The underground tunnels of the Colosseum are where slaves and wild animals were stored, including gladiators.
The dungeons of this amphitheater are full of the history of ancient Rome that you can learn about in person on a tour of the site.
Access to the Colosseum underground chambers is only available via tours, which means you will need a tour guide to join you while you’re visiting this area of the landmark.
I've been on a Colosseum Underground tour, and it was incredibly informative.
In addition to the old dungeons, each of these services also includes a tour other highlights of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill as well.
Some companies also provide access to the Arena Floor or Belvedere.
In fact, these were the main reasons why I chose to go with a 3rd party tour company, the all-in-one guided service.
I also wanted to snap cute photos of my young child wandering along the arena floor.
Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the Belvedere.
Another big bonus for me was the ability to skip the ticket line.
Although I was in Rome in February, the ticket line was long and it wasn't moving very quickly.
Likewise, by joining a tour, I was also expedited through the security line.
There appeared to be a dedicated line for organized tours that just skipped the longer lines.
And, if you’re looking to avoid the crowds like I was, there are also some VIP Colosseum underground tours available at night.
The standard Colosseum tour which includes underground access is around €80-€130 depending on which company you choose and runs for about 3 ½ hours.
For comparison, the official Colosseum Underground tour is €32.
But, it only lasts for about 1 ½ hours, and it's not always going to be as thorough as a longer tour with more stops.
After a daytime tour, you can take your time to look around the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own leisure.
This isn’t possible during the night tours.
The night tours are a bit cheaper at €65-€85 per ticket, but it’s also shorter at only 2 ½ hours in length.
These outings can sell out quickly, so it will be important to reserve your tickets ahead of time.
Most companies offering explorations of the Colosseum Underground offer small group tours with limited space for 25 or fewer guests.
OFFICIAL COLOSSEUM UNDERGROUND TOUR
As I mentioned above, the Colosseum's official tour which is far less expensive than private companies' tours.
Note that this tour sells out very quickly.
So, try to purchase the tour least 2-3 weeks in advance to make sure that you can take the tour when you want.
I was unable to get tickets to the official tour on short notice and I visited in February.
While the price is lower, the official underground Colosseum tour is only 1 - 1 ½ hours in length, which means that the private company tours are longer, more in-depth tours.
However, if you’re looking for the quickest tour possible which includes underground access, this is an excellent option.
There is also an official underground tour which includes access to the Belvedere as well.
This is the third level of the Colosseum and it provides fantastic views of the historic landmark.
Each official underground tour is available in English, Spanish and Italian, while private companies typically only offer tours in English.
If you’re looking for other language options, the official tour may be a better choice.
Don’t forget that just like all the other daytime options, the official guided tours will also give you access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for the rest of the day after your tour.
What's Included
- Entrance to the Colosseum
- Didactic Tour of the Colosseum
- Entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine
- Entrance to S.U.P.E.R. Sites (Oratorio dei Quaranta Martiri, Museo Palatino relativamente al I livello, Esterno di casa di Augusto, Schola Praeconum)
- Entrance to temporary exhibitions
Colosseum Underground + Arena Tour
- €32/Adults | €12/EU Citizens (18-25)
- €8/ Youth (under 18) | €8/ Children 6 and under
- Availability: Daily
- Duration: 1 - 1 ½ hours
- Learn more about English tickets.
- Learn more about Spanish tickets.
- Learn more about Italian tickets.
Tickets Only
You can also get skip-the-line tickets with access to the Colosseum underground without taking the official tour.
However, this area is only available to visitors with a licensed tour guide, so you’ll still need to pay for a guide to show you around.
What's Included
- Entrance to the Colosseum w/ Access to the Arena
- Accompanied visit to the Underground
- Entrance to the Roman Forum, Palatine, and Imperial Forum
- Entrance to S.U.P.E.R. Sites (Oratorio dei Quaranta Martiri, Museo Palatino relativamente al I livello, Esterno di casa di Augusto, Schola Praeconum)
- Entrance to temporary exhibitions
Colosseum Underground Tickets
- €24/Adults | €4/EU Citizens (18-25) | Free for Youth 18 and under
- Availability: Daily
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
City Wonders
This is the company that I ultimately chose to book with.
Much like their competitors, this company also offers skip-the-line access to the amphitheater, and the Colosseum arena floor, as well as a tour of both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
I learned all about what life was like during the age of gladiatorial combat, and I discovered more about Roman history dating back thousands of years.
My tour guide was fluent in English and she seemed very experienced.
I was able to ask questions
Don’t forget that even after the tour ends, you’ll still have a chance to wander around the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- €99 per person
- Maximum 15 participants
- Duration: 3 hours
- Daily tours in English 9:45 am, 10:45 am, 13:15 (1:15 pm), 13:45 (1:45 pm). and other times by season.
- More information or to book.
City Wonders is one of the larger walking tour companies in Rome.
This small group tour covers the Colosseum, the Forum, and Palatine Hill.
The Roman Guy
Access to the underground sells out quickly, but The Roman Guy always gets admission thanks to their status as approved tour guides.
During this Colosseum underground tour, you’ll visit the dungeons and the arena floor as well as both Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.
While discovering each of these sites, you’ll also have an opportunity to see landmarks such as the Arch of Septimius Severus, the Arch of Titus, Antoninus Pius Temple, Julius Caesar’s Temple, House of the Vestal Virgins and much more.
Once you’re done with the tour, you’ll have an opportunity to explore both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace.
- €159.45/Adults | €149.45/Youth | €54.95/Children
- Maximum of 7 guests.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Availability: Daily
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Roma Experience
Unlike their competition, this tour provides private tour to the Underground Colosseum and include exclusive access to the arena floor, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
While touring these locations, you’ll see the first and second rings of the Colosseum.
Ticket prices will vary depending on group size, with admission to smaller groups carrying a higher price.
If you want to avoid large groups, this is an excellent opportunity.
In addition to the tour, you can also visit both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill afterward at your leisure.
- €849/Participant | €221/Infant (3 and under)
- Duration: 3 hour 10 minutes
- Availability: Daily
- More information.
There are too many to list in this post so check here for even more Colosseum underground tour options, including private tour options.
NOTE: If for whatever reason you can't make it to the Colosseum for this activity, you can return your tickets up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
COLOSSEUM UNDERGROUND NIGHT TOUR
In addition to the tours available during the day, some companies also offer Colosseum night tours which include access to the underground and other areas.
As we detailed in our overview, these tours offer a unique opportunity to see this historic landmark after dark, but they are a bit shorter than the typical daytime tour.
Keep in mind that night tours make it impossible to see the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill after your tour, which you can do during the day.
Despite these factors, it’s worth noting that these services are a bit cheaper than the other options in this post, so in addition to seeing the Colosseum after dark, you’ll also save a bit of money!
