Tour Details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Photos & Highlights
- Connect with the myths and legends of the Ancient Roman Empire, while creating unforgettable memories with your family.
- Explore the Colosseum and nearby sites with a knowledgeable guide who brings history to life through engaging stories and interactive activities.
Tour Description
How often do you think about Ancient Rome? As you embark on this two-and-a-half-hour journey, you’ll follow in the footsteps of Roman Gladiators, offering you and your kids a chance to explore one of the world's greatest wonders together.
Your adventure is hosted by a knowledgeable and engaging scholar, trained to bring history to life. As you wander through the colossal structure, your guide will share fascinating facts, engaging stories, and interactive activities. This isn't just a history lesson; it's a journey back in time to the era of emperors and myths, where you and your children will learn and laugh in equal measure.
But the journey doesn't end there. You'll move into the archaeological heart of Rome, tracing the steps of Romulus and Remus, and immersing yourselves in the lives of Roman citizens. If the tales of gladiators intrigue you, a visit to the exterior of Ludus Magnus awaits. Here, at this ancient gladiator school, you'll uncover secrets of their lives and training, imagining the thrill as they once entered the Colosseum through an underground tunnel.
Your experience continues through Via Sacra, once the bustling main street of ancient Rome, and into the Roman Forum. As you stroll through this historic center of social and political life, the stories of the past will echo around you, painting a vivid picture of ancient Rome's glory.
This tour is more than just a sightseeing trip; it's a hands-on, interactive experience that will leave your family with lasting memories and a deep appreciation for one of history's most influential empires. It's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, a chance to walk in the footsteps of history with your loved ones, creating unforgettable family memories in the eternal city of Rome.
Experts
You're seeking to…
- Enjoy a personalized experience: Suitable for families preferring a tailored conversation that caters to personal interests and paces, ensuring a more intimate and focused exploration of this iconic venue.
- Connect with Ancient Roman History: If you're keen on understanding the Colosseum not just as a tourist, but through the eyes of a local historian, offering insights beyond the usual guidebooks.
- Colosseum - Did you know that this arena once held up to 80,000 spectators? This architectural marvel of ancient Rome was not only a venue for gladiatorial contests but also for public spectacles like mock sea battles, animal hunts, and dramas based on classical mythology.
- Roman Forum - Once the epicenter of Roman public life, hosting triumphal processions, elections, public speeches, and criminal trials.
Tickets
- Includes skip-the-line access tickets to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
- Our special skip-the-line tickets will get us to a fast lane, where our group will have to stand in line due to security measures and a strictly enforced maximum capacity at the Colosseum.
- Upon receiving your order, our team will secure a guide. Once the venue tickets are released, we will purchase them. Our team will be in touch with alternative options if we cannot secure tickets for the date and time you requested.
Headsets
- Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order.
Resources
- For more information on planning your tour, take a read through our How to Tour the Colosseum resources page.
- Check out our upcoming online lectures which transport you back to Ancient Rome, accompanied by a leading Context Expert.
General Information
- This tour is expertly crafted to captivate children aged 3 to 13, offering a fun and interactive exploration of the Colosseum.
- To enhance your family's experience, we kindly request details about your children's interests. This information will help us pair you with a guide who is most suited to your family's unique preferences and needs, ensuring a personalized and memorable tour.
- For those traveling with teens or adults seeking a more in-depth experience, we recommend our longer-duration flagship Colosseum Tour.
- You will meet your Context guide at a location near the entrance gates to the Colosseum. You'll receive additional details, along with a map, with your confirmation email.
- The tour typically concludes in the Forum, offering you the opportunity to further explore its fascinating grounds at your leisure, or venture to Palatine Hill for more self-guided discovery and enjoyment.
Wheelchair accessibility
- The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are wheelchair accessible, however there may be several points where the pavement is uneven or tricky to maneuver.
- Additional information is available here.
- Please reach out to our team to discuss any mobility concerns.
Service Dogs
- Service dogs are allowed if you have a medical certificate proving the need.
For more information about Context Tours, please visit our FAQ page.
