Top Rome Historical Tours

Discover the Vatican on an intimate small-group tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with an expert guide and a group of up to 20 people. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps and Raphael’s Rooms; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo. Choose from several departures, or upgrade to an evening experience or small-group tour with 10 people.

The ancient glory of Rome is reborn! Skip the Line at three of the most significant surviving remnants of the Eternal City: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Your English-speaking expert historian tour guide will share anecdotes and history throughout the 3-hour tour, rebuilding the impressive ruins with tales of Ancient Rome’s heyday on this small-group experience of up to 20 participants.

Discover the sacred and artistic treasures of the Vatican on an immersive tour led by an art historian guide. Skip the long lines with priority access, and see some of the most important masterpieces in the Vatican Museum’s immense collection. Stand in awe beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, and learn the stories behind the art through an audio headset so you don’t miss a word of your guide’s commentary.

Go underground to see Rome’s ancient catacombs and crypts on a half-day tour. Visit the Domitilla Catacomb and Basilica of San Clemente with skip-the-line access, plus visit the Capuchin Crypt, where you’ll see a Caravaggio painting and marvel at a chapel made entirely out of human bones. Learn about past burial customs and secret Christian worship spots during this fascinating exploration into the history of Rome.

See the Colosseum on a guided tour that gives you special access to enter the amphitheater on the arena, the same entrance that gladiators once used for their battles. This also allows you to skip the line at the main public entrance. Once inside, explore the ancient landmark with a guide, and then head outside to tour the archaeological area of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Select your preferred tour time when booking.

Home to the world’s largest private portfolio of artwork, the Vatican is a must-see for visitors to Rome, and the best way to explore it is with a guide. Learn about the highlights of Vatican City with an expert guide, visiting the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel. Explore intriguing sites like Raphael’s Rooms and then visit the Sistine Chapel to see incredible frescoes by Michelangelo. Choose the start time that better suites your needs.

Avoid the long entrance lines at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill during this skip-the-line tour of the sights in ancient Rome. With a guide, head into the Colosseum to walk in the footsteps of gladiators, emperors, and plebeians as tales of the brutal games ring in your ears. Stroll amid the ruins of the Roman Forum, then discover layers of Roman history on Palatine Hill.

Enjoy a rare bird’s-eye view over Rome with this tour of St. Peter’s Basilica that includes a climb to the top of its dome. Visit St. Peter’s Square and church with an art historian guide to marvel at its Renaissance art and architecture. Then head underground to see the grottoes and St. Peter's tomb before climbing the dome to admire the church interiors and the surrounding city from above.

To dig deep into the history and art of St Peter’s Basilica, explore the church on a walking tour with a Vatican guide. From St Peter’s Square, walk to the basilica. Inside, listen to stories about the popes, pilgrims and Renaissance art masters who have left their marks on this iconic Catholic site, whose Michelangelo-designed dome dominates the Rome skyline.

Take a Rome hop-on hop-off tour by open-top bus, and spend time city sightseeing as you travel past attractions such as the Colosseum and Vatican City. Relax aboard the double-decker Rome tour bus, listen to the audio commentary and hop on and off at any of the stops. Select a sightseeing ticket that’s valid for 24 or 48 hours, or pick an upgrade option to include entry to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum and more.

Experience over 2,500 years of history on a private tour through one of the world’s most popular and influential regions—Rome’s beautiful historical district. Roam the streets of this city in a comfortable, covered, street-legal golf cart—providing access unavailable on foot. This family-friendly sightseeing tour offers a narrated journey of the palaces, monuments, churches, fountains, and statues that define the rich heritage of the capital and largest city in Italy.

Take a guided tour of the Colosseum, including skip-the-line admission, to get the most out of your visit. By exploring the amphitheater’s first and second tiers with an official Colosseum guide, who has a background in history, art, and archaeology, learn about the origins of this iconic Rome landmark. Hear stories about gladiator battles and Roman emperors, and marvel at the engineering of the ancient structure. Then visit Palatine Hill and the ruins of the Roman Forum.

