancient Roman ruins up close, all on this hassle-free group tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose from several time slots to fit your vacation schedule, and follow your guide on a walking tour to learn about the notorious gladiator competitions of old. Plus, enjoy access to the Colosseum's restricted Arena Floor to really feel history come alive.

Discover many of Rome's top ancient landmarks in one tour
Explore the Colosseum’s first and second tiers, plus the Arena Floor
A choice of time slots means you can fit this into your busy schedule
Get more out of the experience with a guide than you would on your own

What's Included

Professional guide (not included if you select the AUDIOGUIDE option).
Assistance 7 Days a Week
Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person)
Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
Headsets provided for groups (not included if you select the AUDIOGUIDE option).
Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Via delle Terme di Tito, 93, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Meet us at our offie at Via delle Terme di Tito 93

End point

Colosseum
Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Itinerary

After meeting your guide, your half-day Rome tour starts at the Colosseum.

With your guide in the lead, walk through the Gladiator's Gate and right onto the Arena Floor, which is usually restricted to visitors. Feel the thrill of the amphitheater and learn about the gruesome gladiator games, the Colosseum’s main attraction, which provided much entertainment to the crowd. Then, explore the first and second levels, learning facts such as how seats were assigned according to social class.

Then follow your guide back outside to walk around the neighboring streets, where the commercial and political center of ancient Rome once stood. Explore the ancient highlights of the Palatine Hill on the way.

Next, head to the Roman Forum, where you can check out historic ruins such as the Temple of Caesar and listen to stories about the power and backstabbing that went on during this period of Roman history.

After half a day of exploring, the tour ends back at the Colosseum.

Colosseum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
The Colosseum has strict security restrictions. Due to metal detectors at the entrances (and no bag check service), it is forbidden to bring the following: glass bottles, spray cans, alcohol, large bags or backpacks, suitcases, umbrellas with pointed tips, tripods, drones, knives, scissors, or any sharp or dangerous objects. Food and drinks in glass containers are also not allowed. Only small bags are permitted and must be inspected by security staff.

A valid ID or passport (also for children/infant)– Required for entry and ticket verification.
Your own headphones – If you choose the AUDIOGUIDE option, please bring your own headphones to enjoy the commentary clearly.
POP GUIDE app downloaded – If you choose the AUDIOGUIDE option, make sure to download the POP GUIDE app in advance from the App Store or Google Play.
A fully charged smartphone – If you choose the AUDIOGUIDE option, ensure your phone is fully charged for the best experience.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.3

based on 1,875 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

All in all, a very...

Steve_L, Mar 2026

Lots of walking, friendly...

Sheila_E, Feb 2026

Lots of walking, friendly and knowledgeable guide, hit all the big sites. We went off season and practically had the places to ourselves

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your lovely review! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the Colosseo and the major highlights with our friendly and knowledgeable guide. Visiting in the off-season really does make the experience even more special — almost like having these incredible sites all to yourselves! We hope to see you again in Rome!

Mixed feelings

Angelos_P, Feb 2026

The tour is very ambitious in the sense that it turns out that there is a lot to cover. There is practically constant moving around and a ton of information to digest. The guide was friendly but a bit stressed to keep correct timing and his stress was eventually transferred to us. With all due respect, I think that his accent was very hard to follow. This is by no means a criticism to his knowledge and other skills but as a non Italian speaker I expect that certain language skills are to be taken for granted when selecting a guide for an English speaking tour. The tour is not recommended for people who are not at a great physical condition. And a final note for the Colosseum as a sight: it is clearly breathtaking but also overcrowded. The Forum and the Palatine hill on the other hand were significantly less stressful.

Great tour

Tasmin_S, Jan 2026

When the guide leaves you at the end of the tour, be sure to take time to go further up to the top of the Palatine and explore the whole archaeological site - there's so much more to see!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you! We’re glad you enjoyed the **Rome: Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill tour** and appreciate your tip about exploring the Palatine further—it’s a must-see!

It was a nice tour,...

Reggie_C, Jan 2026

It was a nice tour, although it was bit of soaring hot due to climate. The tour guide was excellent.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you! We’re glad you enjoyed the Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill tour and your guide. Hope to see you again soon!

Great tour. Highly...

