Tours/Rome/Private Guided Tour of Colosseum Underground OR Arena and Forum
Viator · Private tour

Private Guided Tour of Colosseum Underground OR Arena and Forum

4.8(111)Rome1 hour
VIATOR4.6(49)TRIPADVISOR4.9(62)

Description

Explore thoroughly the world's most visited monument with a private guide. Visit areas of the Colosseum not accessible by regular-ticket holders. Step on the exclusive Arena floor and descend into the Underground section. Walk the steps of the Gladiators and find yourself in the backstage of the most famous games in Ancient Rome. Then, take a journey back in time from the 10th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Marvel at the beauty of ancient temples and chart a course through the archaeological tribal beginnings of Rome and its evolution into one of the most powerful Empires of all time.

Tour Options

French Private: Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.
Portuguese Private:Arena+Forum
  • Private Tour: This option is for a tour in Portuguese with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private option
Italian Private: Arena + Forum
  • NO access to Underground part: This option is for a tour in Italian with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private Tour option
German Private: Arena + Forum
  • NO access to Underground part: This option is for a tour in German with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private Tour option.
English Private: Arena + Forum
  • NO access to Underground part: This option is for a tour in English with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private Tour option
German Private : Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.
Portuguese Private:Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.
Spanish Private : Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.
English Private : Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.
Spanish Private: Arena + Forum
  • NO access to Underground part: This option is for a tour in Spanish with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private Tour option
French Private: Arena + Forum
  • NO access to Underground part: This option is for a tour in French with access to the Gladiators' Arena and Forum (NO Underground) in a Private Tour option
Italian Private : Underground
  • Underground Private Tour: This option is for a private 3-hour guided tour of the Colosseum Underground, Forum & Palatine Hill.

Itinerary

Admission included60 min

Explore the world's most visited monument, in the most complete way! Get access to Gladiators’ Arena! Once inside, walk in the Arena floor through the notorious “Porta Libitinaria”. Descend into the Underground section with an archeologist and see the ongoing excavations. Find yourself at the backstage of the most famous games in Ancient Rome and walk the steps of the Gladiators before the fights. Be surprised by the behind-the-scene logistics and technology. Then go up to the ground level and learn about the innovative building techniques used by the ancient Roman engineers.

Admission included30 min

After the first part of your tour, head together towards the archeological area of the Roman Forums and Palatine Hill for another 1-hour guided tour.

10 min

Start the second part of your tour by exploring one of the largest triumphal arches in Roman history: the Arch of Constantine the Great, before meandering through the ruins of the Roman Forum.

Admission included40 min

Here, you will immerse yourself in the ruins of ancient temples and will walk the paths of Emperors and Senators. Learn how this beautiful area became the beating heart of Ancient Rome. Hear about the Vestal Virgins and see their gardens and the pagan temple of the Goddess Vesta they served. Learn about the Basilica Julia and the penal system of Ancient Rome and its effects on Christianity. See the temple of Castor and Pollux and the Arch of Titus and learn about the sacking of Jerusalem.
Discover the Senate House, where senators met to decide the fate of the Roman Republic and how that climaxed with the murder and cremation of Julius Caesar.

Admission included30 min

Walk the paths of the Roman Emperors while visiting the hill where the legend of Romulus and Remus places the foundation of the city: the Palatine Hill. Learn how it later became one of the most exclusive areas of Ancient Rome and enjoy breathtaking views over the Colosseum and Roman Forum. From the heights of the Palatine Hill, enjoy a bird's eye view over what is considered to have been the largest structure for public games ever built by mankind, the Circus Maximus.

Highlights

Live expert guide
Sterilized earphones to hear clearly your guide
Thorough guided tour of the Underground section and Arena floor
Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
Full on-site assistance
Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person, or €24 per person if arena access is included)

What's included

Included
Live expert guide
Sterilized earphones to hear clearly your guide
Thorough guided tour of the Underground section and Arena floor
Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
Full on-site assistance
Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person, or €24 per person if arena access is included)

Traveller Ratings

4.8
111 reviews
5
99
4
7
3
1
2
1
1
3

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • IMPORTANT: After entering the participants’ names during the booking process, please specify in the “Special Requirements” field who the adults and children are, so we can issue the correct Colosseum tickets. Missing information may result in denied entry.
  • 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.
  • Please be at the meeting point 30 minutes before the tour starts in order to complete the signup. We cannot accommodate, refund, or reschedule late arrivals.
  • You will pass through strict security checks both at the Colosseum and at the Roman Forum entrance. Please be aware that security check lines are not skippable
  • 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.
  • This tour is subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
  • Flying drones and knives of any kind are strictly forbidden. Neither trolleys and big backpacks nor animals are allowed into the Colosseum. Glass/metal containers and sprays of any kind are also not allowed
  • The order in which the sites are visited during the tour can vary; either the Colosseum or Forum and Palatine Hill will come first
  • A moderate amount of walking and steps are involved; wear comfortable walking shoes

