colosseum vatican tour

Colosseum and Vatican Tours by Italy Wonders

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Colosseum with Arena Access and Ancient Rome Tour

Combo Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel Small Group Tour

Vatican City: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Group Tour

Colosseum with arena experience and Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel

Express Small Group Tour of Colosseum with Arena Entrance

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Colosseum and Vatican Tours by Italy Wonders - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Vatican Guided Tour, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Vatican Museum Customized Private Tours, Official Travel Agency

• Vatican Guided Tour
• Rome by Night and Private tour of the Vatican Museum
• Private Vatican Museums Tour + Colosseum at Night – Vatican Guided Tours
• Sistine Chapel Private Tour – Official Vatican Museum Guided Tours and Tickets
• Vatican Private Tour Guide | Official Vatican Private Tours and Tickets
• Vatican Tours For Kids And Families Skip The Line Entry | Vatican Private Tours
• Private Vatican City Tour For Kids and Treasure Hunt Experience
• Vatican Early Entrance Tickets And Private Vatican Museum Guided Tour For Kids
• Vatican tour with kids | Guided Tour of the Vatican by Night Tour for Families
• Vatican Private Tour Pope’s Summer Residence From Rome
• Private Sistine Chapel Tours And The Colosseum Arena Floor Vip Experience
• Vatican Museum After Hours Private Tour With Aperitif – Vip Experience
• Vatican Museum breakfast and tour | Early Private Tour Of The Vatican with Breakfast
• Vatican Private Tours | Tour Of The Vatican City
• Exclusive Tour of the Vatican-pope’s Summer Residence Gardens
• Vatican Gardens private tour including Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
• Exclusive Vatican City Private Tour And The Best Of Rome In One Day
• Vatican Museum By Night Private Guided Tour and Tickets
• Private Vatican Museum Tours Exclusive Early Entrance
• Vatican Private Guided Tours | Exclusive Guided Tour | Best Of The Vatican Museum
• Express Private Sistine Chapel Tour and Vatican Highlights
• Special Vatican Museum Guided Tour Cabinet Of The Masks
• Vatican Tour – Small Group Tours
• Vatican Gardens
• Papal Audience and Vatican Group Tour
• Catacombs Group Tour

Vatican and Colosseum Tours Semi-Private or Private guided Tours

• Vatican City Early Access and Sistine Chapel Tour – Small Group or private tours
• Early Vatican tours – Sistine Chapel early morning entrance and tour for Kids Small Group
• Afternoon Vatican Museum Tour, Sistine Chapel Tours Small Group
• Vatican Night Tour – Small Group Special VIP Entrance
• Vatican Tour and Tickets – Best of the Vatican City Small Group Tour
• Sistine Chapel Ceiling – Vatican Museums Immersive Tour – Michelangelo’s frescos
• Semi-Private Sistine Chapel Early Entrance Vatican Tour
• Sistine Chapel official Tour with Early Access and Private Express Tour of St Peter’s Basilica
• Special Small Group Colosseum and Vatican Tour
• Tour of the Arena Floor Colosseum Sistine Chapel Tour- VIP Entry
• Special Semi-Private Vatican City Tour Up To 10 People
• Vatican City Early Morning Tour Super Fast Track Colosseum’s Arena Tour
• Semi-Private Tours – The Vatican City and Colosseum Tour Special Access to Arena

Papal Audience and Vatican Museums Tour

• Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with Skip-the-line Colosseum
• Papal Audience + Exclusive Visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel
• Vatican Museum Disabled Access Skip-The-Line Guided Tour
• Ancient Ostia Tour
• Angels and demons
• Borghese Gallery
• Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace and Villas
• Rome Catacombs Tour and Ancient Appian Way Private Tours
• Colosseum Private Tours | Ancient Rome Guided Tours and Tickets of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
• Ponza Island Tours | Day Trip From Rome To Ponza Island
• Rome by Night escorted Tour | Private Tours Of Rome At Night VIP Chauffeured Service
• Rome Shore Excursions | Rome Highlights Private Cruise Ship Excursion From Civitavecchia
• Rome in one day Tour- Vatican Museum and Rome Private Tours in a day
• Rome In 2 Days | Rome And Vatican City Private Tours In Two Days
• Rome Walking Tour | Evening private walking guided Tours | A Stroll To Discover The Highlights Of The Eternal City
• Tours of Tivoli Day Trip From Rome | Tivoli, Villa D’Este and Villa Adriana guided Tours And Tickets
• Rome Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Vatican Museum tour
• Skip-the-line Colosseum & Vatican Museum Tour
• VIP Tour Vatican Museum & More
• Vatican Museum Group Tour & Rome Private Sightseeing
• [email protected]

• +39 0669348035
• 08:30 AM - 8:30 PM Rome (IT) Local Time

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Already a member, don't have an account create one., or continue as guest, adding item to wishlist requires an account, vatican and colosseum tours  in one day – small group or private guided tours.

