Walk in the footsteps of the legendary Roman gladiators with Skip-the-Line Access through the Colosseum’s private ‘stage door’: the Gladiator’s Gate. Not open to most tours, the Gate brings directly onto the partially reconstructed Arena Floor, where deadly duels, wild hunts and even sea battles were staged to entertain audiences up to 80,000 strong.

The tour avoids the Colosseum’s trademark crowds by sticking to areas requiring privileged access. As well as the Arena Floor, you’ll get to explore the second tier of the Colosseum, where eager spectators cheered on the violence below. Your expert, English-speaking guide will call on their historical and archaeological expertise to let you imagine the space as it once was: with scenery and caged animals ready to be hoisted into the arena to meet the roar of the crowd.

Avoiding the lines and crowds at the Colosseum frees up time you to spend with a follow-up visit to the Roman Forum, where you’ll also enjoy Skip-the-Line Access as part of this package. From this once-bustling marketplace, hike up the Palatine Hill, birthplace of Rome, for panoramic views of the Circus Maximus, where Rome further indulged its penchant for spectacle with breathless chariot races.