Home > Rome > Skip the Line: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour
USD $57.00
Skip the Line: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour
Rome, Italy
Leave the crowds behind and head straight inside the Colosseum with your skip-the-line entrance ticket! In a group of no more than 25 people, explore the first and second tiers of this A-list attraction with a guide, learning about the gladiators who competed in the Colosseum’s gory gladiatorial games. Finish with a tour of the Roman Forum in Ancient Rome and admire incredible ruins, like the Temple of Julius Caesar.
If you want to see the Colosseum Underground Chambers, Arena and Upper Tier, then upgrade! – These areas that are either newly opened or normally off-limits.
Start your tour near Oppian Hill – one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome -- to enjoy panoramic views of the Colosseum, and then stroll down to it with your guide. As Rome’s premier crowd-drawing site, the Colosseum regularly attracts long entrance lines. Skip them with your priority-access ticket and head straight inside for your small-group tour.
As you walk around the Colosseum’s first and second tiers, your guide will keep you entertained with tales of gladiators, mock sea-battles and executions -- a fascinating insight into the amphitheater's gruesome past. Wander its circumference and learn what it must have been like when the crowds were roaring and the gladiator’s fate was decided by an emperor on a whim.
After exploring the Colosseum, head outside and walk the short distance to the Roman Forum for an up-close look at some of Ancient Rome’s most evocative ruins. See sites like the Temple of Julius Caesar and the intriguing House of the Vestal Virgins, before strolling up Palatine Hill to admire the views of the ruins below. Look down over Nero’s Circus Maximus, where chariot races were once held, and then finish your tour on the Palatine Hill – the most famous of the Seven Hills of Rome.
Upgrade Options: If you want to explore the Colosseum, and enjoy access to the arena floor, the underground chambers and the third tier, then upgrade! These areas are either newly opened or normally off limits, so by upgrading you’ll experience the Colosseum as few others do. The Upgrade option last 3.5hours.
Walk around the reconstructed arena floor, where the gladiators once fought, and peer down in to the underground chambers below. Then, head below ground to explore them yourself, seeing the pits where lions and tigers were once caged. Your Colosseum experience finishes with a stroll around the third tier where you can enjoy panoramic views into the Colosseum as well as out onto Palatine Hill. Your tour finishes with a visit to the Roman Forum as per the standard tour option.
Great tour. The size of the Colosseum boggles the mind
Review by: Matt M, December 2017
Worth every penny. Tour guide is an archaeologist and she re-created Ancient Rome before your eyes. It was so great
Review by: travelco, December 2017
We had the 9:30 a.m tour and it was terrific. Our tour guide was Donata and she made it special. She has done so much of her own research and brought pictures and books along so we could visualize what the original site looked like back in the day. We were in a fairly small group which made it great. She made sure we saw everything we needed to see and shared a wealth of information. Would definitely recommend this tour and Donata.
Review by: Adam, December 2017
Was okay, guide went through the point of interest without much details
Review by: eekness, December 2017
Well worth the upgrade!
Review by: Constance T M, December 2017
Awesome Guide! Very knowledgeable. Wonderful Experience
Review by: dr.ruthmcc, December 2017
We loved this tour and the guide was fantastic!
Review by: Jennifer B, December 2017
Francesca was everything we hoped for. She had excellent in-depth information on the location history's that she took us. We very much enjoyed our tour and would recommend!
Review by: gardn032, December 2017
Damiano hope I'm spelling his name correctly was a wonderful guide ... super friendly, knowledgeable and lots of fun. There is quite a bit of walking and stairs but the pace is good so you don't feel rushed. The group size was a little large ... I think 12-15 max would be best especially at locations that are typically very crowded and busy. At times I would loose sight of our guide and have to rely on what he was saying to locate him. Having said that, Damiano was very good at checking in to make sure the group was all together before moving too far along.
Review by: Wayne G, December 2017
Well organized tour that lived up to its skip the line billing and provided a nice overview of the geography and some of the history of Ancient Rome. The guide provided a lively and informative commentary. Excellent introduction to a large area and complicated story that provided solid groundwork for follow-up visits and further exploration on our own.
Review by: Misty J, December 2017
Totally recommend! Loved seeing all that Rome had to offer!