Vatican and Colosseum Tours – Semi-Private Tour – Max 15 participants! Fast track entry accompanied by a certified guide!

Inclusions:

• Vatican Museums
• St Peter’s Basilica
• Sistine Chapel
• Raphael’s Rooms
• Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum tour

Vatican and Colosseum Tours Semi-Private 5.5 hrs. | Start: Morning | Participants: Max 15

Vatican and Colosseum tours that offer the best of both – The Vatican and the Colosseum. With fast track entry to the Vatican Museums, you will be visiting the most important of over 100 galleries, including Raphael’s Room. The visit then continues to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. Your experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour and share some fascinating stories about the art and history of Rome. After a quick break, the tour continues to a 1.5 – hour tour of the Colosseum, including the arena floor. The Colosseum tour will have a maximum of 24 participants as other visitors will be joining the Colosseum tour.

Vatican and Colosseum tours | With a fast track entry, you will be spending a brief time to queue up for security and then head straight in to start your tour. You will be drawn into the world of the Renaissance period as well as learn about the Emperors and Gladiators in the Colosseum. Do not miss this tour! Because the group size is limited, you will have more personal interaction with your private guide, saving valuable time and be able to move faster between exhibits as well! You will be provided with headsets which will allow you to hear your guide as you pass through famous galleries such as the Gallery of Maps, Raphael’s Rooms – where you will be fabulous paintings and Borgia’s Apartment. The Vatican tour then continues to the Sistine Chapel and be blown away by ‘The Creation of the World’ and ‘ Last Judgement’ by Michelangelo. Through a secret passage, you will now move on to St Peter’s Basilica (sometimes this passage maybe not available). Here you will see the magnificent ‘Baldachino,’ and Michelangelo’sPieta’. You can stay inside the Basilica as you wish without the guide.

Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour

The Vatican and Colosseum tours continues in the afternoon when you can listen to your knowledgeable guide and learn about the gladiators and slaves, animals, and Emperors. Your guide will reveal to you the blood-chilling experiences held in the Colosseum. Your professional guide will deliver an engaging and interactive experience about Ancient Rome. History will be brought back to life and you might just be able to hear The roar of the spectators in the arena. At full capacity, it was believed that up to 80,000 spectators watched the drama unfold on the arena floors below where lives were at stake!

After that, you will also have a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to have a direct experience of the Ancient Romans daily life.

Rome’s Attractions Not To Be Missed!

• Vatican and Colosseum tours is not available for wheelchair-bound visitors as well as visitors with hearing disabilities. We are more than happy to organize private tours for wheelchair and hearing disabled visitors. Please contact us at [email protected].
• There is a lot of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes as the ground can be rather uneven at the Colosseum.
• You will be asked to pass through airport-style security checks at the entrance of the Colosseum, so please only carry a light backpack as many items are restricted (pointed umbrellas, large suitcases, and big backpacks, weapons, firearms, knives). You can only bring in an empty water bottle into the Colosseum. You will be able to fill your water bottle with the many fountains available inside.
• There is a dress code to the Vatican which applies to children too. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Sometimes Sistine Chaple and Saint Peter Basilica can be closed without notice.
• The Vatican Museums get rather busy during summer and after a bank holiday.

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• (+39) 0669921343
• 9 am to 7 pm

Combo Colosseum and Vatican Private Tour

5 hours with a private, licensed guide for a quality, interactive experience

Pre-purchased access in the Colosseum and the Vatican

Admire the Colosseum inside and out

Explore the countless galleries of the Vatican Museums

Look in awe at the Sistine Chapel

Colosseum Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel

Tour Description

Our  Combo Colosseum and Vatican Private Tour  is the best solution to visit the two most visited sites in Rome in just one day. This is the best tour if you want to maximise your time in the Eternal City, but still enjoy the explanations of a private, licensed guide!

Visit the two most popular highlights in Rome in just five hours, accompanied by a local, professional guide. This combo tour is perfect for all those who have limited time in Rome, but still want to make the most out of it.

You will enter the  Colosseum  directly through the  Gladiator’s Gate , with our pre-purchased access. Your guide will lead you inside the Arena, one of the restricted areas of Colosseum, exactly where Gladiators used to fight, then to the first and second level of the Colosseum, explaining all about this monument history and the spectacular fightings that took place in it. Our guides are expert in the history of Ancient Rome and will carefully describe how life was for the population and the emperors, how gladiators were recruited and treated and how they fought between each other and/or wild beasts.

Once your Colosseum adventure is over, you and your guide will take a taxi to the Vatican. Are you ready to enter the smallest country in the world? Do not worry: the Vatican is a country of its own, but you won’t be asked a passport to enter!

