Colosseum Underground or Arena Platform
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Rome, Italy
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover secrets of the Colosseum that you’d never learn if you explored the landmark by yourself on this small-group tour, which ensures you get your fair share of your guide’s attention. Gain access to the arena floor or opt for the underground experience (with an even smaller group) that heads down into tunnels and chambers where gladiators prepared for battle. Both options include access to the upper levels, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
- Soak up the incredible Colosseum views you won’t get anywhere else
- Walk the same path as the Roman gladiators
- Don’t miss a word thanks to the headset provided
- Both options include independent access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
What's Included
- Tickets to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (valued at €24 per person)
- Live Guide
- Headset to listen to the live guide while on tour
- Semi-Private Experience
- Guided tour of the Colosseum
- Gratuities
- Everything not mentioned on the inclusions!
- Access to the Attic
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Via del Colosseo, 31, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
our staff will be waiting at the meeting point holding a Roman Guides Panel.
End point
- Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
We'll finish the tour inside the colosseum!
Itinerary
1
Piazza del Colosseo
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Colosseum
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Palatine Hill
1 minute • Admission Ticket Included
4
Roman Forum
1 minute • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers
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
4.9
based on 232 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
jonathan_F, Aug 2026
Top notch tour! The underground is a MUST!! Sayeed was incredible. Super knowledgeable and friendly. He showed that he cared about teaching us about the history while still fun and engaging. definitely recommend!
Shannon_P, Aug 2026
Alex was a wonderful tour guide. The small group option was fabulous as we could hear him clearly and the interaction amongst the group was great throughout the tour. Alex was knowledgeable, good-humored and personable. He told us fascinating stories about the history of the Colosseum. We had a terrific time and learned so many interesting facts. Top-notch tour and tour guide!
DianaJones, Aug 2026
Good tour, but we were not impressed by
the guide. He talked for 45 minutes in the parking lot before we ever got to enter the colosseum. When we had to leave after 1 1/2 hours (the scheduled tour time), we had seen very little. Our guide said it takes 2 1/2 hours at least to see it and he wouldn’t hurry. That’s fine but we had to catch a cruise ship, which he seemed annoyed about.
Beth_C, Jul 2026
Eni is a fantastic guide and very nice person. We learned so much and got to see and understand so much more about the Colosseum and surrounding area than if we had explored on our own. The pace was just right in order to cover lots of different sections and it was like getting an excellent history lesson.
Laura_C, Jul 2026
Being able to see the arena floor and underground was so fun. Our guide was so knowledgeable. I liked the underground as well because it was very hot while we were in Rome and it was nice to have a lot of the tour in shade. I absolutely recommend this company.
Tara_O, Jul 2026
This tour was one of the highlights of our trip. Really enjoyed seeing the underground. And our guide was really informative. Great experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review, Tara! We are delighted to hear that the tour was one of the highlights of your trip and that you enjoyed exploring the Colosseum Underground. It's wonderful to know that our guide helped make the experience even more memorable. We hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future!
ERIK_B, Jun 2026
Hello. Our guide and his knowledge was greatly appreciated. However, out tickets clearly reflected the underground experience but our guide said he wasn’t aware if it. We paid a premium for this access and my itinerary details clearly show it was supposed to be included. Our guide looked at the price I paid back on May 25 and said we were charged for an underground AND 1st and second floor access. This was a specific reason for the booking and I believe a refund is warranted for our tickets.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Erik,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are pleased to hear that you appreciated the knowledge and professionalism of our guide.
We are sorry for the misunderstanding regarding the type of tour booked. After reviewing your reservation, we can confirm that the option purchased was the Colosseum Arena Tour, with a maximum of 12 participants. The tour description clearly outlines the sites included in the visit and specifies that access to the Colosseum Underground is a separate experience.
The Underground Tour requires a different type of ticket, is operated in groups of a maximum of 7 participants, and has a higher price compared to the Arena Tour you booked, due to the extremely limited access to the Underground area.
The guide confirmed that they advised you to contact our agency if you believed you had booked the Underground Tour. After carefully reviewing all booking details, we confirmed that your reservation was for the Arena Tour and not the Underground Tour.
We understand that this misunderstanding may have led to different expectations, and we are sorry for any disappointment caused. We sincerely appreciate your positive comments regarding the guide.
