Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor & Roman Forum | Semi-Private Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you’re interested in ancient Roman history, don’t miss this small-group guided tour that includes access to the Colosseum’s arena floor, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Learn more from your guide than you would wandering around by yourself, and ask lots of questions, which isn’t easy on larger tours. See where ancient gladiatorial battles were fought, and where governance decisions were made, at these must-visit sites.
- Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour
- Choose between morning or afternoon departures to suit your needs
- Ideal for first-time visitors wanting an introduction to Ancient Rome
- Visit parts of the Colosseum many people miss with arena floor access
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Stand where gladiators once battled with this tour, which includes access to the restricted arena floor.
What's Included
- Expert English Speaking Guide
- Full tour of the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- Semi - Private Tour
- All Fees and Taxes
- Colosseum entrance ticket with Arena Floor special access (valued at €24 per person)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
- Hotel Pick Up - Drop Off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Piazza del Colosseo, 21, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
This tour begins outside the “Colosseo” metro station (Line B - ground level). Your guide will be waiting in front of the green kiosk, holding a sign with the ‘What a Life Tours’ logo on it. Please remember that Rome’s streets can be confusing, we recommend allowing extra time in case you get lost.
End point
- Roman Forum00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
The tour ends just outside the Roman Forum, where your tour guide can show you some great spots for dinner!
Itinerary
1
Colosseum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Arch of Constantine
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Roman Forum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
Palatine Hill
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Names on the reservation MUST be the same as your ID or YOU WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY to the Colosseum.
- Please bring a valid ID document (no photocopies!) for each participant - documents will be checked and they must match the names on the voucher.
- The final start time of the tour might be updated up to a week in advance as there can be some changes for logistical reasons.
- Please plan on being at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time.
- We are unable to accommodate late arrivals as we have a time entrance to respect. Missed tours due to late arrivals are non-refundable. Please allow extra time to reach the meeting point as Rome's streets can be confusing.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 220 reviews
Rommy_K, Mar 2026
Daniela the guide was great, she was very informative and really made the experience a memorable one. This is a must tour! There were only 3 people on our tour, it was very exclusive and excellent. Thank you Daniela!!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Rommy_K,
We’re so happy to hear that you had such an amazing experience with us, one that is now etched in your memory! Thank you for your recommendation; it truly is the highest form of commendation we could receive!
We’re glad you enjoyed the exclusive nature of the tour and had fun learning and exploring with Daniela. She sends her heartfelt thanks and is delighted to have made a positive impact on your experience!
Thank you for booking your experience with us and for sharing your feedback. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your stay! Should your travels bring you back to Rome, we’d be more than happy to welcome you on other tours. Until then, wishing you all the very best and safe travels home!
Kind regards,
Carima
Irina_L, Mar 2026
Wonderful and knowledgeable guide, Vasco, shared his wisdom with a healthy dose of history and humor. Everything is thoughtfully constructed to ensure all key elements are covered and explored
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Irina_L,
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the flow of the tour and how your guide wove humour into history, making it both fun and insightful! We'll be sure to share your kind words with Vasco; he’ll be delighted to know how much you appreciated his guidance for your Colosseum experience!
Thank you for choosing to book your tour with us. We wish you safe travels home and all the best!
Kind regards,
Carima
Tammy_H, Mar 2026
Carlotta, our guide, was amazing. She had great energy and was so informative. I would have missed so many things and been overwhelmed without a good guide.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Tammy_H,
Rome’s historic sites can certainly feel overwhelming without a guide, which is why our small group tours are designed to help guests make the most of their time while enjoying a more enriching experience. We're delighted to hear that you saw the added value in exploring with us!
Carlotta will be thrilled to hear that you appreciated her guidance throughout the Colosseum. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her.
Thank you for booking your Colosseum experience with us and for taking the time to share your feedback. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your stay, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! Until then, safe travels and all the best!
Kind regards,
Carima
heidi_g, Nov 2025
We had an excellent guide. So much to see and learn. This tour goes from the creation through the history of the empire’s.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Heidi_g,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had an excellent guide and enjoyed the tour. It's always our goal to offer not just a tour, but an immersive journey through history, from the creation of the empire to its rich legacy. We’re glad you had the chance to experience all the fascinating stories and sights along the way. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in the future! All the best and safe travels home.
Kind regards,
Carima
Pamela_B, Nov 2025
Very informative and interesting tour. Our tour guide Daniella was very knowledge and engaging with her presentation. The semi private tour made it easy to get around, the many tourists present
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Pamela_B,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for choosing us to guide you through your Vatican experience. We're delighted to hear that you found the tour insightful and engaging throughout the full three hours. Daniela does an amazing job of sharing history in an interesting and dynamic way, always keeping her guests engaged.