Thanks to our pre-booked access you will access the Vatican Museums  without wasting your precious time. You will enjoy an express visit of the Vatican Museums, focusing on the art works that you or your guide will deem the most important. Please remember that, being this a private tour, you can ask your guide all the questions you wish and focus on the works that capture your attention the most.

You will then proceed to the  Sistine Chapel , to admire in silence the magnificent frescoes by Michelangelo that adorn the walls and ceiling of the huge room. Guides are not allowed to explain inside the Chapel, but they will do it beforehand, letting you admire it in peace and quiet, as this masterpiece deserves.

If your are interested in visiting just the Vatican, discover one of our Vatican Tours .

Tour's Notes

Please bring an ID document for children as proof of age for the reduced price access. When accessing the monument, Colosseum visitors will be asked to pass security checks, even when entering with pre-booked access. Please make sure you DO NOT have pointed large umbrellas and knives of any sizes with you. Liquids are allowed but only if in plastic bottles. Remember that you can refill your containers in the fountains inside the Colosseum. Backpacks are allowed inside the Colosseum if very small in size; shoulder bags or handbags are permitted if regular size. Knees and shoulders must be covered. Failing to follow the Vatican’s dress code, entry may be refused to the Sistine Chapel. We also suggest you wear comfortable shoes, as a moderate amount of walking is involved in this tour. This tour operates in all weather conditions. This tour is available every day, except for Sundays, Public and Religious Holidays. Please note that, for disabled visitors with certified invalidity of more than 74%, the Vatican Museums offers free entry that is extended to a companion for visitors who are not self-sufficient. To benefit from this, make sure you mention it at the time of booking so that our staff may handle your request.

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• Colosseum , Rome , Vatican
• Best Tours , Combo , Private Tour

5 hour private guide Pre-purchased access for the Colosseum with Arena Entrance Pre-purchased access for the Vatican

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• Meeting Point

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Contact info.

Our office in the Vatican district: Via Vespasiano 28 Phone: +39 06 83936 432

• Email: info@ colosseumandvaticantours.com
• Office Number: (+39) 0669921343
• Emergency Phone for colosseum group tours: (+39) 345 529 2606 e +(39) 327 646 8014

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• 6 Apr 2019: “Highly enjoyable tour with Diego”
• 6 Apr 2019: “Great tour or colosseum, Palatine Hill and...”
• 5 Apr 2019: “Giorgio was brilliant”
• 5 Apr 2019: “ancient Rome”
• 4 Apr 2019: “Great tour very worthwhile”
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Colosseum and Vatican tours by Italy Wonders srls Tour operator License : Italy Guided tours released by the province of Rome : N.R.U. 275

Combo Private Tour of Colosseum and Vatican

Our Combo Private Tour of Colosseum and Vatican is the best solution to enjoy an exclusive the visit of the two most visited sites in Rome, accompanied by a top private guide.

Activity level

Starting time.

Kid friendly tour

Tour description

Our Combo Private Tour of Colosseum and Vatican is the best solution to visit the two most visited sites in Rome with an enthusiastic private guide. This is the best tour if you want to maximise your time in Rome !

For most visitors to Rome, the two main priorities are the Colosseum and Vatican. With our Combo Private Tour of Colosseum and Vatican you will see the two most popular highlights in Rome in just 5 hours , accompanied by a fully licensed private guide who will keep you engaged throughout. We offer a great opportunity to combine two private tours in one for all those who have limited time in Rome. Owing to the huge number of visitors to both the Colosseum and Vatican every day, having a private guide to show you round the sites really is the best possible way to visit them.

You will meet your private guide at the Colosseum , where you will enter with pre-booked access  with the special access onto the arena , the Gladiator's gate,  saving you valuable time. Once inside the Flavium Amphitheatre ( the real name of the Colosseum! ) you will learn about Gladiators' combats and life in Ancient Rome. O ur guides are expert in the history of Ancient Rome  with a real passion for their subject and you will be able to ask them all the questions you want. Without your nose in a guidebook you’ll be able to really take in the wonder of the Colosseum and take fantastic pictures of this once-in-a-lifetime site.

Your private tour of Colosseum and Vatican will continue as you take a taxi (payable on site) over to the Vatican with your private guide. Once again you will very relieved to enter the Vatican Museums with pre-booked access , as you survey the line stretching around the Vatican walls. You will enjoy an express visit to the Vatican Museums, where your private guide will ensure you don’t miss any highlights. Of course, if there is a particular work of art you want to see, you know you’ll be able to as with a private tour of the Colosseum and Vatican you can decide your preferences with your guide. You will then proceed to the Sistine Chapel .

With a Combo Private Tour of Colosseum and Vatican you will maximize your time and get the most out of your visit to Rome’s two most popular site.

