Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum Live Guide or Audio App
Rome, Italy
+22
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover several of Rome's top attractions with ease by prebooking your admission tickets and choosing a tour option that suits your sightseeing style. Opt to explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill at your own pace on a self-guided audio tour, or benefit from the insight of a guide on a group tour. For a personalized experience of the ancient wonders, upgrade to a private tour that promises undivided attention.
- Navigate complex archaeological sites with confidence on a clearly planned route
- Enjoy a tour well suited for first-time visitors who want structure and context
- Check off plenty of the area’s highlights in just one tour
- Chat to your guide to gain a better understanding of the sites
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Tour the Colosseum’s 1st and 2nd tiers with an official guide before heading to the forum.
What's Included
- Entrance to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum for all options
- Entry Tickets Palatine and Roman Forum entry tickets valid for 24 hours for all options
- Option Group Guided tour in English Duration 2,5 Hour + Headsets and radio system
- Option Private Guided tour in the Language selected Duration 2,5 Hour + Headsets and radio system
- Options Audio-Guided Tour in English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish
- LATEST AVAILABILITY OPTION: Audio App + Colosseum & Ancient Rome Admission. Premium Price Applies
- Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person) Last Minute Ticket euro 38
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
- Gratuites, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks
- Underground and other part of the Colosseum not indicated
- Tour Guide not included with the option: Last Minute audio-guided and audio-guided tour
- Mobile Device and Headphones (not provided) with the option: audio-guided tour
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Via Labicana, 96, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
SELF-AUDIO GUIDED TOUR Meet our staff at our Travel Agency at Via Labicana, 96 (300 meters from the Colosseum entrance). Our staff will give you the Colosseum/Palatine Hill/Roman Forum tickets and the QR code to download the audioguide app on your SmartPhone.
End point
- Roman Forum00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
TOURS ALWAYS END IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM
Itinerary
Join this guided experience to explore the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum with commentary that brings Ancient Rome to life. Your guide shares insights into history, art, and archaeology as you step inside the Colosseum’s amphitheater, explaining how gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, and engineering innovations shaped one of the world’s most famous monuments. Spend time exploring the first and second levels while learning how the structure was designed and used at the height of the Roman Empire.
Continue to Palatine Hill, traditionally considered the birthplace of Rome, to enjoy views over the Circus Maximus and surrounding ruins. Your guide explains the site’s significance, including stories linked to Romulus and Remus and the rise of Rome’s earliest settlements, helping you understand how this hill became a center of imperial power.
The tour then moves to the Roman Forum, once the political, religious, and commercial heart of the city. Walk among temples, arches, and ancient pathways as your guide highlights landmarks such as the Temple of Julius Caesar, the Arch of Titus, and the Sacred Way.
Continue to Palatine Hill, traditionally considered the birthplace of Rome, to enjoy views over the Circus Maximus and surrounding ruins. Your guide explains the site’s significance, including stories linked to Romulus and Remus and the rise of Rome’s earliest settlements, helping you understand how this hill became a center of imperial power.
The tour then moves to the Roman Forum, once the political, religious, and commercial heart of the city. Walk among temples, arches, and ancient pathways as your guide highlights landmarks such as the Temple of Julius Caesar, the Arch of Titus, and the Sacred Way.
1
Colosseum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Palatine Hill
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Roman Forum
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. 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. We are not responsable if you provide us with wrong information.
- PLEASE NOTE: as for the Colosseum new management, it might take few minutes to grab tickets for kids (if any of them are in the group) so the activity can suffer 20/30 min variation due to organizational reasons
- The order in which the sites are visited during the tour can vary
- Discounts for children under 18 years is applied only with a valid ID card!
- Please note that for safety reasons the Colosseum can accommodate up to 3.000 people at once.This could lead to delays in access to the site, even for pre-booked visitors.
- For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Forbidden objects inside the Colosseum: bottles and glasses containers, alcholic beverages and aerosols, backpacks, camping, bulky bags and luggage / trolley
- Please notice that the Colosseum Administration, which depends on the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities has the faculty to close the Colosseum, 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 not recommended for people with motor lag
- No change on a booking can be accepted less than one week before the time of the tour. In that instance, no refund will be issued.
