Designed for kids and families, these tours turn Ancient Rome into an adventure through fun storytelling and interactive games.
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.

Gladiator’s arena, underground tunnels, panoramic tiers — the Colosseum is more than a quick photo stop. Tickets vary by access: skip-the-line entry, Arena + Underground tours, or full-day passes that include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guided tours bring ancient Rome alive, while night tours reveal the Colosseum under moonlight.
✅ Standard entry, skip-the-line, or hosted tickets
✅ Special access to Arena & Underground
✅ Combos with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
✅ Guided, small-group & night tours
Circle the travertine facade with four tiers of arches and columns, once filled with statues. Spot battle-scarred holes where iron clamps were removed, and admire the nearby Arch of Constantine for perfect photo ops. With 80 entryways built for swift crowds, today you can skip long queues with standard access or opt for hosted entry for personal assistance. Security lines are a must though.
Climb to the second or third levels for sweeping views of the arena, Forum, and Rome. Learn how seating reflected Roman class divisions and marvel at the arches, stairways, and elliptical design that managed 50,000 spectators.
Explore exhibits on the upper levels featuring gladiatorial armor, ancient graffiti, models of the arena, and artifacts unearthed onsite. Informative panels and symbolic additions, like the Christian cross, trace the Colosseum’s layered history.
Step onto the reconstructed arena floor, an exclusive upgrade, where gladiators once fought. From this cinematic vantage point, gaze up at the towering seats, feel the weight of history, and imagine the roar of 50,000 spectators filling the air.
Accessible only via guided tours, the hypogeum reveals the hidden world beneath the stage: animal pens, tunnels, elevators, and trapdoors that set the stage for Rome’s deadly spectacles, showcasing the arena’s ingenious engineering.
All standard tickets include entry to these neighboring sites. Wander the Via Sacra, stand at Caesar’s altar, and climb Palatine Hill for sweeping views. Together, they frame the Colosseum within the wider story of Rome’s empire.
The Colosseum welcomes over 12 million visitors a year and is rarely quiet. Tickets are released 30 days ahead on the official site and can sell out within hours.
What a standard ticket includes
Every Colosseum visit starts here:
Entry process
All tickets let you skip the on-site sales counter, but security checks are mandatory and take 10–30 minutes.
Best ways to explore Colosseum
Upgrade for Arena and Underground access
Free entry days
| Ticket type | Includes | When to choose | When to choose | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard (24-hour) | Timed entry to Colosseum (Levels 1–2), Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. | You want a budget-friendly, self-guided experience. | You want a budget-friendly, self-guided experience. | Standard Colosseum Ticket |
Guided tour | Guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill | You want context and storytelling about the ruins, plus smoother entry. | You want context and storytelling about the ruins, plus smoother entry. | Colosseum Guided Tour |
Full experience + Arena & Underground | Access to Underground chambers + Arena + standard areas. | You want to explore restricted areas and walk the path of gladiators | You want to explore restricted areas and walk the path of gladiators | Underground + Arena Access |
Private tour | Personalized tour with expert guide, skip-the-line. | You prefer a crowd-free, custom-tailored tour. | You prefer a crowd-free, custom-tailored tour. | Private Colosseum Tour |
Combo tickets | Colosseum + Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, etc. | You want to cover Rome’s top landmarks with savings and convenience. | You want to cover Rome’s top landmarks with savings and convenience. | Combo: Colosseum + Vatican |
Hand-picked tours for every kind of traveler.




Navigating the Colosseum is like stepping back in time, and a map is your key to unlocking its many layers of history. From the ground-level views of the arena and spectator seating on Level 1 to the museum displays on Level 2, there’s plenty to explore with standard tickets. For a deeper dive, special access tickets will take you to the Underground, where gladiators and animals prepared for battle, and onto the Arena Floor, where the action unfolded. When open to public, the upper Levels 3-5 offer breathtaking views of the entire structure.

This was the gladiators’ stage, where wild beasts burst through trapdoors and fighters entered through the Porta Triumphalis (Gladiator’s Gate). The reconstructed walkway puts you at the center of the action, with a rare ground perspective of the massive amphitheater and a chilling glimpse into the hypogeum below.
Access: No (Upgrade required with Arena-access tickets)
Below the stage lies the Colosseum’s hidden machinery: a labyrinth of tunnels, elevators, and cages where animals and fighters were kept before being dramatically hoisted into battle. Wooden hoists powered by pulleys once lifted elephants and lions straight into the arena. Today, guided tours here reveal the rough stone corridors, staging cells, and remnants of the ingenious Roman engineering.
Access: No (Only with special full experience tours)
The Colosseum wasn’t just about entertainment; it was a mirror of Roman society.
Access: Yes (Included with all Colosseum tickets)
Before you even step inside, the Colosseum’s four-storey exterior stuns with travertine arches, Doric-Ionic-Corinthian columns stacked in order, and pockmarks from centuries of stone-robbery. Nearby, the Arch of Constantine (AD 315) commemorates the emperor’s victory and frames the Colosseum perfectly for photos.
Near the entrance, rotating exhibits showcase gladiator weapons, everyday objects, and multimedia reconstructions of the games. Scale models explain how the arena looked in its prime, while films and digital installations (“Colosseum Story”) help visitors visualize its transformation over 2,000 years.
Access: Yes (Included with all Colosseum tickets, subject to venue closures)
The Colosseum is just the beginning, what many people don’t realize is that it’s part of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, a vast archaeological area that holds the political, cultural, and imperial heart of Ancient Rome. Each site within the park tells a different side of Rome’s story.



