Tour Details
Duration
3.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
Photos & Highlights
- Experience the Colosseum Like an Ancient Spectator — With the Time and Insight to Understand Its Power, Purpose, and Design
- See More Than Just Ruins — Let an Archaeologist or Historian Bring the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to Life
Select a date
Tour Description
What does it feel like to truly take in the Colosseum—not just see it, but feel its scale, its drama, and its stories unfold around you?
This Colosseum tour offers a deeper experience of Ancient Rome’s most iconic landmarks, with a special focus on the Colosseum, along with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Whether you're discovering the Colosseum for the first time or returning to explore it more deeply, this experience offers a thoughtful balance of insight and ease.
Spend up to 90 minutes inside the Colosseum, discovering how power and spectacle shaped an empire. From the first tier to the second, you’ll see the monument as ancient crowds did—whether seated as a citizen, a senator, or even the emperor himself. Your journey then continues through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum—the heart and birthplace of the city. Walking in the footsteps of emperors, philosophers, and everyday Romans, you’ll explore how these ruins shaped not only ancient life, but the world we live in today.
Spend up to 90 minutes inside the Colosseum, discovering how power and spectacle shaped an empire. From the first tier to the second, you’ll see the monument as ancient crowds did—whether seated as a citizen, a senator, or even the emperor himself. Your journey then continues through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum—the heart and birthplace of the city. Walking in the footsteps of emperors, philosophers, and everyday Romans, you’ll explore how these ruins shaped not only ancient life, but the world we live in today.
Led by an expert archaeologist or historian, you’ll uncover the layers of Ancient Rome through its most important sites. Your curiosity leads the way, and your pace sets the rhythm. This is a personal discovery, where everyone in your group can engage with history in a way that resonates.
This Colosseum guided tour invites you to experience Ancient Rome not just as a collection of facts, but as a living story—full of emotion, drama, and complexity.
More than a checklist of sights, this is a story-rich experience, designed to bring meaning to every stone and spark curiosity in every traveler.
Need help choosing the right tour for your needs? View a comparison of our most popular Colosseum tours.
Choose this tour if:
- You want ample time inside the Colosseum exploring the first and second floors, soaking in its atmosphere and imagining the lives of ancient spectators without feeling rushed.
- You’re curious about how the Colosseum fits into the larger story of Rome—its connection to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum—and want a coherent, story-driven journey through all three sites.
- You want more than just names and dates: you want someone to connect the dots, guide you through the crowds, and provide a meaningful, story-rich overview of Ancient Rome.
- You didn’t travel all this way for a quick overview—you want time to explore, reflect, and truly let the stories sink in.
- You’re traveling with others and want everyone—history lovers and casual travelers alike—to walk away inspired.
Experts
"Tremendously knowledgable guide"
"Emily was a tremendously knowledgeable guide who was able to maneuver thru the ticketing/security situations with ease, and left us wanting to know more."
Kay G.
Kay G.
"An experience for everyone"
"Wonderful tour! Maddalena was engaging and kept everyone in our group interested, from my 76 yo parents to my teenagers. Highly recommend!"
Kristen F.
Kristen F.
"Expert experience makes this special"
"Christina & Context are wonderful. This was our 4th tour with Context. Each guide is special to their tour. Christina is an archaeologist and has actually participated in expeditions at the Colosseum. Wonderful! Excellent tour."
Nancy H.
Nancy H.
Your tour begins inside the Colosseum, where ancient crowds once cheered, emperors gave the signal, and gladiators fought for glory. From the first and second levels, you’ll see the arena just as Roman spectators did—getting the full picture of what a day at the games looked and felt like. With your expert guide, you’ll uncover how this massive structure was built, how it worked, and why it became the most famous arena in the world.
Next, climb Palatine Hill—the legendary birthplace of Rome and home to its emperors. As you explore the ruins of palaces and gardens, your guide will share stories of power, ambition, and daily life among the Roman elite. From the top, you’ll enjoy one of the most stunning views of the city.
