Rome: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

The Colosseum Isn't Just a Building. It's Two Hours of Walking Through Where It All Happened

You exchange your voucher at the meeting point, watch a 25-minute video about ancient Rome, then walk the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace before entering the Colosseum around two hours later. Your Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket is included and valid for any day after, with audioguide on board. Colosseum entry and on-site assistance are covered. Bring only a small bag and your original ID.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Roman Forum2h · entry included
2. Colosseum1h · entry included

Explore Ancient Rome and Bus Tour

• Exchange voucher at Touristation Aracoeli
• Watch 25-minute multimedia video
• Visit Roman Forum and Julius Caesar tomb
• Explore Palatine Hill ruins and houses
• Enter the Colosseum monument
• Receive Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket
• Use bus ticket with audioguide onboard

The experience

You start at the Touristation office near Rome Termini, and the first thing that catches you off guard is the 25-minute multimedia video about ancient Rome playing right there in the meeting point. It's not what you expect (most tours dump you straight into the street), but it actually changes how you read the ruins when you get to them. You learn the layout, the names, the scale of what you're about to walk through. Then you're handed your Colosseum entrance ticket (that €18 fee is already built in) and pointed toward the Archaeological Park.

The Roman Forum comes first, and you move through it at your own pace. This is where everyday Romans lived and worked, not emperors, not gladiators, just people. You'll see the tomb of Julius Caesar, walk past the columns that are still standing after two thousand years, and the Palatine Hill sits right there, a short walk away, where the imperial palaces used to rise. The whole thing takes time because there's no rushing through it, and honestly, that's the point. About two hours after you meet your guide at the office, you arrive at the Colosseum itself. The entrance fee is already paid, so you just walk in.

After the Colosseum, you get your Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus ticket: a full panoramic loop of Rome with an audioguide included. You can use it any day, any time after you pick it up, so if you're tired after the archaeological park, you can rest and come back to it. The bus runs the main sights, and the audioguide tells you what you're seeing as you pass. It's not a guided tour in the traditional sense. It's Rome on your terms, with the structure already in place so you don't have to figure out where to go next.

One thing to know: bring only a small bag. Large backpacks and suitcases aren't allowed into the Colosseum, and the terrain on the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum isn't flat. It's ancient stone and uneven ground. You'll need your original ID document. Copies don't work, and the name on your booking has to match exactly what's on your identity card. Disabled visitors get free admission with certified documentation, and a companion also enters free if needed.

What’s included

• Voucher exchange at Touristation Aracoeli.
• 25-minute multimedia video about ancient Rome.
• self-guided access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
• Colosseum entrance ticket (€18 adult value).
• Colosseum reservation fee.
• on-site assistance.
• Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus ticket valid for any day.
• audioguide on board the bus.
• free Wi-Fi at the meeting point.

Options for this experience

2 options

Option 17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Option 29 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:00

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Exchange your voucher at the TOURISTATION ARACOELI office at Piazza Aracoeli, 16 A small fountain is in front of the office. There are signs and orange flags outside.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by TOURISTATION

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want the three main archaeological sites in one morning without arranging separate tickets and transport: the multimedia video and timed Colosseum entry (roughly two hours after you start) keep the day structured, while the hop-on hop-off bus gives you flexibility to explore Rome's other sights on your own schedule afterward.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6).

Is the Colosseum entrance fee included?

Yes. The €18 adult Colosseum entrance fee and €2 reservation fee are included in your ticket. Minors (0-17 years) enter free.

Can I use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket on a different day?

Yes. You receive the ticket at the meeting point and can use it any day and any time after that. It's a full panoramic loop with audioguide included.

What do I need to bring to enter the Colosseum?

You must bring a valid original ID document. Photos, copies, or photocopies are not accepted. Your name on the booking must match exactly what appears on your identity card.

Are large bags allowed into the Colosseum?

No. Large backpacks, suitcases, and large bags are not permitted. You can only bring small bags.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The Palatine Hill and Roman Forum have uneven terrain and are not wheelchair accessible.

What if I made an error when booking my ticket category?

The ticket category must match your age on the day of visit as shown on your identity document. Errors made during booking cannot be corrected by the tour operator, and no refund will be issued if you are denied entry due to a mismatch.