VIP Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Guided Tour

Recommended by 92% of travelers

Rome, Italy

Very popular!

5+ bookings in the past 6 hours.

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· Patti_C ·

Jan 2026

We had a great time with Yousef as our guide. He guided us through the city walk around Colosseum and the palatine Hill and explained in detail of the Roman history to us. He answered all of our questions concisely and he was able to tell bits and parts of Roman history in a very engaging way.

· Vanessa_R ·

Feb 2026

Tour was very informative and learned alot about the Roman Empire. Beautiful views and impressive to see the inside of the Colleseum.

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Overview

Most tours of Ancient Rome offer one option—or, at most two. If cookie-cutter itineraries don’t cut it, then this sightseeing tour is for you. Choose the package that works best for your travel plans, whether that’s visiting only the Colosseum or also the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the small-group option, access to the arena floor or underground dungeons, or an exterior stroll around the Colosseum to capture photos.

Get access to the Gladiator's Gate, where fighters once entered battle (if option selected)
Enrich your visit with context and stories from a guide, with headphones included for clear audio
Admission tickets are included to three sites, saving you a long wait at the ticket office
Variety of tour departures and itinerary options let you personalize your visit

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This package lets you upgrade for arena floor entry and a more intimate small-group tour.

What's Included

Admission to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum (if option selected)
Admission to the Colosseum Arena Floor (if option selected)
Colosseum entry ticket and reservation fee included (€18–€24 value)
Expert storytelling from a licensed historian guide with headphones provided
Personalised, group experience offering top-rated value and comfort

Access to the arena floor (unless selected, available for an additional fee)
Food and Beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Arch of Constantine
P.za del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Please meet your guide in front of the Arch of Constantine. They will be holding a yellow Carpe Diem Tours flag or sign. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour start time. Late arrivals unfortunately cannot be refunded.

End point

Roman Forum
00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
The tour will either finish in the Roman Forum or the Colosseum, depending on which monument we start with, where you will be left to either leave or spend more time exploring the area.

Itinerary

Colosseum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Roman Forum

45 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
Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. Tickets must match these names; failure to present a voucher with all travellers’ full 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.
Want an upgrade? Check out these other options: VIP Colosseum Tour (12pax), Colosseum Express Arena Tour (24pax)
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Supplied by

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

4.7

based on 1,581 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great tour, worth it

Kirsten_W, Mar 2026

Excellent pacing, storytelling, and great tour for kids and adults. Skipped lines and great context to what we saw.

You will learn a lot.

Megan_B, Mar 2026

Our guide was herself an archeologist and a wealth in depth knowledge of the sites. The tour was a bit long for the attention spans of our group it was a great day.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted you enjoyed the guide’s knowledge and had a great day exploring the sites. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon! 😊

History lover

Grisel_C, Mar 2026

Very informative. If you like history, this is a tour for you!! The guide kept us engaged through the 3 hours that the tour lasted.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you, Grisel! We’re glad you enjoyed the history and had an engaging experience on the tour. 🏛️📚

Not able to join tour

Priscilla_Z, Mar 2026

Hello, We are writing to formally request a full reimbursement of the total amount paid for this tour. Due to the tickets not being available at the time of the tour, we were unfortunately unable to participate. This situation was extremely disappointing and inconvenient, especially as we had planned our schedule around this experience. In addition, the issue caused an embarrassing delay for the rest of the group, which added unnecessary stress and negatively impacted our visit. Given that this situation was completely beyond our control, we kindly ask that you process the full refund as soon as possible and confirm the expected timeline for reimbursement. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your confirmation. Thank you.

Best tour in Rome by best tour guide.

Marlene_M, Mar 2026

Fabulous, live history, gorgeous setting. March is a great time to visit. Books do not do this sites justice

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi Marlene, so glad you had such a fabulous experience! 🏛️😊 Happy to hear the history and setting brought everything to life. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Tour was 2.5 hours....

Libby_L, Mar 2026

Tour was 2.5 hours. Older, Uneven surfaces. Very historic. Guide extremely knowledgeable and alert to groups needs.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi Libby, so glad you enjoyed the tour! 🏛️😊 Happy to hear the guide’s knowledge and attentiveness helped make the experience even better. Thanks for sharing!

