All Rome Tours

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

4998 reviews

3.25 hours

Max 16

Why take this tour?

Highlights

Walk in the footsteps of gladiators as you enter the Colosseum through the “Gladiator's Gate”—an experience that will stay with you for years to come.
Follow along with an expert archaeologist guide as you explore the Colosseum, learning to decode and appreciate the ruins in a way that’s just not possible on your own.
Save time with express access at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to help you make the most of every second in the heart of ancient Rome.
Hear the stories of blood, sand, spectacle and mayhem from your passionate guide—and learn the truth about some of the most popular myths surrounding the spectacular structure.
9 AM & 11:15 AM tours only: Join a small group of maximum eight guests for an intimate and personalized journey through history.

Sites Visited
Colosseum
Colosseum Arena Floor
Roman Forum
Palatine Hill

Tour Includes
Local English-speaking guide
Expertly guided walking tour
Colosseum entrance ticket (Full Experience Ticket €24)
Special access ticket to Colosseum Arena Floor
Ticket for Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
9 AM & 11:15 AM tours only: Small group of max 8 guests
Headset (groups over 6 people)

Walk in the footsteps of gladiators with arena floor access on this unforgettable tour of the Colosseum.

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Total Customer Reviews: 4998

Verified Ratings

4.7 /5

based on 3691 Walks’ customer ratings

Rating summary by category

Guide

4.8/5

Guest Support

4.6/5

Latest reviews

Great

We specifically got these tour tickets because of the gladiator’s arena access. On the day itself, we spent barely 10 minutes in that area and the tour guide led us to the general areas of the colosseum where it was crowded and uncomfortable. We would have liked more experience in the arena itself and more explanations of the colosseum from there as it had great views and more interesting parts to see. Towards the end of the tour, the guide also left us after an explanation of the Roman forum without walking us through the forum itself due to the rain. Overall a good experience of the tour as the colosseum was great, but the tour guiding itself could have been improved due to these reasons listed. Not worth the price paid as we didn’t enjoy the full experience. We won’t be recommending to friends and family.

Verified · Yi · Sep 04, 2024 · Australia · Female · 25 to 34 years

Excellent

Marco was an absolutely amazing tour guide. The best I’ve ever had. I had visited the Colosseum a few years ago without a tour group and felt that I missed many details without a guide. Marco provided so much incredible information and had pictures of what the ruins used to look like when they were in use. We are so grateful to Marco for being such a great guide. I recommend this tour to anyone who’s visiting the Colosseum/Forum.

Verified · Kimberly · Sep 02, 2024 · USA · Female · 25 to 34 years

Great

Our tour guide Francesco was great and very knowledgeable. The 3 hours flew by.

Verified · Kimuel · Sep 01, 2024 · Australia · Female · 55 to 64 years

Great

Our tour guide, Paolo, was excellent. You could tell he was passionate about the topics he discussed, making the experience very enjoyable. He was also very funny

Verified · James · Sep 01, 2024 · Australia · Male · 18 to 24 years

Great

Also need to disclose there are no bathroom options for the first 2 hours!

Verified · Robyn · Aug 31, 2024 · USA · Female · 45 to 54 years

FAQs

What if the weather is bad (rain, snow, hail, etc.) on the day of my tour?

Our tours run rain or shine so please dress for the elements. We also ask you to please remember hats and sunscreen if you are taking this tour in the summer as it might be very hot.

What's the cancellation policy for this tour?

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

Do we always see the sights in the same order that you have listed in the description?

No. Sometimes the order of our visits change due to logistical issues or your guide make a snap decision to avoid crowds in order to increase the quality of your visit.

Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?

Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs, strollers or for those with mobility impairments?

Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact the Guest Experience team at [email protected] or call +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

Does the order of the itinerary on this tour ever change?

Occasionally the sights on this tour are visited in a different order. This happens due to logistical changes and snap decisions made by our guides to avoid crowds and thus improve your visit.

Is there wheelchair access in the Colosseum?

Wheelchair access in the Colosseum is limited at best and non-existent when its crowded. The specific route of this tour does not accomodate wheelchairs (as we have to go up and down stairs). If you use a wheelchair or have impaired mobility and would like to see the Colosseum, please contact our customer service department for private tour options at [email protected].

Does Skip the Line Access mean no waiting?

During busy periods (May - October) there is sometimes a short wait to get inside the Colosseum. This is because the Colosseum has changed its admission policy to ensure that only 3,000 people are allowed within the amphitheater at any given time, meaning much less crowding during busy periods. Although our tickets are pre-booked with Skip the Line access, this may mean a slight delay on entering if capacity has already been reached. It's rare that we have to wait for more than a few minutes but if we do, it's unavoidable.

Are selfie sticks allowed in the Colosseum?

Yes, but please be careful when using them - during the summer months they can be more dangerous than gladiators' weapons.

Is there anything I should bring/wear on my tour?

Because there is a lot of walking on this tour, we highly recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes. There is very little shade at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in particular, so we would recommend bringing a hat and sunscreen in summer and a rain-jacket or umbrella in winter. As there are water fountains with (delicious) drinking water dotted throughout the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, we would highly recommend bringing a bottle that you can refill.

Does the Colosseum ever close without warning?

Unfortunately, Yes. The Colosseum is subject to unforeseen closures due to weather conditions and worker strikes, as well as last minute changes in reservations, all of which are out of Walks of Italy (or any other tour operator's) control. If for any reason we cannot run the tour as described, we will contact you immediately, offering the best alternatives. Depending on the situation this might result in a modification of the itinerary or a change in the tour start time. Our aim is to offer you the highest level of service and in the rare occasion in which circumstances outside of our control mean that you cannot participate in a variation of this tour we will offer you a full refund.