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Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum, Palatine Hill

Immerse yourself in the Roman Empire with a leading expert
From US$729 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Colosseum
  • Roman Forum
  • Palatine Hill

"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.

"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.

"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.
Photos & Highlights
  • Uncover the secrets held within ancient ruins and dive into the stories of life as an emperor, gladiator, and everyday Roman
  • Explore three iconic Roman sites with a local history or archaeology expert who caters the experience to your interests
Tour Description
Stand where ancient Romans watched gladiators fight for their lives in the Colosseum. Marvel at the political heart of the Roman Empire in the Forum. Enjoy breathtaking views from Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome.

Begin with the awe-inspiring Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built. Discuss everything from the details of its construction to the bloody gladiatorial battles and roaring crowds that filled the arena, allowing your expert to bring this iconic venue to life before your eyes. 

Next, walk in the footsteps of ancient Rome’s elite as you explore the Via Sacra. Picture temples, arches, and basilicas lining the Sacred Way. Your guide will point out hidden gems that most tourists miss, giving you a secret glimpse into the lives of emperors and everyday Romans. 

Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome, marks the final stop. Stand where Romulus founded the city in 753 BC and take in the views of the city. By the end of this adventure, you'll have a deeper understanding of this powerful empire, from its glorious rise to its dramatic fall.
Experts
Liz Liz
Architect
Roberta Roberta
Art Historian
Jade Jade
Archaeologist
Federico Federico
Local Guide
Laura Laura
Local Guide
Giuseppe Giuseppe
Local Guide
Francesca Francesca
Archaeologist
Guido Guido
Tourist guide
Francesca Francesca
Art Historian
Paola Paola
Architectural Historian
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Simona Simona
Archaeologist
Dony Dony
Art Historian
Alessia Alessia
Art Historian
Francesca Francesca
Archaeologist
Elisa Valeria Elisa Valeria
Archaeologist
Kasia Kasia
Local Guide
Pier Paolo Pier Paolo
Art Historian
Dimosthenis Dimosthenis
Archaeologist
Maddalena Maddalena
Art Historian
Maria Emilia Maria Emilia
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Archaeologist
Marina Marina
Local Guide
Simona Simona
Archaeologist
Olivia Olivia
Art Historian
Michele Michele
Local Guide
Jose Jose
Artist
Barbara Barbara
Architect
Emily Emily
Art Historian
Alessandro Alessandro
Local Guide
Massimo Massimo
Local Guide
Sara Sara
Art Historian
Valeria Valeria
Archaeologist
Maria Stella Maria Stella
Art Historian
Emanuela Emanuela
Archaeologist
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Alessandra Alessandra
Art Historian
Arianna Arianna
Art Historian
Siriana Siriana
Local Guide
Richard Richard
Medievalist
Sabrina Sabrina
Art Historian
Flavia Flavia
Local Guide
Fabio Fabio
Art Historian
Doriana Doriana
Local Guide
Patrizia Patrizia
Art Historian
Luisa Luisa
Local Guide
Antonella Antonella
Archaeologist
Gianluca Gianluca
Art Historian
Tiziana Tiziana
Art Historian
Vannella Vannella
Art Historian
Simona Simona
Art Historian
Fiorenza Fiorenza
Art Historian
Priscilla Priscilla
Archaeologist
Carlo Carlo
Local Guide
Simonetta Simonetta
Art Historian
Mara Mara
Local Guide
Sandro Sandro
Local Guide
Jeannette Jeannette
Art Historian
Andrea Andrea
Historian
Vittorio Vittorio
Art Historian
Patrick Patrick
Historian
Cristina Cristina
Art Historian
Valentina Valentina
Local Guide
Simona Simona
Local Guide & Teacher
Giulia Giulia
Archaeologist
  • You love ancient Roman history and are eager to discuss it with an expert while learning more about the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. 
  • You’d like a more in-depth look at the lifestyles of ancient Romans, from the most elite to the average citizen. 
  • You want to ditch the stuffy scripts of group tours. This experience is structured, not scripted, allowing you to dive into the topics that interest you.
  • Colosseum – 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. 
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. 

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

A few things that pair well with this tour: 

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 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.   
 
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 regular tickets so they may enter as quickly as possible.

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. In order 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 Ancient Rome for Kids Tour
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.8) 2771 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.

How can one not think of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum when looking back on the history of Rome? Giulia brought it all to life with her vast knowledge base, passion for teaching, and tireless answering of questions…all while walking in the footsteps of emperors and slaves. It was quite an experience to touch, see, and feel things that have only been imagined through books and film.
Paolo was an exceptional guide! We learned far more than we had any right to expect. He is highly organized and extraordinarily generous with his time and knowledge. And he knows so much about so many facets of Italian history! -- classical and modern, pagan and Christian, medieval and Renaissance. His presentation was fascinating, voluminous, and yet not overwhelming thanks to his ability to unify a complex history. Completely wonderful.
Simona was amazing. She was very knowledgeable, and we enjoyed her talks, histories, and company. She was an amazing tour guide!

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