Colosseum and Forem tour

Gregory_K, Mar 2026

Tour was excellent, very good guide, was a long walk, they did cancel our original tour so had to change plans, be flexible

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi Gregory, so glad you enjoyed the tour and found the guide excellent! 🏛️ Thanks for your flexibility and for sharing your experience.

Rome

Paul_T, Mar 2026

Very knowledgeable, and the right length of time. Daniele, the host and tour guide, was very good.!!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi Paul, so glad you enjoyed the tour with Daniele! 🏛️😊 Happy to hear it was informative and just the right length. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Very knowledgeable tour guide

Marie_K, Feb 2026

Our guide Francesca was very friendly and enthusiastic. Unfortunately the weather was awful. We had torrential rain from the start of the tour right to the end which was such a shame. Francesca battled the rain with us and stayed in a very positive mood which lifted us too.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Marie! So sorry the weather didn’t cooperate, but we’re glad Francesca’s enthusiasm and positivity helped make the experience enjoyable despite the rain.

Amazing day in Rome

Vanessa_R, Feb 2026

Tour was very informative and learned alot about the Roman Empire. Beautiful views and impressive to see the inside of the Colleseum.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Vanessa! Glad you had an amazing day and enjoyed learning about the Roman Empire and exploring the Colosseum. 🏛️✨

Educational

Christopher_O, Feb 2026

Very educational tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and also very enjoyable. Be prepared to walk. The tour was just the right amount of time in the right amount of walking.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Christopher! Glad you found the tour educational and enjoyable, and that the pace and walking felt just right.

Down the history lane

Bharath_T, Feb 2026

Fantastic experience. Daniel was awesome and very knowledgeable and gave us great history lessons 🙂. Will recommend this 100% to everyone.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks Bharath! So glad you enjoyed the tour and Daniel’s history lessons. 🏛️🙂 Appreciate the recommendation!

We had an excellent tour...

Elaine_I, Feb 2026

We had an excellent tour with Mirianna, she was very knowledgeable and brought things to life through interesting stories and facts. Very good value for money, would recommend.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Elaine, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and that Mirianna’s knowledge and storytelling made the experience memorable. 🏛️ We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Rome soon!

It a great way to learn...

Gene_K, Feb 2026

It a great way to learn about the Colliseum and the Forum. Our guide was excellent. The tour covered everything! Awesome.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Hi Gene! Thanks for the great review — we’re so happy you enjoyed the tour and that our guide helped bring the Colosseum and Forum to life. Awesome to hear you felt it covered everything! 🙌

We had a great time with...

Patti_C, Jan 2026

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you, Mary! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the Gothic Quarter and El Born, and that Darren made the tour fun and informative.

Nothing out of the ordinary

Robert_Z, Jan 2026

First winery was great but the second winery experience was bland. Would recommend taking the tour in the morning

Collosal Colloseum tour

Joyce_L, Jan 2026

Andrea was an excellent guide. He knew his history & archeology & imparted it to us a relatable way that made it fun. We were a little disappointed at not being able to go downstairs but he mired than compensated for it with the views he shared with us. The Roman Forum tour gave us the best information we è we get had as our g the Forum. Great experience!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you, Joyce! We’re delighted you enjoyed the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour with Andrea. We’re glad his knowledge and engaging style made the experience memorable, even with the limited access. 😊

Francesca - Top Notch

Deepak_S, Jan 2026

Francesca was our guide. She is an excellent and very knowledgeable guide who also took time to explain things in detail. It was raining pretty much during the entire tour, but it didn't deter her even a bit. I would highly recommend the tour if Francesca were leading it. I bought arena access but last minute it was cancelled and tour was downgraded to regular tour. Not sure if it is a gimmick and common occurrence with this company. My time in Italy was very busy, so I am yet to see what the appropriate amount for refund is for the downgrade.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you, Deepak! We’re glad you enjoyed Francesca’s guidance despite the rain—she truly is top-notch. We appreciate your feedback regarding the tour change and hope to make your next experience even better!

