VIP Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Tour the Colosseum in VIP fashion as you visit the highly exclusive underground area.

Feel the fear and hear the roar of the crowd above you on this once-in-a-lifetime Colosseum underground tour. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll have the opportunity to delve into the gory history of the gladiators while exploring the tunnels of the Colosseum underground and stepping out onto the famed arena floor.

While admiring the awe-inspiring architecture of the Colosseum, which has withstood the test of time for almost two millennia, your intimate group will be captivated by your guide's explanation of the truth behind the stadium and the games that once took place here—which isn't quite like what you might have seen in movies!

The cherry on top of your Colosseum underground tour comes as you step away from the crowds in the general access areas and make your way to the underground tunnels beneath the arena. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators who waited here before battle and hear stories about their real lives as you explore the underbelly of one of history's most spectacular stadiums. Our parent company, the Hornblower Group, worked with the Colosseum Archaeological Park to bring this experience to life, and we're so excited to share it with you as part of this once-in-a-lifetime tour.

As part of your experience, you'll explore one of the most incredible recent additions to the Colosseum: a brand-new exhibition that brings ancient Rome's most iconic figures to life. Marvel at a fascinating collection of artifacts and see firsthand how a gladiator's journey from the training area to the arena floor would have looked through lifelike digital projections.

You'll continue your gladiator's journey out onto the arena floor, which provides one of the most unforgettable vantage points of the ancient arena.

Hear tales that shock and entertain at the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill.

After your Colosseum underground tour, you'll experience the very heart of ancient Rome: the Roman Forum. This was the social and political heart of the empire, which stretched over more than 2.5 million square miles and was home to 65 million people.

Stroll beneath the Arch of Constantine and see the Senate house where toga-clad elites decided on behalf of all of those millions. Learn the story of the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, where a special cult of women kept Rome’s sacred flame alive. Your guide will share captivating tales of the ancient empire, full of love, betrayal, and larger-than-life characters (Caesar, Cleopatra and Mark Antony to name a few). They'll even come prepared with great visual aids and reconstructions to show you how it all would have looked 2,000 years ago.

Finally, at the Palatine Hill, you’ll discover the origins of ancient Rome. Legend has it that this is the spot where Remus and Romulus were found by the she-wolf and where they battled to decide who would have the privilege of building their own town. Hear how this mythical battle impacted the world you know today. We owe the ancient Romans more than you’d believe…

Benefit from privileged entrance, small groups and the best guides in the business on your Colosseum underground tour.

Traveling in small groups means you’ll find it easier to get around busy sites and to hear and engage with your guide. A good thing too, since they're bursting with captivating stories just waiting to be told! To help you get the most from the time you spend with us, we also have privileged access at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so you'll get ahead of the crowds. Because Colosseum underground tours are so limited, this tour often sells out months in advance—so book now to be sure that your place is secured!

A number of our Colosseum tours also have special access, including our Gladiator's Gate Tour, which gets you onto the Colosseum arena floor.

Please note: Due to high demand and restricted access to certain areas of the Colosseum, the entrance time for the Colosseum Underground may be granted between 9:00am and 4:00pm the day of your tour. We will confirm the start time of your tour about 30 days prior to the tour date.

This tour is fully refundable up to 4 days prior to the event. Within 4 days, this tour is 100% non-refundable.

The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.