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Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

Recommended by 96% of travelers
Rome, Italy
Popular pick
Booked 20+ times last week!
  • 1 to 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

This group tour of the Colosseum stands out by offering access to the restricted Arena Floor—where gladiators once battled—usually off-limits to travelers. Gain insider insight from your guide, then continue the tour through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to learn what life was like during the Roman Empire.
  • Check off three historic sites in one seamless tour
  • Explore areas that most travelers don't get to access
  • Travel with a guide to dive deep into ancient Roman history
  • Hear your guide clearly with provided headsets

What's Included

  • Expert-led guided tour of Ancient Rome with a small-group experience
  • Passionate storytelling with headphones provided for clear audio
  • Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (€24) + reservation fee (€2)
  • Access to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Arch of Constantine
      P.za del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

      Please meet us in front the Arch of Constantine. Your guide will be holding a Yellow Carpe Diem Tours flag or sign. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to start time. Late arrivals will not be eligible for refunds.

    End point

    • Roman Forum
      00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

      We finish inside the Ancient city, or Roman Forum.

    Itinerary

    1

    Colosseum

    1 hour Admission Ticket Included

    2

    Palatine Hill

    30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

    3

    Roman Forum

    30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with matching names at the ticket office may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
    • Each traveller must present a valid passport or ID matching the name provided at booking for entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
    • Tour order may vary: we will start with either the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill depending on ticket times.
    • Colosseum admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Tours are discounted on these days.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.8
    based on 167 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Pay for the tour, its worth it!

    Melinda_A, Apr 2026
    Our guild, Polina from Carpe Diem tours, gave us so much more information than we could have imagined. Without her guided explanations we would have just stood there and stared at the structure without knowing what we were looking at. She added book photos of what the collesium would have looked like in Roman times, which allowed us to visualize how the structure ran like a business. Her personality was entertaining which added to the day. 3 hours flew by and she left us with memories that will last a lifetime. The Viator app was great and allowed us to communicate with our guide to find her at our meeting spot. Very convenient!

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear Polina made your experience so memorable with her knowledge, visuals, and entertaining personality. It’s wonderful to know she helped bring the Colosseum to life and made the three hours fly by. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!

    Express Tour Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    James_G, Apr 2026
    Very well organised, informative tour. Audio headphones meant it was really clear. Great guide. Would recommend!

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thank you for your great review! We’re so glad you found the tour well organised and informative, and that the audio made everything clear. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!

    Amazing tour and guide!

    arianne_c, Mar 2026
    Our guide was very informative and soo interesting! He had a book and separate pictures to help elaborate on the amazing history he shared, which was fantastic! Our guide was very helpful in making the tour work for myself with a knee injury/ using cane and my 75 yr old mom! Appreciate his kindness in making this a great tour!!

    Response from Host, Mar 2026

    Hi Arianne, so glad you had an amazing experience! 🏛️😊 Happy to hear the guide made the tour engaging and was so accommodating for you and your mom. Thanks for sharing your experience!

    Coliseum tour

    Sheryl_C, Oct 2025
    Kopal was so knowledgeable, she really explained everything so well! She was so pleasant and very personable!

    Response from Host, Oct 2025

    Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed Kopal’s tour and her detailed explanations!

    Great guide!

    Leigh_W, Apr 2025
    Paulo was an awesome guide. He kept everyone engaged. He was easy to understand and full of great information. 10 out of 10 recommend him. Carpe Diem was very communicative with easy to understand directions to meet your tour guide. Great experience.

    Response from Host, Apr 2025

    Thank you, Leigh! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Paulo and had a great experience. We appreciate the recommendation and are happy to hear the communication was helpful. Hope to see you again soon!

    An amazing tour with a...

    Cheryl_L, Feb 2025
    An amazing tour with a real archeologist! We learned so much about what really transpired at the coliseum

    Response from Host, Feb 2025

    Thank you for your kind words, Cheryl! We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the insights from our expert guide. Hope to see you again on another adventure! 😊

    The best tour you will ever take!

    Cody_F, Oct 2024
    Paolo was not only knowledgeable, he was enthusiastic and entertaining! My group loved how he involved us in acting out scenes of history at the Colosseum! We absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rome!

    Response from Host, Oct 2024

    Thank you for the glowing feedback, Cody! 🌟 We're so glad you had such an enjoyable experience with Paolo. His enthusiasm and interactive approach really make history come alive! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Rome! 😊

    The Roman Empire

    Antero_G, Oct 2024
    Felicity, the tour guide was very funny, witty, engaging and above all very knowledgeable. Noone on the tour wanted the experience to end. She was terrific.