Languages : English

Private tour

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Important info

Meeting point:

By the short side of the Arch of Constantine, by the Colosseum : your guide will be waiting holding a sign with your family name

Other info:

Remember to follow the dresscode for the Vatican: you must be able to cover your shoulder and knees.

PLEASE NOTE:  St Peter's Basilica is not included

Please note that in certain periods of summer time, or when the Vatican Museums reopen its doors after bank holidays, the museums might be busier than usual. Please note that, for disabled visitors with certified invalidity of more than 74%, the Vatican Museums offers free entry that is extended to a companion for visitors who are not self-sufficient. To benefit from this, make sure you mention it at the time of booking so that our staff may handle your request.

SECURITY CHECKS : When accessing the monument the Colosseum visitors will be asked to pass security checks ,  even when entering with pre-booked access.

NOT ALLOWED : Please make sure you  DO NOT  have  pointed big umbrellas  and  knives  of any sizes with you.   Liquids  are allowed but  only if in plastic bottles . Remember that you can refill your containers in the fountains inside the Colosseum.

BAGS:  Back bags are allowed inside the Colosseum if very small in size; shoulder bags or handbags are permitted if regular size.

In adverse weather conditions the Colosseum administration may close the arena floor and dungeons for safety reasons. In this case you will enter through a different entrance and spend longer in other parts of the Colosseum

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• Archaeological sites
• The Trevi Fountain
• Vatican Museums
• Saint Peter’s Basilica
• Villa Borghese
• Piazza di Spagna
• Piazza Navona
• Colosseum tickets
• Vatican Museum tickets
• Sistine Chapel tickets
• Saint Peter’s Basilica tickets
• Colosseum tours
• Pantheon Tours
• Car rent with driver
• Transfer Rome / Fiumicino Airport
• Transfer Rome / Ciampino Airport
• Transfer Rome Civitavecchia
• Phone numbers
• Charter bus rental

More tickets available on:

Combined ticket: Vatican, Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica

Location: Ufficio Touristation, viale Vaticano, 97

Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian

Instant ticket delivery: Yes

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Ticket on smartphone: Available

Service offered in cooperation with

This ticket allows you to discover  the most important tourist attractions of Rome with a single skip-the-line ticket . You will have three days time to visit both the most requested sites of the Vatican, the Vatican Museums  and  the Sistine Chapel , and the most visited sites in Rome: the  Colosseum , the  Palatine Hill  and the  Roman Forum .

Included in the package, the viewing of the immersive video on ancient Rome at the Roman Forum and the audio guide that will accompany on your visit to Rome.

Skip-the-line ticket for the most important monuments of Rome and the Vatican

The skip-the-line ticket represents the most complete offer for the tourist who wants to visit the most important monuments of Rome and the Vatican.

What is included in the ticket:

• Skip the line to the Vatican Museums
• Skip the line to the Sistine Chapel
• Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica (with audio guide)
• Entrance to the Colosseum
• Entrance to the Palatine Hill
• Entrance to the Roman Forum
• 25-minute multimedia video on Ancient Rome at the “Foro Romano” Touristation office
• Rome audio guide (available in Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese and Russian)

Priority access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

The first stop on the tour is the  Vatican Museums , at the entrance of which you must provide your priority access ticket.

The Vatican Museums houses an extraordinary collection of works of art collected by popes since Pope Julius II, in 1506, decided to expose to the public the Laocoonte , the extraordinary marble group found near the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Over the centuries this museum center has been enriched with priceless sculptures from the ancient world, from Renaissance and Baroque paintings, to modern and contemporary works by artists such as Matisse and Dalì. In reality it is a museum complex, which includes 12 museums, from the Vatican Pinacoteca, where it is possible to admire works by  Giotto  ,  Leonardo  ,  Raphael  and  Caravaggio,  to the Pio-Clementino museum, where you can admire  Greek and Roman sculptures , up to the Gregorian Egyptian museum, which includes artifacts and mummies from ancient Egypt .

You also have access to the Sistine Chapel ( history and description of the Sistine Chapel ), the spearhead of the exhibition itinerary of the Vatican Museums. You can admire the splendid frescoes by Perugino, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, but above all the extraordinary ceiling of the Sistine Chapel , frescoed by  Michelangelo Buonarroti .

St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican with audio guide

The visit to the Vatican Museums is quite demanding, but if you still have time available, you can also visit  St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on  the same day . Located a few steps from the exit of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest of the churches of Christianity in the world and one of the symbolic monuments of Renaissance architecture.

Inside the basilica it is possible to admire the majesty of the interior and the considerable size of the dome. There is no shortage of important works such as the canopy designed by Bernini and the  Pietà by Michelangelo .

Included in the ticket, the  audio guide of St. Peter’s Basilica , which can be listened to directly through the app or can be downloaded to your mobile phone and listened to offline.

