Colosseum Underground: The 15 Best Hypogeum Tours

1.Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,844 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $105Our pick

You’ll tour the Colosseum’s restricted underground, dungeons, arena floor, and main levels with an English-speaking guide in a group of up to eight. Guides such as Daniella, Carmelo, and Sofian bring the site to life. Your ticket also covers self-guided access to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.

“Fantastic tour! One of the best I’ve done in Europe. Excellent t guide who was able to bring the Colleaeum to life. Highly recommend.”

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2.Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,272 reviews · from $157

Enter the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor, then learn how ancient Romans lived at the Forum and Palatine Hill. Spanish-speaking guides such as Francesca, Donatella, and Gabriele are praised for clear storytelling, humor, and a steady pace. Plan for moderate walking and stairs.

“Great tour, unfortunately did not get to see the underground, but we were refunded for that portion.”

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3.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,590 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $74

Choose underground access or an arena-only visit, then follow an English-speaking guide through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. The underground option reveals gladiator tunnels, animal rooms, and arena machinery, with headsets, reserved entry, and about three hours on foot.

“Mirta, gave the most incredible tour of the Coliseum and Roman Forum. Her knowledge and ability to communicate ancient Roman history was like being taught by your favorite professor in college. l learned so much and was fascinated by this period of history and this wonder of the world. My Rome experience has been enhanced by taking this tour with such an amazing guide. Thank you Mirta and Viator for a great tour experience.”

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4.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,059 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $66Best value

Meet near the Colosseo Metro station for a guided visit to the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor. You’ll see animal cages, gladiator passages, and the first level, then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own. Groups can reach 24 people.

“My first time in a night tour, I've been twice before only on the upper sections which were amazing as well. I thought the history and ancient ruins were amazing and I suggest find that at least once, the ticket included Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Worth the $94.00”

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5.Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,002 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $94

Spend 2.5 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Sara, Claudia, Virginia, or Giorgio, visiting the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum underground, arena floor, and upper tiers. The group is limited to eight, but underground access can depend on Colosseum staff and changing rules.

“We absolutely loved our tour - Sara was amazing - literally couldn’t fault the experience - maybe slightly longer in the places to look around a bit and some free time to explore inside the forum - and the underground colosseum felt a little rushed”

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6.Colosseum Tour with Underground and Arena Floor Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 789 reviews · from $112

Enter the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor on a 75-minute English tour with guides such as Paolo, Giovanna, Tanja, Scott, or Maya. Hear how lifts, pulleys, gladiators, animals, and staged naval battles shaped Rome’s greatest amphitheater, then explore the Forum and Palatine Hill on your own.

“Brilliant tour, Giovanna was very informative and good humoured. Really amazing to walk around such an ancient building, and she helped imagine what it would have been like so long ago.”

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7.Exclusive Colosseum Underground and Roman Forum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 569 reviews · from $152

Join Eyes of Rome for a three-hour, six-person tour of the Colosseum underground, arena floor, and Roman Forum. Guides such as Marco, an archaeologist, and Alessandro bring the ruins to life with clear stories, visual reconstructions, and practical help getting around Rome.

“Was a great tour and we learned so much history about the colosseum and Roman forum. If we hadn’t taken this tour we wouldn’t have been able to fully appreciate the rich history that took place 2000 years ago.”

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8.Colosseum Underground and Roman Forum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 528 reviews · 3 hours 10 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Spend about three hours with an English-speaking guide at Rome’s Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You’ll enter the arena and underground levels, hear stories of gladiators and emperors, and use headsets in crowded areas. Guides may include Carmelo, Rita, Chris, Barbara, Teddy, or Katrina.

