No trip to Rome would be complete without taking a Colosseum tour, but with so many options on offer choosing the right one for you can be difficult. You can of course visit the Colosseum without taking a tour, but the only way to appreciate the majesty of the monument, the stories of those who fought there, and the subtleties that tell stories of their own – not to mention the wider historical context – is in the company of one of Walks Inside Rome’s expert guides.
This article outlines some of the main benefits to booking a Colosseum tour with Walks Inside Rome. From our wealth of options, such as what time you visit the world’s most iconic amphitheatre and what other sites and attractions you can add to your tour, to what makes a Walks Inside Rome Colosseum tour so special, it sets out everything you need to make the most informed choice next time you visit Rome.
We only use expert licensed guides
All our guides are seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to showing guests around such ancient sites as the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. We are proud to count among our cohort ancient historians and archaeologists who have published books on the Colosseum and earned international acclaim as experts in their field. This year we will be focussing on semi-private and private tours around Rome and its environs. This means that joining us on one of our tours ensures you’ll enjoy personalised attention and a platform to ask any questions you may have about the Colosseum.
Our Colosseum tour takes you behind the scenes
Walks Inside Rome enjoys special access to VIP, skip-the-line tickets into the Colosseum, Vatican, and other attractions in Rome. This means that, when the crowds return, there will be no waiting around in the heat outside. Instead, you can step straight into the ancient amphitheatre to explore its levels at your leisure.
We also enjoy almost exclusive access to the Colosseum Underground and Colosseum Belvedere. Exploring the Flavian Amphitheatre from its upper levels is an experience in itself, evoking wonder and pathos at the stories of senators, gladiators and masses who attended the games. But delving beneath the monument to wander its labyrinthine underground is the only way to really understand the Colosseum, as you encounter the animal cages and pulley mechanisms that furnished the amphitheatre with both its scenery and its ill-fated participants.
The Colosseum Belvedere is also worth visiting, granting you unparalleled views from the top of the ancient amphitheatre. Though this was the least desirable vantagepoint in antiquity, reserved for the plebs while the senators sat closer to the action below, today the Belvedere is one of the most sought-after sections of the Colosseum. Do check before booking this option, however, as the Belvedere is currently closed for repairs.
What to expect from our Colosseum tour
The Colosseum is the most mesmerising monument of the ancient world – a temple of slaughter built to appease the masses. Some 60,000 spectators, from senators to plebeians, would congregate within its walls to worship at death’s altar. Wild animal hunts, battle reenactments, and criminal executions were the usual order of the day. Yet the Colosseum had no shortage of the kind of gladiatorial combats we are most familiar with – immortalized in popular culture through Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator.
Your knowledgeable guide will bring the Colosseum to life, painting scenes of its blood-stained sands and evoking its deafening atmosphere among the raucous roars of its crowds. Gaze down upon the arena floor, now the setting of the Colosseum Underground, imagining the unspeakable scenes that took place there. Wander the different levels of the monument, absorbing its powerful history and shaping an experience you’ll never forget.
Venturing outside the Colosseum, we’ll then walk along the Via Sacra, where victorious generals returning from battle would ride in chariots during their triumph, and into the Roman Forum. Pass by the Arch of Titus and Temple of Romulus to enter the heart of the Roman Forum, treading the same cobblestones that the likes of Caesar, Cicero, and Caligula would have once walked as they conspired, plotted, and navigated their survival.
Behold the site where Mark Antony cremated Julius Caesar – his speech rousing the rabble to riot. Marvel at the Temple of Vesta, where the Vestal Virgins kept the sacred fire burning – both for Rome and for their own protection. Discover the Roman Forum’s magnificent temples; not just to gods as with the Temple of Saturn, but also to emperors like Vespasian and Antoninus Pius, who were declared gods after their death.
This is our classic, 3-hour Private Ancient Rome tour. Should you wish to extend your tour to 4 hours, your expert guide will then take you up the Palatine Hill: a site bursting with historical significance. It’s not surprising it has some of Rome’s oldest and most ornate monuments given how old the Palatine Hill is. For according to legend it was on the Palatine that Romulus founded Rome after murdering his twin brother Remus.
Combine your Colosseum tour with something extra-special
Walks Inside Rome promotes personalised tours for all its guests. And with so much to see and do in the Eternal City, why limit yourself to one attraction!
- Colosseum and Vatican Tour: discover all of Rome’s unmissable highlights in four hours on our Sistine Chapel Colosseum Express tour. Explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica as you uncover the Rome of the Popes. Then venture forth to the Colosseum to acquaint yourself with the City of the Caesars. This four-hour tour is the perfect way to uncover the Eternal City as your expert, fluent Italian guide accompanies you on a cultural voyage through Rome’s masterpieces from ancient to medieval, and Renaissance to Baroque.
- Colosseum and Cooking Class: combine culture and cuisine on this unforgettable experience. After discovering the wonders of ancient Rome – the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – we’ll transport you to our centrally situated cooking school where you’ll learn to make a range of Italian classics. From pizza and gelato to pasta and tiramisù, you’ll emerge the conqueror of dinner parties after taking this True Roman Experience.
- Colosseum and San Clemente: the little-known Basilica of San Clemente stands quite literally in the shadow of the Colosseum – seldom visited but unfairly overlooked. San Clemente is an archaeological treasure trove, with a three-tiered complex of buildings spanning 2000 years of history. It houses a 2nd century Mithraeum, the house of a Roman nobleman, a pagan temple, an ancient lower basilica dating back to the 4th century and decorated with frescoes and finally an upper layer Basilica dating back to the 12th century filled with mosaics. Delve underground beneath the basilica, and peel away the archaeological layers as you transport yourself through time.
Contact us and book today
For more than 20 years, Walks Inside Rome has been offering immersive, authentic, and educational private and small-group tours and Rome kids and families experiences. Our team of local, licensed guides are seasoned experts in art, history, archaeology and food. Our combined expertise and experience transforms your time in Rome into something truly exceptional.
To check out our catalogue of tours and experiences, visit our website or contact us directly. We can’t wait to hear from you so we can customise your own Rome travel guide and start exploring together!