Entrance to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

The ticket also allows you to visit the most fascinating places rich in history of the Eternal City: the  Colosseum , the  Palatine Hill  and the  Roman Forum .

The Palatine has been, since ancient times, the hill of the Roman  nobilitas  , and has preserved this characteristic throughout the empire: it is in fact here that you can see the houses of Augustus, Livia, Tiberius, Domitian and some of the most important temples of Rome.

The visit to the Palatine is a real archaeological walk in the heart of Rome, and can only end with the entrance to the  Colosseum  and the  Roman Forum  , always included in the pass.

Instructions

Select the start date and time of the tour, i.e. access to the Vatican Museums, which represent the first stop.

• 1st stop: Touristation office located in viale Vaticano, 97. Show up at least 10 minutes (we recommend 20) before the booking time and show the ticket on your smartphone. Book your visit to the Colosseum at the same time
• 2nd stage: visit to the Vatican Museums
• 3rd stage: visit to the Colosseum and the following Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
• Stop without reservation: St. Peter’s Basilica
• Stop without reservation: Touriststation office “Foro Romano” for viewing the multimedia video on ancient Rome (duration: 25 minutes)

The pass is activated at the first entrance to the Vatican Museums and can also be shown to the service staff  from your smartphone , without having to download and print the ticket.

Both for entry to the Colosseum and for entry to the Vatican it is necessary to  choose a time slot , which must be strictly respected, and go to  the  pre-established  meeting point .

Other information

Z aini,   suitcases  and  large trolleys  are not allowed  inside the archaeological area of ​​the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums . It is also allowed to introduce small backpacks and bags (at the discretion of the staff), which will be  checked with a metal detector .

It is not allowed to bring dangerous objects, glass bottles and alcohol.

It is recommended to wear  comfortable  and practical  clothing  for visiting the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, while to enter the Vatican Museums it is mandatory to have  covered shoulders and knees .

The following are not included in the combined ticket:

• Access to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica
• Guided Tour

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The 5 best rome colosseum tours with skip-the-line access.

Gladiators battled on the arena floor. A good guide will help you battle the crowds.

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Courtesy of ArcheoRunning

As the most enduring symbol of the Roman Empire and one of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Colosseum receives more than 6 million visitors per year, so it's not easy to escape the crowds. A visit is worth it, though, if you want to see the world's largest amphitheater – once known as the Flavian Amphitheater – and try to imagine what it would have been like 2,000 years ago.

A standard ticket to the Colosseum also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so many (but not all) tours also include those ancient sites. Inside the ancient complex, there is very little signage explaining what you're looking at. A good guide will not only get you skip-the-line access but also bring these incredible places to life. Keep in mind that most Colosseum tours only give you access to the arena floor and upper level. If you want to visit the underground hypogeum, you need to make sure it's included in the tour.

Crown Tours: Skip the line Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum tour

Getty Images

Price: Adults from $84; kids from $67 Duration: 3 hours

Standout perk: Engaging guides speak several languages.

Selected by GetYourGuide as a Certified Experience, this group tour starts at the Colosseum, then takes you to the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Groups consist of up to 30 people, and tourgoers are given headsets so they can better hear and follow the guide. The tour meets at Largo Gaetana Agnesi on the hill overlooking the Colosseum about 30 minutes before the official entry time to get everyone checked in and set up with headsets. The guide then leads participants into the Colosseum and up to the second level, where there's a chance to stop and take photos. On the way back down, there's another photo-op at the arena level before the guide leads the group over to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.

Crown Tours also offers guided tours of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica, as well as the Borghese Gallery, Pantheon and other sites.

Local tip: This tour is offered over a variety of time slots every day. Pick one of the earlier time slots to make sure you'll finish up by lunchtime.

Check prices & availability on:

Through Eternity Tours: Ultimate Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Price: Adults from $105; kids from $95 Duration: 3 hours

Standout perk: This tour includes the Palatine Hill, which some tours skip.

Recent visitors praise the knowledgeable guides for their passion about ancient history and keeping the tour moving while explaining everything in detail. This tour starts at 9:30 a.m. seven days a week and finishes up around lunchtime. In addition to the Colosseum, highlights include the Via Sacra and the House of the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Forum, as well as the Farnese Gardens on the Palatine Hill.

This tour starts at 9:15 a.m. daily. Groups are limited to 10 people; if six or more people are taking the tour, the guide gives out headsets so everyone can hear. Participants are asked to meet 10 minutes before the start time in front of Cafe/Restaurant Angelino ai Fori on Largo Corrado Ricci. The tour is stroller-accessible, but not wheelchair-accessible. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle, especially on hot days.

Through Eternity Tours offers a variety of group and private tours of Rome and other destinations, including Florence , Naples and Pompeii.

Local tip: Book a table at the nearby Taverna dei Fori Imperiali to enjoy a leisurely lunch after the tour.

