7 Best Colosseum at Night Tours in Rome for a Unique Experience

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Are you looking for the best Colosseum at night tours in Rome?

As someone who’s visited Rome more times than I can count on one hand, I promise you that it’s worth booking a tour to visit the Colosseum at night! 

Why take a Colosseum night tour in Rome? Being guided by a local expert means you can get so much more out of the experience. The difference is that you can interpret what you’re seeing, giving you a far deeper understanding than you’d get simply by seeing the structure up close. 

Plus, visiting this iconic landmark all lit up against the dark Italian sky is a completely different experience than visiting while the sun is out!

No time to read about all of the Colosseum night tours in Rome? The BEST option is VIP Colosseum Underground Night Tour. It has an impressive five star rating, exclusive access to the underground paths and chambers, and to the historic arena above ground. 

Also included with the night-time Colosseum tours outlined in this post is exclusive access to the underground area and arena. This means you gain a much deeper appreciation of what really went on here when the Colosseum was used by Roman gladiators. 

7 Best Colosseum at Night Tours to Take

These handpicked Colosseum in Rome night tours offer the best options for discovering this ancient site, along with other significant areas nearby.

1. Skip-the-Line VIP Colosseum Underground Night Tour

View of Colosseum at night lit up

Rating: 5 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 1 hour & 15 minutes | 🎟 BOOK NOW

This VIP evening tour of the Colosseum allows you to explore both where animals were kept before combat and where they actually fought the gladiators in the Arena above.

Not only will you avoid the daytime crowds, but you also get fast skip-the-line entry with Colosseum at night tickets for this tour. 

Pricey but going at night and no cues made it for a special, intimate and more realistic experience. The native guide spoke excellent English and was well versed in the history and able to answer questions.

– Daniel (READ MORE REVIEWS)

During your visit you’ll also learn, from your guide, all about the history of the Colosseum’s construction. You’ll also find out about the social and historical context of the games that once took place here. 

While some of what you’ll learn on this and other Colosseum tours as night is similar to what you’d learn on daytime tours, the experience of visiting the historic site after dark is truly something else!

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2. Exclusive After-Dark Colosseum Explorer Tour

view of Colosseum at night and the road leading up to it, with a full moon overhead

Rating: 4.5 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 1 hour to 90 minutes | 🎟 BOOK NOW

This Colosseum at night tour with the underground and arena floor will allow you to explore this iconic Roman landmark during the evening. The group size is capped at 15, and you’ll be led by an English-speaking guide. 

“Excellent tour guide. Paulo and Ali were outstanding. Very knowledgeable, and went beyond expectations to make our tour a personable and memorable experience.”

– EDGAR F (READ MORE REVIEWS)

A visit to Capitoline Hill, the most famous of Rome’s seven hills, is also included as part of the experience. The tour also allows you to access the arena floor and underground area, which aren’t usually open to visitors. 

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3. Colosseum Dungeons, Roman Forum & Palatine Night Tour

close up view of colosseum arched windows with lights on at night

Rating: 4.5 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 3 hours | 🎟 BOOK NOW

This night-time tour of the Colosseum also takes you to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Lasting for three hours, you can also follow in the footsteps of Roman gladiators by accessing the arena floor. This isn’t generally open to the public. 

“This tour was a highlight of our time in Rome. Matteo did a great job of touring our group that included children, around the Roman Forums area before leading us to the Colosseum where another excellent guide toured us throughout the inside and underground of the Colosseum. The guides were well prepared and excellent in their presentations. Highly recommended!”

– Marlene (READ MORE REVIEWS)

Your tour includes the services of a friendly, knowledgeable guide, plus light refreshments. It commences with a walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali, so you can learn about the history of the surrounding area as well as the Colosseum itself. 

And, as someone who has previously visited the Roman Forum without a guide, I can assure you having an expert with you for that portion will make the experience much more meaningful.

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4. VIP Colosseum Night Tour w/ Arena & Underground Access 

view of colosseum at night in Rome with glowing orange lights shining through windows

Rating: 4.0 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 2 hours | 🎟 BOOK NOW

Trace the footsteps of Romans and animals by booking your place on this VIP Colosseum tour by night. You’ll explore the secret network of subterranean tunnels and chambers, before discovering the original arena floor overhead. 

“We’ve been to the Colosseum during the day in the past and we’ve got to say that this tour has the WOW factor! It was a beautiful night, the tour was in depth, there were way less people there so our photos are fantastic and we felt less rushed, less crowded and simply had an incredible night! If you are in Rome in the evening, book this tour, you will not be disappointed!”

– STEPHANIE (READ MORE REVIEWS)

Lasting for a couple of hours, this tour is just the right length so you can see everything you want to before hitting the streets of Rome for the evening.