- For the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED
- The meeting point for the group guided tour is at Piazza San Clemente. Our Staff will wait for you at the entrance to the Basilica, holding a "Tour in the city" sign. MANDATORY meeting time 20 minutes prior to tour departure time
- In case of late arrival or cancellation beyond the limits indicated in the cancellation policy by the customer, a refund is not foreseen.
- The duration of the tour may vary according to the time taken to access the monument. The tour duration is always at least 2 hours and will always be at most 3 hours.
- The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions (ice, rain, or high temperatures) or other events beyond the travel agency's control.
- To download the Audioguide application you need a latest-generation smartphone not produced before 2020. We recommend bringing headphones.
- Last Minute TICKET & SELF AUDIOGUIDED: if you choose this option, It is mandatory for every customer to have a mobile phone. You must download the application, and once installed, you will need to download the QR codes provided. These QR codes must be presented at the entrance for access. Without the QR codes, entry will not be allowed.
- Not recommended for travelers with walking problems
- Not accessible for walker users
- We kindly inform you that any kind of disability (visual impairment, hearing impairment,... ) or anything that might prevent you to regularly join the tour, MUST BE communicated in advance to our staff at the following email address: tourinthecityrome@gmail.com
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 7 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 3,474 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Purchase tickets early. The price 2 days before the tour purchase was quite expensive and didnt include arena, underground tunnels or upper floors.
Palatine Hill -There were multiple extra exhibits that this ticket did not cover. The app was not helpful in guiding you. There was one museum included that we never found.
Coliseum is amazing of course, and a circle so easy to navigate.
Far too busy and bad signage. Make sure you are booked on a guided tour to get the best experience..
If you like Roman history, you can't get much more Roman than this. The audioguide provided quite a lot of good context for the stuff you see across the three sites that you wouldn't normally get from the placards on site, just be sure to bring your headphones/earbuds of course. Be prepared to do a lot of hiking across the Palatine Hill and bring a water bottle, but overall good value for money I'd say
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your detailed review! We’re delighted that the audio guide provided useful historical context and helped you appreciate the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Your advice about bringing headphones, comfortable shoes and a water bottle will certainly be helpful to future visitors. We’re also pleased that you found the experience good value for money!
Best regards,
Tour in the City Team
After losing my luggage and my husband was injured and they charged just extra money for this event and we got lost and we called them and let them know still refused any sort of reimbursement or another time
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We completely understand your situation, and we are truly sorry that we are unable to offer you a refund.
Unfortunately, Colosseum tickets are issued in the visitor’s name, for a specific date and a specific time slot. The Colosseum is also directly managed by the Italian State, and once the tickets have been issued, they cannot be cancelled or refunded by us.
We fully understand how disappointing this may be, and we are genuinely sorry. Unfortunately, these are conditions beyond our control, and we have no possibility to override them.
We sincerely hope you can understand our position, and we are very sorry that we cannot do more for you in this situation.
Doing this tour on our own was great for the location. However everytihing to set us up could have been sent in an email. The place we had to "meet" just to download 2 apps to use on our own, as well as to get our paper ticket was a waste of our time. Again, this should've been sent as directoins and on email like other viator tickets. The office is out of the way from the Colosseum which when we were walking we thought we were going to a random location as it was in the middle of nowhere.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We always send all necessary information and instructions via WhatsApp, and we are available 24/7 by telephone should customers need any assistance.
Describing our office as being “in the middle of nowhere” is honestly rather amusing. Our official agency is located at Via Labicana 96, on a major street leading directly from the Colosseum, only 300 meters—approximately 0.19 miles—from the monument. It is a proper storefront with a clearly visible sign, not a “random location.”
The meeting point is necessary to collect the entrance tickets and receive assistance with downloading and correctly setting up the audio-guide applications. These procedures cannot always be completed simply by sending an email.
We are pleased that you enjoyed your visit to the sites, but the description of our office and its location is completely inaccurate.
