Roma: Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill Local Guided Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Rome, Italy
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Make the most of both your travel time and your travel budget with this affordable Colosseum tour. Head inside the ancient Colosseum with your guide to take in the magnificent amphitheater. Learn about its history and design before continuing on to marvel at the ruins in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- A group tour of Rome’s top Roman sites that won’t break the bank
- Visit with a guide to cover the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill
- Headsets to follow the guide’s commentary inside the busy site
- Listen to history and anecdotes about ancient Rome
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
A shared tour is an affordable alternative to private options, with headsets to ensure clear commentary.
What's Included
- Headset
- Licensed local tour guide
- Adult entry tickets (€18.00) for the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
- Group Tour (max 25 people group)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Colosseum entrance ticket valued at €18 per person
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tips
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Arch of ConstantineP.za del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
At the Arch of Constantine, on San Gregorio side (which is the opposite side of the Colosseum), you will find one of our local guides waiting for you with an ORANGE UMBRELLA with Tours and the City written on it.
End point
- Via dei Fori Imperiali, Roma RM, Italy
Just at the main exit.
Itinerary
1
Colosseum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Palatine Hill
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Roman Forum
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- English language ONLY.
- Small groups of 25 people.
- FULL names & ages of visitors required at the time of booking for nominal tickets.
- Official ID/driver's license required for entry; failure may result in refusal.
- Tour may start at Colosseum or Palatine Hill & Roman Forum.
- Certain monument areas may be closed due to events/holidays beyond our control.
- Strollers, wheelchairs, suitcases, and large backpacks are NOT allowed.
- NO REFUNDS for those who didn’t provide names/ages on time, no-shows, or late arrivals.
- NO CHANGES can be made within 4 days of the scheduled tour date.
- Please, check your WHATSAPP, iMESSAGE or E-MAIL the day before of the tour! WE ALWAYS SEND ALL THE INFORMATION (updated meeting time, guide's name, starting time, etc) THROUGH THESE PLATFORMS A FEW HOURS BEFORE YOUR TOUR.
- Adult entry tickets (€18.00) are included in the tour price.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
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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 310 reviews
Teresa_W, Sep 2025
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, easy to understand with accent, and went at just the right pace considering the amount of area that was covered.
Josephine_V, Aug 2025
We had a fantastic tour! I am sorry I did not quite catch our tour guide's name but she was so thorough and knowledgeable of Rome's history, and patient in answering our many questions. She made old Rome come alive for us that the pieces of stones in the Roman forum, Palatine Hill and the Colloseum now tell a story. The small group of 7 and the individual audio receivers made communication easy in these overcrowded places.
shannon_m, Aug 2025
Tour guide was very knowledgeable. He was funny and we really enjoyed the tour. The guide was easy to find at the meeting spot. I am so glad that I booked this tour. It was very organized. I think if I tried to do this without the guide I would have been overwhelmed but our guide made it great!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour and that your guide made everything easy, fun, and stress-free. We’re so glad you booked with us!
Mehul_P, Aug 2025
Its a good tour of 3 sites with good explanations from the tour guide. Easy to meet location and the headsets made it easy to hear the tour guide.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and found the explanations clear and the logistics smooth. The headsets really do help, especially in such iconic (and sometimes crowded) spots. Hope to see you again on another adventure! 🏛️✨
Skylee_C, Jul 2025
We had a great experience with a wonderful tour guide. The forum was our favorite part. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much! 😊 We’re thrilled you had a great experience and loved the forum, it’s definitely a highlight! Thanks for the 5 stars review, and we hope to see you again soon!
claudette_d, Jun 2025
Our guide was excellent! She was very knowledgeable and accommodating. We went in mid June and it was extremely hot, our kids ages 11-16 were miserable. Make sure you have lots of water, hat or umbrella and sunscreen.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words, we’re so happy you enjoyed the tour and appreciated your guide’s knowledge and care! And yes, that mid-June heat can be intense, especially for the little ones. Great advice on staying prepared with water, hats, and sunscreen. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome your family again in cooler weather for another great experience! ☀️🍦✨
Alex_W, May 2025
Extremely disappointed with Viator. We booked 2 adult and 2 children tickets for the Colosseum, but all the tickets ended up under my name (Ax$#), instead of being correctly assigned to myself and my daughter T#$% When I reached out for help, they were more focused on telling me what went wrong than actually helping to fix it.