Review by: rbergerlb, December 2017
The guide was an art historian and passionate about the architecture of Ancient Rome. At each stop in the Colosseum or Forum she brought out a drawing or picture of its former state. She was informative and engaging. While we started our early the Colosseum did get very busy before our tour was complete. In spite of the crowds I felt we got an excellent feel for the sites because the guide was so well educated and knew how to impart that knowledge to the group.
Review by: Linda R, December 2017
Truly an experience. Guided tour was great.So glad to have booked this.
Review by: Evangeline F, December 2017
The tour guide is awesome, Knowledgeable and communicate very well.
Review by: Bichvan N, December 2017
Highly recommended ! Our tour guide is nice and informative!
Review by: John L, December 2017
Wonderful Tour. We took the early small group tour and were done by noon to enjoy Rome for the rest of the day. Impossible to read/learn all that the guide can impart in the same amount of time if ever!
Review by: Kennyinps, November 2017
Great tour with lots of interesting information. Our guide, Alessandra, was very knowledgeable on the history of Rome and the Colisseum. We really enjoyed having her as our tour guide.
Review by: Sophie K, November 2017
Great tour that teaches you a lot about the history. We had an excellent tour guide who answered questions very well and who was not boring at all
Review by: David B, November 2017
My wife and myself booked the Viator tour after reading the great reviews, and we were not disappointed, we had the tour on 27/11/17, the instructions were clear and accurate . It was easy to find the start point opposite the Colosseum up the steps from the under ground, the tour was to start at 10 : 00 which it did there where about 18 in our group and we all had headsets in order to hear our guide they were clear , our guide was fantastic, friendly and had a great knowledge sadly I cannot remember her name , the tour lasted 3 hours which flew by . I had always wanted to tour the Colosseum and the other sites included I can thoroughly recommend this tour and would go with them again. Yours David and Jean Bell
Review by: Talissa D, November 2017
So awesome that we got to walk where Julius Caesar walked! The guide was super informative.
Review by: mj_havel, November 2017
During this tour we saw the Colosseum...not just the first and second level like most tours, but the third level as well as the area below the original floor. The Colosseum alone was well worth it, but we also saw the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Both were amazing as well, I would highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to see these sights as well as learn about them from a very educated and knowledgeable guide.
Review by: Eli P, November 2017
Our guide, Christina, was amazing and we got special access which we loved and were able to see the main entrance. Highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Lance W H, November 2017
We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide, Sylvia, was pleasant and helpful, and we learned about the history of the Roman ruins. What a great way to spend a fall morning in Rome.
Review by: winder, November 2017
Guide was a rude and impatient fella - and we decided to cut short our tour and explore on our own.
Review by: Thomas B, November 2017
Extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide!
Review by: Don F, May 2017
Our guide really knew his stuff about the area and kept us interested the whole trip. The tour was smooth and easy to follow along. Getting into the Colosseum was quick and relatively easy with the guide. Everyone at some point in their life needs to learn more about the Romans and this was a great way to do it.
Review by: john, May 2017
This tour was recommended by our daughter who also found it excellent. Marco our guide was extremely enthusiastic about the Colosseum and commentated knowledgeably throughout our 3 hour tour about it, The Forum and The Circus Maximus as well as notable occurences throughout their history. Booking on line was easy prior to our trip and not having to queue with all the crowds to get in was a great start. Can't recommend this tour highly enough - one definitely not to be missed !
Review by: wgbeasjr, May 2017
Great tour. Fabrizio was thorough and informative. Highly recommend
Review by: Carmen P, May 2017
Good tour, the guide was very knowledgeable. We had the opportunity to see a lot and to learn a lot. The tour involves a lot of walking up and down hill._br/_ We do recommend this tour.
Review by: michele.miller1, May 2017
Great tour and seeing the underground Colusseum was a great highlight for us. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour!
Review by: jj_sorrell12, May 2017
Of all of our tours I would rate the Colosseum in the middle. Our guide was a local and was passionate about the history- however she often would rush through things and at times would skip sections that we wanted to see. She was also slightly scatter brained and seemed knew to the job.
Review by: Owen M, May 2017
Great tour around the Colosseum and into the Forum before heading up to the Palatine Hill. Giuseppe was a great guide who brought the history of the places to life in a very entertaining and knowledgable way, explaining the history of the buildings and areas and knowing the best places to take photos from. A very enjoyable afternoon.