Mindy_D, Dec 2025

Great tour. Highly recommend. Didn’t have to wait in lines. Our guide provided lots of interesting information.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill tour. It’s wonderful to hear you didn’t have to wait in lines and that your guide shared so much interesting information. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!

Patricia, our guide, was...

James_R, Nov 2025

Patricia, our guide, was informative, organized, and patient. Glad we didn’t choose to view these sites without a tour.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that Patricia made your experience informative and enjoyable. Seeing the Colosseum arena and exploring these incredible sites with a knowledgeable guide really makes all the difference. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!

Beautiful site, tour guide needs improvement

Cloriza_G, Nov 2025

The site itself was amazing to see. This critique is more for our tour guide (I think his name was Paolo?). He was very informative, however, his accent could be a little hard to understand at times and he wasn’t very personable or friendly. The tour was scheduled for 3 hours and went over for approx 45 mins and he maybe only cracked one joke the entire tour. I’m grateful to have learned a bit of history about the Colosseum and Forum, but if you are going to hold up the group for almost an extra hour, it would be more enjoyable to have a guide who is engaging. I think others from my tour group would agree; a few from the group left early either because of boredom or because they had other engagements and this one went over time. Maybe our guide was having a bad day, but I genuinely hope he makes adjustments for future group tours.

Ancient Roman Highlights

Kirt_M, Nov 2025

Very informative tour but also very long (lasted more than an hour past expected end time). Guide was extremely knowledgeable but a little difficult to understand. Overall, a good tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re sorry that the tour exceeded the expected duration and was at times difficult to follow. Your comments will help us improve future experiences. We’re glad you found the tour informative and enjoyable overall, and we hope to welcome you again on one of our tours in the future.

Great tour!

Kristen_B, Nov 2025

Amazing even in spite of the crowds… very well organized. Good communication and customer service. Would definitely recommend!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review! We’re happy to hear that you had a great experience and that our team’s communication and service met your expectations. It means a lot that you chose us for your Rome experience, and we look forward to hosting you on another tour soon.

Excellent But Be Prepared for Exercise

Christine_D, Nov 2025

Expect a lot of walking that will include steep grades, multiple surfaces and wuite a few steep stairs. Be prepared for a day of exercise but it will be worth it. You will see one of the most beautiful views in the city from Palentine Hill, will learn so much history and you'll be amazed when standing on the floor of the Coliseum. Be sure to have you ID and make sure you book your tickets with your legal name on your documents. You will have to show this numerous times throughout the tour and you will be denied entry if they don't match. Also, bring a watery bottle which you can refill along the way.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're happy that you enjoyed the views, the history and the overall experience. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.

Excellent tour!

Sharon_D, Oct 2025

Nancy was a great tour guide! She was Very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely add on the Forum and Palatine hill part of the tour.

Highly Recommend this Tour and Company

Kim_V, Oct 2025

This was an amazing tour. The sites are stunning. Ian, our guide, was very informative. His dry sense of humor was very entertaining. I would highly recommend this tour for an in-depth look at the incredible history before your eyes.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review and your kind words about our guide! Our guides work hard to share history, and we're glad that you enjoyed the tour. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour in the future!

A lot of walking up and...

Fern_H, Oct 2025

A lot of walking up and down stairs. Pavement was uneven. The guide’s accent was so thick that it was difficult to understand. To his credit he possessed a great knowledge of the site.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you recognized our guide’s great knowledge of the site, and we’re sorry that the walking and stairs were challenging and that the guide’s accent made it difficult to understand at times. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will work to ensure a better experience for future visitors.

A MUST-DO if you want to see the Colosseum

Amy_N, Oct 2025

I would recommend this company and tour 100%! One of the only ones that honored the exact time on our skip the line tickets! The crowds are unreal so I can’t imagine having tried going through the Colosseum on our own. The guide was extremely knowledgeable, which actually made the first part in the Colosseum longer than I would have liked. Our schedule did not allow us to continue on the forum or Palentine Hill, but I think it would have been amazing as well.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you appreciated our punctuality and our guide's knowledge. We look forward to welcoming you back on another tour in the future to explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Total Scam!! Avoid at all costs

