Rome: Colosseum & Roman Forum with Exclusive Villa Access

Walk where Augustus lived: Rome's hidden villas beyond the Colosseum

You walk the Roman Forum with a local guide, then access exclusive villas and churches on Palatine Hill that require special tickets (including the House of Augustus and the Domus Tiberiana) before finishing at the Colosseum's upper tiers. The 24-hour Colosseum and Forum pass is included, and your guide handles the logistics so you don't have to figure out which sites are open or how to get into the restricted areas.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Roman Forum1h · entry included
2. Palatine Hill1h · entry included
3. Colosseum1h 30m · entry included

Explore Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum

• Visit the Roman Forum ruins
• Explore Palatine Hill Super Sites
• Tour the Colosseum tiers

The experience

Your guide meets you at the Roman Forum before most tourists arrive, and within the first few minutes you realize this isn't the usual circuit. He points to a section of pavement most people walk past without seeing (where Julius Caesar and Mark Antony once stood), and suddenly the stones feel less like a museum display and more like a place where actual decisions got made. The Forum spreads out in front of you, and instead of rushing through, you move slowly, stopping at temples and basilicas while he fills in the details that make the ruins click into place. It's the kind of pacing that lets you actually absorb what you're looking at, not just photograph it.

Then you head up Palatine Hill and into what the tour calls the SUPER Sites: a collection of villas and buildings that most visitors never see because they require special advance access tickets. Which ones you enter depends on what's open the day you go, but the possibilities are the kind of thing that changes how you think about Rome. The House of Augustus, with frescoes so vivid they rival Pompeii. The Domus Tiberiana, the first imperial palace, where Nero himself walked. Santa Maria Antiqua, an early Christian church tucked into the hillside with art that bridges two worlds. You're not reading about these places in a guidebook. You're standing in them, often alone or in a small group, while your guide explains what you're seeing. It's the difference between knowing Rome existed and feeling the weight of it.

The Colosseum comes last, and by then you've already seen enough to understand what you're looking at. You climb to the first and second tiers (not the ground level where everyone else stands), and the guide walks you through what a day at the games actually meant: the animal hunts, the executions at halftime, the gambling, the gladiators. The structure makes sense now because you've already spent hours learning how Romans thought and lived. The whole tour runs as a single arc instead of three separate checkboxes.

What’s included

• Your day includes a local English-speaking guide, entry to the Roman Forum, special access to the SUPER Sites (the preserved villas and churches on Palatine Hill), entry to the Colosseum, and a 24-hour Colosseum and Forum Pass valued at 18€.
• If your group has more than 6 people, you'll also receive a headset so you can hear the guide clearly throughout the tour.
• The operator is an official Parco Archeologico del Colosseo operator, meaning they're authorized to lead tours of these sites.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour of the Colosseum and SUPER SitesGuide in English · 08:45, 11:00 and 12:15

Colosseum and SUPER Sites, private tourGuide in English · 12:30Private tour

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 08:45, 11:00, 12:15 and 12:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (2 to 17 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see beyond the standard Colosseum-and-Forum loop and don't want to spend time figuring out which restricted sites are open or how to get access. The guide handles that, and the special tickets are already arranged.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What exactly are the SUPER Sites?

They're preserved ancient villas, temples, and churches on Palatine Hill that aren't open to regular visitors. Depending on the day, you might enter the House of Augustus, the Domus Tiberiana, or Santa Maria Antiqua. Your guide has advance access tickets for whichever sites are available.

Do I need to bring anything to the Colosseum?

Yes, government-issued ID is required for entry, including for children. Your full name must match your ID and be provided when you book. The tour operator will confirm this in advance.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

No. This is a walking tour that includes climbing Palatine Hill and ascending the Colosseum tiers. It's not suitable for guests with wheelchairs, strollers, or significant mobility limitations.

What's included in the price?

A local English-speaking guide, entry to the Roman Forum, access to the SUPER Sites, the Colosseum, and a 24-hour Colosseum and Forum Pass (normally 18€). Groups over 6 people also get a headset so you can hear the guide clearly.

What if the Colosseum or one of the sites is closed on my tour date?

The tour operator will notify you in advance if possible. For last-minute closures, you'll be updated at the start of the tour. The Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, and House of Augustus do occasionally close.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, but you should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty and climb stairs on Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. If you have concerns, contact the operator before booking.

Is there a refund policy?

The tour is fully refundable up to 7 days before the date. Within 7 days, it's 100% non-refundable.