Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor

Get a gladiator's view of the Colosseum from the arena floor on this special access tour.

Step away from the crowds on this in-depth Colosseum arena floor tour, complete with access to areas off-limits to most ticket holders. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors as your insightful guide demystifies the Colosseum itself, as well as the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, through engaging stories that will help you see these ancient structures in a new light.

You’ll enter the Colosseum via the “Gladiator’s Gate,” the side entrance once used exclusively by gladiators. This VIP entrance is not only the quickest way to get into the Colosseum—it also gives you the full gladiator's-eye-view of what it was like to enter the amphitheater for combat nearly 2,000 years ago.

Once inside, your in-depth Colosseum arena floor tour begins on an unforgettable note. Standing on a wooden reconstruction of the original floor, you'll have amazing, 360-degree views of ancient Rome’s most iconic monument. This space isn't accessible by general admission ticket holders, so it's also one of the best places to soak up the majesty of the building away from the crowds. Listen to your expert guide tell stories about the famous blood sports that once took place on the very spot where you are standing.

After your Colosseum arena floor experience, you'll continue your tour through the general access areas of this monumental building with your guide and small group. Over the course of an hour, you'll explore the first and second tiers as your guide busts some of the most pervasive myths surrounding the Colosseum.

Embark on a complete tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Leaving the Colosseum, you'll head into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for a fully guided tour of the center of ancient Rome. As they are active archeological sites, these attractions can be difficult to decipher on your own. But with an expert guide to lead you, the ruins will come to life. Highlights include the cremation point of Julius Caesar, the Senate buildings, opulent palaces, and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, just to name a few.

Fun, affordable, approachable—the best way to experience the Colosseum (arena floor and all) and its surrounds.

We've kept this tour affordable by increasing our standard group size (although still smaller than a lot of other Colosseum tour operators). At 16 people or fewer, this experience is a little less intimate than our Premium Colosseum Tour, but it won't be cattle-herding, either. We include headsets for every guest, so you won’t have to struggle to hear your guide—and trust us, you won’t want to miss a word.

Throughout the tour, your guide will focus more on the stories and legends of these sites than a long, hard-to-remember list of dates and emperors. You'll leave with a vivid picture of what life was like in ancient Rome and a handful of stories you'll be repeating for years to come.