Colosseum Underground Private Tour with Palatine Hill & Forum
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Rome, Italy
- 3 hours 10 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy the undivided attention of your guide and discover secrets of ancient Rome on this private Colosseum tour. Uncover the Roman Forum and go behind the scenes to explore restricted-access areas at the Colosseum, including the underground chambers and the arena floor. Travel at your own pace as your guide provides fascinating facts about these highlights of the Eternal City.
- Gain a better understanding of life in ancient times
- Take photos from the center of the Colosseum arena
- Private tour ensures personalized attention from your guide
- Admission to limited-access areas of the Colosseum
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
A private guide and entry to the restricted underground elevate your Colosseum experience.
What's Included
- Entrance Fee
- Full tour from an expert guide
- Headsets for groups of 6 or more
- Language: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese.
- Colosseum entrance ticket valued at €18 per person
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and return
- Food and drink
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Via Labicana, 125, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
In front of Hotel Palazzo Manfredi
End point
- Largo della Salara VecchiaL.go della Salara Vecchia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Itinerary
1
Roman Forum
1 hour 5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Palatine Hill
1 hour 5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Colosseum
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Arch of Constantine (Pass By)
Arco di Settimio Severo (Pass By)
Arco di Tito (Pass By)
Via Sacra (Pass By)
Basilica Aemilia (Pass By)
Tempio di Antonino e Faustina (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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.
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- A maximum of 6 people per booking
- If it rains heavily the Colosseum may close the Underground Section without notice. in this case your guide will further explore other sections of the Colosseum and archaeological site.
- Please note that sprays are not allowed inside the Colosseum.
- NB: We will be able to confirm the underground section one month prior to the tour. In the event we are unable to secure tickets to the underground section we will offer a special entrance to the Tiberian House in the Forum.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 51 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Elisa was over-the-top knowledgeable. Full of delightful and shocking stories and historical tidbits and grand history. She delivered them well and was so skilled in the details of the rooms and their contents. She answered all our questions with ease. The treat of visiting the underground rooms was so eye-opening and unique. Well worth the expenditure. I recommend her highly!
Elisa was a fantastic guide. One of the better tours we’ve taken. She did a great job making it entertaining for both us and our 18. She learned early that we didn’t mind hearing some off color stories and that really lightened the whole tone of the tour. But she also really knew her stuff - she used to be in archaeology so has a real grasp of what is on the site. The underground portion was fascinating and a real
Change from the usual tour up top. Can’t recommend this tour enough.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you and your family enjoyed the tour with me. It was great to know that you appreciated the off-color stories; they definitely help lighten the mood!
I'm glad you found the underground portion interesting. Your recommendation means a lot to me, and I hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Elisa
This was a magnificent tour, and according to our amazing Guide, Elisa, entry is limited to 50 people. As a mechanical engineer, getting to see the underground system was so incredible. Having an archaeologist guiding the tour was just perfect. Even after all that going across the way to the Forum and Palatine Hill with her was also outstanding and she told us about discoveries that she had made over the years. It was a perfect day, and then she topped it off with an excellent recommendation for lunch. 100% yes!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Thomas,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the underground system fascinating. It was a pleasure to share my passion for archaeology with you, and I'm glad you appreciated our time at the Forum and Palatine Hill as well.
I'm also happy that you enjoyed the lunch recommendation! I hope to see you again for another adventure soon!
Kind regards,
Elisa
Roma Experience. Eliza was our private guide. She was so knowledgeable about the history of the area that made our experience so wonderful. We skipped every line and we were able to enjoy our time there. Felt like we saw everything and then some!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Staci,
Thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed your private tour with me.
It’s always a joy to share the rich history of Rome and help my guests skip the lines to make the most of their time. I'm delighted you felt like you saw everything and more! I hope to explore more of this beautiful city with you in the future!
All the best,
Elisa
Great exp.! Our guide, Stephanie, was very knowledgeable and definitely knew her way around all the areas. Was well worth the extra money for the private tour to skip the LONG lines.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic experience with our guide, Stephanie. It's great to know that her knowledge and expertise made your tour even more special. We hope to see you again soon for another adventure without the long waits!
This was as close to the perfect tour as you could get. It was absolutely worth every cent. Being able to do the underground of the Colosseum was the most wonderful experience. The tour was made so incredible by our guide Elisa. She bought all the sites to life, and being an archeologist who had actually worked in the forum, she was able to share so many insights in each and every stop of the tour. She was so passionate and made the day even more special for us. All the extra little stops you get to make with this tour, as well as the skip the line access everywhere, makes it a no brainer to do. Just book it, you will be so happy you did! Thank you so much Elisa for a truely wonderful day!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Matthew,
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience on the tour. It's wonderful to know that I was able to made your day even more special. Your kind words about the underground of the Colosseum and the extra stops really highlight what we aim to provide for our guests. We're grateful for your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Best regards,
Elisa
The underground of the Colosseum has to be seen to be believed. The technology and architecture of the time is amazing. To see the pits the tunnels the lifts and the cages is a memory I will always treasure. The forum was spectacular the remains and the stories told by our guide were brilliant. I would highly recommend to anyone. Fantastic time and day out.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience exploring the underground of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It's great to know that your guide helped bring history to life — we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again next time!
