History on the ground · ROME HISTORY TOURS

The 15 Best Rome History Tours

39 tours  ·  from $23 a head

Rome rewards a guide more than any city on earth. These 15 cover the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon and the streets between, with entry slots and prices.

Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour - Starting at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
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Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

1.Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 12,691 reviews · 3 hours · from $160Our pick

Spend three hours with a live English, French, or Spanish guide at the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Colosseum. The tour includes the restricted underground chambers, arena floor, ground floor, upper level, exhibition, admission tickets, and headsets. Guides such as Carmelo, Teddy, Maya, and Enza are praised for clear explanations and warm humor.

“Very informative and a fascinating step back into history! Teddy was a great guide. Whilst it seems a chunk of money up front, we felt it was good value given we were there for nearly 3 hours in a small group and Teddy was happy to answer questions. The underground tour addition felt such a privilege given the restricted numbers and really added to the atmosphere of the trip, knowing you have walked the same paths as the gladiators! For history fans this is a must see!”

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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour - Entering the Colosseum by the arena floor
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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour

2.Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5,598 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Walk onto the Colosseum arena floor, then explore Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with a professional guide. Guides such as Paola, Francesca, Hillary, and Laura Antonucci have brought strong storytelling and visual aids to the tour. Expect stairs, uneven ground, security checks, and no access to the underground or third level.

“This is a great tour if you want to know the basics and hit 3 major attractions in under 3 hours. It was nice at the end to tour the basilica solo and go at your own pace.”

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Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Entering through the Gladiator’s entrance
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Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

3.Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,526 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Enter the Colosseum through the special Gladiator’s entrance and see the Arena floor, upper levels, and an overview of the underground before walking through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guided and audioguide options are available in English, with praised guides including Paola, Massimo, Tanya, Andrei, and Mircea.

“Excellent your! Andrei our guide was great! Would recommend this group for anyone visiting the colosseum and ancient ruins.”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People - Entering the Colosseum through Gladiator’s Gate
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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 with a guide and no more than five other people at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose the Arena Floor upgrade for Gladiator’s Gate access. Guides have included Dennis, Fabio, Caterina, Annalisa, and Laura Sensi.

“LivTours was ideal for the Colosseum Tour; and while I booked a small tour, no one else happened to book my time slot so I got a personal tour! How lucky I was bc I got Maria Gabriela. Even before the tour began, I had clear communication on where to meet, and even when I got it wrong, they texted in real time to make sure I could find my guide. She was knowledgeable and warm; and I felt very welcomed by the whole experience. I highly recommend this group as there was no guessing once I booked with them. As context, this was the first week in Dec- so…”

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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour - Entering the Colosseum and seeing the first two tiers
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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

5.Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,879 reviews · 2h 30m · from $54

Choose an English-led Colosseum tour or explore with a multilingual smartphone audio guide. You’ll see the first and second tiers, then use 24-hour tickets for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guides such as Fabrizio, Fleur, and Frederico have made the history lively for families, while the audio option suits visitors who prefer their own pace.

“Recommend the tour through ‘get your guide’ , organised and easy to locate the office opposite the Colliseum and over the bridge. Pleasant guide and the tour was just under 2 hours from start to finish, the weather needs to be kind to get the full experience!”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - The Roman Forum, where Rome did its public business
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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

6.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

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

Spend about three hours with an English-speaking guide at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose underground access for the arena floor, dungeons, and second level, or select arena-only entry. Guides such as Carmelo, Solomon, Mirta, Teddy, and Katia bring the ancient sites to life, with headsets provided.

“Daniella was informed friendly and adaptable to the needs and interests of our group. She even looked up information for specific questions.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour - Palatine Hill and the best city views
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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

7.Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,874 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Walk through the Colosseum’s Gladiator’s Gate onto the Arena Floor, then explore its first two tiers before visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. This three-hour English tour includes timed entry, headsets, and a group of up to 24 people. Guide quality can vary, so check whether you are booking a live guide or audio option.

“Great tour. Highly recommend. Didn’t have to wait in lines. Our guide provided lots of interesting information.”

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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Palatine Hill, imperial ruins, and the best views
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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

8.Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,568 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend about three hours exploring Rome’s Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a historian guide and headphones. You may enter through Gladiator’s Gate or add arena-floor access, depending on the option. Guides such as Ivana, Mariana, Kopal, Andrea, and Francesca are praised for lively storytelling, but expect stairs, hills, strict entry times, and a group of up to 24 people.

