Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour in Rome, Rome

4.9 (17 reviews)
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Marissa
Marissa P.
Apr 18, 2024
The tour was worth every single cent! We learned a lot and was blown away with how grand the Colosseum and Forums were. Lorenzo was amazing... Read more
S
Susan K.
Oct 23, 2023
This tour was really good, although it was very crowded. The tour guides explained this was due to a lot of pent-up travel demand because of... Read more
Robert
Robert T.
Oct 05, 2023
Excellent tour with Antonella . She showed us so many interesting things and avoided all the crowds. Great time.
T
Tina A.
Jul 29, 2023
Great tour, great stories but it was just hot hot hot!
Melinda
Melinda F.
Jul 12, 2023
Chiara was our guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum and she did an amazing job! Our tour included the underground of the Colosseum, which was... Read more
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Overview

Discover the icon of Ancient Rome, the famous Colosseum that still ranks as the largest amphitheater globally. We recommend taking a VIP tour or buying a special ticket to bypass the long lines and access lesser-known areas of the historic site, gaining entrance to places that few tourists visit. Besides the typical areas of the Colosseum, you’ll also walk on the arena floor and explore the underground dungeons.

If you opt for a tour, you'll meet your guide outside the Colosseum, completed in the year 80 CE. Once inside, a custodian will open locked gates and lead you onto the arena floor. Follow the steps of brave gladiators who engaged in combat almost two thousand years ago, and imagine what it's like to have 80,000 spectators screaming your name!

Next, you'll descend beneath the Colosseum and explore the labyrinth of dungeons and preparation rooms. These areas provided space where gladiators dressed for battle and caged beasts waited for release onto the arena floor. There are even mechanical elevators that raised participants through trap doors into the arena!

After an unforgettable experience into the depths of the Colosseum, you'll follow your guide to Palatine Hill, the centermost of Rome's seven hills. The area was once an exclusive neighborhood for political leaders and emperors. Walk around and observe the ruins of imperial palaces and savor the views of Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum below.

The Roman Forum, the center of Roman political life in its heyday, marks your final stop. This area was an ancient public marketplace and general agora (gathering place). Today, it’s filled with the ruins of government buildings, temples, basilicas, and more. Follow your guide through the ancient grounds along Via Sacra, where you'll pass the Arch of Titus and the temples of Vesta, Antonino, and Faustina. You’ll also view the Basilica Julia, a public meeting house commissioned by Julius Caesar.

Read more about unique activities in Rome and interesting historical experiences in Italy.

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Traveler reviews

17 total ratings, 13 with reviews
4.9
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
4.7
Marissa
Marissa P.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 18, 2024
The tour was worth every single cent! We learned a lot and was blown away with how grand the Colosseum and Forums were. Lorenzo was amazing and he knew exactly where to guide us to keep us comfortable, in the shade and where to get the best photos. Love that the group was small so we could bypass the bigger lines and go through the areas efficiently. Read more

The tour was worth every single cent! We learned a lot and was blown away with how grand the Colosseum and Forums were.

Lorenzo was amazing and he knew exactly where to guide us to keep us comfortable, in the shade and where to get the best photos.

Love that the group was small so we could bypass the bigger lines and go through the areas efficiently.

Tips for future travelers

DO the trip early in the day, less crowds

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
S
Susan K.
Chico, CA | Reviewed on Oct 23, 2023
This tour was really good, although it was very crowded. The tour guides explained this was due to a lot of pent-up travel demand because of COVID. Read more

This tour was really good, although it was very crowded. The tour guides explained this was due to a lot of pent-up travel demand because of COVID.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Robert
Robert T.
Hopatcong Hills, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2023
Excellent tour with Antonella . She showed us so many interesting things and avoided all the crowds. Great time. Read more

Excellent tour with Antonella . She showed us so many interesting things and avoided all the crowds. Great time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
T
Tina A.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2023
Great tour, great stories but it was just hot hot hot! Read more

Great tour, great stories but it was just hot hot hot!

