The Best Rome Colosseum Tour with Kids

​​We spent an afternoon touring the Colosseum in Rome, and while it left a lasting impression, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. If you’re planning a trip to Rome with your kids, this is one of those must-do experiences. We booked a private tour that was perfect for the whole family, and I’m going to walk you through everything—what to expect, what we loved, and a few things that weren’t exactly our favorite. Let’s dive into the details of this Rome Colosseum tour with kids!

Tour Details

We opted for a private Colosseum tour that was designed specifically for families with kids. This kid-friendly tour was led by an expert guide who made sure to keep our young minds engaged with fun facts, stories of gladiators, and interactive questions. The tour lasted about three hours and included a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill—key spots in ancient Rome where history comes to life.

One of the challenges we faced, though, was the long waits and lines. Even with a private tour, we couldn’t skip the security checks or the long queues at the Colosseum. The summer heat made it even tougher, and the kids started to get quite restless while we waited to get inside. It’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a visit during peak tourist season. The tour guide did their best to keep the kids entertained during the wait, and once we were inside, the experience was worth it.

The guide used visual aids and multimedia tools to help the kids visualize the ancient ruins and understand the history of the arena. Though we did not opt for this tour, there are some that even let you stand on the arena floor of the Colosseum, which can make the stories of gladiator fights and wild beasts feel even more real.

If you’re interested, you can check out the private Colosseum and Roman Forum tour we took.

Our Experience: The Good and the Not-So-Good

While there was a lot to love about the experience, I wanted to keep this post honest and include the not-so-great aspects of the tour as well.

The Good

One of the highlights of our Colosseum tour was the child-friendly guide who kept the kids entertained with fun facts about ancient Rome and the Roman Colosseum. The scavenger hunt book we brought along was a huge hit and helped keep the kids focused as we explored the ancient site. You can find the scavenger hunt book we used, and it’s a great tool for any parent. Definitely recommend!

The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill were also fascinating. Our guide pointed out the Arch of Titus, the Emperor’s House, and other key archaeological sites. The guided tour helped us appreciate the ancient ruins and the stories behind them.

What We Saw

We met our guide at the Colosseum metro station, which was very busy and chaotic. We took an Uber there, but it would definitely be convenient to take the metro as well. Our guide was on time and had a sign with our name, but with the number of people, we still had to get on the phone to find each other.

Our tour started near the emperor’s chair, and we learned about the history and purpose of the building. We saw renderings of what the building looked like when it was newly built, and we played a guessing game about what kind of animals were brought into the Colosseum. We even learned the logistics of how you get a giraffe inside.

Of course we touched on the maze of rooms and activities under the Colosseum floor, and hunted to find the trap doors that would swallow up the losers or those who displeased the leaders.

We learned how seating worked (separated by class and gender) and even saw the bathroom. Let me tell you…I’ve never been so glad for indoor plumbing as I was after THAT particular stop!

After visiting the Colosseum, we walked across the street to the Roman Forum. The line was long and did not budge for quite some time, which both ate into our tour time (which is fixed) as well as was just boring and hot in the summer sun. Our guide was able to help us skip the line just a bit, but issues with the ticketing technology meant that we still waited a long time.

Once we finally got inside, our favorite stop was one I never would have seen on my own, and what I think is the real magic of taking a private tour. Our guide stopped us on a set of stairs and pointed to some circular divots in the stone. Without her, I would never have noticed these. She educated us that this was a game that Roman children would pay with small rocks, trying to bounce the rocks off the riser of the step above and land it in one of the circular impressions. My kids loved trying this game themselves, and it helped us all imagine what life would have been like back in ancient times.

The Not-So-Good

As much as we enjoyed the tour, it wasn’t our favorite activity in Rome. Earlier that day, we had done the Gladiator School, where the kids got to dress up in traditional tunics, train with wooden swords, and experience gladiator training firsthand. See my full review of the Gladiator School here.

After running around in a training arena and learning the moves real gladiators used in combat, the Colosseum tour felt a bit slower-paced and heavy on information.

While the Colosseum is an iconic site, the tour involved a lot of walking, which was tough on the kids after the morning’s excitement. The summer months made the heat intense (it was 100 degrees F during our visit, which honestly was pretty miserable), and even with frequent breaks and plenty of water, the kids were a bit overwhelmed by the end. If I had to choose, I’d say the Gladiator School was definitely the winner of the day—it was a more interactive and high-energy experience that kept the kids fully engaged.

Additionally, as will be the case most times of year, there were a lot of people at the sites and lines for everything were long – the bathrooms, the tickets, the water fountains, the viewpoints, etc. Pack your patience and be prepared to liberally reward your kids for good behavior 🙂

Gladiator School vs. Colosseum Tour

Honestly, the Gladiator School stole the show for us. The kids had so much fun gearing up in helmets and shields, learning about ancient Roman history through gladiator training, and battling it out in a mock gladiator fight. It was one of the most fun activities we did in Rome, and they were completely absorbed in the experience from start to finish.

When we moved on to the Colosseum tour later that day, while still fascinating, it didn’t have the same level of engagement for the kids. After spending the morning pretending to be gladiators at the school, seeing the actual arena where real gladiators fought felt like a slower activity by comparison. 

They were more restless, the heat started to wear them down, and while they learned a lot, it was definitely more of an educational experience than a thrilling one. For us, the Gladiator School was more of an unforgettable adventure, while the Colosseum tour was a chance to soak in the history of the arena.

What to Bring

If you’re planning a Rome Colosseum tour with kids, here are some essentials you’ll want to bring:

• Breathable clothing: The tour involves a lot of walking in the sun, so light, breathable fabrics are key. I wore an outfit from Wayre that was lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, which was perfect for the day. (Get 15% off your purchase with my friends and family link!) My specific outfit is the tie-front button up crop top and matching travel pocket flow short.
• Comfortable shoes: We all wore our Birkenstock sandals, which were great for walking around Rome, but I’d recommend something sturdier for the Colosseum and Forum since the paths can be uneven.
• Sun protection: A sun hat and sunscreen are essential. It was so hot that day, and I was glad I had my sun hat.
• Water bottle: You’ll definitely want to stay hydrated, especially on a hot day. There are water stations there, but to make the most of your time, bring a lot of water.
• Bug spray: Not a huge issue, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Anti-theft purse: With all the walking and sightseeing, having a secure bag was a must. I used my favorite anti-theft travel purse, which was perfect for keeping my belongings safe.

Overall Thoughts

In the end, our Colosseum tour in Rome was a very positive experience – the best we could hope for at a “must see” destination that I knew wouldn’t be super interesting for my kids. It was definitely an educational experience, and we’re glad we did it, but it wasn’t the highlight of our trip (no fault of the tour guide!) After the excitement of Gladiator School, the tour felt more like a traditional history lesson, which didn’t hold the kids’ attention as much.

If you’re planning a trip to Rome with kids, I’d recommend doing both if you have the time—start with Gladiator School to get the kids excited about ancient Rome, and then follow it up with the Colosseum tour to put everything into context. Just be prepared for a lot of walking, and bring plenty of water and sun protection. While the Colosseum is an absolute must-see, it’s definitely more enjoyable when paired with an activity that brings the history to life such as those activity books mentioned earlier.

More Inspiration

We had a great 5 days in Rome! If you’re looking for other kid-friendly activities in Rome, check out our roundup of the best things to do in Rome with kids, or our reviews of: