Guided tour

Colosseum Underground: Priority Access Guided Tour

4.6 / 5

324 reviews

Activity provider: City Wonders Ltd.
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    Guided tour

    Colosseum Underground: Priority Access Guided Tour

    Activity provider: City Wonders Ltd.
    Likely to sell out
    Likely to sell out

    From US$ 106.29 per person

    Get a gladiator’s-eye view of the Colosseum with a skip-the-line tour. Go backstage with your guide to off-limit areas, like the underground level where gladiators would wait to head out into battle. Visit the Palatine Hill & Roman Forum.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
    Duration 2 - 2.5 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the line through a separate entrance
    Live tour guide
    English
    Small group available

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Get exclusive access to the underground corridors of the Colosseum
    • Walk along the Via Sacra of the Roman Forum
    • Enjoy panoramic views from Palatine Hill
    • Discover where the gladiators prepared for their fights and caged animals were kept
    • Take a comprehensive tour of all levels of the Colosseum
    • See some of the oldest ruins of the Roman Republic
    • Get a deeper insight into the culture, laws, and traditions of Ancient Rome
    Full description

    Covid-19 Update

    Due to health and safety regulations, this itinerary may change. See Know before you go for the latest updates.

    Begin your tour of Rome’s most iconic monument with Skip-the-Line access directly through the Gladiator’s Gate. Once the main exit for defeated contenders, this special entrance leads you directly to the parts of the Colosseum most tourists don’t get to see.  Your first stop is the Colosseum Underground – the backstage area where gladiators prepared for battle. Here, your expert, English-speaking guide will call on their historical and archaeological expertise to let you imagine the space as it once was. Scenery and caged wild animals stood ready to be hoisted into the arena by ingenious pulleys. You’ll practically feel the gladiators’ tense anticipation and hear the roar of the blood-thirsty crowd. Then, you will venture out onto where the spectators would watch the bloody battles that once took place in the Colosseum. The next stop on the tour takes you back to the very beginning. The Palatine Hill is the spot Romulus chose to find the city that would become Rome in 753 BC – a decision that ended in tragedy for his brother Remus. Here, steeped in history, you’ll enjoy a spectacular preview of your next destination: The Roman Forum. The Forum and the Via Sacra, the Sacred Way, were the heart of Ancient Rome. All of Roman life could be found in this bustling marketplace: commerce and trade, political rallies, military parades, and the sacred ceremonies of the Vestal Virgins.
    Includes
    • English-speaking guide
    • Skip-the-line access to the Colosseum
    • Access to the arena floor and underground tunnels
    • Skip-the-line access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
    • Entrance tickets for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill (including reservation fees)
    • Headsets
    • Gratuities
    • Hotel pick-up and drop off
    Not suitable for
    • People with mobility impairments
    • Wheelchair users
    • Babies under 1 year
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • You must keep social distance while in vehicles
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

    Important information

    What to bring

    • Passport or ID card
    • Comfortable shoes

    Not allowed

    • Baby strollers
    • Luggage or large bags

    Know before you go

    • Due to ongoing COVID-19 virus preventative measures, the Arena will not be visited on this tour until further notice. The Gladiator’s Gate access will be replaced by the standard underground entrance
    • Government-imposed COVID restrictions for entering countries and venues (e.g. booster shot, negative COVID test, vaccine certificate with a QR code) may change with little notice
    • It is the responsibility of all visitors to ensure they check the official travel advice on the government websites and comply with each country’s requirements. The local partner will not be held responsible for refused access to museums and tourist attractions and no refund will be due
    • Large bags or suitcases will not be permitted in the Colosseum or Roman Forum, and there are no cloakroom facilities for storage
    • Security performs random identity checks carried out by Colosseum staff. Please make sure you carry an ID or Passport with you to ensure you will be able to enter the venue
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.6 /5

    based on 324 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.7/5
    • Value for money
      4.3/5
    • Service
      4.6/5
    • Organization
      4.5/5

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    I had originally booked the underground tour a month in advance and then a few days before the tour was contacted to say there were no tickets for the tour we had booked and had to take this one but got the balance refunded. I enjoyed the guided part of the tour which was of the Colosseum and just to inside the gates of Palatine Hill which was where the hide left us and we could wander around there and the Roman Forum ourselves. There’s a LOT of walking in this if you are to see it all so bring snacks with you. Our guide was so knowledgeable and answered all of our questions.

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    April 22, 2022

    M
    Michelle – Ireland Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Absolutely loved this tour. Our tour guide Jaber was so insightful, I learnt so much about the Colosseum & all the activities that went on in the underground, which I had no knowledge on prior. Jaber had lots of enthusiasm for this tour & Rome and really made the tour amazing! We had time to stop for photos at many places & he even was able to take some family photos for the group since it was a smaller group of us that day. We stopped by the Roman Forum & went to an incredible viewpoint on Palatine Hill which oversaw the beautiful city of Rome. I highly recommend choosing CityWonders for your tours over other companies!!

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    April 14, 2022

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – Australia Verified booking

    Helpful?

    OMG! Rosanna was the best guide we ever had. We toured the colosseum and learned very much about the history and we were taken to areas other tourists can’t see unless you book with them! We had the best experience and love every second visiting this site. Rosanna made sure the group was together and made sure to give us the best customer service. I would recommend this tours to anyone wanting to have a great experience and luxury not to do anything else than listening and enjoying the views and all the information provided by your guide. She even took out pictures on the most beautiful spots!

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    April 13, 2022

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – United States Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 44585