Kind regards,
Endrin
janeefraser, Jun 2026
Great tour with a very enthusiastic guide, we learnt so much and got way more out of our visit than if we had just gone ourselves.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, Jane! We’re so happy you enjoyed the tour and learned so much with our guide. We hope to welcome you again on another tour!
Robert_S, Jun 2026
This is a fantastic experience, our tour guide gave us great information made it easy to understand, and was very easy to hear. She was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Robert! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated Realda's knowledge and clear explanations. We will be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future!
Scott_C, Jun 2026
Incredibly seamless experience. Booking underground tickets on my own seemed very challenging to easily get the exact time and date I wanted. On the day of the tour, we were divided into small groups of 6. Giovanni was our guide and wow - he knew all the secret paths, tricks to being most efficient and giving us some cool behind the scenes looks as well as all the best shade spots. Honestly Giovanni alone made this tour worth it. He is amazing. Thank you!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks, Scott! We're happy you enjoyed the tour and that Giovanni helped make your visit such a memorable one.
Gregory_W, Jun 2026
Very friendly tour guide. Provided a lot of history on the construction and history of the building. If you are looking for an education, he’s your guy!
If you only do the colosseum and not the forum, be sure to let him know BEFORE leaving the colosseum so that you can explore on your own
We didn’t realize we were leaving the colosseum until it was too late
It was our fault for not letting him know
Response from Host, Jun 2026
> Thank you for your review. We're glad you enjoyed the guide's knowledge and presentation, and we appreciate you sharing this helpful tip for future visitors.
Brett_B, Jun 2026
Rea was an amazing tour guide. Full of energy and enthusiasm about the history. Also, if you’re a fan of the movie Gladiator, she drops a lot of facts about the movie which I thought was cool. 10 out of 10!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Brett. We're glad you enjoyed Rea's energy and her take on the history behind both the Colosseum and Gladiator.
Paul_V, Jun 2026
This tour is great. Our guide Alex was welcoming from the start and very knowledgeable. We learned so much about the Colosseum and surrounding areas. We had a very manageable group of 12 people and Alex made sure everyone saw everything. Being on the Arena floor and looking up and imagining what it must have been like for Gladiators or slaves of the time is mind blowing. Learning about just how smart Romans were for their time is next level. I would recommend this tour for anyone who wants to see the Colosseum from all angles and get a great history lesson in the process.
5 Stars
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Alex takes great pride in making sure everyone feels included, and we're glad his knowledge helped bring the Colosseum to life for your group.
Marcela_T, Jun 2026
The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We really enjoyed this tour, it was very hot and a lot of people but the guide was very helpful explaining everything
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Even on the hottest and busiest days, a great guide can make all the difference, and we're glad that was your experience.
Terry_G, May 2026
This once in a lifetime visit was so much more enjoyable with the knowledgeable tour guide we had, highly recommended
Response from Host, Jun 2026
The Colosseum has countless stories hidden behind the stones, and a great guide makes all the difference.
Taylor_L, May 2026
Absolutely loved how small our group was and how wonderful and knowledgeable our guide was! Normally, I guides will mess up information a couple of times, but not him! He was amazing! 10/10 would recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Small groups make for a much better experience, and it's great to hear the guide's knowledge stood out.
Jennifer_T, May 2026
Our Colosseum tour was an unforgettable experience, and Alex made it truly exceptional. He was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and engaging, and made our small group of four feel so welcomed and special throughout the entire tour.
One of the highlights was getting to explore the underground area of the Colosseum, which was fascinating and unlike anything we had ever experienced. Alex went above and beyond in explaining the history, architecture, and stories behind the Colosseum, bringing everything to life in such an interesting and memorable way.
You could tell he was genuinely passionate about sharing the history of Rome, and his enthusiasm made the tour even more enjoyable. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment and will never forget this experience. Highly recommend this tour and especially Alex as a guide.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Alex has a real talent for making every guest feel part of the experience, no matter the group size.
Denise_S, May 2026
This experience was the highlight of our trip to Rome! This tour was through a small travel agency called Roman Guides. It’s run by Madalina and Endrin. They are both lovely people who take great care in planning tours and taking care of their customers.
I booked this tour 10 months in advance and heard nightmares from many people about their underground tours being cancelled last minute due to new Colosseum rules. Madalina reassured me they were accredited partners and they were. We had our tour this morning with guide Giovanny and it was FANTASTIC! We skipped every line and had access to so much on this tour. There were so few people in the underground section. It was a real VIP experience. Our guide gave us so much information along the way. This is a much better tour than just the arena, don’t hesitate to book it! I just can’t say enough about how great this tour is!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Reading this put a smile on our faces. After 10 months of waiting, we're thrilled everything came together and that Giovanni made the experience so memorable.