Reviews(111)

M
Martin_M
July 5, 2025
Top rated experience

Well communicated reservation and meeting point. Our guide was first rate. She took a lot of time with us and was very well versed on her archeological history and cultural understanding of Ancient Rome

Operator response

Thank you so much! We are grateful to hear that you had a good experience with us during your Colosseum tour :)

E
Emily_F
June 18, 2025
Can’t go wrong with a Private Tour with Bogdan

We had an excellent experience with Bogdan at the Colosseum and Roman Forum. He was warm, engaging, knowledgeable and highly informative that we came away learning more from him than any other tour we had in the past at both these monuments. I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to not just learn but enjoy stories, pictures and facts that make history exciting for our teenage nephew who after 8 hours maybe wasn’t so excited about another tour. Bogdan is one of the best!

Operator response

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive thoughts regarding the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour with us and the tour guide Bogdan. We are truly grateful to hear that the experience has lived up to your expectations fully and look forward to welcoming you again in one of our other tours in Rome!

M
Michael_B
April 29, 2025
Excellent Tour

Our experience was very good. However we paid $800 for a private tour of the Colosseum and the underground. Our guide told us numerous times that she was not able to come down to the underground tour, and so we negotiated that part of the tour on our own. However this was the very reason we booked an expensive private tour; to have a tour guide the entire time.

D
Don_B
December 27, 2024
Just WOW. If you get the...

Just WOW. If you get the opportunity to do this tour, jump at it. Walking where the gladiators once stood is once in a lifetime experience, and our guide Rosi was simply amazing. Highly recommended!!!

Operator response

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! We are very happy to hear you enjoyed your tour of the Colosseum with Rosy! :)

L
Laurel_L
November 11, 2024
Fun, informative tour of Colosseum

Bogdan was so fun, friendly and informative. He is a great story teller, bringing history to life for our group. He was caring and showed concern for one of our party whose leg began to bother her, and he altered our tour a bit to accommodate her. I would highly recommend Bogdan for your next tour!

Operator response

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your time with Bogdan and we hope to see you again very soon on one of our tours here in Rome!

P
patrick_c
October 29, 2024
An afternoon with Mario

Our guide Mario was exceptional. He was very pleasant, knowledgeable, and funny too. I had taken this tour previously and he focused on aspects of the Colloseo, Pallantine, and Forum that I had not heard before. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Operator response

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! We are very happy to hear you enjoyed your time with Mario inside the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill! :)

P
Patrick_P
September 18, 2024
Perfecto

Our guide was simply fantastic. She was extremely knowledgeable and best of all told the stories with great passion. She brought Ancient Rome to life. Totally worth the private tour as we had zero waiting. Thank you for a great experience.

Operator response

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed this experience with us!

M
Matthew_F
June 5, 2024
Great experience

Excellent and knowledgeable guide. Beautiful walk through the forum. Plenty of time to take in the sights and learn some of the history. The colosseum portion was great. Didn't get to go underground but did get to the see it from the platform.

Operator response

Thank you so much for your feedback! We hope to see you again on one of our other tours in Rome :)

A
Angela_J
May 3, 2024
Disappointing no underground access

I booked this tour specifically because of access to the underground section of the Colosseum. I was contacted almost 3 weeks prior to the tour and informed the underground would not be guaranteed. The company wanted me to make a decision at that point on whether I was going to keep the tour. Even though the tour was non-refundable, the company did offer to refund my cost because of this. We chose to proceed but honestly, I feel like another option would have been better. We arrived at the meeting point 35 minutes early because the instructions asked us to be there 30 minutes ahead of the tour time. We were instructed to look for a yellow umbrella at the green kiosk, right outside the metro. Turns out, the tour rep was on the other side of the green kiosk and could not be seen from right outside the metro, nor was he holding a yellow umbrella. Our guide was 20 minutes late and arrived with a cigarette with an inch of ash hanging out of his mouth. He was uninteresting and never told us his name, not friendly or personable. And he informed us he did not work for the tour company but was an independent contractor. For the cost of this private tour, it was not worth it. Or we just got a terrible guide. I'd look elsewhere and make sure the underground portion is guaranteed.

Operator response

Good afternoon, We apologize this experience did not meet your expectations. However, your detailed feedback on the guide's performance and conduct would be greatly appreciated. It will help provide better context, allowing us to improve our guide selection process and provide the best experiences for our future clients. Kindly contact us at info@touriks.com or call our team at +39 06 3105 4174 to investigate your issue further. We are looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you

L
Laurie_F
October 13, 2023
Fabulous experience!

Donnatella was the most amazing, fun and knowledgeable guide. What a wonderful experience! A definite must- do in Rome.

Operator response

Thank you so much for your feedback! We hope to see you again on one of our other tours in Rome :)

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