Will I need to bring identification to enter the Colosseum?
Yes, original identification is required to be presented upon entry to the Colosseum for all visitors including children. These should be original documents, copies will not be accepted.
If children under 18 qualify for free tickets, why am I required to purchase a ticket for my child?
While children may enter for free, they are required to stand in the general entrance line if they do so. In order to save time and expedite the tour, we purchase skip-the-line tickets so they may enter as quickly as possible.
Is it true that Colosseum admission tickets often sell out months in advance?
Yes, tickets to the Colosseum often sell out months ahead for dates during peak season. To guarantee your spot, we strongly advise booking as far out as possible. This allows our team ample time to secure your preferred tour date and time.
Is it true that Colosseum admission tickets often sell out months in advance?
Yes, tickets to the Colosseum often sell out months ahead for dates during peak season. To guarantee your spot, we strongly advise booking as far out as possible. This allows our team ample time to secure your preferred tour date and time.
What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your Colosseum tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.
I have purchased the Roma Pass, can I use it on my Context tours?
You cannot use the Roma Pass on your Context tours. Roma Pass holders have to wait in a long line for the non-reserved public entrance to the Colosseum. In order to save time and expedite the tour, we purchase skip-the-line tickets so you may enter as quickly as possible.
What should we bring for our kids?
Comfortable walking shoes, hats, sunscreen, and water are essential, especially during warmer months. A small snack might also be helpful as tours can last a couple of hours.
Are strollers allowed in the Colosseum?
Strollers are allowed in the Colosseum but keep in mind that there are areas with uneven surfaces and stairs, which might require carrying the stroller.
Are there facilities for families?
The Colosseum has restrooms, including facilities for changing babies. However, amenities like family restrooms or nursing areas may be limited.
What is the best time to visit the Colosseum with kids?
To ensure a more enjoyable experience, this tour is scheduled during early mornings and later afternoons when crowds are usually thinner. This also allows your family to avoid the hottest times of day in the summer season.
Is the Colosseum safe for kids?
Yes, it's safe, but always keep an eye on your children as it can get crowded, and there are some areas with high, open spaces. Adults must remain with their children for the full length of this tour.
Can we bring food and drinks?
Small snacks and water are fine, but large meals and glass containers are not allowed.
How long should we plan to spend there?
A typical visit lasts about 1-2 hours, which is usually enough time to explore without overwhelming young children.
What should we bring for our kids?
Comfortable walking shoes, hats, sunscreen, and water are essential, especially during warmer months. A small snack might also be helpful as tours can last a couple of hours.
Are strollers allowed in the Colosseum?
Strollers are allowed in the Colosseum but keep in mind that there are areas with uneven surfaces and stairs, which might require carrying the stroller.
Are there facilities for families?
The Colosseum has restrooms, including facilities for changing babies. However, amenities like family restrooms or nursing areas may be limited.
What is the best time to visit the Colosseum with kids?
To ensure a more enjoyable experience, this tour is scheduled during early mornings and later afternoons when crowds are usually thinner. This also allows your family to avoid the hottest times of day in the summer season.
Is the Colosseum safe for kids?
Yes, it's safe, but always keep an eye on your children as it can get crowded, and there are some areas with high, open spaces. Adults must remain with their children for the full length of this tour.
Can we bring food and drinks?
Small snacks and water are fine, but large meals and glass containers are not allowed.
How long should we plan to spend there?
A typical visit lasts about 1-2 hours, which is usually enough time to explore without overwhelming young children.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
378 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Emanuela was amazing! So knowledgeable interesting for the kids and adults alike. So lovely. We feel very lucky to have spent the day with such a smart, kind and fun guide.
River
Nov. 19, 2023
Tiziana was excellent! She was knowledgeable and pleasant, and catered the tour perfectly for our 7 year old daughter and us.
Nicholas
Nov. 16, 2023
Emilia was an excellent guide for our group, whose members ranged from 1 year to 73! She was extremely knowledgeable about Rome and its history, which she presented in a way that was easily accessible. Thank you!
Elizabeth
Oct. 29, 2023