This 3 in 1 package is a steal! Being able to have access to the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill was very convenient especially since they’re all in the same vicinity. I will note, they really stick to arrival times so be sure to arrive early for your guide/pick up your tickets. We opted to do the audio guide and it was definitely worth it because the audio guide was so informative and easy to follow along. 10/10 highly recommend for your next trip to Rome.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted that you enjoyed visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, and that you found the audio guide informative and easy to follow. Thank you also for highlighting the importance of arriving early, as entrance times are strictly regulated by the Colosseum. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience!
It was a wonderful experience. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. His name was Joseph. It was very hot today so at times I was wanting to go back to the hotel. I stuck it out and was I happy I did. The only thing I didn’t like was out tour was originally at 3:00 the was moved to 330 and once again to 345. If it wasn’t so hot it probably wouldn’t have mattered. I would recommend to friends
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for recommending our experience!
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and especially appreciated **Joseph’s knowledge and friendly approach**. We will be very happy to share your kind words with him.
We also sincerely apologize for the changes to the starting time. During the busy summer season, small delays can occasionally occur due to operational circumstances, and we completely understand that waiting in the intense Rome heat can make even a short delay uncomfortable.
We truly appreciate your patience and are very happy that, despite the heat, you decided to continue and had such a rewarding experience.
We hope to welcome you back to Rome again!
**Tour in the City Team**
Absolute shambles of a company. Purchased colosseum ticket with audio tour for me and 10yr old son, audio tour didn’t work everytime I put username & passcode in it gave error message so I messaged and emailed this company but no reply until next day when it was too late. Then they tried to say it was my fault, I must have entered codes wrong, maybe no phone service etc but it was no o of those it’s just the system they used didn’t work. My advice is pay a little more for a proper tour or save yourself a lot of money by just booking entrance ticket only on official Colosseum website because with this company it’s a waste of time and a big disappointment!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are sorry to read your review, but we would like to clarify a few important points:
**1. Audio guide service**
Our audio guides are used successfully every day by hundreds of customers without any issues. The system is regularly used by visitors to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
**2. Link and internet connection**
On the morning of your visit, we sent you the link and instructions to access the audio guide. You then attempted to download the application without a Wi-Fi connection. A stable internet connection is required to download and activate the app correctly before the visit.
**3. Assistance provided**
When you contacted us, we provided assistance and worked to identify the cause of the problem. We did not simply “blame” you; we explained the possible technical reasons why the application might not have worked correctly in your specific case.
**4. Partial refund**
Although the entrance tickets were provided correctly, we also issued you a **partial refund** as a gesture of goodwill. We believe this is an important detail that should also be mentioned when describing the overall experience.
**5. Booking on the official Colosseum website**
Regarding your suggestion to purchase entrance tickets directly from the official Colosseum website, we agree: purchasing directly from the official website is certainly a good option, **provided that tickets are available for the date and time you want**. Customers who book through our service are choosing additional services and assistance alongside their reservation.
We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we believe it is only fair to provide the complete context, including the assistance provided and the partial refund already issued.
Very misleading description when booked, overpriced for what was included, very disappointing. We felt rushed as we had limited time to visit everything and it was not a tour we will remember with pleasure or we would recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are sorry to read your review, but we strongly disagree with several of your comments and would like to clarify a few important points:
**1. WHAT EXACTLY WAS “MISLEADING”?**
You state that the tour description was “very misleading”, but you do not explain what exactly you found misleading. Without providing a specific example, it is impossible for us to understand or respond properly to such a serious statement.
**2. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE COMPARING THIS TOUR WITH**
You do not mention whether you have visited the Colosseum before, which tours you may have taken, or what previous experience you are using as a comparison. Different tours have different itineraries, durations and conditions.
**3. COLOSSEUM REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED**
The regulations for visiting the Colosseum have changed since last year. Visitors cannot remain inside the Colosseum indefinitely, and the visit is now limited to approximately **75 minutes**. This is a restriction imposed by the archaeological site and is completely outside the control of our company and our guides.
