The Colosseum stands as one of the most famous monuments in the world and is an icon of Roman culture and history. For anyone traveling to Rome, it remains a major attraction that cannot be missed. Exploring guided tours of the Colosseum in Rome is a proven way to truly immerse yourself in a site that is unlike any other.
In this ultimate guide, you will find everything you need to know to get the most out of your visit.
Vespasian commissioned the Colosseum in 72 AD in an effort to quell unrest amongst the wider population. By the time it was completed 8 years later, he had passed away, leaving the empire in the hands of Titus, his eldest son.
During the first 100 days of the Colosseum thousands of performers, gladiators, and wild animals were presented to the crowds on the arena floor. It truly was the beating heart of Roman culture and live entertainment.
Getting a sense of this incredible spectacle with one of the many tours of the Colosseum in Rome allows visitors to connect with ancient Rome. Experiencing history firsthand in this way enables you to leave Rome with a greater appreciation of the scale of the achievement and the lasting architectural legacy.
Our ultimate Colosseum tour guide is designed to ensure that you get to know ancient Rome’s most iconic landmark like never before. Here are our three must-not-miss features every visitor should see:
The Colosseum is also regularly updated to provide improved access for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Because of the ancient nature of the Colosseum, a little pre-planning is required to make sure your access needs can be met:
With the right choice of tour, you can make sure that your entire traveling party is catered for.
If you know what to see at the Colosseum and want to book in a way that beats the crowds, all it takes is a little bit of planning. There are a variety of different Colosseum tours to choose from:
Experiencing the full wonder of the Colosseum is about having the time and space to take it all in. Where possible, consider avoiding the crowds and gaining access to more of the open areas with a VIP guided tour.
Here are our Rome Colosseum tour tips, each one put forward by a skilled guide with years of experience working in and around this unique landmark:
With a little pre-planning, you can also tie in visits to other nearby attractions on the same day.
Now that we’ve covered the Colosseum features to explore, we now need to turn our attention to the surrounding remnants of ancient Rome:
Each of these iconic landmarks can be combined with a guided Colosseum tour thanks to their close proximity to one another. This will give visitors to Rome a firsthand look at how Romans governed themselves, traded with one another, celebrated military victories, and socialized en masse.
The best tours for the Colosseum are the ones that provide historical context within which you can place this unique site. Being able to ask a skilled guide any questions that come to mind allows you to feel like you’re very much connected with the heart of ancient Rome.