Private Full Day Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum Arena & Exclusive SUPER Sites

Discover the fascinating way of life of the Ancient Romans and their compelling legacy, as you spend the day following in their footsteps through the majestic and atmospheric ruins of their iconic monuments on this Private Full Day Ancient Rome tour.

The tour will take you through the Forums, the Imperial Palaces, and some SUPER sites where you’ll see amazing frescoes, statues, and antique treasures.

Visit the Mamertine Prison where Saint Peter was held and see the newly opened Forma Urbis and the Celio Hill. Explore the underground archeology of San Clemente Basilica – including a 2nd Century Mithraic Temple – and end with a fascinating tour of the Colosseum with special access to the Arena Floor.

Proud to be an Accredited Tour Operator of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.

• Enjoy a full-day, immersive experience walking in the footsteps of the Ancient Romans
• Visit the Forums, SUPER sites, and Palaces of the Emperors on the Palatine
• Explore the Mamertine prison, Caelian Hill, and the newly opened Forma Urbis
• Discover an underground 4th-century church and 2nd-century Mithraic temple
• End with an enthralling visit to the Colosseum and step onto the Arena Floor

Your full-day tour of Ancient Rome includes an in-depth visit to the the Imperial Forums, Palaces and SUPER Sites of the Palatine and Celio Hills, an underground adventure in a mysterious 2nd-century pagan temple, and culminates with a captivating tour of the iconic Colosseum including special access to the gladiator Arena Floor. Walk in the footsteps of the Caesars, the slaves, the senators, the charioteers, the gladiators, and the everyday Romans who lived two thousand years ago. 

You will meet your expert English-speaking guide at Trajan’s Forum, marked by the imposing Triumphal column and the largest ‘shopping mall’ of the ancient western world. From here you’ll visit the incredible Mamertine Prison where Saint Peter was held captive before his crucifixion and where Vercingetorix, gallant leader of the Gauls, was held before his brutal execution. You will explore exclusive sites in the Imperial Forums and Palatine Hill: a vast, palatial complex where the emperors lived in total luxury. You’ll visit either the house of the emperor Augustus or newly re-opened house of the empress Livia—both stunning examples of the wealth and splendor of ancient Rome and an intimate peak inside the private residencies of Rome’s greatest rulers.

With special access to the Aula Isiaca, you’ll witness the stunning frescoed halls dedicated to the goddess Isis from the 1st century BC, with roses, snakes, vases, and exotic grotesques. Next door you’ll enter the Loggia Mattei, a Renaissance structure boasting beautiful frescoes of pagan deities like Hebe and Hercules, Cupid and Psyche, and the Muses. 

Enjoy the highlights of the Palatine Museum which is filled with ancient treasures, statues, mosaics, and jewels, and step into Santa Maria Antiqua: a 6th-century church nestled in the hill, a fascinating bridge between the pagan and Christian eras. Walk into the Forum, the Valley of the Gods, and admire the ruins of the majestic temples and basilicas dedicated to the many gods and goddesses worshiped by the Romans. Stop by the resting place of Julius Caesar himself.  

You will also get to see the newly opened Forma Urbis, the amazing ancient stone map of Rome commissioned by Septimius Severus in circa 200 A.D. This archaeological find is one-of-a-kind and will give you a first hand look at the ancient topography of the eternal city. With the layout of ancient Rome fresh in your mind, your guide will recommend some places to grab lunch and let you enjoy your food in the beautiful archaeological park on Caelian Hill.

The afternoon will take you underground to the Basilica of San Clemente, a hidden gem, where you’ll discover the archaeological layers of Rome, including a 4th-century church with frescoes dating to the 9th century, a mysterious 2nd-century Mithraeum and domus, and a 1st-century Roman coin mint. From here, it is a short walk down to the most iconic monument of ancient Rome: the mighty Colosseum. 

With LivTours priority access, you will walk onto the Arena Floor and stand where the Gladiators stood before the cheering crowds of over 80,000 spectators. You’ll learn all about the bloodthirsty games, the wild beast hunts, the spectacular theatricals, and, of course, the famous gladiatorial combats.     

This is the most in-depth day tour of Ancient Rome we offer, a fully immersive experience above and below ground, with visits to unique sites led by an expert, passionate guide. You don’t want to miss it!

• Expert local private guide
• Tickets to all venues
• Priority Colosseum Arena Floor access
• Forma Urbis
• Basilica of San Clemente
• Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Mamertine Prison
• Trajan’s Column
• Santa Maria Antiqua
• Domus Tiberiana (exhibition rooms)
• Palatine Museum
• Aula Isiaca and Loggia Mattei
• Free time for lunch (lunch not included)
• House of Augustus or Livia

• **All Colosseum tours require photo ID for all participants; plan to bring your passports on the day of your tour. Failure to show identification will result in the denial of entry to the site.**

• The itinerary described above is a suggested order and indication of the various experiences. These may slightly vary according to the day of the week and ongoing restoration efforts
• The house of Augustus is closed on Monday and the House of Livia is closed on Tuesday. All other days of the week both are open. If you prefer to see one or the other, please book accordingly and inform your guide at the start of the tour.
• Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter
• Tours run rain or shine. We recommend coming prepared if rainy weather is expected
• Comfortable walking shoes recommended
• Lunch is not included in the price of the tour

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.