We're also glad you enjoyed the small-group format; it’s something we highly prioritize, as we believe it creates a more enjoyable and meaningful tour experience.
We hope the rest of your time in Rome is just as wonderful, if not even better. Wishing you all the best and safe travels home!
Kind regards,
Carima
Debbie_E, Nov 2025
We recently did the Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor and Roman Forum and had an amazing experience. Our tour guide, Vasco was engaging, knowledgeable and went well past the scheduled three hours to make sure everyone got the most out of the tour. His stories and insights made the history fascinating and easy to appreciate.
Highly recommend this tour and Vasco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Debbie_E,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience on your Colosseum tour with Vasco. His passion for history and dedication to making each tour special truly shine through, and we’re so glad to know his insights and storytelling brought the ancient sites to life for you!
We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him; he’ll be thrilled to hear them! Thank you for choosing to explore with us, and we hope to welcome you for more adventures in Rome soon.
Wishing you all the best and safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
rob_w, Oct 2025
Great tour but requires climbing stairs and hills.
Would highly recommend this tour and guide to anyone interested in Roman history.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Rob_w,
The Vatican was actually named after the hill it sits on, Vatican Hill, and as such, the area has quite a few ups and downs due to the steps and slopes.
Nevertheless, we're delighted that despite the walking, you were still able to enjoy the tour. Thank you for the high recommendation; it means the world to us, and we're sure your guide will feel the same way.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday in Rome, and we wish you all the best and safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Darlene_H, Oct 2025
We were, unfortunately, a few minutes late for the tour. They called to make sure we were coming, and did wait for us. (Had trouble getting out of a restaurant.) The tour was very good - though - once again - it went much longer than the time listed in the description. Three and a half hours in, we were heading for the next stop. Three of us were exhausted as we had flown in the day before and had toured all day. Guide gave us an opportunity to leave, and we did so. My husband stayed and enjoyed the finish very much. Very knowledgeable guide with LOTS to share. For those of us with less capacity for all those dates and history, a shorter version would have been fine. However, certainly nothing wrong with anything that was done. - Just our personal preference. And when tours go over the listed time, it is hard to plan out the day.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Darlene_H,
Thank you for choosing us to guide your Colosseum experience! In this instance, the extra time taken to accommodate your late arrival did contribute to the tour running a bit longer than planned. Nevertheless, we’re delighted that you were still able to experience all the highlights and enjoyed the tour overall. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we’ll continue striving to balance thoroughness with timing so guests can plan their day with ease.
Wishing you a great rest of your stay and safe travels home!
Kind regards,
Carima
Deb_T, Oct 2025
Our guide,John was very knowledgeable with lots of interesting facts & stories which brought so much of the past to life!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Deb_T,
We’re delighted to hear that John was able to bring all the history to life for you, making for an entertaining tour! John sends his many thanks and is thrilled to hear that he made a positive impression on your experience.
Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we hope to welcome you on future adventures! Safe travels and all the best!
Kind regards,
Carima
Claire_R, Oct 2025
John was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and interesting. And small group which is a bonus. Yah
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Claire_R,
We’ll be sure to share your feedback with John; he’ll be so happy to hear it! We’re delighted that you found his tour both insightful and engaging.
Keeping our groups small is something we truly prioritise and maintain across all our tours. We believe it allows our guests to enjoy a more fulfilling experience and fosters great group synergy, with plenty of opportunities for questions and interaction. We’re so glad to hear you appreciated this aspect!
Thank you so much for choosing to book with us! Wishing you a great rest of your stay and all the best! Until next time, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
John_H, Oct 2025
Manuela was a great guide. Being a former archeologist, she could speak about the Colosseum and Palatine Hill with an archeologist's insight. The whole tour was fascinating. I would definitely do it again.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear John_H,
Thank you for choosing us for both your Vatican and Colosseum tours. We greatly appreciate you booking with us.
We're delighted to hear that you appreciated Manuela's style of delivery and her archaeological insights. We're so glad you found it all fascinating.
It means the world to us that you’d do it again! We'd be more than happy to host you again should your travels bring you back to Rome.
Wishing you all the very best, and safe travels, until next time!
Kind regards,
Carima
Roy_M, Oct 2025
This experience is well worth it! We had John as our tour guide and he did an excellent job at explaining things and even showing us pictures of how things used to look compared to how they look now. He was easy to understand and very detailed in his explanations. I would highly recommend this experience, especially if John is showing you around!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Roy_M,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear that you found the experience worthwhile and that John made such a strong impression. His use of visuals and detailed explanations really helps bring the history to life, and it’s great to know that it made your tour even more engaging.
