Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Get a gladiator’s view of the Colosseum, then explore the Roman Forum on a walking tour through the heart of ancient Rome. With special access ticket, you'll enter the arena via the Gladiator’s Gate, stand where gladiators once fought, hear tales of ruthless crowds and emperors, then explore the Colosseum’s first and second levels with your guide. Finish with a tour of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with even more stories that bring the ruins to life.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
A government-issued ID or passport is required for all participants. Without an ID, security may deny entry to the monument. All guests, including children, must bring ID on tour day.
The Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill may close occasionally. We'll notify you of any changes in advance if possible. For last-minute closures, updates will be given at the start of the tour.
Walks is an Official Parco Archeologico del Colosseo Operator approved to lead guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill.
Please note: This tour offers different options to help you customize your visit to the Colosseum. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Colosseum
Meet your guide near the formidable hulk of the Colosseum, the gigantic arena that drew Romans of all walks of life to watch violent fights between gladiators and beasts. Bypass the crowds and head straight inside, entering the Colosseum through a special gate once used by gladiators themselves. Walk right onto the arena floor—an area not usually accessible to the public—and learn about the harrowing events that took place here for entertainment's sake centuries ago. 9 AM tour only: Join a small group of maximum eight guests for an intimate and personalized journey through history.
The adventure continues at the Roman Forum. You’ll appreciate having a historian as a guide here. As you wander the streets, they can make sense of the ruins for you, pointing out the subtle differences that reveal whether the structure is a moneylender’s shop, public bath, or any number of common ancient structures. Learn what life was like in the days of Caesar, Nero, and Hadrian, and how Roman society functioned.
What‘s Included
Local English-speaking guide
Small group of 16 guests maximum
Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person)
Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
If VIP Caesar & Colosseum option selected: Visit the incredible Roman Forum SUPER Sites.
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Options
Gladiator's Gate Group Tour
Duration: 3 hours
with Forum & Palatine Hill: Enjoy a fully guided tour of the Colosseum, Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in a small group.
Colosseum Express Tour
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
with Forum tickets: Enjoy a guided Colosseum tour and receive Forum tickets to discover it at your leisure. The tour DOES NOT include Arena Floor
VIP Caesar Palace & Colosseum
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
with Colosseum & Roman Forum : Experience Ancient Rome like a VIP with the Colosseum SUPER Sites access. Pls note: this option DOES NOT include Arena Floor.
Arena Express Tour
Duration: 2 hours
with Forum & Palatine Hill: Enjoy a fully guided tour of Arena Floor, Forum & Palatine Hill. The tour DOES NOT include the upper levels of the Colosseum.
Private - Gladiator's Gate
Duration: 3 hours: Join a private Colosseum tour, exploring the Gladiator's Gate, amphitheater, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Reviews
4,066 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Poor communication
Mitzie W,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00The communication was very poor. We were given the street address as to where to meet without telling us that in Rome the address is written on the building. We were dropped off by our taxi and had no idea where exactly to be to meet our guide. We were not given a specific site like in front of the cafe that would have been helpful to find our guide.
Our guide, Davide, was...
Lucy G,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide, Davide, was very knowledgeable and also very engaging. He made sure we saw all of the key sites and gave us information fitting to our family group of parents and teens. He gave us a very good feel for the historic area we were looking at and life in Roman times. We throughly enjoyed our tour and were able to stay in the Palatine/Forum area exploring further once the tour had finished which we enjoyed.
A FANTASTIC experience with Emily!
Susan B,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I wasn’t sure we would all be captivated by a 3-hour tour, but each one of us was thrilled with the experience! Emily was a phenomenal guide; she explained the history of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in a concise, readily understandable manner, and she was able to answer all of our questions in depth. The places themselves are awe-inspiring, but without Emily’s guidance, we really wouldn’t have appreciated the significance of all these ruins. Additionally, I would caution visitors about the lines/crowds. Even at the end of March, it was crowded. With Emily, we were able to bypass the lines and saved sooo much time. Definitely bring refillable water bottles, since there are so many places to get water. Huge thanks to Emily for sharing her vast knowledge and good spirit with us!
A must do especially in the off season
Ashley D,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Frankie was great! The meeting location was a little hard to discern, but look for other people standing around and it’s probably your group! We had a relatively small group so things moved along at a good pace. We enjoyed our tour. The colosseum is a must see and having access to the arena floor (we heard it’s unbearable heat during the summer months so don’t waste your money) was amazing. So much history and unbelievable brutality, but a wonder of a structure
Great concise tour for families
Amy L,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was Siri and she was engaging and did a great job of summarizing so much history in the short duration of the tour. We could tell that she wanted to elaborate more, but she kept us moving to stay on schedule. The Gladiator’s Gate and arena floor was very interesting and memorable to experience. Note that this particular tour does not include access to any of the higher (or lower) levels of the Colisseum, just the main arena floor. We spent about half the time there and around the outside of the Colosseum, and the remainder in the Forum & Palatine Hill, which was also fascinating to see and hear Siri’s stories about some of the ruins therein. You could certainly spend lots more time in these sites, but we found this tour to be ideal length to keep our kids interested.
Must have a guide!
Escape785246,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome Guide! Can’t say enough good things about he presented the history. Super knowledgeable. The only way to experience Rome.
Great experienve
Sterna V,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Just the right amount of time to learn a lot, and the guide was knowledgeable. we liked the smaller group
This trip exceeded our...
Linda M,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This trip exceeded our expectations- Fabio not only shared his great knowledge of the Roman period but he brought the Colosseum & Roman Forum to life with charm , enthusiasm & humour . Would highly recommend!
Guided tour of Colloseum...
Elke V,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Guided tour of Colloseum and Forum Romanum with Fabio is the perfect way to get to know everything and see the nicest locations there. His humour and the way he submerges you in the Roman times, adds to the already stunnishing scenery. This guy knows everything! Would definitaly recommomend his tour!!
Colosseum tour
Linda H,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Informative, guide spoke good English and the ear phones were a perfect way to hear everything. Nice pace, plenty of time to take photos. Length of tour was perfect for us and good size small group.
From €69.00
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