Tips for future travelers

Book the coliseum in the summer for the first time slot to get away from the heat. We had to scrap climbing Palatine hill because it was just too hot and we were too tired.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
tour guide knew his stuff and made it very interesting.
Transport
Melinda
Melinda F.
Herriman, UT | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2023
Chiara was our guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum and she did an amazing job! Our tour included the underground of the Colosseum, which was fascinating. Chiara was able to maneuver us through the crowds with ease. She helped us to understand the history and archaeology of the area while keeping us engaged and entertained. Read more

Chiara was our guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum and she did an amazing job! Our tour included the underground of the Colosseum, which was fascinating. Chiara was able to maneuver us through the crowds with ease. She helped us to understand the history and archaeology of the area while keeping us engaged and entertained.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure to take a water bottle! Rome in June is hot. There are fountains in the Roman Forum where you can refill your water bottles with fresh water.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chiara was fantastic!
Transport
N/A. Hotel was close enough we could walk to the tour.
L
Linda C.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 09, 2023
Highly recommend this tour - we didn’t have to line up for hours to get in, and we went to the underground part where the gladiators and anime were kept. The history behind the Colosseum was absolutely fascinating and the tour guide’s explanation was exceptional.
Our second tour guide was amazing as well, explaining so much of Roman history during the walking tour around the Forum. Read more

Highly recommend this tour - we didn’t have to line up for hours to get in, and we went to the underground part where the gladiators and anime were kept. The history behind the Colosseum was absolutely fascinating and the tour guide’s explanation was exceptional.
Our second tour guide was amazing as well, explaining so much of Roman history during the walking tour around the Forum.

Tips for future travelers

Bring water - it was 34*C and sunny. The tour took about 3 1/2 hours, so it’s important to keep hydrated.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
J
Judy W.
Leominster, MA | Reviewed on May 11, 2023
Really enjoyed this tour, and our guide was fantastic. It was amazing to go into the bottom level of the Colosseum. Read more

Really enjoyed this tour, and our guide was fantastic. It was amazing to go into the bottom level of the Colosseum.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hikaru
Hikaru P.
Hastings, MN | Reviewed on Mar 19, 2023
Wow, the inside of Colosseum was facinating beyond our imagination. There was so much to learn about Roman Forum, too. We feel so lucky to have done this tour with Sabrina. Her explanation painted vividly how the lives in Colosseum and the Forum might have been. Read more

Wow, the inside of Colosseum was facinating beyond our imagination. There was so much to learn about Roman Forum, too. We feel so lucky to have done this tour with Sabrina. Her explanation painted vividly how the lives in Colosseum and the Forum might have been.

Tips for future travelers

For us, having a detailed map of the Forum in hand would have been helpful to plan our walk after the tour ended.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sabrina with LivTours was fantastic!!
Leah
Leah P.
Novi, MI | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2022
Spectacular. Our guide, Josie, was so great. Can’t say enough good things about her character and knowledge - we loved the experience. Read more

Spectacular. Our guide, Josie, was so great. Can’t say enough good things about her character and knowledge - we loved the experience.

Tips for future travelers

DO THE SMALL GROUP TOUR WITH SPECIAL ACCESS - VERY WORTH IT

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quick walk from our hotel.
Nicole
Nicole L.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2022
Excellent. A must do! Our tour guide Juicey was amazing! Wear very comfortable shoes and be prepared for weather. Read more

Excellent. A must do! Our tour guide Juicey was amazing!

Wear very comfortable shoes and be prepared for weather.

Tips for future travelers

This tour isn’t appropriate for People with mobility issues. A lot of walking. Wear your most comfortable shoes.

Quality of Experience
Easy to find out tour guide. Excellent information.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Professional and pleasant.
Transport
We walked to and from this tour from our hotel.

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