We appreciate you choosing us for your Colosseum visit and hope your memories from the tour stay with you for a long time.
Until next time, wishing you all the very best and safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
rcvero, Oct 2025
We were supposed to be on a small group tour and was fortunate to be the only couple on the tour. We were told by the tour guide that this operator takes the word small seriously. They never have more than 6-8 people. Our guide Robert was well versed, took us slowly without rushing us, answered all our questions and was truly enjoyable to be with. The tickets to get on the arena platform IS A MUST!
Donald, Oct 2025
Carlotta our guide was fantastic. She answered any questions perfectly and was so knowledgeable about all that we saw. The Coliseum was all that we had hoped for and more. The perfect tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Donald,
Thank you for choosing to book with us and for sharing your feedback on your experience. Carlotta is extremely knowledgeable, and we're so happy to hear that not only was she able to answer your questions, but that she did so perfectly! She’ll be delighted to know you had such an amazing time with her; we'll be sure to pass along your kind words.
It's truly an honour to be dubbed the perfect tour; thank you so much!
We hope the rest of your time in Rome is just as wonderful, if not better. Until next time, safe travels and all the very best!
Kind regards,
Carima
James_M, Oct 2025
Our guide was Robert and he is an amazing storyteller that filled our adventure at the Colloseum with interesting facts and ironic insights. We so enjoyed this tour and you will too!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear James_M,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback and for booking with us. Robert will be delighted to hear your kind words; we’ll be sure to pass them along to him.
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour, and many thanks for the recommendation!
Kind regards,
Carima
hofmeister, Oct 2025
Carlotta is an amazing guide. We went to the Vatican today and wished she was our tour guide today as well (booked with a different company ☹️)
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Hofmeister,
Thank you for booking with us and for taking the time to leave your review!
Carlotta is delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience with her and is truly honoured that you wished she could have guided you through the Vatican as well.
We’re grateful you chose to tour with us and look forward to welcoming you on more adventures in the future, possibly with Carlotta!
Until next time, safe travels and all the best!
Kind regards,
Carima
Linda_Z, Oct 2025
This was a most fascinating 3 hour -5 person tour with Daniela! She was so well versed and educated in each location we visited! She has an amazing personality and made us laugh as well! My daughter and I really learned so much that we did not know thanks again to Daniela! You can also tell she truly enjoys this job of having you understand the unbelievable events of this ancient history period! I highly recommend this tour! Also they started right on time which we really appreciated!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Linda_Z,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! Daniela will be thrilled to hear how much you and your daughter enjoyed the tour. We’re ecstatic to know you found her so knowledgeable and engaging; she truly brings a special energy to every tour, and it’s great to hear that her passion for history and her sense of humour made your experience even more enjoyable.
We also really appreciate you mentioning the punctuality; respecting our guests' time is something we take seriously, and we’re glad to hear that starting right on time helped make your day that much better.
Thank you again for recommending our tour, and we hope to have the pleasure of guiding you again on future adventures!
Kind regards,
Carima
Richard_L, Sep 2025
We had a wonderful experience & was quite educational! Started @9 and ended at 12.5. Saw the underground plus the interior and added the Forum.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Richard_L,
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re so happy to hear you had an enjoyable and educational experience. It sounds like you made the most of the time, with some fantastic highlights like the underground and the Forum. We hope to see you again on your next visit!
Kind regards,
Carima
Dean_B, Sep 2025
We had Robert for a tour guide. We were provided with great directions to locate him. We enjoyed the tour very much. Robert was very knowledgeable and encouraged you to ask questions. We did think we would have seen more of the “Colosseum”. The tour focused on the forum which that is where most of the history and sights are.
Out tour guide, Robert, was excellent
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Dean_B,
We’re so glad the directions made it easy to locate Robert! We understand your desire to see more of the Colosseum, and while the time-sensitive tickets for the various sites limit the tour’s scope, we’re happy to hear you still enjoyed exploring the Forum. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Robert. We’d love to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Until next time, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Christopher_N, Sep 2025
This was a great way to learn more about the history of the Colosseum, Ceasar's Palace, and the Forum. Our tour guide, Tony, was very knowledgeable and had illustrations to show what these structures looked like when they were constructed. I would highly recommend this tour.
