Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Step onto the arena floor like a gladiator when you take this exclusive tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Your friendly professional guide will take you and your small group through the special gladiator gate entrance to stand directly on the arena floor. Here, you will get to feel what it's like to look up at the stadium the way gladiators would on the day of battle. After learning about the daily lives and fighting styles of the gladiators your guide will take you up to the next level so you can see the arena from the view of the excited spectators, where you will learn all about the games and the emperors who hosted them. Your guide will also take you to the Roman Forum, the city center of ancient Rome with it's temples and government offices. From here you'll go up to the Palatine Hill to hear your guide tell stories of the emperors as you walk through the palaces they built and lived in.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
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‘s Included
Entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Headsets for groups when appropriate
Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person)
Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
Access to Arena floor
Expert Certified Guide
Transport to/from meeting point.
Food and Drink
Gratuities
What To Expect
Foro Romano
Take in the oldest part of Rome when you visit the Roman Forum to see the government buildings, temples and ancient roads that were home to daily life in Ancient Rome. Pass by the senate house, the temple of the Vestal Virgins and the Temple of Julius Caesar where his ashes were laid to rest. Walk on the road built by Emperor Augustus and marvel at the beautiful ruins that can still be seen today.
Palatine Hill
Make your way from the forum up to the Palatine Hill where Emperors built their palaces. Once home to the founder of Rome, Romulus, the Palatine Hill is where Rome originates. Throughout Roman history emperors were born and died on this hill. Many of them built grand homes we call palaces thanks to the name of the hill. You will walk through the ruins of these palaces as your guide tells you the entertaining stories of the emperors and the history of Rome. You will even get a peak at the Circus Maximus, the stadium where chariot races were held, as well as Emperor Domitian's own private stadium on top of the Palatine Hill.
Options
VIP Small Afternoon Tour
Extra Small Group : With a maximum of 9 adults (+ accompanying children) this is as close to a private experience we offer as a group tour option
Colosseum, Forum & Palatine: You'll be able to ask our guide questions specific to your interests in our small group
Mid-Size Colosseum Arena Floor
Mid-size group : This is a tour with a maximum of 20 people.
Premier VIP Emperors Tour
Extended Tour of Imperial Rome: After visiting the Arena Floor of the Colosseum, visit the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Imperial Forums of the Emperors
Premier VIP: With a small group of maximum 6 people, you will have the full attention of your expert tour guide for your entire tour.
Duration: 4 hours: The tour will last 3.5 to 4 hours depending upon the pace of the group.
Colosseum and Imperial Rome: Visit the Arena Floor of the Colosseum as well as the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and the Imperial Forums of the emperors.
Ages 12 and Up Only please: Due to the duration of the tour and the route, the minimum age is 12 yrs, the tour is not suitable for strollers.
VIP Winter in Rome
Special Small Group Tour : This VIP tour has a maximum of 10 people and timing that is optimal for the short, cooler winter days in Rome.
Small Group Arena Floor Access
Beat the Roman Heat: Tour route is designed to keep you cool by entering the Colosseum and Roman Forum/Palatine Hill at the optimal times of day.
Small Group Arena Floor Access
VIP Extra Small Group Tour
VIP Extra Small Group: With a maximum of 5 people on this tour, you are sure to get the extra VIP treatment in the form of a tiny group tour.
Duration: 3 hours
Colosseum, Forum, Palatine: The order of the sites visited on the tour will vary based on time and date booked.
December at the Colosseum
Low Season Access: Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and fewer crowds to get this special Decamber tour
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: With fewer crowds, take advantage of seeing more sites in less time.
VIP Early Bird Exclusive
VIP Very Small Group Tour: With a maximum of 9 adults (+ accompanying children) this is as close to a private experience we offer as a group tour option
Prime time Colosseum: Ask the questions you've always wondered about in this small group, and don't get lost in a crowd
Be a Gladiator
Large Group Discount Arena
Large Group Tour Arena Access: Maximum 30 people in the group.
Reviews
579 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Do yourself a favor and take this tour!
lauren p,
Jul 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00Angela was a gem of a tour guide. She has an art background and a clear love of architecture, history, and beautiful buildings. She had a wide knowledge of history and made this tour informative and entertaining - it’s a must do if you’re going to be in Rome!
Amazing Staff, Amazing Experience!
Callie C,
Jul 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00First of all, the Roman Vacations staff is incredible! We had no idea how long it would take to get to the meeting spot and we thought we were going to miss our tour. Fortunately, the staff worked with us and let us meet them at the Colosseum instead of their office. We were able to get in and not miss our tour! After our tour of the Roman Forum, my friend was feeling faint and started showing signs of a heat stroke. Angela, our tour guide and also one of the owners, was incredible in helping us take care of her and get her medical attention. She was so caring and thoughtful, but also attentive to the rest of the group’s needs, making sure we got in for our Colosseum ticket time before we missed the time slot. Beyond just being great people, the tour was incredible. Angela was incredibly knowledgeable and very humorous. I learned a lot from the tour and would absolutely recommend this company to anyone who iOS looking for a Colosseum tour!
Guide was very...
Chauncey B,
Jul 2, 2025
- Viator
3.00The guide was knowledgeable, but he struggled to connect with the group. It often appeared that he was lecturing or engaged in self-talk.
Secrets to the Success of the Roman Empire
Martha B,
Jun 24, 2025
- Viator
5.00The weather was very hot and the walking raather demanding. SO take water with you and wear good walking shoes. Our tour guide, Benjamin(?) was very knowledgeable. He went into todetail on the history and the engineering of the Roman Empire. I was amazed at the similarities of their organization: using Government Departments to manage various aspect of life. The mausoleums were fascinating.
Strenuous excursion
Christina P,
Jun 22, 2025
- Viator
4.00Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The tour itself was very long, it includes walking around the Palantine hill. There are lots of stairs and hills and rocky terrain. So you will be walking a lot and in the heat of summer can be very challenging. I do think they should label this excursion as strenuous. My parents and another elderly couple were exhausted!
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Operated by Roman Vacations