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Tour company reccs for Colosseum besides WOI?

Hello Travelers,

I’ve been reading through the recent posts re: Walks Of Italy tours — specifically their unavailability on certain Colosseum tours, last minute tour cancellations, and unreliable contact. I too have sent an email and attempted their online chat but am unable to reach anyone. I know they’ve been the go-to guided tour recommendation in this community for some time but looks as though they’re losing their followers.

My partner and I are looking to book a guided tour of the Colosseum in early September with a specific interest in the arena and underground — an evening/night tour would be a bonus. I was hoping to book with WOI but from what I’m reading here and what I’m seeing on their website, the tour we’d ideally like to take isn’t available due to a change from the Colosseum limiting access (?).

Any other tour company recommendations? Or if anyone still stands confidently by WOI, any guidance on which Colosseum tour might be most reliable to book?

Thank you in advance!

Posted by
1040 posts

I have an anti-recommendation. I had a very poor quality tour with The Roman Guy (aka The Tour Guy) company at the end of April this year.

I have had good experiences with various Context Italy tours in Rome, but didn't take the Colosseum tour through them. I have heard good reviews of Through Eternity but have no personal experience.

So...not a very complete answer to your question, but I hope it helps a little.

Posted by
35 posts

I was in Rome in April and had an excellent experience with Through Eternity. I went through two cancellations over two years because of Covid and TE were more than helpful in facilitating my final tour. I ended up with a private tour of the Forum and the Palatine and it was superb. The guide was extremely knowledgeable. I know this response isn't for the Colosseum,but I would suggest trying TE to see if they can help you out for the Colosseum. Good luck.

Posted by
8435 posts

I looked at Through Eternity website and they are quite clear that they also have limited access to underground tickets because these are only available 30 days prior to the tour. They state they will still do the tour if tickets are unavailable, but it will not include the Underground portion.

On the other hand, a poster on a different forum reported he went on the Underground tour with Walks of Italy yesterday successfully.

It seems a bit of a gamble with any tour company. It gets down to ticket availability from the colosseum to the tour company for any given day.

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks for the input! Sounds like Through Eternity might be the one to go with. I was just on their site and it appears they too have most of their Underground tours blocked out, which makes sense if the Colosseum only releases tickets for it a week in advance. I agree, any tour company offering an Underground tour this early in advance is a gamble…

And anti-recommendations are just as helpful :) I watched a Roman Guy video on YouTube and knew it probably wasn’t for us so that helps to have that affirmed.

Posted by
17 posts

I had a great tour with the Roman Guy/Tour Guy at the end of May. My WOI Underground Tour was cancelled at the last minute and the Roman Guy’s regular tour was all that was available. Unfortunately, the tour guide had an emergency and we were pushed to yet another tour but it was the Underground Tour. Our guide was great, especially since she was a last-minute fill-in. I also did a Vatican tour and Florence Duomo tour with the same company. All were fantastic.