History tours · ANCIENT HISTORY TOURS IN ROME

The 15 Best Ancient History Tours in Rome

26 tours  ·  from $23 a head

A shortlist you could hand a friend: 15 ancient history tours in Rome that repay the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the thing to check before you book.

Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour - Beginning 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

Meet The Ultimate Italy team at Via dei Fori Imperiali, then tour the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Colosseum with access to its underground chambers, arena floor, ground floor, and second tier. Guides such as Carmelo, Teddy, Maya, and Enza bring the ancient site to life in English, French, or Spanish.

“our guide Chris was so so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I really enjoyed the tour, it is long though, not too long but you know, a lot of walking and information. I really enjoyed it.”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People - Roman Forum: Walking Through Rome’s Public Center
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People

2.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 option to enter through the Gladiator’s Gate, then follow your guide through ancient temples, imperial homes, and views over Circus Maximus. Guides such as Dennis, Caterina, and Fabio tailor the pace and detail.

“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, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour - Meeting near Piazza di San Clemente
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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

3.Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

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

Choose an English guided visit or explore with a multilingual smartphone audio guide covering 44 points of interest. Your ticket includes the Colosseum’s first and second tiers, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for 24 hours. Expect stairs, security checks, and a meeting point near Piazza di San Clemente.

“Collosseum is excellent but after Forum Romanum and Palatine are too big for walking especcialy with kids. Maybe is better idea to take some rest after collosseum.”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - Entering the Colosseum with timed admission
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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

4.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

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

Spend about three hours exploring the Colosseum arena and underground dungeons, then walk through the Roman Forum and visit Palatine Hill. Choose underground access or arena-only entry. English-speaking guides such as Carmelo, Soloman, and Katia bring the ancient games, engineering, and politics to life. Headsets help you follow along in a group of up to 24.

“Carmelo excellent tour today colleseum and underground very knowledgeable and experienced the very best!!!!”

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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour - Rome's Iconic Ancient Temple - Inside the Pantheon: one room, many centuries
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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

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

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

Spend about an hour exploring the Pantheon with a licensed English-speaking guide. You’ll examine the ancient temple’s dome, open oculus, columns, Christian artwork, royal tombs, and Raphael’s burial place. Guides such as Elena, Amanda, Nina, Silvia, and Samantha have led highly praised visits, with groups capped at 20.

“Elena was absolutely wonderful. A wealth of information and brought all of Roma together for us. It was only an hour but her passion brought it all alive. Highly recommend this tour.”

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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour - Meeting near the Colosseo metro station
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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

6.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

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

Meet near the Colosseo metro station for a roughly two-hour visit to the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor. A guide explains the gladiators, animals, lifts, and ancient spectators, while your ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for self-guided exploring. The group can reach up to 24 people.

“The Colosseum is an unbelievable place and the night tour of the underground is a great way to see it. Our guide was great, but every encounter with a Colosseum staff member was extremely unpleasant. Once completed we stopped to take a photo and then took the wrong pathway to the exit despite following exit signs and got screamed at and given filthy looks by Colosseum staff.”

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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included - The first hour inside the Colosseum
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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

7.Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

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

This 2 to 3 hour English tour takes you through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a group of up to 24 people. Guides such as Katerina, Andrea, and Sam have been praised for clear history, humor, and good crowd management. Your ticket covers all three sites, but not the underground level.

“Great guide . Great venue. Can't remember guides name but she spoke good English, a bit fast at times, with her accent was a bit hard to understand but she did really well”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade - Entering the Colosseum and meeting the gladiator arena
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

8.Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

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

Follow a live guide through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in 2.5 to 3 hours. You can add Arena Floor access or choose a small group for more questions and closer attention. Guides such as Max, Annalisa, Giuseppe, and Daniele have been praised for clear storytelling, good pacing, and care in Rome’s summer heat.

“Our guide was so knowledgeable he made the whole experience great.”

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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome - The Arena Floor, Where the Spectacle Began
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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

9.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 the Colosseum’s underground chambers, arena floor, upper levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. English-speaking guides such as Francesca, Giovanni, Andrea, and Georgia bring the ruins to life. Choose carefully: the arena-only option does not include underground access.

“The tour was perfect. Plenty of time at all of the locations and was bolstered by Francesca’s combination of knowledge and entertainment. This was our second time to these locations, opting to spend the extra money for the underground experience. Definitely recommend it.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour - What to expect at the Roman Vacations meeting point
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

10.Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 774 reviews · 3 - 3.5 hours · from $94

Spend 3 to 3.5 hours with an English-speaking guide exploring the Colosseum arena floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You will enter through the gladiator gates, hear about famous battles, and see imperial palaces, Caesar’s Temple, the Senate House, and sweeping Forum views. Small-group and private options are available.

“Angela was great!! In heavy rain she still made the tour as safe, informative and fun as possible. Would definitely recommend!”

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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs - The Roman Forum in 45 minutes
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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

11.Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 747 reviews · from $95

Enter the Colosseum through the Gladiators’ Gate, then choose the underground dungeons or arena floor. Your English-speaking guide leads you through the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Caesar’s Palace, temples, tombs, and new exhibits in a small group when available. Expect 2.5 to 3 hours of walking, steps, hills, and outdoor sightseeing.

“This was a wonderful tour. Eugene was a fantastic guide. He’s personable and easy to converse with, and he has a fantastic knowledge of these sites. The length of the trip was just right and everything was very well organized. We loved it!”

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Ancient Rome Discovery: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Guided Tour - Walking the Roman Forum for 45 minutes
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Ancient Rome Discovery: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Guided Tour

12.Ancient Rome Discovery: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 690 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $156

Walk through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in a group of no more than 15. English-speaking guides such as Maria Helena, Fabrizio, and Valeria bring emperors, gladiators, temples, and palace life into focus. Bring your passport, expect no arena-floor access, and allow three hours on foot.

“Our guide Fabrizio was awesome and he brought the entire experience to life with his understanding of the ancient times! His knowledge, passion, and energy made it all worth it!”

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Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide - Meeting near Piramide and riding out of Rome
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Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide

13.Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 579 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Meet your English-speaking guide near Piramide, ride the train to Ostia Antica, and spend about 2.5 hours walking through Rome’s old port city. With a maximum of 12 people, the tour covers the Decumanus Maximus, Baths of Neptune, amphitheater, shops, homes, and public buildings. Alberto, Barbara, Laura, Rob, and Cat have all led highly praised departures.

“Laura was an amazing guide. Ostia Antica beautiful spot to visit. Rich in history and intact artifacts. Quiet, peaceful seaside city and refreshing diversion from Rome.”

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Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine & Pick Up - The Colosseum, one hour inside the arena
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Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine & Pick Up

14.Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine & Pick Up

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 540 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $98

Spend about 3.5 hours exploring Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, and Roman Forum with an English-speaking guide, wireless headset, reserved entry, and optional hotel pickup. Guides such as Rita, Nicoletta, Roger, and Alessa have earned praise for lively storytelling, while pickup timing and guide quality can vary.

“Our tour guide was Luciana, group 73 I believe. She was very good. The tour was hot but really informative. Another really good tour guide and very interesting tour.”

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Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine - Finding the meeting point at Colle Oppio Park
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Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine

15.Ancient Rome Guided Tour: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 478 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Explore ancient Rome with a professional English-speaking guide on a three-hour visit to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You will hear stories of gladiators, emperors, and daily Roman life through wireless headsets. Guides such as Fabio, Laura, Alexandra, and Mirco have earned especially warm praise for clear explanations and thoughtful pacing.

“Lots of walking- Dimitri was very knowledgeable, but he showed up late and not just a couple minutes, like 20 minutes-and we rushed to be on time.”

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