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 match the names on their ID. The Colosseum requires all guests (including children) to present government ID at the time of entry. Therefore any guest that does not submit their name in advance of the tour, or who does not bring their ID to the meeting point, will be refused participation without refund.
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. If you want to enter through the legendary Gladiator's Gate and walk directly onto the arena floor, select the Gladiator's Gate Group Tour option at time of booking. Short on time? The Arena Express option offers a streamlined experience with a guided tour of the Colosseum arena floor and the Roman Forum. While the Colosseum Express option includes a guided tour of the Colosseum's first and second tiers (no arena floor) and the flexibility to explore the Forum on your own afterward.
If option with the guided Roman Forum selected: 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
Gladiator’s Gate tour option : Special access to Colosseum Arena Floor
Colosseum entrance ticket (Full Experience Ticket €24)
Headset (groups over 6 people)
Ticket for Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Note: Colosseum fees are as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services
VIP Caesar & Colosseum tour option: Access to Roman Forum SUPER Sites
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Options
Private - Gladiator's Gate
Duration: 3 hours: Join a private Colosseum tour, exploring the Gladiator's Gate, amphitheater, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
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.
Arena Express Tour
Duration: 2 hours with Forum & Palatine Terrace: Guided tour of Arena Floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Terrace. Does NOT include upper levels of Colosseum or Palatine Hill.
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.
Reviews
4,095 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Arena floor express tour
Linda L,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It would have been helpful if Viator had put the tour operator info in our booking detail. Without that it made our ability to locate our guide and his team a bit challenging. But we did connect. We had a very Detailed overview of coliseum from perspective of arena floor. Learned lots of history of the culture at the time of this magnificent facility. Our guide was a historian so he had great information to share. After the coliseum we walked to the entrance of the forum where we got a short introduction before he left us (group of 6) to explore on our own. The experience was supposed to be 3 hrs but was closer to 2.5.
Exceptional tour!
Kathleen M,May 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wow! The tour was amazing as was our guide Amber. She was extremely knowledgeable, charming and patient. We would recommend her to friends planning a trip to Rome.
Fantastic tour!
NICOLA G,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such a great tour and Kylie our guide was so incredibly knowledgable. Despite the biblical rain that decided to arrive halfway round the tour, Kylie handled this with grace and humour and despite us all being soaking wet, she kept spirits high. I can’t recommend enough that going somewhere like this, you need a guide - there’s so much you can’t comprehend or understand without their expert knowledge. Loved it!
Very interesting tour
Andrea M,May 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Tour was very well organised and easy to find meeting point. Eddy was super knowledgeable and very passionate about his craft and Rome, we learnt a lot
Diabolical
Dawn C,May 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Absolute diabolical service from Viatour. We arrived at the meeting point. It was a restaurant. Didn't see a guide. We ran around for 2 hours. We missed the tour because we didn't get the correct information
The guide provided a lot...
PHILIP H,May 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The guide provided a lot of historical details during long stops on the tour. However while walking there was little time to see and take pictures of the many interesting ancient structures. On one occasion the guide did not know we had been left behind and we had to negotiate our own way through the Forum security. We would have preferred shorter stops with a little less information and a slower walk between the stops.
Wow
Donna P,May 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Lily was outstanding! My only regret was that we did not do this tour on day 1 in Rome. The history, culture and geography put everything else in Rome in perspective. Lily's descriptions and analogies really brought the Colosseum to life.
Coliseum tour
Dreamer699334,May 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nicola was an exceptional guide . He made the tour very interesting. He definitely knowes Roman history and it’s obvious how much he enjoys and loves it
Outstanding mix of history and raw experience
Stephen J,May 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a busy busy place but with headset and very knowledgeable guide who negotiated the people with expertise it was a stunning introduction to the greatness of the Roman Coliseum
Free history lecture
james m,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We were treated to an extended history of the use of the arena during our walking tour that was very thorough though the ear pieces had a tendency to echo which prevented us from hearing some of the info.
From €59.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain