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Skip the Line: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

Roma, Italy
Likely to Sell Out

From $56.60

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
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Likely To Sell Out
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  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

    Why Travelers Choose This Tour

    Get the standard Colosseum experience with skip-the-line entry to the first two levels as well as the Forum.

    What's Included

    • Professional Expert guide
    • Skip-the-Line Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
    • Headsets to hear your guide clearly
    • Visit of the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
    • Fully guided visit of the Colosseum
    • Gratuities
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off

    Meeting And Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Largo Gaetana Agnesi
      Largo Gaetana Agnesi, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

      Meet your guide at Largo Gaetana Agnesi, on the little square above the metro line B (blue line) stop "Colosseo". Your guide coordinator will be waiting here wearing a blue City Wonders polo shirt or jacket for easy recognition.

    End point

    • Palatine Hill
      Palatine Hill, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

    What To Expect

    Your Ancient Rome tour starts near Oppian Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, for a view of the Colosseum. Then walk down to the arena with your guide, and skip the main entrance line with your fast-track ticket. Inside, explore the Colosseum’s first and second tiers while listening to stories from your guide about the brutal events that were once held here, like executions and gory gladiator battles. As you stroll around the perimeter of the amphitheater, try to image the ancient crowd of up to 50,000 spectators who cheered as gladiators’ fates were decided by power-hungry emperors.

    Next, exit the Colosseum and walk over to the Roman Forum, once the political heart of the city. Get an up-close view of ancient remains like the House of the Vestal Virgins and the Temple of Julius Caesar, and then walk up Palatine Hill for another perspective of the ruins, including Circus Maximus, where chariot races once took place. Your tour ends here, from where you can continue exploring on your own.

    Optional upgrade to the Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour: Arena Access in a Semi-Private Tour (3 hours)
    For a more thorough exploration of the Colosseum, in a smaller group format, select the upgrade option when booking for a tour that includes access to the arena floor —sections of the Colosseum that are not accessible to all ticket holders.

    This upgrade offers an exploration of the Arena Floor, which was the site of gladiatorial games, staged hunts featuring exotic animals, dramatic executions, and even simulated sea battles. You'll be amazed by the breathtaking view, have the opportunity to see the underground area where the spectacles were prepared, and get a glimpse of the location where the Emperor's box once stood. You’ll see more than most visitors do. Your tour ends with a visit to the Roman Forum, as described in the standard tour.

    Colosseum

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Palatine Hill

    1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

    Roman Forum

    30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tour
    • Italy’s tourist sites are among the most popular in the world. Skip the Line Access and careful planning limit our crowd exposure, but please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Please note that the itinerary for our tours may differ from the advertised order of destinations. We assure you that any changes made to the tour itinerary are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    See more

    Traveler Tips

    Book early in the day if travelling in summer as the temperatures rise, and often little shade.
    be aware that it is very hot during the summer time, take lots of water.
    Highly recommended, and plan to stay in the Forum and Palatine Hill after the tour ends, so bring snacks and water!

    Reviews

    4.5
    17,145 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 17,145 reviews
    Good Overall Tour
    Robert_S, Jun 2023
    Guide was very knowledgeable. Lots of ground to cover. You will be exhausted by the end. Bring water with you !
    Put on your walking shoes
    Edward_H, Jun 2023
    Put your walking shoes. The tour was over three hours. Very detailed tour of the Coliseum the Coliseum part was over 1.5 hours then off to the Forum. Great review of Roman history. The guide was very knowledgeable and wanted to be asked questions Place was packed Very hard to see on your own
    Total let down
    Jana_J, Jun 2023
    We arrived well on time to be told our tour was not happening! Was promised to get the money straight away- not in my account yet! We booked to go to Rome for a weekend and planned all well in advance to then be told on the day it’s not happening is very disappointing and ruined the whole trip! Money back for the excursion is not enough but should get refund for the wasted day! They double booked the tours and others from all over the world were exactly in our position. Awful company to ruin someone’s special city trip
    Great tour, knowledgeable guide.
    Terence_P, Jun 2023
    Superb tour with very knowledgeable guide, very crowded (as usual, apparently) however this did not distract from the quality of the tour and we got to see all we wanted to.
    Fantastic
    Cheryl_H, Jun 2023
    The forum was the most interesting to us. Unbelievable how they were able to construct it with the techniques and materials of the times.
    Don’t miss it!
    Talitha_D, Jun 2023
    A must do! We were beyond excited to go visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine hill so we had high hopes. Let me tell you, this tour blew every expectation we had out of the water!!! Ambra, our tour guide, was so knowledgeable and made the entire tour so fun. Pack a hat and a water bottle because it is SO HOT, but we had a great time thanks to Ambra. She was so patient with everyone and treated us all with so much respect. I’d do this tour again as long as Ambra was leading the charge!!
    Wow!
    Lynda_V, Jun 2023
    Patrick was amazing! Knowledgable, easy to understand, provided tips for our stay in Rome and answered all of our questions. This was by far the best tour we did.
    Excellent guide, fabulous time travel to Roman ages...
    Szami_C, Jun 2023
    Our guide was fantastic, informative but not overwhelming. His very kind personality and excellent English made it an unforgettable day for me and for my teenager kids!
    Awesome!
    Joseph_L, Jun 2023
    Guide is obviously a well-studied & well-spoken. She is to be highly commended. Never let her go! Tour is worth the price!
    Outstanding Experience
    Christine_C, Jun 2023
    Wonderful experience. Can’t imagine navigating this huge area without a guide. Silvia was such a great guide so knowledgeable (she’s an archaeologist herself) and truly loves Rome and it’s history. She was very accommodating even gave a young boy in our group the job of carrying our group flag. Gave us restaurant recommendations too. She got a big round of applause from our group for being such a delight.
    Our guide Carlo was very...
    Karen_M, Jun 2023
    Our guide Carlo was very knowledgeable and really brought the history to life for us. We loved the whole experience!
    Knowledgeable tour guide
    Kathryn_H, Jun 2023
    We really liked our tour guide, she was really knowledgeable and conducted the group well. Sometimes a few things were lost in translation with her English/accent. A good length of tour, we realised afterwards that we missed a huge chunk of the forums/hill, it would’ve been good to be able to return back again, as we finished in the colosseum.
    Our guide was very...
    Lisa_S, May 2023
    Our guide was very knowledgeable and made our tour interesting. Getting through the lines was great. Would recommend Viator tours.
    Knowledgeable tour guide
    KarenB, May 2023
    This should probably rate a 5 star but we were tired and it was in 80’s F in the sun. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, patient and understanding. We learned about the history surrounding the colosseum. It felt a bit long due to the crowds and heat
    Waste of money do it on your own
    Swami_N, May 2023
    This was a 20 minute tour no kidding Buy the the ticket and do it on your own as this tour does not provide any thing more
    Highly recommended
    Dan_R, May 2023
    Great guide! The background info and pictures were crucial to understanding (and even finding) the historic ruins
    Highly Recommend Sabrina and the Rest of the Crew
    McKinley_P, May 2023
    Sabrina did a fantastic job through the whole tour. It was crowded but she made sure everyone stayed together and engaged. She has great knowledge of the history of Ancient Rome and also knows the best picture spots. We had a great time
    Great tour!
    Abigail_O, May 2023
    Was so glad I booked this tour when I saw the line to enter the colosseum! The guide was very knowledgeable and made our trip super easy and stress free. Loved it, would recommend!
    Not worth the money, could be better
    Ganesh_M, May 2023
    We started 15min late and ended 15min early. 1st hour of tour with our guide Barbara, was great 👌 . There's still lot to cover, felt like rushed up in the last 1hr, missed few places, we got 50% of our money worth out of this tour.
    Very good, historical tour
    Joann_K, May 2023
    Our family of 5 (adults) really enjoyed this tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, providing great insight to the history of these sites, referencing what had been found on archeological digs and historical records. She took time to answer questions. We also appreciated the guide showing pictures of what the structures probably looked like in their time. Would recommend this tour. It is a lot of walking, including steps.
    Short staffed
    Michelle_C, May 2023
    Tour guide was exceptional. However we were with 34 people. It was very hard to see and understand the guide with this many people. We also did not skip any lines. There was a lengthy line for both the colosseum and forum entrance. Two gentleman came to our group in line and separated people to get into the colosseum due to tour guides not showing up. Several families were asked to split up to get in and were unhappy. They did explain inside they would be reunited. It made the situation awkward for everyone. The leader of the guides announced that we would get a partial refund but we haven’t yet.
    Great tour!
    Thomas_H, May 2023
    Group size was 11. Our tour guide Micaela was informative, interesting and easy to understand. This tour is a must do when in Rome! Book with confidence.
    A little repetitive
    Olga_R, May 2023
    I felt like this tour over explained every single detail and was a little repetitive. It felt like the tour guide was simply trying to fill the 3 hour time slot. However, being inside the colosseum was amazing.
    Very knowledgeable
    sylviaphom, May 2023
    Eddy is a great guide. As a PHD in Archaeology with direct experience excavating at the colosseum site, he is very knowledgeable and passionate about his job. Highly recommend the tour.
    Bad experience
    Shaqaeq_Q, May 2023
    The tour company despite being well aware of the events around the city (road closures etc) decided to still keep the activity going. We were originally booked in the morning but we were asked to either reschedule to 3pm or cancel. Tour started at 3:15 across the street from the Colosseo and we were stuck in the masses until at least 3:45pm (just to cross the street).
    Coliseum, Roman forum and Hill
    Brenda_L, May 2023
    Our tour guide Emiliano?, was fantastic! Very knowledgeable about Roman and post Roman culture. Did a great job guiding us with all of the bike race traffic and road closures. Very easy to understand and would highly recommend.
    Good, but Average
    Brittney_D, May 2023
    It’s what you expect from a typical Skip the Line tour of a big site like the Colosseum. Group of about 20 people, headset to hear the guide, stops at the places where you want to take pictures, history/background provided. It was good, but average.
    Bad customer service
    Joshua_S, May 2023
    I was having a medical issue and was late. The company offered no sympathy or attempt to accommodate me. I could not be more upset about their response. Terrible customer service that does not care about their customers. Very upsetting
    Viator messed up our day.
    Barry_b, May 2023
    booked this tour for 8 people. one week prior we changed the tour from 8 people to 6 people. when we showed up viator changed our date. the trip was for May 27th my Birthday. trip was only supposed to move from 8 people to 6 but in addition they moved the trip from May 27th to july 27. and there was no opening to fit us in on the 27th.
    Best of the Best
    Joseph_H, May 2023
    No question that with an excellent guide you will have an excellent experience. Emanuela was that guide. Personal...very knowledgeable.. good listener.. willing to take time to explain...good sense of humor and of the real spirit of Rome
    ...

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