Shannon_K, May 2026
What an absolute diamond of a tour! We loved it. Our guide was fun, knowledgeable, and very friendly. The flow was easy and the access we got to the lesser seen parts of the Colosseum made this even better. We lived every minute of it. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Access to the lesser-seen areas of the Colosseum really changes the experience, and it's great to hear you enjoyed every minute of it.
AndrewR_A, May 2026
From the meeting point and meeting our guide we had a wonderful time , Giovanni our guide was fantastic lots of facts and information the whole family enjoyed it. We would recommend this tour for anyone
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Giovanni has a talent for keeping every generation engaged, so it's wonderful to hear the whole family enjoyed the experience.
Anthony_F, May 2026
Worthwhile exclusive experience, it was easy to find, friendly tour guide Rea was amazingly knowledgeable and well spoken. She really enhanced an already amazing backdrop. The Colosseum lived up to its status as an architectural icon and seeing the “underground” story in person is a “must” do when in Rome!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Rea has a wonderful way of combining knowledge with storytelling, and the Underground certainly adds a whole new dimension to the visit.
Nicholas_G, May 2026
Zero chance your group will see the Colesseum underground. It’s false advertisement. Our guide knew from the second we met that we would not be able to see the Colesseum underground’s
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Nicholas,
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
However, we would like to clarify that the tour booked was the “Colosseum Arena Floor Tour” and not the Underground Tour. As clearly stated in the booking confirmation and tour description, Underground access is available only through a separate option.
The voucher specifically included:
• Arena Floor access
• Upper Levels views
• Roman Forum & Palatine Hill access
and also clearly stated:
“Underground via separate option.”
Our guide informed the group accordingly based on the reservation received.
We always aim to provide accurate information in all our listings and we regret any misunderstanding regarding the selected tour option.
Kind regards,
Roman Guides
Diane_F, May 2026
Very interesting tour with historical facts, great picture spots, and enthusiasm (visuals/examples) from our guide, Endrin. Would recommend 👍
Response from Host, Jun 2026
History always becomes more interesting when it's paired with the right stories and visuals.
Mary_H, May 2026
Guide has exceptional knowledge and explained things very thoroughly. Our experience was 1 guide and 5 travelers - this may not always be the ratio but it was awesome.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
A group of five with a knowledgeable guide is about as close as it gets to a private experience.
Julia_M, May 2026
Very cool experience and our guide was excellent. Would definitely recommend to anyone who couldn’t get direct tickets to the underground and wants to have this unique experience. We ended up getting to spend a decent amount of time down there too, which I understand doesn’t always happen.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Spending time in the Underground is what makes this experience so unique, and it's great to hear it lived up to expectations.
Alisha_W, May 2026
Giulia was a fantastic guide! She was super knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic and engaging! Great immersive information!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Giulia's enthusiasm is contagious, and she has a talent for making history feel immersive and easy to follow.
Daniel_M, Apr 2026
I have always been reluctant to take a guided tour anywhere. I always preferred to go at my own pace. I’m so glad I changed my mind and took this tour. It has been the absolute highlight of my trip to Rome. Alex was awesome and my experience of the Colosseum was that much richer because I joined his tour. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Converting someone from independent traveler to guided tour fan is no small achievement. Alex will be happy to hear this.
Ericka_N, Apr 2026
It was a great experience! A must do for the colosseum. The underground tour portion was the most interesting part of the entire tour. I recommend this company. They were prompt and were in constant contact with you up to the day of the event.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Staying in touch with guests before the tour is something we take seriously, so it's nice to hear that made a difference.
Danielle_P, Apr 2026
Our guide was awesome. Super friendly, knowledgable, and fun to be around. We had a wonderful experience and would tour with them again.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Friendly, knowledgeable, and fun is exactly the combination you hope for in a guide.
LaurieFuller, Mar 2026
The Colosseum is an amazing place to visit - but the crowds can feel overwhelming so I am really glad we had a tour guide! I had thought I had signed up for the underground tour but in fact had signed up for the arena tour. Our tour guide was terrific and we enjoyed the visit to the colosseum -
Response from Host, Jun 2026
The Colosseum can feel overwhelming at first, which is why having the right guide makes such a difference.
From $117.51
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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