Walk the heart of Ancient Rome on a free walking tour in English: the surroundings of the Rome Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the great settings of the Empire, with a local guide who tells you their history. The best way to get your bearings on your first day. Book your place at no cost, with instant confirmation.
The free tour of Imperial Rome is a free walking tour in English around the surroundings of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It does not go inside the monuments, but it gives you the perfect context to understand them: ideal for starting your trip, getting your bearings and then deciding what to visit inside, such as the Rome Colosseum.
The local guide takes you through the key points of imperial Rome, explaining what life was like in the capital of the greatest empire of antiquity. You walk the streets surrounding the archaeological complex and learn the stories that shaped the city.
The free tour is booked at no cost and has no fixed price: it works on a voluntary tip. At the end, each participant decides how much to give the guide depending on how much they enjoyed the tour. Booking your place online is free and secures your spot, as places are limited and fill up in high season. You receive the meeting point and the exact time in the confirmation.
Free booking · Instant confirmation · Cancellation at no cost
The free tour does not include entry to the interior of the Colosseum: it is a tour of the exterior and the surroundings. When you want to see the amphitheatre inside, you need a ticket or a guided tour with skip-the-line access. Many travellers do the free tour on the first day to get their bearings and then book the Colosseum guided tour or the tour with Arena access. If you're unsure which option suits you, see our guide on which Colosseum ticket to buy.
| Price | Free (voluntary tip) |
|---|---|
| Booking | Online at no cost, limited places |
| Language | English |
| Duration | About 2–2.5 hours, on foot |
| Route | Surroundings of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and imperial Rome |
| Cancellation | Free |
Last reviewed: June 2026. Schedules and availability may change; check them when booking.
Yes, the free tour is booked at no cost and has no fixed price. It works on a voluntary tip model: at the end of the tour, each participant decides how much to give the guide depending on how much they enjoyed it. Booking your place online is free and ensures they count on you, as places are limited.
No. The free tour of Imperial Rome is a walking tour of the exterior and the surroundings of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Ancient Rome; it does not include entry to the interior of the amphitheatre. To go inside the Colosseum you need a ticket or a specific guided tour with skip-the-line access.
The free tour of Imperial Rome lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours and is done on foot in English. It is an ideal way to get your bearings in the city on the first day, learn the history of the Roman Empire and then decide which monuments you want to visit inside, such as the Rome Colosseum.
Yes, it is highly recommended. Although the tour is free, places are limited and fill up, especially in high season. When you book online you receive the confirmation, the meeting point and the exact time, and you can cancel at no cost if your plans change.
The free tour gets you oriented; these options take you inside the Flavian Amphitheatre and the Ancient Rome complex.
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