“10/10 day, thank you so much to our tour guide who gave our group an amazing experience. I did the tour solo, which I was nervous about because I’m an introvert, but the group, as well as the tour guide made the 3 hours feel very comfortable. We learned an insane amount about the history of Rome and the Coliseum. The tour felt like a very exclusive tour…security was a breeze at Palatine Hill, and we had a bathroom break. There’s also a small shop to buy snacks or drinks. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history and facts, and also showed us pictures. He gave us time…”

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9.Colosseum Underground, Roman Forum & Cesar Palace Special Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 421 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $144

Spend about three hours exploring Rome’s ancient center with an English-speaking guide. Enter the Colosseum through Gladiator’s Gate, walk the arena floor and underground, then visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, including Caesar’s Palace.

“It was really great! Great information and engaging story telling by our tour guide(David). He is quite knowledgeable with great sense of humor.”

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10.Guided Colosseum Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 342 reviews · from $163

Enter the Colosseum’s underground hypogeum, see the machinery once used to raise animals and performers, then walk across the Arena Floor. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Amanda, Renata, or Lorenzo, continues through the Roman Forum and Palace of Domitian on Palatine Hill.

“I highly recommend booking this tour for the Colosseum. It is very difficult to score tickets of the underground portion on your own. Trajan Tours is a superstar for booking the tickets for us. Be flexible with the start time because it may change depending on availability of tickets. Our tour guide Amanda was AMAZING. She was very animated and hilarious which was perfect for the colosseum. I loved her “evil” voice for the “evil” Roman emperors. The tour provided ear phones and I was able to hear the tour guide very well. The Colosseum is difficult to navigate on your own due to many security/ticket check points. It was…”

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11.Ancient Rome and Colosseum Private Tour with Underground Chambers and Arena

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 184 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $423

Spend about three hours exploring the Colosseum’s arena, upper levels, and restricted underground chambers, then walk through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with a private English-speaking guide. The underground portion is led in a small shared group by a local archaeologist.

“Guide had not done a tour since before Covid! Never got to see the underground because he did not know how to get to it. We wasted a half hour to forty five minutes while he tried to figure out what lines we were supposed to be in for the rest of the coliseum. Did most of the Forum tour from outside looking in and only saw a small piece of it because he didn’t know how to “skip the line” there also. They reimbursed a small piece of the cost but should have refunded the full amount. Paid for a premium tour. Was thoroughly disappointed. Please avoid Tours of…”

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12.Colosseum Tour with Underground and Arena Floor Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 119 reviews · from $282

Enter the Colosseum through a special access route, walk across the Arena floor, visit the underground chambers, then tour the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. English-speaking guides such as Georgia, Emanuele, Roberts, Genie, and Alessandro have led engaging tours with visual aids and clear storytelling.

“Georgia (our guide) was terrific. She had a lot of historical knowledge and a very engaging way of expressing that knowledge. Would highly recommend her.”

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13.Colosseum Underground All Access Tour with Ancient Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 116 reviews · from $93

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring the Colosseum’s underground chambers, Arena Floor, upper levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. English-speaking guides such as Manuela, Georgia, Tina, and Maya bring the ruins to life. Check your booking option carefully, since some tours exclude the underground.

“Manuela Our guide was amazing , excellent at her job , very knowledgeable & answered all our questions. The tour was incredible & she made it even better. Would definitely recommend.”

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14.Private Guided Tour of Colosseum Underground OR Arena and Forum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 111 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (approx.) · from $446Top rated

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours with a private English-speaking guide at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Depending on access, walk the Arena floor or Colosseum Underground, then follow Rome’s emperors, senators, and gladiators through the ruins.

“Our guide was excellent and had a deep knowledge of the area and history. It was evident she was interested in us and has a deep passion for her chosen work.”

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15.Colosseum Underground Private Tour with Forum Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 77 reviews · from $225

Spend 75 minutes with a private English-speaking guide exploring the Colosseum Underground, arena floor, and first and second levels. Guides such as Giovanna and Paolo bring the machinery, gladiators, animals, politics, and engineering to life. Your ticket also includes self-guided entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

“Our tour guide Giovanna was amazing! It was 100 degrees F and we did not mind as she was so knowledgeable and was able to navigate us around with ease.”

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