Like other tours of the Colosseum at night, you also get to visit during a more peaceful and cooler time of the day. 

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5. Guided Tour of the Colosseum by Night

Colosseum at nighttime in Rome, Italy

Rating: 4 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 1 hour & 20 minutes | 🎟 BOOK NOW

This Colosseum evening tour commences with skip-the-line entry to Rome’s most famous landmark.

You’ll then head to the underground level to explore the subterranean chambers and tunnels here, before entering the higher level to discover what went on within the arena.

“Our guide was very friendly, spoke English very well and the entire tour was absolutely incredible!! Seeing it at night was magical and eerie at the same time. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Italy.”

– DONNA (READ MORE REVIEWS)

During the experience you can take pictures of the illuminated arena, and also learn from your guide all about what used to happen here, as well as why. 

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6. Skip-the-Line Colosseum Night Tour

View of Colosseum with lights on at night, with trees in the foreground

Rating: 4 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 1 hour & 20 minutes | 🎟 BOOK NOW

With this tour, priority access will get you into the illuminated Colosseum after darkness has fallen over Rome. As the tour lasts for around an hour and 20 minutes, it makes the ideal start to your night out in the Italian capital. 

“I did the day tour years ago, and it was crowded and hot and didn’t show much. This one was miles ahead of the day tour. Not only was there only one other tour, but our tour guide really made the colosseum come to life. The history is so interesting. In this tour they take you underground to where the gladiators slept and where they walked out and where they eventually fought. Highly recommend!”

– TRACEY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

Included in the tour cost are all applicable fees and taxes, skip-the line entry and the services of an English-speaking guide. The meeting point by Colosseum Metro Station is also very convenient. 

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7. Colosseum Night Tour with Underground and Arena

View of street leading up to Colosseum in Rome at night

Rating: 4 / 5 | ⏰ Tour length: 1 hour & 15 minutes | 🎟 BOOK NOW

Learn all about how the historic structure was originally built with this after-dark Colosseum tour.

Not only does the arena look completely different when illuminated at night, but you can also benefit from exclusive access to the arena floor and the underground tunnels here. 

“Excellent experience. Small group.with very knowledgeable guide. No crowd at all. In fact, at one time I believe our group of six including tour guide were the only ones inside the Colosseum. I highly recommend the Moonlight tour.”

– JIM (READ MORE REVIEWS)

Avoiding the daytime crowds at the Colosseum is a great reason to book a night-time tour like this one. Do note, though, that all visitors require ID to enter this ancient Roman site. 

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FAQs: Colosseum at Night Tours

As you plan your nighttime visit to the Colosseum, here are answers to some commonly asked questions:

Can you tour the Colosseum at night?

Though it’s not open to the general public, you can visit the Colosseum during the evening. To do so you’ll need to book an organized guided tour. 

Are there night tours of the Colosseum?

There are night tours of the Colosseum, and booking one is the only way to access the site after dark. These tend to last an hour or two, and give access to the underground chambers and tunnels plus the arena floor. 

Does the Colosseum get lit up at night?

The Colosseum in Rome is indeed illuminated at light, and makes for a very lovely sight while you’re walking or driving around the city. It also provides a unique photo opportunity, and lights the way for those taking Colosseum night tours. 

Is it worth going to the Colosseum at night?

There are good reasons for visiting the Colosseum in the evening. It looks completely different when all lit up after dark, and you can also avoid the crowds by heading here after dark. Night tours also tend to offer access to the underground areas and arena, giving you a more well-rounded experience. 

Is it better to go to the Colosseum in the morning or evening?

The best time of day to go to the Colosseum depends on your preference. To avoid the crowds, head here early in the morning if you’d like a daytime visit. The site opens at 8.30 am, so get there then or earlier if you can. Otherwise, booking an evening tour can help you skip both the lines and the crowds. 

Is the Colosseum Underground tour worth it?

It’s well worth seeing the Colosseum both below and above the ground. You can see all the chambers and tunnels under the earth, giving you a fuller understanding of how the arena worked.

Your tour guide will also explain everything to you, so you’ll feel as if you’re following in the footsteps of the ancient Romans! 

Is it better to do a guided tour of the Colosseum?

Whether by day or by night, a guided tour lets you get so much more out of your Colosseum visit. Under the guidance of a local expert, you can really appreciate what you’re seeing, and the role of the arena within the city and the Roman Empire.

Guided tours operate during the day and also at night. The latter gives guests exclusive access when the arena would usually be closed. 

Final Thoughts: Colosseum Night Tours in Rome

There you go – the best tours of the Roman Colosseum at night. I cannot recommend heading here after dark enough, whether you do this as well as or instead of a daytime visit. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, for sure, and offers some unique photo opportunities too!

If you’re a solo traveler like me, taking a guided tour is also a great way to meet like-minded people who are also alone in Rome.