
Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 992 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access worth booking?
Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access is a 2.5-hour experience in Rome, Italy, from €75 per person. It scores 86 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 992 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 168 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 86 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (992)
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- From
- €75 per person
Step onto the arena floor like a gladiator when you take this exclusive tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Your friendly professional guide will take you and your small group through the special gladiator gate entrance to stand directly on the arena floor. Here, you will get to feel what it's like to look up at the stadium the way gladiators would on the day of battle. After learning about the daily lives and fighting styles of the gladiators your guide will take you up to the next level so you can see the arena from the view of the excited spectators, where you will learn all about the games and the emperors who hosted them. Your guide will also take you to the Roman Forum, the city center of ancient Rome with it's temples and government offices. From here you'll go up to the Palatine Hill to hear your guide tell stories of the emperors as you walk through the palaces they built and lived in.
What you get
- Entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Headsets for groups when appropriate
- Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
- Access to Arena floor
About this experience
Step onto the arena floor like a gladiator when you take this exclusive tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Your friendly professional guide will take you and your small group through the special gladiator gate entrance to stand directly on the arena floor. Here, you will get to feel what it's like to look up at the stadium the way gladiators would on the day of battle. After learning about the daily lives and fighting styles of the gladiators your guide will take you up to the next level so you can see the arena from the view of the excited spectators, where you will learn all about the games and the emperors who hosted them. Your guide will also take you to the Roman Forum, the city center of ancient Rome with it's temples and government offices. From here you'll go up to the Palatine Hill to hear your guide tell stories of the emperors as you walk through the palaces they built and lived in.
What's included
Included
- Entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Headsets for groups when appropriate
- Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
- Access to Arena floor
- Expert Certified Guide
Not included
- Transport to/from meeting point.
- Food and Drink
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Roman Forum
Take in the oldest part of Rome when you visit the Roman Forum to see the government buildings, temples and ancient roads that were home to daily life in Ancient Rome. Pass by the senate house, the temple of the Vestal Virgins and the Temple of Julius Caesar where his ashes were laid to rest. Walk on the road built by Emperor Augustus and marvel at the beautiful ruins that can still be seen today.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Palatine Hill
Make your way from the forum up to the Palatine Hill where Emperors built their palaces. Once home to the founder of Rome, Romulus, the Palatine Hill is where Rome originates. Throughout Roman history emperors were born and died on this hill. Many of them built grand homes we call palaces thanks to the name of the hill. You will walk through the ruins of these palaces as your guide tells you the entertaining stories of the emperors and the history of Rome. You will even get a peak at the Circus Maximus, the stadium where chariot races were held, as well as Emperor Domitian's own private stadium on top of the Palatine Hill.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Colosseum
You will feel like a gladiator about to go into battle when you enter the Colosseum directly onto the arena floor using the special access Gladiator Gate. This special entrance is only for those who book this special Arena Floor experience. Once you are on the floor, you will be able to look up at the stadium where over 50,000 spectators would sit to watch the day's events. The culmination of which were the gladiatorial battles. Your guide will tell you all about the different styles of fighting as well as the daily life activities for the gladiators. From here you will proceed up into the stands themselves to get the point of view of the fans, and some excellent photo opportunities. This is where your amazing guide will tell you all about the many events that were part of the games, including animal parades, exotic animal hunts and even public executions at lunchtime. This is the most complete Colosseum experience you can get and we know you will love every minute of it.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Rome
Meet at the Roman Vacations office on Via dei Santi Quattro, 81 Roma RM 00184.. Look for the white Roman Vacations flag with the lion head on it.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
Premier VIP Emperors Tour
Extended Tour of Imperial Rome: After visiting the Arena Floor of the Colosseum, visit the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Imperial Forums of the Emperors Premier VIP: With a small group of maximum 6 people, you will have the full attention of your expert tour guide for your entire tour. Duration: 4 hours: The tour will last 3.5 to 4 hours depending upon the pace of the group. Colosseum and Imperial Rome: Visit the Arena Floor of the Colosseum as well as the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and the Imperial Forums of the emperors. Ages 12 and Up Only please: Due to the duration of the tour and the route, the minimum age is 12 yrs, the tour is not suitable for strollers.
VIP Early Bird Exclusive
VIP Very Small Group Tour: With a maximum of 9 adults. This is as close to a private experience we offer as a group tour option. Prime time Colosseum: Ask the questions you've always wondered about in this small group, and don't get lost in a crowd.
VIP Small Afternoon Tour
VIP Small Group : With a maximum of 9 adults. This is as close to a private experience we offer as a group tour option. Colosseum, Forum & Palatine: You'll be able to ask our guide questions specific to your interests in our small group. Fewer crowds. More Shade.
VIP Extra Small Group Tour
VIP Extra Small Group: With a maximum of 5 people on this tour, you are sure to get the extra VIP treatment in the form of a tiny group tour. Duration: 3 hours Colosseum, Forum, Palatine: The order of the sites visited on the tour will vary based on time and date booked.
Small Group Arena Floor Access
Beat the Roman Heat: Tour route is designed to keep you cool by entering the Colosseum and Roman Forum/Palatine Hill at the optimal times of day. Small Group Arena Floor Access
Before you book
- Cancellation
- If you cancel at least 7 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Roman Vacations
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 989 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
989 verified traveler reviews for Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Make sure you find the meeting point before you leave home
We could not locate the meeting point. Even with help over the phone. The person on the phone was very nice and helpful. But it just didn’t work.