    Response from Host, Oct 2024

    Thanks, Antero! 😊 We're delighted to hear Felicity made your Colosseum tour so engaging and fun. It’s wonderful to know everyone wanted the experience to last longer! 🏛️✨

    Paulo rocks

    tsims2009yahoocom, Oct 2024
    Paulo was our tour guide and he was hands down the best guide we had all trip. He was knowledgeable, had a real appreciation for the colosseum, and made everyone feel included. He was great made a great site even better. Thank you Paulo!

    Response from Host, Oct 2024

    Thanks so much! We're thrilled to hear that Paulo made your Colosseum tour unforgettable with his knowledge and passion. Hope to see you again on your next Roman adventure! 😊

    Great guide (Paolo), and amazing stop

    Colleen_L, Oct 2024
    Guide Paolo was great. He was an anthropologist and really knows the value of these sites. He really loves people and doing these tours. Many times, he was helping other tourists navigate the entrance/exits. Lovely human being and one of our fav guides we had on any tour. Wish we had more time at the Colosseum, but it was amazing.

    Response from Host, Oct 2024

    thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback. We are so delighted that you rate our service as 4 Star as we strive to provide just that for all our customers. We Look forward to seeing you again soon.

    Great Tour

    Robert_C, Oct 2024
    Our guide, Ivana, was terrific! Her knowledge of the Colosseum and Palatine Hill was extensive and she was able to keep everyone engaged and entertained. Definitely recommend!

    Response from Host, Oct 2024

    Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're so happy to know you enjoyed your time with us. We look forward to creating more memorable experiences for you in the future!

    Great guide & tour

    TRACY_W, Sep 2024
    We booked this tour for our group of 6 & would highly recommend! We thoroughly enjoyed this tour with our guide Deborah, who was knowledgeable & easy to understand. Meet up details were clear & we had time for questions & pictures.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thank you for your gracious words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed Maya's service. Providing exceptional experiences is our top priority, and your feedback motivates us to keep exceeding expectations. We look forward to serving you again soon!

    Paolo and the Collisseum = amazing!!

    Lorene_C, Sep 2024
    Paolo our guide did a great job of bringing history to life. He was so knowledgeable and so engaging! He kept the tour group moving but never in a way that we felt rushed. He gave an excellent overview of what life was like for spectators, slaves, the emperors, the gladiators. He was also so helpful and accommodating,not only to our group but wiling to help others. And he made a point of learning everyone's names, which gave it a wonderful personalized feel. He was knowledgeable and very passionate with it! A definite highlight of our time in Rome! Highly recommend 👌

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience. We can't wait to welcome you back on your next adventure!

    Absolutely wonderful!

    Molly_G, Sep 2024
    Paolo was an absolute gem. His passion for sharing his knowledge was evident. Kept his tour engaged with many stories and had his clients role play. Loads of fun!

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again soon!

    A step back in time

    Donald_S, Sep 2024
    The Colosseum tour was better than imagined. Our guide Urs was pleasant and had a plethora of historical insight throughout the tour. Learning about the origins of Rome to the emergence of the emperors, stories of Palatine Hill and the events of the Colosseum. A must tour for anyone visiting Rome.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Hi Donald! 🌟 We're thrilled the Colosseum tour exceeded your expectations and that Urs made the history come alive with his insights. Thanks for recommending it as a must-do for visitors to Rome!

    No show guide/ waste of time

    Andrew_R, Sep 2024
    Unfortunately our guide did not show. While they gave us the tickets to enter ourselves, we lost a crucial part of the experience without having a guide, weren’t able to “skip the line” and ended up trying to use an app to get the information we desired. This was definitely a disappointment. Ended up rebooking with another tour company later that day to get more information, costing us precious hours during our relatively brief visit to Rome.

    Great tour!

    Leah_H, Aug 2024
    Love the order in which we did the tour. I appreciated the information and pictures which helped bring the ruins to life.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you, Leah! We're glad you enjoyed the tour's structure and that the information and pictures helped bring the ruins to life. Your feedback is much appreciated!

    So glad we booked this...

    Sarah_B, Aug 2024
    So glad we booked this trip , our guide was really friendly and very knowledgeable, it was an amazing experience, would definitely recommend this trip

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you, Sarah! We’re thrilled you had an amazing experience with our friendly and knowledgeable guide. Your recommendation means a lot to us! 😊

    Worthy!!!

    Cintia_M, Jul 2024
    Excellent tour with an amazing guide, Joy!! She was really perfect and gave us all so many interesting informations.