Robin_R, Sep 2025
John was such a wonderful guide! Patient, informative, funny! It was wonderful to be in a small group and be able to see everything and ask questions! To walk where the Romans once walked and to touch what they touched is mind-blowing! To see what they built and how they built it all by hand thousands of years ago is truly amazing! Living History! Highly Recommend! Grazie Mille!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Robin_R,
We couldn’t agree more; being in Rome really is like walking through an open-air museum! We're so happy to have been part of your journey, exploring the same places the Romans once did. It's truly a mind-blowing experience, and we're glad you chose to share it with us.
Your high recommendation means the world to us, and we’re thrilled to know you had such a great time. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we’d love to welcome you again on future adventures!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Kind regards,
Carima
kimberly_u, Sep 2025
Carlotta was our Tour Guide for the morning. She was a pleasure! Very professional and knowledgeable…would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Kimberly_u,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear that Carlotta made a great impression with her professionalism and knowledge. She’s truly an excellent guide, and we’re glad she helped enhance your experience.
Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’d be more than happy to welcome you on future adventures!
Until next time, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Cheni_F, Sep 2025
We did the colosseum and Roman forum tour. Our guide was excellent. Knowledgeable, engaging and and on point. Spent just enough time in all the key locations. Would highly recommend this tour and our guide. We have found all the guided tours very valuable giving us the opportunity to ask questions which we would not get without a guide.
Amanda_B, Sep 2025
Meetup place was tricky to find. However once we did, our guide Esmeralda was wonderful! Very informative and funny. A great tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Amanda_B,
Thank you for your feedback! We completely understand that Rome can be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors. That's why we do our best to support our guests with clear directions and even call to help guide you to the meeting point so you never miss your tour.
We're thrilled that you were able to find the location and ultimately enjoyed your tour! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you on more adventures in the future.
Thanks again for choosing us, and safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Jaymin_P, Sep 2025
Our tour guide Tonia was exceptional on our tour today. Walked the right pace (not too fast or slow accommodating for everyone) and utilized the shade and AC beautifully given this hot day! We learned a lot on the tour and was able to see things I haven’t seen before (been to the collesium and forum a few times previously). Thank you for providing a great tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Jaymin_P,
That’s exactly the kind of care and consideration we strive to provide to all our guests! We’re so glad you experienced it firsthand. It’s wonderful to hear that we were able to offer you a fresh perspective on the Colosseum and introduce you to sights and details you hadn’t noticed before!
Thank you for trusting us with your Colosseum experience. Wishing you safe travels and hope to welcome you on future adventures!
Kind regards,
Carima
robert_r, Sep 2025
going to the forum first at 9 am was perfect , less crowds, less heat , easy to walk around and see the sights and than end at colosseum . the tour guide is so important .
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Robert_r,
We agree! Rome's rich history can be overwhelming, so having a guide to streamline the experience really makes a difference. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed starting at the Forum and had a great time overall!
Thank you for booking with us. Until next time, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Robert_A, Sep 2025
Great tour! Easy to find meeting point. John was an excellent tour guide. We saw outside and inside Roman Coliseum. John explained history and put everything in context.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Robert_A,
Thank you for choosing us to be your guide! We're glad the instructions were clear and that you found the meeting point with ease. John is absolutely amazing; he has a true gift for storytelling and bringing history to life, so we're thrilled to hear it made an impact. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words; he’ll really appreciate them!
We’d love to welcome you on another tour if your travels bring you back to Rome. Until then, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Jordan_C, Sep 2025
Great tour! We saw a lot at the Coliseum and Forum and learned a lot from our tour guide. Our tour guide was great. He was very quick and walked fast so my elderly parents struggled keeping up at times. However, overall it was a very informative tour and we had a good time.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Jordan_C,
We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the overall experience!
We’re sorry to hear about the pacing issue. In cases where guests find the pace challenging, we always recommend informing the guide so adjustments can be made to accommodate everyone's needs.
Thank you for choosing to book with us. We’d be delighted to host you on future tours! Until next time, safe travels!
Kind regards,
Carima
Terrie_M, Sep 2025
It was great. Carlotta is a licensed tour guide was able to add a lot of information on Roman history and Roman archaeology
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Terrie_M,
Our licensed guides have such a wealth of knowledge about the sites that they could talk for days! We're so glad you appreciated the detailed insights into Rome. Carlotta sends her thanks!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for choosing us. Safe travels home, and we look forward to welcoming you on future tours!
Kind regards,
Carima
Allen_H, Sep 2025
Tony was an awesome very informative guide with knowledge beyond the tour scope. We learned more than we could’ve hoped to. Thanks again Tony for the extras at the palace with the frescoes and forums 5th avenue.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Allen_H,
We're thrilled we exceeded your expectations! Thank you for sharing your experience. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Tony.
Hope to see you on another tour soon!
Kind regards,
Carima
From $151.38
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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