Ancient Rome & Underground Afternoon

About This Experience

The underground is optional on this listing, as the title says. Two options include it: the Colosseum Underground Afternoon Tour, a small-group option at $166 per person, and the Private Colosseum Undergrounds Tour at $670 per person. The Arena Group Tour is labelled No undergrounds, and a classic option stays on the upper level.

On the underground options you visit the underground chambers and the arena floor, then the Colosseum’s first and second levels, and continue to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. The itinerary gives about 25 minutes each for the Colosseum stops and about 45 minutes each in the Forum and on the Palatine.

When we checked in November 2026, the first free date for the afternoon small-group option was in March 2027, so check its calendar before anything else. The guide meets you with a Tours of Rome sign and hands out the tickets on the day.

Rated 4.5/5 from 1,100+ reviews. Recent five-star reviewers say the underground was led by an official Colosseum guide, and one advises: ‘Make sure you include the underground when purchasing your ticket.’ Low-star reviews mention groups merged to about 20 to 25 people, start times moved, and the underground replaced when tickets were unavailable. For a smaller group, compare the max 6 tour.

Highlights

• Underground chambers and arena floor on the afternoon or private option
• The Colosseum's first and second levels, with the underground seen from above
• About 45 minutes in the Roman Forum among its temples
• About 45 minutes on the Palatine Hill among the palace ruins
• Guides in English, Spanish or Italian

What's Included

• ✓ Colosseum Full Experience tickets
• ✓ Colosseum guided tour of the first and second levels
• ✓ Colosseum underground guided tour (underground options only)
• ✓ Arena floor guided tour (arena and underground options)
• ✓ Entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Not Included

• Underground access on the Arena Group Tour and classic options
• Food and drinks
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off

What to Bring

• Original passport or ID card for every traveller, children included
• Closed, comfortable shoes with grip
• Water, especially from May to September
• A small bag only (max 30 x 40 x 15 cm)
• Sun hat and sunscreen for the open Forum and Palatine
• A charged mobile phone; the operator replies fastest on WhatsApp, iMessage or Viber

Good to Know & Caveats

• Book the Colosseum Underground Afternoon Tour (small group) or the Private Colosseum Undergrounds Tour. The Arena Group Tour is marked No undergrounds.
• Bring the original passport or ID card of every traveller. The operator says a copy or scan is accepted, but the Colosseum issues tickets in each visitor's name and can refuse entry if the original does not match.
• Some reviewers say the underground part was led by an official Colosseum guide, a different person from the one who met them, and that groups were merged to about 20 to 25 people.
• Several low-star reviews describe start times moved a day or two before, or the underground swapped for another ticket type when tickets were unavailable.
• Cancellation is not free on this listing. Pets and service dogs are not allowed.
• Be at the meeting point at the time the operator gives you. The park asks underground ticket holders to arrive 30 minutes before their entry time and does not admit latecomers to the underground.
• Heavy rain can close the underground and the arena at short notice: the park shut both on 12 February 2026 and closed the underground for a morning on 8 October 2026.

Meeting Point

The listing has four meeting points, one per option. Your confirmation gives the address; the guide waits with a Tours of Rome sign.