Tour Details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Colosseum's Arena Floor
- Colosseum
- Palatine Hill
- Roman Forum
Photos & Highlights
- Step into history on the Colosseum’s Arena Floor and take home once-in-a-lifetime memories
- No long waiting and no stress—Enjoy a hassle-free adventure with priority access through the Gladiator’s Gate and expertly led exploration
Select a date
Tour Description
Ever wondered what it felt like to be a gladiator in the heart of the Colosseum, the world’s largest amphitheater? What if you could step onto the Arena Floor and experience that same thrill?
This 2.5-hour Colosseum Express Tour with Special Access to the Arena Floor lets you do just that while discovering the fascinating history and architecture of this iconic site, from its structural details to the gladiatorial battles and roaring crowds that once filled it.
Need help choosing the right tour for your needs? View a comparison of our most popular Colosseum tours.
This 2.5-hour Colosseum Express Tour with Special Access to the Arena Floor lets you do just that while discovering the fascinating history and architecture of this iconic site, from its structural details to the gladiatorial battles and roaring crowds that once filled it.
Need help choosing the right tour for your needs? View a comparison of our most popular Colosseum tours.
Choose this tour if…
- You want to experience one of the world’s most iconic sites from an exclusive viewpoint, right in the heart of the Colosseum.
- You prefer a private, exclusive experience designed for you and tailored to your curiosity.
- You want to make the most of your limited time and have an experienced archaeologist by your side to guide you through the highlights, ensuring you don’t miss any important details.
- You want to skip the hassle and focus on the action, walking onto the Arena Floor with special access right to the center stage.
Experts
Enter the Colosseum through the gladiator’s gate, just as ancient warriors did, and learn about ancient Rome’s history as well as the engineering of this world wonder from an expert guide. From a strategic vantage point on the reconstructed arena floor—an exclusive area with limited access—you'll gain insight into the arena’s architectural details and its role at the heart of the action.
After exploring the Arena and peering down from above into the magnificent underground hypogeum, the intricate maze of chambers and corridors that form the building's basement, you will proceed to the city's archaeological center: the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where you will learn about the rise of one of history's most fascinating empires.
You will marvel at the major sites in the ancient city center, including the Curia (senate house), and the temples, triumphal arches, and basilicas around the historical Forum Square.
Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome, is the final stop. You will stand where Romulus founded the city in 753 BC and enjoy the views of the city. By the end of this journey, you'll have a deeper understanding of this powerful empire, from its glorious rise to its dramatic fall.
Sites Visited
- Colosseum Arena Floor – A modern reconstructed stage in the heart of the Colosseum where the original once stood. 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.
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Roman Forum – A central marketplace for ordinary citizens and noblemen to conduct their daily business.
Logistics
Tickets
- Includes tickets to the Arena Floor in 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
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
- The Arena Floor and the Roman Forum are completely accessible, but guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty in the Palatine Hill due to the uneven and hilly grounds.
- 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 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.
Can we just spend more time inside the Colosseum than in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill?
No, this tour is specifically designed to spend 20 minutes inside the Colosseum and around 1.5 hours in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The tickets we use are specific Arena tickets that are valid exclusively for 20 minutes and allow only access to the Arena floor from a reserved entrance. The tour will then continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where you will enjoy elevated views over the Colosseum which is a great occasion to ask all your questions regarding the Colosseum and where the guide will take some time to go over an explanation of the whole building.
Are we going underground in this tour?
No, this tour includes exclusively the Arena Floor which is a modern reconstruction in place where the original floor used to be. This tour will not take you below ground and you are not going in the Underground section, but you will gain an exclusive point of view very close to the underground area and your guide will be able to explain that from above.
Is this tour recommended for Families with Kids? What is the difference from your Colosseum for Kids tour since the duration is the same?
This tour is not specifically designed for families with children. We spend less time inside the Colosseum even tho we go on the Arena Floor. And we spend more time in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which is usually the least appealing for young learners.
Are your Colosseum tours legitimate and officially accredited?
Yes! We are proud to be an accredited tour operator with the Colosseum. All our tours are professionally conducted and fully comply with all official regulations and guidelines set by the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.
Are your Colosseum tours legitimate and officially accredited?
Yes! We are proud to be an accredited tour operator with the Colosseum. All our tours are professionally conducted and fully comply with all official regulations and guidelines set by the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.
Cancellation Policy
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