John_M, Oct 2025

Didn’t get the experience so can’t comment. Turned up at the meeting point and got given tickets. The tour guide said to check that the names matched your ID. If not, entry to the sites would be denied. Of course, one of the names on the ticket was wrong. The tour operator immediately denied responsibility, claimed it was all our fault and that there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t change the name on the ticket nor would they give a refund. Under pressure, they eventually contacted Viator who were completely useless and denied any responsibility, said they couldn’t do anything and also refused a refund. They also claimed it was entirely our fault - without any proof. In fact, Viator entered the wrong surname but refused to accept any responsibility. This has obviously happened many times before - that’s why they told us to check. Why don’t they send us the tickets by email a few days ahead so we can check the names instead of waiting until we get there? Avoid these guys at all costs. They are just scammers.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you were unable to join the tour. As clearly stated at the time of the booking, it is necessary to provide the full names of all participants included in the reservation as entry cannot be guaranteed if the booking contains incomplete or incorrect informations. We appreciate you bringing your experience to our attention and we'll work to ensure a better experience for future visiting.

Highly disappointed

Laura_V, Oct 2025

I hate to write a negative review but we were highly disappointed with our tour today. We were a group of 7 (one pregnant) and a toddler. To be fair, our toddler was over exhausted and emotional. To start, our tour guide was visibility annoyed with our toddler. We opted for an English tour guide but we had trouble understanding him as there seemed to be a language barrier. The forum tour felt extremely rushed- I asked the guide a question and he responded that he already discussed that and seemed mad that I asked. We can’t speak to the colosseum tour as we lost the group for that portion of the tour. 2 of our group had stayed back with the toddler to avoid stairs and were told we could meet the group at the arch of Titus to enter the colosseum. We missed the group at the arch but know they were close as we could hear them on the radio. Thankfully, after begging security at the entrance and explaining our situation we were allowed into the colosseum to walk at our own pace. We ended up running into our tour group at the end of their tour- the guide seemed extremely relieved to have his radios back. Maybe we had high expectations because we had an INCREDIBLE tour guide from a different company yesterday who was extremely kind and accommodating to our toddler and situation… It was incredibly disappointing to hear sound bites from other tour guides in the forum and colosseum and wish we were on their tour. We would have gotten more value out of just getting tickets and reading the signs at our own pace.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your feedback. We're very sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. We understand that traveling with a toddler can be challenging, and we regret that the pace and language barrier made parts of the tour difficult. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we’ll work to ensure a better experience for future visitors.

Tip: Double check the actual tour company the excursion is with

Stephanie_B, Oct 2025

This was the only tour/excursion I booked through Viator that wasn’t with City Wonders and it was a night and day difference between the two companies. I do highly recommend seeing these sights with a tour guide, especially the Colosseum to bypass the lines. But unfortunately this tour and the guide were not well organized. The extra materials used to offer visuals to explain the history were unorganized and disheveled looking, it was unprofessional for the cost of the tour. The most disappointing part was that I chose the English speaking tour and was not able to understand about 75% of what the guide was saying, so I left the 3 hour tour feeling like I hadn’t learned anything. I understand that the guides are multilingual and English is not their primary language, however, after having 3 other tours where the guides were non-native English speakers, I do think it falls on the tour company to ensure their guides are properly trained and able to offer a tour in that language.

Good Roman Site Visit….poor quality of audio receiver and guide experience

Gerald_M, Sep 2025

5 star rating applies to the historical sites which I had read about all my life. It was very hard to understand the guide in many instances which was probably not his fault as the audio on the receiver was terrible. The Coliseum portion was very good, walking past the Arch of Constantine and Titus was top notch as well. However standing at the top of the stairs leading to both the Forum and Palatine Hill listening to the guide drone on and on without actually getting into both sites was not good. I understand that our ticket allowed us to skip the line for both but then expecting us to navigate the sites on our own was not good….all that talking could have been done with the guide moving thru both sites and then allowing us to tour on our own after. It would have made for a better experience

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review! We're glad you enjoyed all the historical sites. We’re sorry that the audio and the guide's approach while covering the Forum and Palatine Hill affected your experience. Your feedback is very helpful and will guide us in improving our tours in the future.