**4. EXTREME HEAT AND CUSTOMER SAFETY**
Rome is experiencing extremely high temperatures. Our guides have a responsibility to protect our guests and therefore try to minimize unnecessary time standing under direct sunlight whenever possible. This is done for the **comfort and safety of our customers**, not because the guide wants to “rush” the tour.
For these reasons, we find it unfair to describe the experience simply as “misleading” and “rushed” without explaining what was allegedly misleading and without taking into consideration the current regulations and visiting conditions at the Colosseum.
We are always willing to accept constructive criticism, but criticism should be based on **specific facts**, especially when making such strong claims publicly.
Wonderful to see these monuments to thr past. The heat was a factor in the experience but survived. Stephanie was excellent and knowledgeable. She also was very vigilant in monitoring our group health and water consumption. She went beyond by helping me navigating the taxi.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi, thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. Summer heat in Rome can definitely be challenging, so we're especially happy that Stephanie's care, knowledge, and attention to everyone's well-being made such a positive difference. It's great to know she also went the extra mile to help you with a taxi after the tour.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Rome! 😊
When you’re in Rome, the Colosseum is a must see. I would highly recommend taking this tour and taking advantage of visiting this amazing archaeological site with a knowledgeable guide. The unexpected surprise on this tour was visiting the Palantine Hill, which no one in our group expected to be as amazing and interesting as it was and we’re so glad we got to see it.!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience at the Colosseum and that our guide helped bring this incredible site to life. It’s exactly what we aim for—making history engaging, informative, and memorable.
We especially love that you mentioned Palatine Hill! It’s often an unexpected highlight for many visitors, and we’re so glad it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise for your group as well.
Thank you again for your recommendation—we hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience soon!
My tickets were missing it took an hour to find where my tickets where but then at the last minute they had my tickets printed it seams my name was incorrect on the check in sheet. Other than the mix up at the beginning the tour was good.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We sincerely apologize for the confusion during check-in. Unfortunately, there was an error with the spelling of your name on the check-in list, which caused the delay in locating your tickets. We're very sorry for the inconvenience and understand how stressful that must have been before your visit.
We're pleased that our team was able to resolve the issue and provide your tickets in time, and we're glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience afterwards.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will help us improve our check-in procedures to avoid similar situations in the future. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Rome for an even smoother experience.
Our guide Marta was fantastic! She explained everything and was very knowledgeable! Highly recommended this tour and highly recommended Marta!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience and that Marta made your visit so memorable. She is an exceptional guide, and we're thrilled that her knowledge, passion, and clear explanations helped bring the history of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum to life.
Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with Marta—they will certainly make her day!
Thank you for choosing to explore Ancient Rome with us. We hope to welcome you back on another unforgettable adventure in the Eternal City.
Warm regards,
Tour in the City Team
Eva was amazing , the knowledge and history was incredible. I had no idea about 80% of the information that was shared
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review!
We're delighted to hear that you had such a great experience and that Eva made your visit so memorable. She is truly passionate about Roman history, and it's wonderful to know that her knowledge and storytelling helped you discover so much that was completely new to you.
Comments like yours are exactly what we hope for—to make the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill come alive and leave our guests with a deeper appreciation of Ancient Rome.
Thank you for choosing to tour with us. We hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience!
Warm regards,
Tour in the City Team
Booking with this company means dealing with secondhand 3rd parties - when we arrived at the colosseum the start of our tour we had to walk and find the 3rd party who were no where near this and once finished registering we had to walk back to the same spot another 400 meters - in fairly intense heat .
When registering we had paid alot of money for a self guided tour which need fairly confusing apps and instructions thrown at us in a short space of time - oconly to find when we got into the colosseum it was inactive - we approached a person in the site and they sort of said this happens all the time . Notg to mention that my partners phone couldnt supporgt this app and she was told to use one of my airpods .
When i asked the price of a guided tour they became very defensive and told me to look viators website - they didnt seem to wnat to have a self guided and guided tour price compared . They only added that there was alot of the money going to taxes or fees of some sort .
