Rome · COLOSSEUM UNDERGROUND TOURS

Colosseum Underground: 15 Tours Below the Arena Floor

39 tours  ·  from $28 a head

Below the arena floor is a maze of corridors, lifts and holding pens. Only guided groups go down, and they are small. These 15 compare group size, what else is included and how far ahead each one sells out.

Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Palatine Hill adds the city’s origin story
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Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

1.Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,448 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Our pick

Enter the Colosseum through the gladiator door and stand on its restricted arena floor, then follow a live English-speaking guide through the Forum and Palatine Hill. Headsets help you hear in a group of up to 25. Guides have included Max, Barbara and Maria, though your guide is not guaranteed. Allow 2.5 hours, arrive early and bring matching photo ID.

“The tour was incredibly informative, well-organized, and entertaining. Marco did an amazing job of not just providing facts, but highlighting the importance of each landmark throughout the tour.”

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Rome: Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour - Inside the Underground and on the Arena Floor
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Rome: Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour

2.Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,844 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $105

You’ll spend 90 minutes with an English-speaking guide in a group of up to eight, visiting the Colosseum’s restricted underground, arena floor, and main levels. Guides such as Daniella, Carmelo, and Sofian have led tours here, though your guide may differ. Your ticket also covers self-guided visits to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

“This tour is a must do. It’s a small group, ours was only 6 people. The guide Paola was entertaining , knowledgeable and enthusiastic. If wanting to do the underground this tour is recommended”

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Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor - A guide turns the ruins into a city
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Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor

3.Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,037 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $89

Join an English-speaking guide for a roughly three-hour walk through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. The standard tour includes entry to the arena floor through Gladiator’s Gate. Guides have included Julia, Sev, Nicola, and Vincenzo, though your guide will depend on the date. Expect ancient stories, uneven ground, and plenty of walking.

“The tour operator was walks. We’ve used them a couple of times now. They are fabulous. Book direct or through this app. The Colosseum was fantastic, and the guide’s knowledge was spectacular. It was a three hour tour that included the arena floor, the second floor, the Roman forum and the Paladin hill and the ancient ruins. This was a hit and we are very glad we did it.”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People - Entering the Colosseum and choosing the Arena Floor
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People

4.Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,306 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $180Top rated

Spend about three hours at Rome’s Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a guide and no more than five other people. Choose the Arena Floor option to enter through the Gladiator’s Gate. Guides such as Dennis, Caterina, and Laura have led engaging visits, but your assigned guide will depend on your date and time.

“My wife and I went with the personal guide and Colosseum floor options. While expensive, was well worth the cost from our perspective. Fabio — our guide — was incredibly knowledgeable and personable and took the time to tailor the tour for us based on our conversation. Highly recommend visiting the Colosseum during the low season. If you visit during the busy season, I think a more personalized experience with a private or semi-private tour is even more helpful.”

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Rome: Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour - The Colosseum makes more sense with a guide
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Rome: Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour

5.Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,272 reviews · from $157

In three hours, a Spanish-speaking guide leads you through the Colosseum, including its underground level and arena, then introduces the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You’ll hear how the amphitheater worked and what daily life in ancient Rome involved. Guides named in past tours include Francesca, Donatella, Gabriel and Gabriele, though your guide may differ.

“Amazing tour guide She was very informative and knew all the history”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor, Forum & Palatine Guided Tour - Entering the Colosseum from the Arena
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor, Forum & Palatine Guided Tour

6.Colosseum Arena Floor, Forum & Palatine Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,598 reviews · 1 - 2.5 hours · from $59

Walk through the Colosseum, including its Arena Floor, then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a live guide. You’ll hear stories that give shape to the ruins, see the Temple of Julius Caesar and take in city views from the hill. Guides work in five languages, and small-group options are available.

“The best guide with a great sense of humour great information along the way will highly recommend him to all you’re friends”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - The Roman Forum: reading the ruins
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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

7.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,590 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $74

Choose an option with Colosseum underground access or arena-only entry. The roughly three-hour tour visits the Colosseum and Roman Forum, with time to explore Palatine Hill on your own. Guides such as Carmelo and Mirta have led groups through the ruins, while headsets help you follow the commentary.

“Mirta, gave the most incredible tour of the Coliseum and Roman Forum. Her knowledge and ability to communicate ancient Roman history was like being taught by your favorite professor in college. l learned so much and was fascinated by this period of history and this wonder of the world. My Rome experience has been enhanced by taking this tour with such an amazing guide. Thank you Mirta and Viator for a great tour experience.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Tour - Inside the Colosseum, from arena to upper tiers
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Tour

8.Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,259 reviews · 3 hours · from $49

Enter the Colosseum through the Gladiators Entrance, stand on its reconstructed Arena Floor, and continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a guide. The three-hour tour costs $49 per person. Guides such as Serena, Fabi, and Bogdan have been praised for clear storytelling, humor, and care with the group. Arena access depends on the option booked.