It was me, my husband, and our two daughters (10 and 17), and we had such a great time. Marta was a fantastic storyteller—engaging, knowledgeable, and thoughtful throughout. She was mindful of the heat, making sure we stayed in the shade and took water breaks often.
She connected well with both our younger and older daughter and made the experience enjoyable for all of us. Marta was kind, authentic, and truly made the tour special!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you and your family had such a great time touring with Marta. It’s wonderful to know she left such a positive impression on your whole family. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future!
This is a must do! It was so worth it! Front of every line, getting to see the underground area and relics in the Forum! Tour guide was so knowledgeable. It was wonderful!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Anna,
Thank you for your beautiful review. We are glad you enjoyed the tour and you appreciated even the archaeological area of the Roman Forum. Having dug here it is a special place for me and I’m truly grateful you understood the importance of the area.
All the best,
Elisa
Elisa was an outstanding guide. She is an actual archeologist that has worked on the Forum grounds. She is extremely informed on the history of Rome, Palantine Hill and the Colosseum. She was able to secure tickets for going through the underground of the Colosseum, which was fascinating. We could talk to her all day and love it. I highly recommend requesting her and doing a private tour. Absolutely worth it!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for the amazing review Jennifer! I’m so glad you enjoyed the tour with me. I will be thrilled to bring you in other monuments of Rome in a next visit…to talk all day! :-)
Once in a lifetime experience! Alicia was amazing! She is an archeologist and knew so much it was unreal! The tour was beyond what we expected and the detail and history and walking through the underground is really breathtaking! Do this!!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for your review Tracy! I was very happy to be your guide: my goal is always to bring back to life the history of Ancient Rome. I hope to see you back here!
Elisa
It was the most unbelievable adventure and experience that we’ve had ! Looking forward to more of this in our lives !! Thank you
We had a wonderful time with Elisa, who toured us around the colosseum, its underground, and the Roman forum! We started in the colosseum and went into the underground (which is not actually underground for the most part, the floor of the colosseum/roof of the underground is gone). Elisa was incredibly knowledgeable and had a lot in inside information due to her doctorate and extensive time doing archeology inside the forum. Highly recommend this tour to get the whole picture on the colosseum!
Loved the tour! Was amazing and informative, Elisa was very knowledgeable and answered our questions excellently. She has a deep love for the subject and we definitely could tell from her sharing — from the history of the Roman Forum and Colosseum to the excavation methods used to uncover these ruins! She also wasn’t too rushed and gave us ample time to take photos — she even helped to take a few for us! I would highly recommend her for anyone looking for an informative yet easy-to-digest tour.
Andrea was an amazing guide full of information! He whisked us past crowds and lines and made sure we saw everything there was to see. I’d been to Colosseum before and still learned so much. We also got to see some newly opened areas on the Roman Forum and spent some time on ground level as well. Took lots of pics of us at the best spots which was great - no need for selfies. Very enjoyable morning.
The Underground addition to the colosseum is wonderful! Luca Romano is awesome! He is so knowledgeable and listens to your interests and needs. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour. He even gave us suggestions for eating.
Our guide, Elisa made this tour so memorable. Tour maybe expensive but having an archeologist with first hand research experience was worth the extra. Seeing the Colosseum from underground, the tunnel thru which the gladiators enter the area, the areas and wooden cage and pulley system to bring animals into arena made such a visual impression. In addition, the history of Ancient Rome on Palatine Hill and Roman Forum is overwhelming to read but having an expert provide a live storytelling manner was meaningful.
Our tour with Andrea was amazing. Andrea was very informative, friendly, fun’ and we would recommend him for any and all tours.
Elisa - was awesome. I unknowingly booked a total private tour, my wife and I thinking it was a small group. Elisa is a wealth of knowledge, and made it so much fun. She is wickedly smart. She spent sooo much time with us in the Colosseum and we got to go underground which was a must for me. The Colosseum is the focus here but Palatine Hill and the Forum are fantastic. You want to skip the line...you want to go with Elisa. Trust me, the money is one thing - the time you save and the experience are well worth it. Word of advice - small groups are better whatever tour you pick. Don't go in a larger sized tour.
The tour wasn't cheap, but I'm a big ancient Roman history buff and decided to try it out. Our tour guide, Elisa, wasn't just someone with knowledge of the area...she is an ARCHEOLOGIST who works the area. We were blown away by the depth of knowledge she has, and my only regret is not preparing more questions for her (thought we were just getting a run of the mill tour). Anything I asked she had a detailed answer with even more interesting bits I never had heard about it. Great tour. Highly recommended.
What an amazing experience! Our guide Andrea was so knowledgeable, professional, and friendly…his background is in art history and he gave us such a great appreciation for the architecture and culture of the time when the Colosseum was a thriving part of Rome. The underground private tour was fantastic…being able to see where the gladiators and animals waited and the world below the action. Only so many people are allowed down there per day so was truly a special experience. This tour is worth every penny, especially when there are so many people visiting the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum.
Our guide was Ellie, a PHD Archeologist that has worked actively in Rome and Cairo. Her knowledge of the Colloseum, the Forum and the Palatine was priceless. Her expertise on the subject and the level of detail that she is instructed was really incredible and captivating.
Die Tour war großartig, besonders da unser Guide viele Anspekte und Information jenseits der rein geschichtlichen Fakten präsentiert hat, was die Besichtigung des Kolosseums zu einem einzigartigen Erlebnis gemacht hat.
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