All in all we persevered spent 20 minutes of our alotted time of 75 minutes because of the time it took to get a useless app on our phone .
We continued on to the forum and palatine hill which we enjoyed but the sour taste of collecting the PP really tainted our experience.
we hae used viator in the past and found the experience good this was a very disappointing afternoon only made positive by us turning our frowns upside down .
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review.
We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we must clarify several inaccurate points.
First, **no one is ever obliged to book our product**. Before purchasing, every customer can freely compare prices, inclusions, and different suppliers on Viator. If you considered the price too high or preferred a live guided tour, you were completely free to choose one of the many alternatives available.
Second, our product is **clearly described** as a **self-guided experience with an audioguide app**. This information appears in the product title, description, inclusions, exclusions, and booking confirmation. The meeting point is also clearly indicated, as our staff must validate your reservation, activate the audioguide, and provide all necessary instructions before your visit.
Regarding the audioguide, thousands of travelers use it successfully every year. Compatibility depends on the device being used, and our staff did their best to help you find a practical solution.
Finally, guided tours and self-guided tours are **completely different products** with different costs and availability. There is nothing to hide—both options and their prices are publicly available on Viator for anyone to compare before booking.
We appreciate your feedback, but we believe you received exactly the service you selected and that was clearly described before, during, and after your reservation. We are pleased that you still enjoyed visiting the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, and we wish you a pleasant continuation of your travels.
A thoroughly knowledgeable guide who was able to bring history alive. Highly recommended if you get the chance.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that your guide's knowledge brought the history of Ancient Rome to life. That's exactly the kind of experience we strive to provide.
Thank you for your recommendation. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Rome!
It’s amazing. Having a tour is absolutely worth it. Our guide Tiffani was excellent. Appreciated her expertise and personality.
Stay hydrated. Go early.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience and that Tiffani made your visit even more memorable with her knowledge and engaging personality. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her.
Thank you as well for the great advice—especially during Rome's warmer months, staying hydrated and visiting earlier in the day can make the experience even more enjoyable.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Rome again soon!
It was a comprehensive and interesting tour. Lots of information! It’s a trek so wear comfortable shoes and clothing and pack water.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind review!
We're so pleased to hear you found the tour comprehensive and informative. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are incredible sites to explore, and you're absolutely right—they do involve quite a bit of walking, especially during the warmer months.
Thank you as well for sharing your helpful advice about comfortable shoes, light clothing, and bringing water. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Rome!
Overall, I had a great experience with this Colosseum tour, you do it on your own with clear instructions . Everything went smoothly, and the tickets were emailed to me the night before making entry easy and hassle-free.
The only point of confusion was that the tour details mentioned a pickup location, even though the tickets were sent electronically the evening before. It would be helpful if the instructions were updated or clarified to avoid any uncertainty for future travelers.
Aside from that, the experience was excellent. The process was organized, and visiting the Colosseum was unforgettable. I would recommend this tour and would book with this company again.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review!
We're delighted to hear that everything was well organized, that your tickets arrived on time, and that you had an unforgettable visit to the Colosseum.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the meeting point information. The meeting point is included because some of our tour options require check-in or assistance, while others provide electronic tickets in advance. We'll review the wording to make it even clearer for future travelers and avoid any confusion.
Thank you again for your recommendation. We truly appreciate your trust and look forward to welcoming you back to Rome for another great experience!
Really disappointed with this tour. Our entry to the Colosseum was at 5:00 PM, but nobody told us beforehand that the Roman Forum closes at 6:15 PM. We had an early flight the next morning, so we missed the Forum completely. If we'd known, we would have booked an earlier time.
We also weren't told in advance which app we needed to download for the self-guided tour. We only found out when we arrived, and with the slow internet, it was impossible to download it in time. We ended up paying for an audio guide we couldn't even use.
A little communication beforehand would have avoided all of this. Instead, it completely affected our last day in Rome.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Your review contains statements that are simply incorrect.
The fact that this option is an **audio-guided tour**, not a live guided tour, is clearly stated not only in the **product title ** but also in the **product description**. It is then repeated again in both the **title** and the **description of the specific option you selected**.