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LivTours: The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access

Courtesy of LivTours

Price: Adults from $163; kids from $145 Duration: 3 hours

Standout perk: Virtual reality headsets show what the ancient sites would have looked like.

Recent tourgoers praise the guides on this tour for bringing the facts and stories about ancient Rome to life. Along with the confirmation email, participants receive an invitation to download an app. During the tour, the guide gives everyone a cardboard virtual reality headset that works with the app and shows a reconstruction of the Colosseum and the surrounding valley. After visiting the Colosseum, the tour continues to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, where the virtual reality headsets show you a reconstruction of the Circus Maximus and the structures in the Roman Forum. At all the sites, you get skip-the-line access.

These semiprivate tours are guaranteed to have no more than six people, making them a more personalized experience than other group tours. However, because the tours are small, the guides don't use headsets, and some participants noted that it can be difficult to hear the guide over the noise in the Colosseum.

Local tip: You can get some great photos from the upper level, especially if you stand at the apex of the oval.

Roma Experience: Private Colosseum Tour With Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Courtesy of Roma Experience

Price: From $531 Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes

Standout perk: See these ancient sites with an archaeologist who dug at the Roman Forum.

For a deeper understanding (no pun intended) of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, a tour with Elisa Valeria Bove, CEO of Roma Experience, is one of the best you can buy. She studied archaeology and has been involved in excavations at the Roman Forum and other sites, so she's just the person to guide you if you want to get beyond the surface level. Her private tours range from just under three hours for a skip-the-line Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour to the full-day "See Rome in One Day" tour, which also includes a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Be sure to specify if you want to visit the hypogeum when you book.

Roma Experience organizes bespoke private tours throughout Italy, including multiday itineraries. Bove will work with you to customize your experience and bring you to places you wouldn't think to visit, like Quintili's Villa on the ancient Appian Way.

Local tip: If you want to see another incredible archaeological park, let Bove take you to Ostia Antica, less than an hour from Rome.

Imago Artis Travel: Timeless Tales of Gods and Laymen of the Ancient Rome

Courtesy of Imago Artis Travel

Price: On request Duration: 4 hours

Standout perk: This tour includes the Pantheon in addition to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Founded by three art historians with a passion for Roman art and history, Imago Artis Travel offers bespoke private tours of Rome and beyond. Imago Artis works closely with their clients to craft personalized itineraries that highlight the city's most incredible monuments and hidden gems. This tour lasts a half-day and includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Pantheon, with an optional stop for espresso, but you can customize the itinerary to do a full-day tour or multiday itinerary.

Other itineraries that include the Colosseum bring visitors to the Basilica of San Clemente, known as the "lasagna church" because it was built in layers: The deeper you descend, the further back in time you go. Imago Artis also grants visitors exclusive access to off-limits places, such as a church overlooking the Roman Forum. The company also organizes multiday itineraries throughout Italy.

Local tip: There's an element of surprise and delight with Imago Artis that's hard to find elsewhere, especially if your guide is Fulvio De Bonis, one of the company's founders.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Laura Itzkowitz is a Rome-based freelance journalist who thinks about the Roman Empire all the time. She has visited the Colosseum in the morning, in the evening after the crowds have left, on group tours and private tours. To curate this list of the best Colosseum tours, she used her own experience as well as her research expertise, culling tips from locals and visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tickets purchased directly from the Colosseum ticket office range from 16 to 32 euros (about $17 to $34) plus a 2 euro (about $2) booking fee. Tickets are 2 euros (about $2) for travelers ages 18 to 25. On the first Sunday of the month, the Parco archeologico del Colosseo offers free admission. If purchasing through a tour or travel company, prices will vary.

Yes, it is worthwhile taking a tour of the Colosseum. Travel back over 2,000 years to learn about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, explore Roman architecture and learn about the grand arena where gladiators once fought.

The best time to visit the Colosseum is from November through February during the offseason.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Rome Tours: Food, The Vatican & More
• The Top Italy Tours
• The Best Things to Do in Rome
• The Best Places to Visit in Italy
• The Best Travel Insurance for Europe

The Most Famous Landmarks in the World

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1-Day Rome: Vatican & Colosseum Tour

Rome Tours by Gray Line. Day Tours & things to do. > Tours > 1-Day Rome: Vatican & Colosseum Tour

1-Day Rome: Vatican & Colosseum Tour

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Rome, discovering ancient history and artistic masterpieces in one day. This tour combines the wonders of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with an exploration of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica

• Expert-guided tour of Rome’s most iconic sites
• Guided tour of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (visit inside)
• Exclusive reserved access to the Vatican Museums
• St Peter’s Basilica
• Raphael’s Rooms
• Sistine Chapel
• Diverse group sizes (small-group or limited to 20 pax)
• Pick-up from your central hotel (if the option is selected)
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Visit inside all of the attractions
• Wireless Audio Headsets
• Hotel pick-up in the morning (if option selected)
• Hotel pick-up (unless selected at the time of booking)
• Tips and gratuities