They made €84 from us and offered no support or workable solution. What’s worse, I later discovered there were still tickets available directly at the Colosseum—and they were cheaper. Viator didn’t suggest this or help us rebook infact they said it was sold out and lied to us.
I had to sort it out myself. Save yourself the stress and money—don’t book through Viator. Go direct
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Alex. Thank you again for your feedback, and we’re truly sorry for the frustration you experienced.
We’d just like to clarify a few important points to be fully transparent and fair to both sides:
- At the time of your booking through Viator, the two adult tickets were entered under your name, while the children’s tickets were correctly listed with their names. This information comes directly from the guest at the moment of booking, not from us.
- As we clearly explained both before and on the day of the tour, the Colosseum requires the names on the tickets to match exactly with a valid ID at the entrance. This rule is beyond our control and is clearly stated in the tour description, your confirmation email, and our meeting instructions.
- It’s also important to clarify that at no point did we tell you the Colosseum was sold out. What we explained was that you couldn’t rejoin the group with 2 tickets under your name, because of the ID policy and the rule enforced by the Colosseum itself.
- Additionally, we’d like to note that your first message to us wasn’t a request for help or assistance, but a direct demand for a refund. Only after we carefully explained the situation and limitations, you insisted that we had to buy new tickets for you, and unfortunately even threatened us with a negative review if we didn’t.
We genuinely did everything on our side: processed your tickets based on the info you provided, sent all confirmations, met you at check-in, and tried to assist within the Colosseum’s strict rules.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that a direct Colosseum ticket will always cost less than a 3-hour guided experience with a licensed guide, headsets, and all tickets arranged for you. It’s a completely different product and service.
We truly regret this situation and how it turned out, and we appreciate the chance to clarify the facts.
Wishing you a great rest of your trip,
Sherry_R, May 2025
It was entirely too long and our guide spent way too long on insignificant details!!! He was very very slow and by the time we reached the colleseum we had 30 minutes out of 3 hours! What a waste of our day! It was the most boring tour I’ve ever experienced!!! Would never recommend
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback, we’re genuinely sorry to hear that the experience didn’t meet your expectations.
We just wanted to kindly clarify that, as clearly stated in the tour description and confirmation, this is a 3-hour guided experience covering the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Given the size and historical importance of these sites, and especially when visiting as part of a group, the pace can naturally be slower to allow everyone to follow along, take photos, and ask questions.
We understand if it felt long for you, but it’s important to mention that these three areas together require time to visit properly, and we aim to offer not just a visit, but a complete storytelling experience, bringing ancient Rome to life.
We’re sorry it didn’t match what you were hoping for, but appreciate your feedback and wish you the best for the rest of your travels.
Michelle_T, May 2025
Phenomenal experience! The tour guide was very knowledgeable, easy to understand and we moved at a good pace. Would go again!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a phenomenal experience on our tour. It’s great to know you enjoyed the guide’s knowledge, the easy pace, and the chance to explore such an iconic place in depth. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure
SARMAD_K, May 2025
Highly recommended for anyone interested in roman history. The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. A lot of information shared through out the tour. Lots of good sites to be visited. Good value for money
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour and found it informative and good value — Roman history is endlessly fascinating, and we're glad our guide could help bring it to life for you. Hope to see you again soon for more adventures around the Eternal City!
Sandra_S, May 2025
Very informative would highly recommend this tour, palatine hill was beautiful and very serene. Loved our guide.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and the peaceful beauty of Palatine Hill. We’ll be sure to pass your compliments to the guide — they’ll be thrilled! Hope to have you join us again on your next adventure!