The app to be used is provided at check-in, where our staff assists all customers with the activation process. Regarding the Roman Forum closing time, it is set by the archaeological park and varies by season; it is not controlled by our company.
Making a mistake when booking can happen to anyone. However, repeatedly repeating claims contradicted by the information clearly provided before purchase suggests the issue is not a lack of communication on our part.
Appreciated skipping the line and getting in with the ticket. However, it was not clear that the ticket we bought was an audio tour as the descriptions were all similar. Also disappointing was that the ticket didn't include the lower levels and that was not mentioned.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
However, the option you selected clearly states before purchase that it is not a guided tour.
The product description explicitly reads:
"TICKET & AUDIOGUIDED TOUR – WITH THIS OPTION, THE TOUR GUIDE IS NOT INCLUDED."
It also clearly states:
"See the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum with an audio-guided tour."
"Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes."
Therefore, the experience purchased was an audio-guided self-tour, not a tour with a live guide.
Regarding access to the Underground or Lower Levels, these areas require a completely different ticket category, which is sold separately due to its very limited availability. The option you purchased was the standard Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum ticket and does not include access to the Underground.
We always encourage customers to carefully read the full description before purchasing to ensure they select the option that best suits their expectations.
Definitely would recommend purchasing tickets in advance for a visit to the colosseum. The line for those without tickets was very long. Also, just a note, the process is quite interesting. You need to first show your printed ticket (from agent), then show the digital ticket. That’s the first layer, then show paper ticket again with passport (adults). Finally, to gain full entry, show the digital & paper copies for a last scan. Be sure to be on time as I have heard the colosseum is strict about time (little buffer but not much). Overall the colosseum is amazing! Definitely a bucket list stop!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your detailed and helpful review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Colosseum and found it to be a true bucket-list experience.
Your advice is excellent: purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak season when the on-site ticket lines can be extremely long, and availability is often limited. Thank you as well for describing the entry procedure, which will certainly help future visitors know what to expect.
And yes, you're absolutely right—the Colosseum enforces timed entry very strictly, so arriving on time is essential to ensure a smooth visit.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience!
Pay 18 euros at the site instead of buying with these scammers. The tickets you buy from these tour companies are a waste of money and time. They don’t really provide anything else but charge you more than double. Also if you buy online you have to be there at a certain time. I bought 7 tickets and missed my time coz my kids were keep us back. You can buy the tickets onsite and don’t have to worry about running late.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review, but it omits several important facts.
First, you arrived **after your scheduled entry time**. Colosseum tickets are **date- and time-specific**, and once the entry window has passed, they cannot be used. This is a rule established by the Colosseum, not by our agency.
Second, you purchased **LAST-MINUTE tickets**. As clearly stated in the product description before booking, these tickets **cost more than standard tickets** because they are among the very few remaining options when regular tickets have already sold out.
Finally, your suggestion that everyone should simply buy tickets at the Colosseum is incomplete. What your review does not mention is that:
* Visitors often have to wait **one or even two hours in line**, frequently under the hot summer sun.
* There is **no guarantee that tickets will still be available** when you reach the ticket office.
* Even if tickets are available, **you cannot choose your preferred entry time** and may have to wait several more hours before being admitted.
The service we provide is not simply an entrance ticket. It offers the certainty of having a reserved ticket in advance, a guaranteed entry time, customer assistance, and the convenience of avoiding the uncertainty and potential disappointment of purchasing on-site.
We fully understand that traveling with children can make it difficult to keep to a schedule, but that does not make the product misleading. Everything you purchased—including the ticket type, pricing, and time-specific entry requirements—was clearly explained before your reservation was confirmed.
Last minute ticket. GROSSLY OVER PRICED. Nothing more than what you could have gotten from the official website if bots didn’t sweep up the tickets. Yet, the Colosseum is amazing.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
We would like to clarify that the product you purchased was clearly advertised as a LAST-MINUTE TICKET. As stated in the product description before booking, these tickets cost significantly more than standard tickets because they are among the very few options still available after regular tickets have sold out.