Please Note

• Customers must adhere to the assigned guide throughout the tour.
• External guides cannot be added to the group after purchase.
• Heightened security may cause delays.
• Guests with pacemakers must present a certificate to bypass security screening.
• Provide first name and surname for all reservations.
• You should provide complete names to prevent potential refusal.
• Passport mandatory on the tour day.
• Moderate physical fitness is recommended.
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen during summer.
• Bulky bags, trolleys, and glass bottles are not allowed.
• No cloakroom facilities are available.

When would you like to go?

Unavailable, please select:, options selected:, optional extras, price breakdown:.

Pickup points

Not booked your hotel yet? Hotel not listed? Staying with a friend/family?

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Pickup Info

Meeting point for the Colosseum tour portion: Arch of Constantine (Piazza dell’Arco di Costantino) - 15 minutes before the start of your tour (please look for the I Love Rome logo carried by our staff). Tour leaves at 8.15AM Meeting point for the Vatican Museums tour portion: Piazza Risorgimento (Bar - Caffetteria L’Ottagono, 400 metres from the nearest Metro A stop, Ottaviano) - 15 minutes before the start of your tour (please look for the I Love Rome logo carried by our staff). Tour leaves at 2:00PM Tours with hotel pick-up option: our Team will contact you the day before to inform about the pick up from your hotel. Please, be ready in the lobby as per indications. Hotel drop-off is not included. Identification : Please ensure you have valid ID/passport, as it will be mandatory to bring on the day of the tour. Otherwise, you might not be allowed to proceed. Contact Information - Gray Line - I Love Rome Office: Via Cavour, 309 (6:30 AM – 6:30 PM 365 days) [email protected] 0039 06 474 2501 (from November to March Monday-Saturday 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday 6:30 AM – 8:15 PM From April to October 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM 0039 348 8112027 (Whatsapp only)

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Italy Tour: Things To See In Rome In 3 Days

H i loves! Ready for the second part of the Italy Tour series and my top things to see in Rome? I know, I am. The translation “I came, I saw, I conquered” Rome is one of those cities you cannot honestly do in a day. The city that created the infamous line “Rome wasn’t built in a day” also meant it about traveling.

Staying in Rome

This stop of the Italy involves the Enteral City. Rome has so much history, so much culture. That it is honestly worth spending a couple of days here. On my journey, we spent three days in Rome. We also divided the days into which sites we were going to see and had an itinerary already made up. When deciding on a hotel we’d prefer to pay the extra money to be in an amazing location as well. Now Rome isn’t a small city.

The Vatican is one part of the city then the Colosseum is another, etc. My best friend and I chose the Starhotels Michelangelo which was absolutely incredible! The concierge team was amazing with helping us buy tickets and also letting us know the true Italian restaurants we should hit.

The room is more “Americanized” meaning bigger beds, A/C, and room service which was a pleasant surprise from the small European hotels of Milan and Venice. Plus, being called Michelangelo each room has a painting on the wall of the various cities around the world.

The true beauty of this hotel was literally I would step outside look to my left and there were the Vatican walls. We were literally steps away from the Vatican! If you’re planning a trip to Rome, I would highly recommend the Starhotels Michelangelo because it is clean, great service, perfect location also its rated 4 stars of 5 on both TripAdvisor and Hotels.com.

Day 1 In Roma

Our first day in Rome we decided to go explore the Colosseum and the Roman Forum since they are literally next to each other. Plus, a bit of advice our hotel informed us of the City Sightseeing bus tours which is an amazing deal and highly recommended.

A bus picks you up at certain locations and will take you to see the all the things to see in Rome in a double decker bus plus you can also buy tickets to get into the Colosseum and other sites ahead of time to avoid waiting in line. We saved so much money from buying a two-day ticket instead of having to take cabs everywhere.

Roman Forum:

Once we got our tickets, we went first to the Roman Forum. The Forum was basically the center of Roman public life back in the days. It’s the heart of ancient Rome. Many temples to the different Gods were also built here and many are still standing today. It is a great place to check out with the kids or friends.

Plus, many locals will actually come here for a picnic, to read a book, or take a nap. We were amazed at how many locals just came to really hang out. The Forum is also very big and easy to get lost in and very easy to spend the whole day in. But we made the trip early to be out around 1 to go hit one of my top things to see in Rome! Rome’s most known attraction and one of the seven wonders of the world.

The Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever to be built. The Colosseum is the one of the main attractions in Rome and for good reason top on our Italy Tour of things to see in Rome. Everyone knows about the famous gladiator fights that would occur and many other festivities during that era.