Pete_B, May 2025
We have never been disappointed with a Viator tour. And this experience was informative, interesting, and thorough because our guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Colosseum. Clearly a must-see while in Rome.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! 🇮🇹 We're so happy to hear this tour lived up to your expectations and that you enjoyed such an informative and engaging experience at the Colosseum. Our guides love bringing history to life, and it’s fantastic to know it made a difference for you. Hope to welcome you back for another Roman adventure soon — grazie mille! 🏛✨
Kathleen_S, Apr 2025
Take very good walking shoes and umbrella alot out side and lots of walking, but thoroughly enjoyed it
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your feedback! 😊 You're absolutely right — good walking shoes and an umbrella can make all the difference, especially with all the exploring we do outdoors. We're so glad to hear you thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite the steps and the weather. Hope to see you again on another adventure soon! 🌦️👟
Waylee_C, Jan 2025
Met Sylvia, our wonderful guide, who braved the coldest day of the year with us (cold and wind!!!), offered up her scarf and her knowledge of the history of the Colosseum! Had a delightful and informative tour. Thank you Sylvia!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and for braving the cold with Sylvia! We're thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your tour despite the weather. Sylvia truly goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has a memorable experience, and we're delighted that her warmth and expertise shone through. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure—hopefully on a warmer day! 😊
robert_F, Dec 2024
The guide, Silvia, was very knowledgeable and informative. We learned a lot about the sites and history
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re so glad to hear that Silvia’s knowledge and insights added so much value to your experience. Learning about the sites and their history truly brings them to life, and we’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour. We hope to see you again for more enriching journeys! 😊🏛️
Nathalie_E, Nov 2024
Francesco was insightful. The colloseum and surrounding areas are places you must see in person. Pictures don't do it justice! The area is very busy but the tour is well organized.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Francesco's insights added so much value to your visit. You're absolutely right—seeing the Colosseum and its surroundings in person is an unforgettable experience! We're glad you found the tour well-organized despite the bustling area. We hope to welcome you back for more incredible explorations in the future! 😊
babitha_D, Nov 2024
Choosing to take a guided tour was very helpful. Our tour guide explained each & every detail thoroughly and we had a great and informative time. Absolutely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an enjoyable and informative experience on the tour. Our guides strive to provide detailed explanations to ensure every guest gets the most out of their visit. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another adventure! 😊
Allan_B, Nov 2024
Ramona is the best. Great inspires about the history, significance of the collesseum, forum and pallaten hill. She made the tour very interesting. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! 🌟 We're so glad to hear that Ramona made your experience unforgettable with her insights into the history and significance of the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill. It’s great to know she made the tour engaging and interesting for you. Thank you for the high recommendation—we hope to see you again on another adventure! 😊
Onorina_K, Nov 2024
This was my second visit to the Colosseum and the Forum. I wanted to choose a guided tour this time, as I found it challenging to navigate the Forum alone during my first visit. I also wanted to learn more about what I was seeing. I am delighted that I decided to book a tour; it was well worth it! David was an excellent guide. He shared a wealth of information, brought additional pictures with him, and made the entire experience much more enjoyable than walking alone. I highly recommend this experience; it was very well-organized, and David was knowledgeable, polite, and entertaining. I learned so much during this tour thanks to him!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that your second visit to the Colosseum and Forum was so enriching with David as your guide. His passion for history and thoughtful preparation truly make a difference in bringing these iconic landmarks to life. It's wonderful that you found the tour well-organized and informative, and we're so glad David helped enhance your understanding and enjoyment. Thank you for recommending the experience—we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey into history! 😊
Chris_V, Nov 2024
Very clear instructions for meeting and what to wear and bring with you. Our guide was clear and concise. Giordano gave a great overview and history of the area and how things would have appeared. He did a great job keeping track of us in the crowds and provided a bathroom break when needed.
His command of the history was impressive. I highly recommend this walking tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful words! 🌟 We’re delighted to hear that Roberta made your Bologna experience so memorable and that you enjoyed diving into the region’s food culture. Knowing it was a fun and insightful experience for you as a solo traveler makes us so happy! We truly hope to welcome you back for more delicious discoveries in the future. Grazie mille! 🍷🍝
Jeffrey_S, Oct 2024
Very easy directions and insightful tour. So much information and the route taken helped avoid the crowds. The ear piece to help hear the guide were amazing!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I'm so glad you found the directions easy and enjoyed the insights throughout the tour. It's great to hear that our route made for a more relaxed experience away from the crowds and that the earpiece enhanced your time with us. We hope to see you on another tour soon for even more discoveries!
