Colosseum by Evening Guided Tour with Optional Arena Floor Access
Description
The Colosseum is a must-see when exploring Rome, and few experiences make a visit more special than entering after hours, as the heat fades and the light begins to soften. On this tour, you’ll enjoy access to restricted areas, with Arena Floor access included depending on the option selected, and admire recently discovered graffiti dating back to the Late Middle Ages—all without the usual daytime crowds and noise.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour starts with Trajan’s Column where you’ll pass through Via dei Fori Imperiali overlooking the Roman Forum (closed at this hour), the civic historical centre. Home to the bustling marketplace, ruled by moneylenders and shopkeepers, this was Rome at its finest. Here politicians held rallies before elections, soldiers marched triumphantly down the Via Sacra, and the Vestal Virgins decided if men lived or died.
See a spectacular view of the Roman Forum (from outside). Even the ancient Romans rarely saw the Colosseum like this: empty, peaceful, and cool. But away from the crowds, and with your guide on hand to fill in any details, it’s easy to imagine the arena as it once was.
As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the Colosseum’s spectacles. Enter the Colosseum after hours and enjoy a quieter, more atmospheric visit. Depending on the option selected, you may access restricted areas, including the Arena Floor. With fewer crowds and changing light conditions, enjoy excellent photo opportunities and discover ancient graffiti revealing stories of those who lived, worked, and gathered here.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We regret that we are unable to accommodate guest below 6 years old due to venue security reason.
- Please note: All participant names are required at the time of booking in order to enter the Colosseum.
- Every customer on this tour is required to present a valid government issued ID or Passport at the Colosseum, that matches their name on the reservation, or entry will be refused. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed.
- Please note that the itinerary for our tours may differ from the advertised order of destinations. We assure you that any changes made to the tour itinerary are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience.
- On this tour, some of the venues or parts of the venue may be subject to last-minute, unpredictable closures. When this occurs, we are happy to offer customers an extended tour in keeping with the advertised total length of the tour.
- May experience delays in clearing security checks when entering the venue
Reviews(899)
He was very entertaining in relaying the history of the Colosseum . I could’ve listened to his stories longer than the time allotted.
We walked with the guide from Trajans column to and through the collosium. It felt a bit rushed and it's very very crowded. However. I appreciated that we were the last ones in the follusium before it closed. It finally became a bit less crowded. Guide was very knowledgeable.
Had a wonderful and informative evening tour of the Colosseum with extra ancient points along the way that included the Roman Forum, Trajan’s Forum, and Palantine Hill. Hisam was full of knowledge of the tour areas and welcomed any and all questions our group had. You can tell he loves what he does and has a deep knowledge of his subject matter. I would highly recommend this tour with Hisam!
I know there is a problem with places not securing tickets. This happen to be one of them. My advice, don't sell tickets if you don't have them.
Hi Meghan20, We are the tour operator City Wonders. Our tours at the Colosseum all have secured tickets and are operating accordingly. If you booked via Viator a Colosseum tour with a different operator, make sure to publish it to the right listing. Thank you and I wish you a lovely stay in Rome.
Our tour guide made this Colosseum visit exciting and educational. She was so knowledgeable and really had passion and love for the history in Rome.
We booked a small-group Colosseum tour months in advance and unfortunately missed it due to an unexpected 3+ hour delay clearing customs at the airport. As soon as we realized we would not make the tour, I contacted the company to explain the situation. I fully understand and accept that the tour was non-refundable. My disappointment is not with the refund policy, but with the complete lack of flexibility afterward. Since we had paid nearly $500, I asked whether we could be accommodated on any other Colosseum option they offered—even a self-guided ticket, audio-guided experience, or another tour with a rebooking fee. I was willing to pay additional costs and worked with the company for two days trying to find a solution. Unfortunately, I was repeatedly told that no alternatives were available. While I understand policies exist for a reason, I would have appreciated some effort to help us salvage at least part of the experience. The customer service was polite, but the inability to offer any accommodation left us feeling disappointed, especially given the circumstances and the amount spent. If you're booking, be aware that there appears to be very little flexibility if travel delays prevent you from attending.
Hi Monica, We are sorry to hear that unexpected airport delays prevented you from joining your Colosseum tour. Unfortunately, Colosseum skip-the-line tickets are issued on a nominal basis and are tied to the individual visitor and specific entry time. In addition, ticket sales and allocations are often finalized days in advance, which means that last-minute changes or rebookings are frequently not possible, even when additional payment is offered. While we understand your disappointment, the limitations were due to the ticketing regulations and availability set by the venue rather than a lack of willingness to assist. We always aim to help our guests whenever possible and regret that, in this instance, no suitable alternative could be secured.
Guide could have done better job protecting his microphone in the wind. He was a little difficult to understand but knowledgeable and interesting.
It was very informative & would highly recommend booking the arena floor. It just gives me a whole different perspective of the colosseum. One thing that would warn you about is make sure when you sign up, you put your legal name. The colosseum is VERY STRICT that your ticket MUST match your passport or legal document that you have with you. My husband wasn’t able to do the tour because of this problem. It was never brought to my attention until literally 15 minutes before the tour. Don’t make the same mistake we did. I got to continue the tour though & it was great. Our tour guide was very informative and had pictures to show what everything looked like back when it was originally built. I would highly recommend this tour, just make sure to use your legal names when signing up 🙃
Hi Taylor, Thank you for your review and for recommending the Arena Floor experience. We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and found your guide informative and engaging. We are sorry your husband was unable to join the tour. Please note that the requirement for tickets to match the visitor’s legal name and identification is set by the Colosseum authorities, and we clearly communicate this information both on our booking page and in the tour voucher. Unfortunately, entry cannot be granted when the details do not match. We appreciate your feedback and are pleased that, despite this issue, you had a great experience exploring the Colosseum.
It was a really good tour, very informative. Nicola was fantastic, very insightful and very interesting. 100% recommend.
I gave this tour 4 stars because I purchased the optional arena floor access when booking, but the process was unclear. At no point during the purchase was I directed to select a specific section or given instructions on how to secure the arena floor option, so I assumed it would be addressed when the tour began. Unfortunately, when we arrived, I was informed by an employee that our tickets did not include arena floor access and that we would not be allowed to enter that area. I was told that if I had already paid for the option, I could submit a complaint and request a refund. This was very disappointing, especially since we were visiting Rome and missed out on an experience we were looking forward to. That said, the tour itself was very well organized. Our guide was excellent—knowledgeable, engaging, and informative throughout the entire experience. I would definitely book with this company again, but I would recommend making sure all optional add-ons are clearly explained and confirmed during the booking process to avoid any confusion.