It is amazing to see how great the Colosseum has held up over all these years. Many people have tour guides telling them about the famous gladiator battles, where they kept the prisoners/winners, and animals.

Word of advice : Don’t pay the extra money for a tour guide. Go in and just experience it! We’ve all heard the stories and it’s easy to see where some of the animals and prisoners were kept, the royalty place of seating, and the commoners’ area.

It is a breathtaking view to see the inside, walk the stairs, and stand where the royalty would be. This actually conclude day one for us on the Italy tour stop of Roma. You’d be amazed at how much time it takes to walk around and explore every little inch you can so make sure you plan properly. Make sure to grab a gelato when you’re out!

The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps:

When we arrived at our hotel after the exploring the Forum and Colosseum. We decided go to visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain before it got dark. This time we took a cab to the Trevi Fountain. From our hotel it was about a 15-minute drive. We did take longer because all the roads were shut down for some reason we did not know until we got to the Fountain.

Zoolander 2 Filming:

Along the roads to reach the famous fountain are many high-end designer brands. Like Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Valentino. When we arrived at our stop we actually saw what was holding us up and creating such a traffic buzz around the city. Ben Stiller was filming at the Prada store a scene for the Zoolander 2 movie. They had the whole roads shut down. My friend and I actually got to watch the scene be filmed which was a pretty cool site.

Now our mistake we did not look to see if the Trevi Fountain was open because we assumed it would be. Always check before going to some of Italy’s best sites. Because Fendi was actually paying for the remodeling and upkeep of the famous fountain. Many sites do remodel and have up keeping during the years to keep the sites in good conditions.

Legend of the Trevi Fountain:

The Trevi Fountain was actually nothing when we went. There’s a photo below to show what was left of the fountain during the renovations. Still we were in Italy. Obviously the Trevi Fountain is known that if you throw a coin into the water, you’ll come back to this iconic fountain.

Of course, we had to throw a coin in the little tub of water they had. I have to go back to see the full fountain in all its glory. Legend has it to throw the coin over your left shoulder and you shall return to this place again.

We had dinner in a cute little restaurant we saw along the road of the fountain. After dinner, we walked maybe for 15 minutes to get to the Spanish Steps. By this time, it was already dark but the steps lit up at night. So many people gather around to sit and have a drink or climb to the top to see the view of the city.

We wanted to go to the steps because we had seen it in so many movies and it wasn’t far from the fountain. We figured night time was the best way to see it. Things to see in Rome can continue even at night. Rome is full of life, sites, and magic.

Trevi Fountain

Day 2 of Exploring of the City

Day two of our things to see in Rome we spent going to see the Pantheon and exploring the cities political buildings, fountains and architect. The Pantheon was a former temple and now a church in Rome, that is actually one of the best kept landmarks of the city.

You wouldn’t even know it was built around 126 AD. The Corinthian columns on the outside, the dome with the opening on the inside, make this a site to go see. The nice thing that since it now a church its free to go visit and walk inside.

We again did the city sightseeing tour which took us around the city to different locations and we explored more of the art this city has to offer. We even had lunch in Plaza Navona, because we saw it in the thriller Angels & Demons, but also because it was known to hold many games and competitions back in the day.

Day 3: The Vatican

Our last place of things to see in Rome we decided to spend it at the Vatican. For one thing it was Sunday and we actually got to hear and see the Pope give a blessing from his balcony. We also wanted to spend a whole day in the Basilica and Sistine Chapel and shopping for gifts our families that they would appreciate. You can even take a stroll in the Vatican Gardens!

The Vatican is a sight to see inside and out. Make sure your shoulders are not showing and you’re wearing long pants. The Vatican is huge itself as well. St. Peter’s Square where the Basilica is located is a good two hours’ worth to get in.

Sistine Chapel:

You have to walk around the outside of the Vatican to get to where you can begin to climb to the Sistine Chapel. I’m telling you that climb we did was a good 30-minute walk.  Wear your good walking shoes! You do get to see many paintings, statues and the view to the Gardens on the way. But it is a sight to see and worth all the walking and climbing! Just imagining how Michelangelo was on his back for a majority of the painting. It is truly incredible!

Views as we’re heading to the Sistine Chapel

Climbing to the Sistine Chapel

Rome is clearly a city that wasn’t built in a day. So clearly not a city that can be explored in a day as well. When you go make sure you plan ahead the things to see in Rome that are important to you, find a city tour where you can hop on and off at different places. And make sure you take it all in. History is in the air in Rome. Even walking down some of the cobblestone streets you feel it.

The next part of my Italy tour take us further south of Italy. A place where lemons are the most scared fruit in all the city.  Any guesses to where I’m describing? Stay tuned for next week’s final conclusion to the Italy tour series and maybe Sorrento will be there.

Karen Giuliana