Then descend into the Roman Forum, the bustling heart of public life. Walking along the Via Sacra, or “Sacred Road,” you’ll pass temples, triumphal arches, and political meeting spaces where laws were debated, deals struck, and festivals held. What can seem like a maze of columns and stones becomes a vivid story, as your guide reveals how Romans shaped—and were shaped by—this incredible space.
By the end, you’ll have experienced the key sites of Ancient Rome not just as ruins, but as real places where history was made and life unfolded.
- Colosseum – First and Second Floor. Learn more about this iconic landmark on our Context Stories
- Palatine Hill – Offering a stunning panoramic view of the Roman Forum, this was once the location of the home of aristocrats and emperors.
- Roman Forum – A central marketplace for ordinary citizens and noblemen to conduct their daily business.
Tickets
Includes tickets to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
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.
Please note that we require the full name (as it appears on the ID) and the age of each participant in order to purchase tickets. The venue conducts name and ID checks at the entrance, so it’s essential that the name on the ticket matches the identification document. This is especially important for families with participants who are 17 or 18 years old, as free tickets are only valid for those who are 17 or younger on the day of the tour. Once a participant turns 18, a full-price ticket is required. To avoid any issues at the entrance, please double-check the ages provided before booking.
Please note that we require the full name (as it appears on the ID) and the age of each participant in order to purchase tickets. The venue conducts name and ID checks at the entrance, so it’s essential that the name on the ticket matches the identification document. This is especially important for families with participants who are 17 or 18 years old, as free tickets are only valid for those who are 17 or younger on the day of the tour. Once a participant turns 18, a full-price ticket is required. To avoid any issues at the entrance, please double-check the ages provided before booking.
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.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are wheelchair accessible while the Palatine Hill is not.
The Palatine Hill can be skipped and the itinerary can be adjusted to make it more accessible, however, this Colosseum guided tour covers around 2.5 miles and includes cobblestones, uneven and natural terrain, stairs, and hilly areas that are tricky to maneuver.
Service Dogs
Service dogs are allowed if you have a medical certificate proving the need.
For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.
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.
Do we have to buy tickets on-site?
For this tour, your Colosseum tickets are pre-purchased, which allows you to go directly to the security line where you will 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. To save time and expedite the tour, we purchase regular tickets so you may enter as quickly as possible.
Why does this tour only take place early in the morning and late in the afternoon?
In the summer, this tour has an early start or takes place late afternoon to beat the heat.
Is this tour suitable for children?
If you're traveling with children under the age of 12, we recommend our family-oriented Colosseum Tour for Kids with the Roman Forum
Are your Colosseum tours legitimate and officially accredited?
Yes! We are proud to be an accredited tour operator with the Colosseum. All our tours are professionally conducted and fully comply with all official regulations and guidelines set by the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.
Do you reserve headsets for this tour?
Do you reserve headsets for this tour?
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. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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3163 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Dimo was PHENOMENAL. We could not have asked for a better tour guide. His depth of knowledge and passion for all that we saw and discussed were impossible to ignore. He’s set the bar extremely high for the rest of our five week trip through Italy, we could not have asked for a better way to start the entire trip. I’d highly recommend him in a heartbeat!
Meaghan
Reviewed on:
Jan 30, 2026
This was a really great tour and Andy was a wonderful guide. It was our second tour of the day, but he kept us moving and interested and did a great job of engaging the kids. Another great Context tour!
Julie
Reviewed on:
Jan 12, 2026
Elisa was fantastic - an actual archeologist who had previously worked on excavating some of the sites we saw. Our family couldn't believe how knowledgable she was. She shared some fascinating history, and seamlessly helped us navigate through the lines and crowds, making the whole experience feel so much easier than had we gone on our own.
Peter denny
Reviewed on:
Jan 8, 2026
