VIP Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Step back in time on our expertly guided tour of Ancient Rome’s iconic sites: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. With faster access, the comfort of a small group, and insights from an expert guide, this best-value experience offers a deep dive into the Eternal City’s past, all in just 3 unforgettable hours.
Your adventure begins inside the Colosseum, where you'll hear stories of gladiators, emperors, and ancient engineering marvels. You’ll get answers to your questions, plus enjoy sweeping views from above the arena that most visitors miss.
Next, we’ll head up Palatine Hill, the mythical birthplace of Rome and home to its grandest imperial palaces. Then descend into the Roman Forum, once the bustling heart of Roman politics and daily life.
With a streamlined itinerary and small group size, this tour offers comfort, insight, and unbeatable value. Spots are limited! Book now to experience Ancient Rome like never before.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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)
What To Expect
Colosseum
Retrace the steps of the gladiators, accompanied by engaging stories from your expert guide. Learn about the social status of spectators, the norms of ancient entertainment, and the gladiatorial games that captivated audiences. Your guide’s storytelling will bring the monument to life. Please note: we may begin with the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, depending on ticket availability.
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is one of Rome’s most important and beautiful hills and is a highlight of any city tour. With your guide, explore the birthplace of one of history’s greatest civilizations and the ancient ruins of the Imperial Palace, surrounded by pine trees and views of the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum below.
What‘s Included
Colosseum entry ticket and reservation fee included (€18–€24 value)
Admission to the Colosseum Arena Floor (if option selected)
Personalised, group experience offering top-rated value and comfort
Expert storytelling from a licensed historian guide with headphones provided
Admission to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum (if option selected)
Access to the arena floor (unless selected, available for an additional fee)
Food and Beverages
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Options
VIP Colosseum Tour
Small Group Colosseum tour with a maximum of 12 people and visits to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Duration: 3 hours
Small Group Arena Tour
Small Group Colosseum Arena experience for up to 12 guests with Palatine Hill and Roman Forum included tour.
Colosseum Tour
Colosseum tour with an expert guide. Includes the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Duration: 3 hours
Colosseum Arena Tour
Colosseum tour with Arena Floor access, expert guide, and visits to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Duration: 3 hours
Reviews
1,641 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Disappointed and frustrated
Daniel S,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Definitely not a tour for folks with mobility or hearing issues, but also not a tour for anyone who wants to learn anything. Our tour guide tried to be accommodating (maybe?) but drew unnecessary attention to how slow we were moving because of one member of my family - to the point where it felt rude and almost aggressive. She over explained where the elevator was and over explained the group that we had to wait because some folks needed to use the elevator. No one in the group minded nearly as much as the guide. She spoke way too fast, was very difficult to understand (not her accent but the way she never once took a breath and one thought streamed into another without any transition). We ended up leaving the tour early and once we handed in our radios everyone else in our group did too. The majority of folks weren’t able to gain anything from the lectures because her talking points were so disorganized. I think I would have learned more if I had just walked with a decent guidebook on my own. It was nice to skip the line (which was spoiled by being aggressively adamant about timing - including blaming my family member for us being 1 minute late to the security guard). Skipping the line to colosseum was included but we did not skip the line for the Roman forum. When standing in the hot sun in line for the Roman forum my family member needed to sit down, taking a spot on the wall maybe 10 feet from where our group was. The guide was adamant that they had to stand with us in line, to the point that even the folks not in our family were annoyed with her. Another family kept reassuring us that they didn’t mind moving slowly and expressed similar frustration with the way she was treating my family member. Would not do it again and would not recommend.
The individual guide makes all the difference
Elle P,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Excellent communication regarding where to meet. Who leads your tour can make or break it. I cannot recommend Aurora. You want a guide who is passionate about the topic AND can communicate clearly, succinctly and in an organized way, not repeating themselves. On our 10 days in Italy we had only two guides who had way more words than value.
Great tour but no colosseum floor
mad175,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job with our tour. Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum were just as impressive as the colosseum. We were also able to enter areas not accessible to the general public. My one disappointment was that the tour did not include the colosseum arena floor even though I selected this option. And this option was confirmed when we were asked to make a slight change to the tour starting time.
Our tour with Ivanna was...
Briauna G,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour with Ivanna was very informative and fun! She has a great personality and made the experience a great one. Very easy to find the meeting point as well. Would recommend!
Our guide Francesca was...
Aidan D,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Francesca was an experienced archaeologist who new everything there was too know about the coliseum and the Roman forum.
Information packed tour!
Cathy M,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great three hours with Francesca. Dress cool and bring water and comfortable shoes and a hat! And then be prepared to learn so so so much about Roman history! Absolutely fascinating!
Highly recommend
anita r,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Highly recommend this tour if you’re interested in learning about the history behind each location. The tour guide was amazing, she was so knowledgeable and made sure we made it to all three places in a timely manner without feeling rushed.
These are must see places...
Andrew R,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00These are must see places in Rome. As a first time visitor, we lucked out to have Ivana as our tour guide!! She was an amazing story teller and weaved the history and politics and vision of the past into the tour that made it very understandable. I learned so much and really appreciated her knowledge and skill in recounting it all!!
Colosseum
Billy S,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our trip was fantastic, our carpe diem guude was wonderful, experienced and knowledgeable, very nice and she made the experience very enjoyable.
Rude and disorganized
Monica R,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00My husband and I showed up for the chore five minutes early. My own fault, I forgot my photo ID so said I would get the five minute taxi ride back to the hotel and get it while my husband stayed with the group. The tour, God rudely told me there was no time and it was starting right then. So I told my husband no problem I would just hang around outside until they got back from the tour. At 9:45 my husband messages me and tells me the tour had not even started yet because people were late. I would have had plenty of time to go get my passport and return in time to take in the tour. Then the tour guide told him if I went and got my passport what door to go to and he would send the ticket and I could meet them. So I took the taxi to the hotel and then the taxi back and when my husband told him I was back, he refused to send the PDF for me to get in because he said it was too late. So it was a complete waste of money and the tour guide was completely rude and not only did I waste money on the experience itself. I also wasted money on a taxi to and from the hotel when I was told that would be no problem. Although it was my fault, I forgot my ID. It did start 45 minutes late and I would’ve had plenty of time to get back. I found the tour guide completely rude and would not suggest this tour I would go with another.
From €59.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Carpe Diem Tours