Highly recommend tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum

Doreen_B, Jan 2026

Absolutely fantastic tour. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful! Wonderfully done by Carpe Diem tours.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you, Doreen! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour—knowledgeable guidance and a well-run experience made it fantastic!

Amazing time!

Lauren_K, Jan 2026

Very engaging and the guide is so attentive and really takes care of the group! Skipping the line for both attractions was great. Can’t recommend enough.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you, Lauren! We’re thrilled you had an amazing time on the Colosseum and Ancient City tour—engaging guidance and skipping the lines made it extra special!

Learned a lot if history....

Raghu_A, Dec 2025

Learned a lot if history. The colosseum at night was fantastic and the tour was an amazing experience.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your review, Raghu! We’re glad you enjoyed the Colosseum at night and learned so much history. An amazing experience indeed! 🏛️✨

Wow

Gina_D, Dec 2025

Georgio, our tour guide, was well informed and interesting. During a few moments of free time, he didn’t mind answering questions about the history of Rome. There’s nothing he did not know about. The tour was fascinating. I would highly recommend it.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your review, Gina! We’re thrilled you found Georgio’s tour fascinating and enjoyed his knowledge and willingness to answer questions. Thanks for the high recommendation! 🏛️😊

Outstanding Colosseum Tour!

Johnathon_W, Dec 2025

Bring your walking shoes! This was an excellent tour but there is a lot of walking...uphill, downhill, up the stairs, down the stairs. Not recommended for people with difficulties walking as the part of the tour that takes you up and around Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum includes uphill climbs and stairs. Ivana was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. We were very impressed by her depth of knowledge. She made the history nerds in us very happy! 😂 There were a couple of difficult people on our tour but she managed the situation the best she could while also ensuring the rest of us received an enjoyable excursion.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, Johnathon! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour and that Ivana’s knowledge and friendly guidance made it so memorable. Glad the history nerds in your group were happy too!

Mariana Is the Best!

Ava_B, Dec 2025

Mariana was so wonderful and knowledgeable, also so full of jokes! Our small group of 7 was perfect. It seems that this tour operator works very closely with the actual Colosseum, as our guide knew all the staff and we were able to get through lines very quickly. Overall, a wonderful and immersive experience I would recommend to all 100 times over.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, Ava! We’re thrilled you had such a wonderful experience with Mariana and that the small group made it immersive and fun. We really appreciate your high recommendation!

Don’t be late

Christy_C, Dec 2025

I was late to the tour by 15 minutes because of traffic. I understood the tour leaving us but asked repeatedly for them to send me my tickets so we could go in on our own. They didn’t respond to the texts so basically I paid $225 for nothing.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating traffic delays can be. Our tours operate with timed tickets, and for security reasons, the Colosseum does not allow late arrivals to join once the tour has started. Unfortunately, we are also unable to issue tickets separately after the scheduled start time. To avoid this in the future, we kindly recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early. This ensures a smooth check-in and allows you to enjoy the tour fully, as the Colosseum enforces strict entry policies. We appreciate your understanding!

Great tour

Amber_L, Dec 2025

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Great history and information. Would definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and found your guide knowledgeable and friendly. We appreciate your recommendation!

Great Tour!

Dana_P, Dec 2025

Great tour - almost 3 hours long -but a great way to see everything and learn the history at the same time. Our tour guide, Mariana, was wonderful, funny and paced the tour well. She gave us time to wonder and take photos throughout the tour. Well worth it and efficient use of time to see so much.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, Dana! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour with Mariana and found it both informative and fun. Glad it was a great way to see everything!

Great Colosseum Tour!

Kelsey_W, Dec 2025

Evonna was a great tour guide during this amazing experience at one of the great wonders of the world. Very informative and engaging tour. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, Kelsey! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and Evonna’s guidance. Your recommendation is much appreciated!

Definitely pick this...

Kerry_D, Nov 2025

Definitely pick this tour! The arena floor upgrade is worth it - so cool to be on that level our tour guide E (I am not sure how to spell her name) was super knowledgeable and answered all our questions.