Save time waiting in line for this popular attraction with skip-the-line tickets for to Rome's famous Borghese Gallery. With tickets in hand and your tour guide in the lead (optional), explore the gardens and see masterpieces by Raffaello, Canova, Caravaggio, and Bernini. Choose to explore independently or take the guided tour option.

Get a gladiator’s view of the Colosseum, then explore the Roman Forum on a walking tour of ancient Rome. With a skip-the-line ticket, avoid the long entrance lines and access the arena via the Gladiator’s Gate. Stand where gladiators once fought, hear tales of ruthless crowds and emperors, then explore the Colosseum’s first level with your guide. Finish with a tour of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, with stories that bring the ruins to life.

Visit the historic vacation homes of the Roman elite on a Rome to Tivoli day trip. The full-day guided excursion includes tours of Tivoli’s two UNESCO-listed sites: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este. Hear Renaissance and Ancient Roman history and scandal, admire archaeological ruins and explore some of Italy’s most extravagant private gardens.

Make the most of your valuable vacation time by skipping the line at the Vatican Museums. You save hours waiting by booking a group tour, and get engaging commentary from your guide as you explore. Admission is included to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica; follow your guide on a carefully-crafted itinerary to ensure you don't miss a thing.

Rome’s Colosseum is one of the most famous Roman monuments in the world, but with four million annual visitors, lines can be long in peak season. This tour ensures a hassle-free visit with skip-the-line entrance; access to the Arena and the gladiator stage; plus a walking tour of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.

While the Pantheon’s massive dome immediately impresses, many independent travelers miss out on the finer details of the well-preserved ancient monument. On this guided tour, learn about the history, symbolism, and architectural details of the Pantheon. Plus, you’ll also get to see nearby landmarks, including Bernini’s Elephant and Obelisk and the Basilica of Neptune.

Enjoy the Borghese Gallery and Villa Borghese Gardens in Rome with skip-the-line admission and a small-group walking tour. This popular attraction often sells out in advance, so by pre-booking your ticket, you can ensure you won’t miss the chance to see art by Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and other Italian masters, plus you’ll jump the queue. After exploring the gallery, stroll through the tranquil gardens with a view of the city from the Pincian terrace. Upgrade your ticket for a private tour exclusive to just your group.

Get an in-depth introduction to Rome's ancient heyday during this guided, skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Revisit the days of the imperial capital's gladiatorial fighters, bypassing the usual wait times with exclusive fast-track entry. Audio headsets are included, leaving you free to explore.

Tens of thousands of people visit the Vatican Museums each day to see St. Peter’s Basilica, masterpieces by the likes of Michelangelo and Raphael, and the Sistine Chapel. Get inside the UNESCO-listed complex before it opens to the general public on this early access tour that’s limited to just 10 participants. Enter through a reserved doorway to skip the lines, and stay a step ahead of the large crowds on this carefully planned route that ensures you make the most of your time.

For a twist on the usual sightseeing experience, take an after-dark tour of Rome to admire its illuminated landmarks and monuments while listening to stories about ghosts, myths and legends. You’ll explore the winding alleys and squares in the city’s historical center with a guide, who provides eerie commentary about the supernatural and historical mysteries that have plagued the Eternal City for centuries. See attractions like Campo de’ Fiori, Castel Sant’Angelo and Palazzo Farnese in a whole new light.

Tour the amphitheater and other sites of Ancient Rome under the atmospheric cover of darkness during this evening tour. Learn about the ruins of the Roman Forum seen from the Piazza del Campidoglio, and enter the Colosseum after the daytime crowds have disappeared and the temperature has dropped.

Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are two headliners in southern Italy, but it’s virtually impossible to visit both in one day by public transportation. On this day trip, save hours with round-trip transport directly from Rome, leaving you enough time for a guided tour of the ancient ruins of Pompeii plus a stroll through Positano to sightsee and shop before the return drive to Rome.