The higher price is not hidden—it is an essential characteristic of the product and is explained in advance, allowing customers to make an informed decision.
If your priority is to save money, we recommend purchasing directly from the official website at least one month in advance, when standard-priced tickets are usually available. Last-minute availability is extremely limited, and prices are naturally higher due to demand and the type of inventory available.
We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Colosseum itself and hope you'll have the opportunity to visit Rome again in the future.
Call and verify if it is a guided tour with a person or a an audio tour. The office is 1/2 mile away from the Colosseum. We paid $100 pp for an audio tour. Could not see the lowest level. Even the ladies at the desk said the price was outrageous for an audio tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback, but several statements in your review are inaccurate.
First, our office is approximately 350 meters (about 0.22 miles) from the Colosseum, not half a mile away.
Second, you did not pay only for an entrance ticket. The price includes:
Guaranteed admission to the Colosseum at a reserved time.
No need to wait in the long ticket lines.
The security of having tickets secured in advance, even when they are often sold out.
An audio guide to enhance your visit.
Customer assistance before and during your experience.
Finally, the product you purchased was clearly described at the time of booking as a self-guided audio tour, not a live guided tour. The inclusions, exclusions, and the fact that the Underground level was not included were all explicitly stated before purchase.
We understand that expectations can differ, but it is difficult to hold the agency responsible when the booking description clearly explains exactly what is being purchased. Reading the product details before confirming a reservation is an essential part of the booking process.
Supposedly the tour company tried to call us, but we had no incoming calls from them. We arrived at 9:36 for the 9:30 tour - yes, 6 minutes late - at the tour company's office. The man behind the desk said the tour left. We knew we were late, but our driver would drop us off at the front of the coloseum to meet up, but the tour company refused to provide contact info for the guide or contact the guide to say we were coming. I have NEVER experiended this level of rudeness. We got into the coloseum and did our own tour with the help of friends who had visited before and ChatGPT. I will NEVER recommend the Viator connection for this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but your review does not accurately reflect what happened.
The meeting time was 9:00 AM, while the guided tour started at 9:30 AM. This was clearly stated both on your voucher and during the booking process. Arriving at 9:36 AM means arriving 36 minutes after the scheduled meeting time and after the tour had already begun.
Our guides cannot delay the start of the tour or interrupt the visit to wait for late arrivals, as that would be unfair to all the other guests who arrived on time.
Regarding your request to contact the guide, once the tour has started, guides are busy conducting the visit and cannot answer phone calls or leave the group.
Rather than criticizing a service that was organized exactly as described, perhaps the review should reflect the real cause of the missed tour: arriving well after the required meeting time. We always encourage guests to carefully read the instructions provided, as they are there precisely to avoid situations like this.
Great tour. Really knowledgeable host, great to have pictures of what it would have looked like. Found shady spots to avoid the sun.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated your guide's knowledge. Using historical images to bring ancient Rome to life and finding shaded spots during the tour are just some of the ways we strive to make the experience as enjoyable and engaging as possible.
We hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable adventure!
Great and professional. Was very attentive to the heat wave and was accommodating of us missing the group meet. I think the location description could be a little more clear but other than that the tour is great and well recommended!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated our team's professionalism and flexibility, especially during the heat wave. We always do our best to accommodate our guests whenever possible.
Thank you as well for your feedback about the meeting point description. We truly value suggestions like yours and will continue working to make our instructions even clearer for future visitors.
We hope to welcome you back to Rome for another unforgettable experience!
Eva was fabulous. It was so crazy hot the day of our tour, but she did everything possible to keep us as cool as possible. So much history. I’d love to go again but definitely in the spring or fall. 😃
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Eva. She is truly passionate about sharing Rome's incredible history, and we're glad she made every effort to keep everyone as comfortable as possible despite the extreme heat.
We'd love to welcome you back to Rome, and we completely agree—spring and fall are fantastic seasons to explore the Colosseum and the city's amazing archaeological sites.
We hope to see you again soon for another unforgettable experience! 😊
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