“Serena was an outstanding guide. She wasn’t just parroting a script — she clearly has a deep understanding of Roman history. We were being shown around by an historian with a great personality and sense of humor.”

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Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour - Palatine Hill: Rome’s legendary beginning
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Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

9.Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,568 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Enter the Colosseum through the gladiators’ gate and stand on its restricted arena floor, then walk the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with an English-speaking guide. The 2 to 3 hour tour includes headsets and entry to all three sites. Guides have included Laura, Mary, JC, and Valerio, but assignments vary.

“We had fast check in and our guide, Mary, was amazing. Quick entrance to the Colosseum and plenty of time to capture great pictures.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - Palatine Hill and the view over Circus Maximus
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

10.Colosseum Arena Floor Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,147 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $46

Enter the Colosseum’s Arena Floor and climb to its first and second tiers, then walk through the Roman Forum and up Palatine Hill. An English-speaking guide leads a group of up to 18, sharing stories of gladiators, emperors, temples, and Rome’s ancient center. Guides named in past tours include Daniel, Christina, Bogdan, and Gabriel.

“Our tour guide Bogdan was great. Very knowledgeable about everything within the tour. He was light and able to keep us engaged. We were not expecting to have any earpiece/headphone for the tour, however I understand why it is necessary with the amount of people going in and out of the colosseum. I would have preferred two earpieces rather than one to block out the rest of the excess noise. Bogdan’s accent was hard to understand at times but again, he was very knowledgeable. Definitely a good experience to understand the history!”

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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour - On the arena floor, looking both ways
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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

11.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,059 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $66

Go below the Colosseum’s arena to see the chambers where animals were held and the passages gladiators used, then step onto the arena floor. The guided visit lasts about 80 minutes within a roughly two-hour experience. Your ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which you explore on your own.

“Underground tour of colosseum was excellent. This tour added to the impressiveness of the colosseum as a whole. The forum and palatine hill were excellent as well because with the entry ticket we could explore at our own pace and the full experience ticket let us in everywhere to see the extras. Would absolutely recommend.”

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Rome: Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour - Forum and Palatine Hill before or after the Colosseum
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Rome: Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour

12.Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,002 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $94

In 2.5 hours, an English-speaking guide leads a group of up to eight through the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum’s restricted underground and arena areas. Look for the animal cages, an ancient drainage channel and a reconstructed lift. Guides such as Sara, Claudia and Virginia are praised for lively, clear storytelling.

“We really enjoyed the whole experience. Our guide was so informative and relatable and made the whole day great.”

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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour - Meeting your guide and getting inside
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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

13.Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 996 reviews · from $104

Join an English-speaking guide for a Colosseum tour with access to its underground chambers and arena floor. Guides such as Laura and Christina have brought the site to life with clear explanations and an unhurried pace. Your ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which you explore on your own. The meeting point varies by booking option.

“Excellent small group tour ( max 25-30 and only 150 per day )with a knowledgeable and fluent English speaking guide. Not cheap but unique.”

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Colosseum by Evening Guided Tour with Optional Arena Floor Access - Entering the Colosseum after hours
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Colosseum by Evening Guided Tour with Optional Arena Floor Access

14.Colosseum by Evening Guided Tour with Optional Arena Floor Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 867 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $84

Start at Trajan’s Column, then walk past an outside view of the Roman Forum before entering the Colosseum for about 80 minutes. Your guide brings the arena’s contests and late medieval graffiti into focus. Choose the arena-floor option if you want to walk on the reconstructed floor. The tour lasts about two hours and ends at the Colosseum.

“Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the history of Rome city and the amphitheater aka “Colosseum”. It was a very enjoyable tour. Love the sunsetting views of the colosseum. Wished there was more time to roam and enjoy the shop for souvenirs. (Website is not letting me upload a picture)”

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Rome: Colosseum Tour with Underground and Arena Floor Access - The arena floor puts you in the center of the story
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Rome: Colosseum Tour with Underground and Arena Floor Access

15.Colosseum Tour with Underground and Arena Floor Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 789 reviews · from $112

In 75 minutes, an English-speaking guide takes you through the Colosseum’s underground passages and onto its arena floor, explaining the lifts, animal chambers, and gladiatorial shows. Your ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for a self-guided visit on the same day or the next. Guides may include Paolo, Giovanna, Maya, Scott, or Tanja, but names are not guaranteed.

“The tour was TERRIFIC! Despite the change in start time, once everyone arrived, Paolo was a PHENOMENAL tour guide. His insights and depth of knowledge about the Colosseum was a tremendous. He would direct our attention to small details that would have been overlooked had I not had a guide. It was great and I've already recommended the tour to my friends traveling to Rome in the near future. I'd love to get a copy of our group photo, if available.”

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