Very detailed orientated...

kenneth_D, Sep 2025

Very detailed orientated which I personally found a little too much. It extended the experience too long for me

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re always working to adapt our tours to better meet the expectations of all our guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with an even better experience.

Could not underhand with heavy accent

CynthiaMarie_R, Sep 2025

Couldn’t understand our tour guide unfortunately. Heavy accent. Lots missed in communication. Others not properly prepare delayed our tour by 30 min.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're sorry to hear that you faced difficulties understanding our guide and that the tour was delayed. We're continuosly working to improve our guests' experience by ensuring a clearer communication and smoother organization before each tour. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future and provide you with an even better experience.

Disappointing

Thea_S, Sep 2025

Tour guide’s English was hard to follow. We ended up leaving after the colosseum and doing our own tour of the Roman forum and palatine hill. We paid extra for arena entrance and to be honest it was underwhelming. I’d done the regular tour a few years before and it wasn’t worth the extra money.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review. We're sorry to hear that the experience didn't meet your expectations and that you faced difficulties in understanding the guide's accent. We are working to improve our tours to ensure they are clear and enjoyable for all our guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon and provide an even better experience.

A very hot day, 10am...

Christine_B, Sep 2025

A very hot day, 10am start was probably a peak time and there were crowds. But our guide was very good at getting us around and explaining the various parts of the Colesseum with interesting stories. We had audio packs and ear piece so it was easy to hear him, even if separated by crowds. He stayed with us up Palentine Hill and through Roman Forum, with good commentary and great opportunities for views and photos. Note: it is hot and there is a lot of walking, including uphill, so some level of fitness required. Take water, a hat or sun umbrella if forecast is for sunny weather. Bonus, there are taps with fresh water at different points to fill water bottle. Overall, a must see if in Rome and tour was great

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review and your kind words about our guide. We're happy to hear that the tour met your expectations. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon.

very incorrect. We had...

Miglena_A, Sep 2025

very incorrect. We had paid for access to the Arena, they canceled the reservation less than 24 hours. The actual ticket for entry to the Colosseum is 18 euros. We were with children aged 5 and 9 for whom the entrance is free. In total for 4 people we paid 136 euros. they only refunded us 20 euros. Robbers.!!!!

3hr tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill

Karen_M, Sep 2025

George was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and humorous. The tour itself was long, the Colosseum part could have been shorter, it was too hot to be standing on the arena floor for so long

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review and your kind words about our guide. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that it met your expectations. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!

What specifically that IS...

Linda_A, Sep 2025

What specifically that IS included in the order. It was not clear to us if we had a guide or and that we had to download a app so we did not bring headset. And with the price we paid, we assumed that we had a guide. There was very little information on meeting point, and no signs with the Viator name. It would have been easier if we got all information on mail, both the tickets and link to app. The pop guide was good.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're sorry for the confusion regarding your tour. Our experience offers two options at the time of booking: one with a live guide and another that includes only the entry ticket with an audio guide. In your case, the option selected was the self-guided tour with the audio guide, which doesn’t include a live guide. We truly appreciate your feedback about the clarity of the information, and we’ll work to make the choice between the two options clearer for future guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon and provide an even better experience.

Coliseum tour

Daniel_H, Sep 2025

Amir was the absolute most talented guide we have ever had. Thank you for an amazing day and it was so educational

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review and your positive feedback about our guide! We're glad you found the tour educational, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another of our tours soon.

Our guide was informative...

Gino_M, Sep 2025

Our guide was informative and entertaining. Providing an insight into what live in ancient Rome would have been like.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review and your kind words about our guide! Our guides are dedicated to sharing the fascinating stories of ancient Rome. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another of our tours soon.

This is a very nice tour....

Marilyn_L, Sep 2025

This is a very nice tour. Our guide spoke English well, but fast. I would suggest that one should go in the morning, we went on a 8:45 tour and by the time we finished it was very hot. Bring water bottles as you can refill them at water fountains along the way.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour overall and that it met your expectations. We hope to welcome you on another of our tour in the future!

Great tour

Lianne_S, Aug 2025

We had a Very knowledgable guide who provided a lot of historical details and facts. It was a great tour for a family.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your review! We're happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the tour and you appreciated our guide's historical knowledge. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another of our tours soon!