Response from the operator: Ciao! We are very sorry to hear that you missed the tour, and we sincerely hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another occasion. However, we would kindly like to clarify that we always provide the exact meeting point in the booking confirmation, as well as sending it again one day before the tour. Our team also always does its best to assist our customers in finding the meeting point and reaching the group on time. On the day of your tour, we tried to contact you several times by phone and provided additional assistance, including directions and Google Maps links, to help you locate the meeting point. During our communication, you also confirmed that the issue was related to your phone not functioning properly at the time. We completely understand that unexpected technical issues can happen. At the same time, we kindly ask all our future customers to make sure they have access to their phone, booking details, and the provided meeting point information on the day of the tour, and to allow enough time to reach the meeting location. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you another time.
via Viator
Coliseum small group tour.
It was a very informative tour with lots of interesting history. There were a couple in our group who had mobility issues and it was difficult for them to travel over the terrain. Our guide found a better way for them to get the most out of the experience. I believe a question of mobility issues should have been addressed prior to them paying for this tour.
Response from the operator: Ciao, Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you found the tour informative and that our guide was able to help the members of your group make the most of the experience. We would, however, like to clarify that this is a 3-hour walking tour, and a significant part of the experience takes place at the Roman Forum, which is an extensive archaeological site with uneven, rocky terrain, steps, and other areas that can be challenging for people with mobility difficulties. While we are always happy to assist where possible and adapt the experience when circumstances allow, the nature of the tour and the terrain at the Roman Forum do mean that a certain level of mobility is required. We encourage guests with mobility concerns to consider the physical demands of the tour before booking. We appreciate your feedback and will continue doing our best to make the experience as enjoyable and accessible as possible within the limitations of the site. Kind regards, RomanVacations
via Viator
English speaking tour...
English speaking tour guide from Syracuse. She was amazing and very knowledgeable on the whole tour. Fun and entertaining the entire time. 10/10 would recommend.
Response from the operator: Ciao Joe! Thank you so much for your review, we are glat that you had a great time with Angela!
via Viator
Bad experience
If they change your tour time (for us it was months before our trip), they don’t change your voucher and continue to send reminders for the original time. You are expected to remember the time has been changed even tho there is no documentation. For us, showing up on time only to be told we were 5 hours early, in a small alley, in a city we weren’t familiar with, and “greeted” by a very unsympathetic agent, this was a terrible way to end what had been a wonderful 16 day trip abroad. We ended up walking several blocks to a taxi stand (which we found despite the wave of the hand of the tour agent) and traveled to the Vatican where we booked a skip the line tour - ironically less expensive then had we booked through Viator. I doubt we will book through Viator again.
Response from the operator: Ciao, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. However, we would like to politely clarify a few important details, as your review contains several misunderstandings and does not align with our operations or records. First and foremost, our office is not located in a "small alley," but rather in a highly central, easily accessible location right next to the Colosseum. Furthermore, while schedule adjustments can occasionally occur in exceptional circumstances, we always notify our guests clearly in writing, and we only proceed after receiving their confirmation. Regarding your specific mention, we must note that on the date of your booking, the Colosseum tour in question did not even take place due to an unexpected Colosseum closure. Additionally, our records show no record of you checking in with us for this tour, and our agency exclusively operates Colosseum tours, not Vatican tours. We truly regret that you had a frustrating experience during your trip to Rome. We wish you all the best in your future travels! Best regards, RomanVacations
via Viator
Mitchka the amazing tour guide!
Mitchka was the most entertaining guide with a wealth of knowledge. He detailed the forum and colleseum with great detail plus was humorous.
Response from the operator: Ciao! Thank you so much for your kind review, we are glad that you enjoyed the tour with us!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 168h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- €75 to €395
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 347
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Roman Vacations, who run 31 experiences we rank across 6 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 55.5.
See everything Roman Vacations runsWhy this scores 86
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rome.
How much does Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access cost?
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Prices start at €75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rome usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access take?
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Plan for about 2.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rome is not rushed.
Is Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 86 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 992 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Rome, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 168 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Around 347 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rome can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rome and add a light layer if any part of the 2.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rome within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rome?
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Rome runs on skip-the-line access. The Colosseum underground, the Vatican before opening, and the catacombs south of the walls all require a licensed operator, and the price gap between the good ones and the rest is smaller than you would expect. We rank by guide credentials, group size and how reliably the promised access actually materialises. On Outty we rank every Rome experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Rome Pizza & Gelato Class with Wine by Cooking Italy, Rome [4in1] Pasta Making_Tiramisù_Wine Tasting_Secret Cellar, Rome Pasta and Tiramisu Class: Ravioli, Fettuccine & Fine Wine 5*. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rome?
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April, May, September and October. August is hot and half the city is shut. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rome?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Included: Entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill; Headsets for groups when appropriate; Colosseum entrance ticket with arena access (valued at €24 per person); Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person); and Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other se. Not included: Transport to/from meeting point; Food and Drink; and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Meet at the Roman Vacations office on Via dei Santi Quattro, 81 Roma RM 00184.. Look for the white Roman Vacations flag with the lion head on it. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Rome. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 168 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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Across 992 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Small Group Tour: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Arena Floor Access?
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There are 5 options to choose from, including Premier VIP Emperors Tour, VIP Early Bird Exclusive, VIP Small Afternoon Tour, VIP Extra Small Group Tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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