Douglas_E, Sep 2024
We were not sure about a tour in Rome. But decided to book one to see the Coliseum
and are very happy we did. It was very informative and David our tour guide was excellent 😊
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that you decided to join the tour of the Coliseum and that you had a great experience. David is an excellent guide, and it's fantastic that you found the tour informative. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Rome soon! 😊
Patricia_B, Sep 2024
My family and I had a great time. Francesca was very knowledgeable and very friendly. We will be booking another tour in the near future.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you and your family had a great time with Francesca. Her knowledge and friendliness always make the tours special. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon! 😊
Andrea_F, Sep 2024
Couldn’t understand the guide. Spent too much time seeking a cool spot away from the sights when the group wanted to view the sights.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I'm sorry to hear that you had difficulty understanding the guide and that the itinerary didn't meet your expectations. We aim to provide a balance between enjoyable experiences and sightseeing, and it sounds like we missed the mark this time. Your comments are valuable, and we'll use them to improve future tours. If you have any other specific suggestions or concerns, please feel free to share.
paul_g, Sep 2024
Our tour guy was amazing. The amount of knowledge must take years to learn, and there wasn’t a question she didn’t have an answer to. she really gave us an appreciation of history of these places.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your tour guide made such a positive impact on your experience. It’s fantastic that her knowledge and passion for history helped you appreciate the places you visited even more. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more insightful adventures in the future!
JeanRoch_L, Sep 2024
We booked that excursion about 4 to 6 weeks before our departure. A few days later we had to change it by one day from September 12 to September 11. This change was confirmed and everything looked okay. However, on the September 11 when we showed up at the coloseum, the change had not been made. We had to rearrange your schedule and ended up seeing the Coloseum without a guide much later in the day.However, Viator was very fast and giving us a full refund.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Jean,
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. Unfortunately, the issue was beyond our control. As a tour operator, we work with various online travel agencies like Viator, which connect to our booking system via API. This integration is intended to keep everything updated and well-organized..
However, on our end, we did not receive the update regarding your change, and as a result, we continued to have your reservation scheduled for September 12th.
We had already purchased non-refundable tickets for that date for you, which could be easily modified up to three days in advance.
If we had been aware of your change, we would have adjusted accordingly, but due to the API connection issue, we were unaware as everything looked arranged for the 12 Sept as your 1st reservation.
We deeply regret that this situation reflects poorly on our service, as it not only affected your experience but also resulted in us discarding the tickets purchased on your behalf.
Had we been informed, we would have made the necessary changes.
Once again, we are truly sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding, happy to see the full refund was sent quickly.
Arika_K, Sep 2024
Mariann was the perfect tour guide! It was so amazing to hear about all of the history behind the structures. You get a headset so you can hear her describing and explaining everything. She was easy to find, very kind and patient. I’m really glad we did this! It was very hot and a decent amount of walking so I recommend dressing appropriately (sunglasses, hat, comfortable walking shoes).
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that Mariann made your tour such a memorable experience with her knowledge and guidance. It’s great that you appreciated the headsets and her detailed explanations. Your tips on staying comfortable in the heat are super helpful as well! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Anne_V, Aug 2024
Michela was extremely knowledgeable about the coliseum, forum and palatine hill. It was very interesting listening to the history. She was very friendly and helpful and I would recommend this tour as it ran very smoothly and no waiting time to get into the venues.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Michela provided such an insightful and enjoyable experience during your tour of the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill. It's great to know that everything ran smoothly and that you appreciated her friendliness and expertise. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Zouhair_D, Aug 2024
A well organized and extremely informative experience. The guide was beyond accommodating and personable. You can definitely glean that she is a proud Italian who loves her rich history. I highly recommend this tour
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an informative and well-organized experience. It's wonderful to know that our guide's passion and pride for Italy's rich history shone through. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon!
Alison_T, Jul 2024
Lorena was a fantastic tour guide. Our tour was engaging for my whole family. Lorena was friendly and knew how to best share information with our group. We would highly recommend a tour with her.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Lorena made the tour engaging for your whole family. It's great to know she was friendly and effectively shared information with your group. We appreciate your high recommendation and hope to see you again for another fantastic tour!
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