Special Access Tour of the Colosseum: Skip-the-Line, Gladiator's Gate, Arena Floor

The first time you see the Colosseum should be special and on this tour, it is. With exclusive access, you'll enter through the Gladiator's Gate and walk directly onto the arena floor.

Most people see the Colosseum as spectators, gazing down at the arena floor from the stands. On this special access Colosseum tour, you'll enter the great arena as the combatants once did, through the Gladiator's Gate. Once inside, you'll head straight to the reconstructed arena floor, where you'll get a 360-degree view of history's greatest sports stadium. This area is closed to the public, offering a fantastic respite from the crowds on busy summer days. Take some space to soak it all in as your guide regales you with stories of blood sports and death sentences, once played out right where you are standing.

 From there you'll enjoy a luxury that ancient gladiators didn't have. You'll go up into the stands to learn the full story of this colossal structure, from how it was built to how it declined and was eventually used for all sorts of strange things (cattle farming, anyone?). 

To understand the empire that created this amazing stage for organized violence, you'll also explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with skip-the-line access. At the Roman Forum, your guide will show you the palaces, government buildings, temples, and monuments that made up the heart of Ancient Rome. Further uphill, the Palatine Hill was the birthplace of Rome and is the perfect place to discover its origins. 

With your guide's stories, facts, and insights for context, you'll be immersed in the history and lore of ancient Rome and get a vivid picture of one of the greatest civilizations ever known.