Most standard tickets cover general entry to the Colosseum, including levels 1-2, and Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. However, areas like the Arena or Underground require an upgrade. See the ticket comparison section for details.
Standard tickets usually offer access to the main attraction only, while guided tours include a professional guide and often help you navigate more efficiently.
Not always. Some areas (e.g., the Arena and the Underground) require an upgrade or a separate ticket. Check the “Explore the Colosseum” section for specifics.
No, some tickets offer priority access to security or entry lines, while others don’t. Look for terms like “Hosted Entry” or “Skip-the-Line” in the ticket name. These let you bypass long queues, especially during peak hours.
You will have to opt for specific Colosseum tickets that provide access to Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and/or St. Peter’s Basilica. Standard issue tickets only grant access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Absolutely if you want expert insights, efficient navigation, or access to shortcut routes (e.g., into the Arena). Small-group tours also ensure a more personal experience.
No, you cannot re-enter the Colosseum if you exit. However, you can visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill if you haven't already accessed those attractions with your Colosseum ticket.
A standard ticket only scratches the surface, but an Underground tour takes you deeper, quite literally. The experience is limited to just a fraction of daily visitors. Go through hidden tunnels, cages, and lifts that powered the games, before coming you face-to-face with history on the gladiator’s stage. It's the Colosseum like few ever see it.
Reserved entry to the Colosseum at a time you choose, plus the freedom to explore the Forum and Palatine Hill within 24 hours.
Inclusions
Timed entry to the Colosseum
Access to Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese
Hosted entry (as per option selected)
Special access to the Colosseum Arena (as per option selected)
Mamertine Prison access with audio guide (as per option selected)
Exclusions
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Additional information
Join an exclusive tour of the Arena, the gladiators’ battlefield, limited to just a few visitors at a time.
Inclusions
Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, & Roman Forum
Special access guided tour of Arena Floor
English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian or German speaking guide (as per option selected)
Small group of 15 people (as per option selected)
Timed entry to the Colosseum
Headsets
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Unlock 3,000 years of history in just a few hours on an expert-led journey through ancient Rome’s power center.
Inclusions
Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, & Roman Forum
English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian or German speaking guide (as per option selected)
Small group of 15 people (as per option selected)
Timed entry to the Colosseum
Headsets
Exclusions
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Only way to access Colosseum’s restricted underground, where gladiators once awaited their fate before battling on the arena floor.
Inclusions
Special access guided tour of the Underground and Arena Floor
Guided tour of Colosseum with reserved entry
English, French, or Spanish-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Guided tour of Palatine Hill & Roman Forum with priority access (as per option selected)
Small group of max 6 people (as per option selected)
Headsets
Exclusions
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Unlock access to 7 hidden sites in the Colosseum Park—normally closed to standard ticket holders.
Inclusions
Entry to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Temple of Romulus, & Imperial Fora
Access to 7 SUPER sites: Palatine Museum (lower floor only), House of Augustus, House of Livia, Aula Isiaca and Loggia Mattei, Domus Tiberiana, Santa Maria Antiqua, Curia Iulia.
Admission to ongoing exhibitions at select sites
Pass valid for one day
Full list of attractions & multimedia visit timings here
Exclusions
One ticket, two icons—skip the hassle of multiple bookings and experience the best of Ancient Rome and the Vatican with expert guides.
Inclusions Colosseum
Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Expert local English, Italian, Spanish, French or German-speaking guide
Timed entry to Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry
Expert & charismatic local guide
Exclusions Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Tick off Rome’s bucket list attraction with a guided tour that packs the Colosseum’s biggest moments into just one hour.
Inclusions
Express guided tour of the Colosseum
Kid-friendly tour (as per option selected)
English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian or German speaking guide (as per option selected)
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill express guided tour with exclusive Arena Floor access(as per option selected)
Arena-only express tour in a semi-private group of 6 (as per option selected)
Headsets
Exclusions
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
See Rome’s most iconic landmarks with one ticket: from its legendary arena to a famed papal fortress.
Inclusions Castel Sant'Angelo
Skip-the-line entry
Digital audio guide
Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Mamertine Prison
Timed entry to the Colosseum
Access to Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese
Castel Sant’Angelo What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Mamertine Prison
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Additional information
You can cancel these tickets up to 7 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 4 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.