“Francesca was our guide. She is an excellent and very knowledgeable guide who also took time to explain things in detail. It was raining pretty much during the entire tour, but it didn't deter her even a bit. I would highly recommend the tour if Francesca were leading it. I bought arena access but last minute it was cancelled and tour was downgraded to regular tour. Not sure if it is a gimmick and common occurrence with this company. My time in Italy was very busy, so I am yet to see what the appropriate amount for refund is for the downgrade.”

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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour - Rome's Iconic Ancient Temple - Inside the Pantheon: about 40 minutes
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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

9.Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,447 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $41

Meet near Piazza della Rotonda for a one-hour English tour of the Pantheon. Guides such as Amanda, Elena, Nina, Silvia, and Samantha explain the temple’s engineering, oculus, religious changes, and royal and artistic tombs. Timed entry helps you get inside efficiently, though the square and building can still be crowded.

“Elena was knowledgeable and entertaining. Timing and choreography of tour was great. All of our group’s questions were answered.”

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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour - Inside the underground chambers
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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

10.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

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

Meet near the Colosseo Metro station for a guided visit to the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor, then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace. The group may reach 24 people, and the guide inside the monument may be separate from the booking company. Bring matching photo ID and arrive early.

“Great night tour of the Colosseum with an excellent and informative guide! You get to see the top layers and then head below the floor of the arena.”

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Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum and Historic Center - The Pantheon and the engineering that still matters
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Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum and Historic Center

11.Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum and Historic Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,042 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $192

Start at Piazza Navona for a guided walk past the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Venezia. After lunch, enter the Colosseum, view the Roman Forum from above, then ride to Vatican City for the Raphael Rooms, sculpture galleries, and Sistine Chapel. English-speaking guides such as Claudia, Marco, Kylie, and Vita lead groups of up to 18.

“This is an awesome tour We did not have much time so booked this tour which was conducted by a history professor. It was interesting and nice to have the transfer from the Coliseum to the Vatican We did a more extensive tour of the coliseum the day before so were not bothered by the whirlwind pace I highly recommend this tour if you don’t have more than a few days Our guide revealed historical information that made the locations we saw come alive First rate!!”

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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included - Security, identification, and the meeting point
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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

12.Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,008 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

See the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in about two to three hours with an English-speaking guide and timed admission. Guides such as Katerina, Sam, Andrea, and George have earned praise for clear explanations and good pacing. Expect a group of up to 24, security checks, stairs, crowds, and no underground access.

“very knowledgeable and didn’t prioritize one historical period - spoke about all an equal amount and kept it fun”

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Rome Food Tour in the Historic Centre with 8+ Food Tastings - Starting at Piazza Navona
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Rome Food Tour in the Historic Centre with 8+ Food Tastings

13.Rome Food Tour in the Historic Centre with 8+ Food Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,000 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $118

Spend about three hours tasting Roman classics with a small group of up to 12 people. You’ll sample pizza, supplì, cold cuts, cheeses, two pastas, cannoli, gelato, and a secret dish while walking from Piazza Navona to Largo di Torre Argentina. Guides such as Massimiliano, Rocio, Luda, and Federico add food knowledge and Roman stories.

“Seriously a highlight of our 5 week euro trip! If you're in Rome this tour is a must! My husband and I were the only 2 people booked for the day and thankfully the company didn't cancel and we had our own private tour. Our guide Massimiliano is extremely knowledgeable and not only took us to local food spots, he also told us lots of history of Rome and the dishes we had. Couldn't recommend him and this tour enough!”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade - Meeting near the Colosseum
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

14.Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 900 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $34Best value

Walk through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a live guide in English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. The $34 tour includes entry, headsets, and guided visits. Add Arena access to stand on the ancient fighting floor, or choose a small group for more personal attention.

“The experience was very satisfying. Jan was very well prepared and it was obvious that he had knowledge and a very strong background about history. He spoke slowly, clearly and we could understand everything he said. He was calm and friendly and it felt like we were having a tour with a friend. I would suggest a tour with him and crown tours again without second thought.”

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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome - Meeting at Largo Gaetana Agnesi
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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

15.Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 850 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $49

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring Rome’s Colosseum, including the underground chambers, arena floor, first and second levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. English-speaking guides such as Francesca, Giovanni, Andrea, and Georgia bring the ruins to life. Check your booking carefully, since the arena option does not include underground access.

“Francesca was great, told us all we needed to know!”

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New in Rome History Tours

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★ 5.0Small-Group Rome to Pompeii & Amalfi: Day of History & SeaFrom $144239 reviews
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