Colosseum & Ancient Rome Semi-Private Tour
Description
Explore the wonders of Ancient Rome on a fun and engaging tour, led by a top-rated guide. Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a small group of max 8 people. This tour is family-friendly and kids under 4 can attend for free. Also, children under 18 have special discounts. Entry tickets to all sites are included for everybody!
Tour Options
Itinerary
First and Second Tiers
Guided Visit
Guided Visit
Guided Visit
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Exact full names of all travelers must be provided at the booking as the entry tickets are named and checked at the entrance to the sites
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that exactly matches the name provided at the time of booking to ensure entry to the sites
- Travelers must be on time at the meeting point. In case of any delay they won't be able to access the sites and join the guided tour
- All visitors are required to pass through ID verification and airport-style security; during peak season or on particularly busy days, waiting times may be longer
- The order of the sites may vary depending on the entry time of the tickets to the Colosseum
- Strollers are allowed, but they can be challenging to use due to uneven and occasionally slippery surfaces. When possible, we recommend using a baby carrier
- This tour operates rain or shine
- A minimum of 3 participants is necessary to get the tour started. If the number is not met, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- Not recommended for travelers with significant mobility issues, as the itinerary includes stairs and uphill sections
Reviews(222)
Vincent was our tour guide and he was amazing. He was knowledgeable, energetic, engaging, and entertaining. We overheard other tour guides and they were different. I would definitely do the tour again with Vincent.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Vincenzo. His knowledge, energy, and passion for sharing Rome's history are exactly what make him such a valued member of our team. We'll be sure to pass along your feedback to him -it will mean a lot. We hope to welcome you back to Rome for another tour in the future!
The guide did not have any signage and I got lucky and asked if she was a guide and what company she was with…then when we were waiting for others in the tour we had to recommend that she held up a sign saying what company she was with and she said she would go look for the other guests, as if she knew what they looked like. Once the tour began we quickly realized that the order of where we visited was misrepresented and we would go to the colosseum last which meant it would be very hot and we would have to limit our time at palatine hill and the forum. The guide seemed more concerned with stopping at water fountains than telling us any history or interesting points to what we were seeing…we spent most of the tour waiting in lines and going to water fountains. I wish we would have just gone on our own.
HI Alayna, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to clarify a few points. Our guide was carrying the agency sign at the meeting point, as she always does. In fact, she regularly receives great reviews for her professionalism and ability to manage groups efficiently. Regarding the itinerary, the order of the sites visited is not fixed and depends on the Colosseum entry time. This is clearly stated in the tour description. On some days the Colosseum is visited first, while on others it is visited later, depending on the allocated entrance slot. As for the stops at the water fountains, Rome has been experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, and during a walking tour it is essential to ensure that all participants remain properly hydrated. In a small-group tour, the guide has a responsibility to consider the well-being and safety of everyone in the group, even if this occasionally requires short breaks. Finally, while many travelers enjoy the social and shared nature of small-group tours, they do require balancing the needs and pace of different participants. Based on the expectations expressed in your review, a private tour might have been a better fit, as it allows for a fully personalized itinerary and pace. We appreciate your comments and wish you all the best for the rest of your travels.
Excellent tour! Our guide Sarah was so sweet, extremely knowledgeable and detailed. She was very engaging and enthusiastic, seasoned at stopping for explanations, photos and shade(it was very hot)and also keeping pace so as to not run out of time and miss anything. This is a huge area with a lot of ground to cover, so helpful having a guide show and explain everything and help navigate the crowds. I really appreciated how the wonder of us seeing this amazing site for the first time was not lost on Sarah. Highly recommend!
Dear Christine, Thank you for such a thoughtful review! We're thrilled to hear that Sara helped make your first visit to these incredible sites so memorable. Balancing detailed explanations, comfort in the summer heat, and the timing needed to cover such a vast archaeological area is no easy task, and we're delighted that her enthusiasm and expertise stood out. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with Sarah. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure in Rome soon!
Wonderful lovely guide who was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed it very much. We learned a lot and were able to see more than we expected
Dear Margo, Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour, learned a lot, and were able to see even more than expected. We'll be sure to share your kind words with your guide. We hope to welcome you back to Rome again soon!
Our guide was very nice, but not as knowledgable and as good at communicating as I had hoped. I think if I had it to do over again, I would get a fast pass ticket, and go through on our own, at our own speed. I believe we could’ve learned more by reading all the plaques available, and having more time. In fairness to our guide, we did have a couple that was a bit difficult and demanding, which also took away from the experience.
Hi Amy, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you found your guide kind and pleasant. We're sorry that the tour did not fully meet your expectations. We would like to note that this guide consistently receives excellent reviews from guests for both knowledge and communication skills, which is why we were surprised to read your comments. That said, we understand that every traveler has different preferences, and some visitors prefer the flexibility of exploring independently at their own pace. We also appreciate your fair observation regarding the challenges posed by the dynamics of the group on the day of your tour, as these can occasionally affect the overall experience for everyone involved. Thank you again for your balanced feedback, and we wish you a wonderful continuation of your travels.
This tour was amazing! Our tour guide was Valentina. The breadth and depth of her knowledge about the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill area was amazing. I came into the tour really wanting to hear the history and not just take some pictures of the sites and Valentina blew me away. She gave really interesting information on her own, but when asked follow-up questions about the locations, she was able to answer and expand effortlessly. I can’t praise her highly enough. Our tour was semi-private so our group was small and the pace of the tour was perfect. We didn’t rush past anything but didn’t linger too long anywhere either. Being a small group, we also were able to pause somewhere if there was specific interest by someone in the group. Also, while this is a job for her, she seemed genuinely passionate about the whole area, and the colosseum in particular. Her genuine passion about the subject matter added to her credibility and presentation. She was great and provided exactly what I hoped for out of the tour.
Dear David, Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Valentina made the experience so memorable with her expertise, enthusiasm, and engaging storytelling. It’s especially rewarding to know the tour matched exactly what you were hoping for. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Rome again soon!
This was a semi private tour with 6 people in our group. Alessio, our guide, was very knowledgeable. This small group setting was wonderful so we could learn and ask questions as he explained the history. We also booked a tour of the Vatican through viator which had 20 people, and this Colosseum tour we felt was a significantly better experience resulting from the smaller group. I would recommend this tour for the price. We also received a WhatsApp message the day prior with all of the pertinent information for the tour which eliminated the stress of locating the meeting point.
Dear Tina, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re so pleased to hear that the small group experience made the tour more engaging and enjoyable for you. Alessio will be delighted to know his knowledge and passion helped bring the history to life. We’re also happy the WhatsApp assistance made everything smooth and stress-free from the start. Thank you again for your recommendation!
So worth the money! Guide was very knowledgeable and zipped us through unnecessary waits. When we did wait, or guide gave us informative talks.
Hi Kathryn, Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to know the tour felt seamless and well-paced, and that the guide’s explanations kept every moment engaging and worthwhile. Your appreciation means a lot to us, and we hope to see you back in Rome soon!
Sara is a great guide! She provides a lot of information, answers questions, and brings visual support materials. Having a small group helps to focus on the details and explanations.
¡Muchas gracias por sus palabras! Nos alegra saber que disfrutó la experiencia con Sara y que valoró sus explicaciones, el material visual y la atención dedicada al grupo. Sin duda, los grupos pequeños permiten vivir el tour de una forma más cercana y enriquecedora. ¡Esperamos verles de nuevo en Roma pronto!
Our guide Simonetta was wonderful and made the experience fantastic!
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear Simona made your experience truly special. We hope to see you back in Rome soon!