    Response from Host, Jul 2024

    Thank you, Cintia! We're thrilled you found the Small Group Colosseum Arena Tour with Joy excellent. Her expertise and insights truly enhance the experience. Hope to see you again soon! 🏛️

    Quite a full and long tour and well worth it

    Kevin_M, May 2024
    Wonderful to see it all. But this was quite a full and long tour. Our tour guide was an expert in maneuvering us through the crowed areas to make that aspect bearable. Crowds or no, the Colosseum Arena, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum are essential sites to see.

    Response from Host, May 2024

    Thanks, Kevin! Glad to hear you found the Colosseum Arena Tour, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum worthwhile. We appreciate your feedback and are pleased you enjoyed the expertise of your tour guide.

    Colosseum

    Janine_L, Apr 2024
    Obama weasel an excellent guide- knowledgeable, patient and chatty. So many interesting facts that bought the tour to life.

    Response from Host, May 2024

    Janine, thrilled to hear you had a great experience with our guide Obama! Sounds like he made the tour come alive with his knowledge and enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing your feedback!

    Ilaria our guide was...

    sarah_s, Apr 2024
    Ilaria our guide was fabulous at bringing history alive with stories and legends. Very knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. Highly recommend.

    Response from Host, Apr 2024

    Thanks, Sarah! We're delighted to hear that you had a fabulous experience on our Colosseum Arena Tour with Palatine Hill & Roman Forum with Ilaria. Her ability to bring history alive with stories and legends is truly remarkable. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon for more immersive tours!

    Knowledgeable tour, worth the money

    Laura_R, Apr 2024
    Ivana was excellent. She knew all the perfect places to take us for that "great picture" view. She was very knowledgeable and provided great history overview while waiting in any lines. Highly recommend!!

    Response from Host, Apr 2024

    We appreciate your kind words and the 5-star review. It was a pleasure hosting you.

    Best Tour in Rome

    Mark_c, Mar 2024
    This was our favorite tour in Rome and could not have been our more enjoyable. Our guide Paolo showcased the area in such a fun and informative way. From reenacting gladiator fights to showing the best picture locations. An absolute must do in Rome, Paolo is the best in the business.

    Response from Host, Mar 2024

    I'm thrilled to hear that your Colosseum Arena Tour with Paolo was the highlight of your time in Rome! It sounds like he made the experience both fun and informative, bringing history to life with his expertise. Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience with us!

    Great tour!

    Stacy_E, Nov 2023
    Emily was an amazing guide and was very knowledgeable and kept the group engaged during the approx 3 hour excursion. The Colosseum was very crowded even in November and I felt like a guided tour was the easiest route to see the highlights. She also guided us to free toilets mid excursion which was great!

    Response from Host, Nov 2023

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again soon!

    Knowledge

    Rhonda_G, Oct 2023
    Our guide was knowledgeable and very personable. He even knew history of other ruins if the conversation went there.

    Response from Host, Nov 2023

    Thank you for taking the time to provide a rating, your opinion is valued greatly and it helps us maintain an excellent standard of service to our customers. We Look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Good tour

    Barbara_M, Oct 2023
    Very good information on the Colosseum .Would have liked more time for photos in the colosseum.Spent more time in the Roman Forum and Palatine hill than in the Colosseum.

    Response from Host, Oct 2023

    Thank you for taking the time to share this positive rating! We will make sure to share this with our team to let them know to keep up the amazing work and we hope to see you again very soon!

    Great time - Truly worth it!

    Sanjay_P, Oct 2023
    I thought Susana, our guide, did a great job on giving us background of the Colosseum and was very knowledgeable. The tour was worth it - not only because what you learn, but because of the time you save from skipping lines and having someone that knows the area. Also - my wife who wasn’t thrilled about the 3-hour tour - she loves every aspect of it and thought it was worth her time and went incredible smooth!

    Response from Host, Oct 2023

    We’re thrilled that you were satisfied with our services. Your feedback is appreciated, and we hope to be of help again soon!

    Worth every penny. Wonderful experience

    Trex_F, Oct 2023
    I've never been so in awe, phenomenal. Great guide, Great tour just bring plenty of fluids. Small group of just 6. Great guide, Paula. Can't recommend enough

    Response from Host, Oct 2023

    We are glad to hear we provided you with top-notch service! We appreciate the feedback and would love to work with you again.

    Nice small group tour

    n69g5jjf6s, Oct 2023
    Enjoyed walking thru the Roman Forum, emperor’s House and the Coliseum. Barbara led a small group (14) very well and her English is excellent. The meeting point at the Arch of Constantine was easy to find.

    Response from Host, Oct 2023

    We are so happy that you enjoyed your experience with us! We appreciate the great review and look forward to seeing you again soon.

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