Review by: Kaya L, May 2017
great tour! wonderful tour guide, definitely make sure you keep up with the group! wouldn't recommend for families with kids under 13 because its a long time to intake all the facts and knowledge :
Review by: Sarah B, May 2017
This tour was phenomenal! Highly recommend.
Review by: Dorothy A, May 2017
Our tour guide, Nicola, was incredible. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the Colosseum and all of the history of the Roman Forum and the 7-Hills of Roma! We really enjoyed the ability to skip-the-line with our special access. We also really enjoyed entering into the Colosseum through the Gladiator gate. It was breathtaking to see and feel overwhelmed by the shear size and could only imagine what a person would have felt coming on to the fight floor with 50,000 spectators cheering and shouting. We really enjoyed spending a good amount of time within the Colosseum before moving on to the Roman Forum. The ancient ruins of the Forum were spectacular to see. In the glory days you could really imagine what it would have been like to live in what was described as the Center of the World. Nicola really was able to give you insight which helped you to better understand what ancient Roman life could have been like. A great tour!!
Review by: Mohamed Zakaria, May 2017
a must to book to understand rome
Review by: Mohamed Zakaria, May 2017
a must to book tour to understand rome and ancient rome
Review by: jennattan08, May 2017
We took the early first tour. Its good as its before the crowd starts coming in. we get to enter the Colosseum thru a special door and we got the centre stage all to ourselves. The guide was very detailed, she was also very caring towards the elderly and very quick to lend a helping hand when needed. although it was my 3rd time to Rome and 2nd time visiting Colosseum with a tour, I've learned more things abt Colosseum from her than the last tour i went.
Review by: stevechinna, May 2017
The guides
Review by: Gary H, May 2017
Good experience guide had great knowledge and no queues
Review by: alireza r, May 2017
Emanuela was excellent and entertaining.
Review by: myrng, May 2017
This tour is a must. Well worth all the walking
Review by: Vivek H, May 2017
Amazing
Review by: Donald C, May 2017
A fantastic tour. Our tour guide was brilliant and imparted lots of information regarding the Colosseum and the Ancient Roman Forum. I would certainly recommend this tour to anyone travelling to Rome.
Review by: Pierre T, May 2017
Highly recommend this tour as an interesting way to walk through all of major parts of the ancient rome part of the city. Jabar was our guide and he was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. We got to skip the long lines and go through sections of the Colosseum floor that were not easily accessible to other groups. Would have been lost looking through the Forum thinking it was just a pile of rocks if not for Jabar helping us visualize what this area looked like in ancient Rome.
Review by: ojeda_karina, May 2017
The worst tour EVER! Please avoid any 'City Wonders' tours in Europe! The meeting point was so hard to find and we got to the tour 4 minutes late and even found our tour guide and the group just before them heading to the Colosseum entrance, which we could have perfectly joined. Instead they sent us with the coordinators who were unexperienced young people that told us that we couldn't join the tour because THEY DIDN'T ISSUE OUR TICKETS which we prepaid for!!!! and that we had to re-schedule the tour for the next day and pay an additional fee of 15 each, or join the family tour that same day. After calling the 'City Wonders' office and talking to a supervisor for more than 30 minutes, they couldn't solve anything but only offer another tour which was for children. They were so rude and yelled at us at the phone, while we were asking why if we had a prepaid tour they didn't issue our tickets and handed them to us when we got there. They not only took our money, but our time which is even more valuable!!!
Review by: tjafri720, May 2017
Another great tour with Viator! Our tour guide was amazing. Very organized and knowledgeable. She was also very nice and would answer any of our questions. Please invest in better head phones though! The ones provided kept falling our of our ears. The ones provided in the Vatican tour were way better.
Review by: Todd T, May 2017
Great tour. Our tour guide was excellent. This will provide you with all you need to know about the Colosseum and ancient Rome.
Review by: Andrea I, May 2017
This was such a great way to explore and learn about Ancient Rome. Our tour guide, Mariella was wonderful. She is an anthropologist was was so knowledgeable as she shared her passion with us. We would definitely recommend this tour!
Review by: Peter G, May 2017
The Colosseum and forum walking tour is a must on any tourists to do list in Rome.Our guide was Elary and her descriptions brought the tour to life.