Top Italy Historical Tours

Explore the Vatican without spending hours waiting in line thanks to skip-the-line access. This Vatican guided tour helps you navigate the vast collections with ease, offering insights you might miss alone. Visit highlights such as the Gallery of Maps and Pinecone Courtyard, then continue to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica—making this one of the most complete Vatican museum tours available.

Make the most of your time at Rome's Colosseum with exclusive access to the arena floor—something most visitors miss out on. Go beyond the guidebooks to hear the behind-the-scenes history of fighters, spectators, and more. Next up, climb ancient stone steps to get sweeping views of the amphitheater from above—just like they would have done in ancient times.

Make the most of your valuable vacation time by avoiding the long line at the Vatican Museums. You save hours of waiting time by booking a group tour with skip-the-line admission. Follow your guide on a carefully crafted itinerary and hear informative commentary as you admire the art and architecture. Admission is included to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica (depending on the option selected).

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.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum shouldn’t be missed when visiting Rome—but exploring each site alone, it can be hard to make sense of the ruins. On this guided tour, enrich your visit with in-depth context and stories from a guide. Plus, you’ll get access to the arena floor within the Colosseum, an area usually off-limits to visitors. Upgrade to include a stroll through the underground dungeons.

Matera is home to the Sassi cave churches and dwellings that make up one of the oldest cities in the world. Join your guide for an in-depth tour of the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano districts to learn about their unique history and evolution. Discover rupestrian structures, stroll the steep and narrow lanes, and gain a deeper understanding of how this town, once called the “Shame of Italy”, is now a UNESCO-listed treasure.

Experience the Tuscan capital's top attractions on this walking tour through Florence. Begin with skip-the-line access to view Michelangelo's 'David' in the Accademia Gallery, and learn how the House of Medici shaped Florence into a helm of arts and humanities. You'll also skip the lines at the Duomo, the city's iconic, Gothic-style cathedral. Afterward, stroll the local streets, taking in landmarks like the Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on your own can feel overwhelming, especially on a short stay in Rome. This guided experience brings these three landmark sites together in one structured visit, with commentary from a guide to help you understand what you’re seeing as you go. Instead of navigating vast ruins without context, follow a clear route and learn about gladiator games, imperial politics, and how daily Roman life shaped the ancient city.

Cover the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in just hours with this 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.

The Vatican attracts millions of visitors every year—and have the daily crowds and lines to match. On this tour, experience the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, and Raphael Rooms without feeling rushed: Skip the entrance lines with guaranteed priority access, and explore in the comfort of a small group. In addition, your guide provides earphones to ensure you can hear everything clearly.

Make the most of your time in Pompeii with this archaeologist-led tour that touches on the highlights of the vast ancient city in just a few hours. Skip the hassle of following a map or guidebook and instead head straight to the blockbuster attractions like the basilica, forum, theater, and baths—plus visit intact shops, homes, and even a brothel—while delving into their history and architecture with your guide.

Don't let the crowds of tourists visiting the ruins of Pompeii overwhelm you by opting for a group tour. Navigate the area more efficiently with a guide, and add context to what you see with historical insights. Efficiency is another perk—cover the attraction's major highlights in roughly a couple of hours.

Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts on a fully guided day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano with a group of up to 22 people. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.

Home to masterworks from Botticelli and Michelangelo (including the iconic *David* sculpture), the Accademia Gallery in Florence draws huge crowds. That's not a problem on this tour, however: You'll beat the crowds with skip-the-line admission, maximizing your time to explore. Plus, you’ll tour the gallery with a guide—audio headset included—and learn insights about the masterpieces that you'd never get on your own.

Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano—three islands in the Venetian Lagoon—on this tour from Venice by motorboat. With a guide, watch glass being blown at a Murano glass factory, see historical cathedrals on Torcello, and admire exquisite handmade lace on Burano. This is a great way to see more than just the central sights of Venice and enjoy a cruise on the water. Select a departure time when booking.

This flexible group tour from Florence offers options and upgrades that make it easy to visit Pisa's main highlights. Don't worry about navigating unfamiliar public tranportation, with two-way coach transfers arranged for you. Get dropped off at Piazza dei Miracoli, then choose to explore on your own or upgrade to a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets to Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower.

See Milan's main sights and landmarks and take advantage of your skip-the-line admission to Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' by booking this action-packed, small-group tour. Follow your knowledgeable guide through the streets of Milan, stopping at spots like La Scala opera house, the magnificent gothic Duomo and Sforza Castle. And then stroll right past the line to see the Da Vinci masterpiece depicting Jesus and his disciples eating their last supper.

Get a comprehensive tour of Miracle Square on this walking excursion in Pisa. With a guide leading the way, you'll follow a carefully curated itinerary that ensures you hit all the landmarks, such as the Cathedral and the Baptistery. This tour includes the option to enter the Leaning Tower (added cost), and admission to the Campo Santo Cemetery and the OPA and Sinopie museums.

Get the whole Duomo experience with this Milan Super Saver, combining two amazing tours at a discounted price. Take advantage of the skip-the-line entry into one of the world's greatest Gothic cathedrals and then follow your knowledgeable local guide around the sacred structure, learning about its history. After the tour, take a lift up to the roof to get one of the best views of Milan among the arches and buttresses of the cathedral. Optional Hop on Hop off 2 days ticket to visit the city on panoramic buses.

Venice is home to hundreds of attractions, making it difficult to cover the highlights in limited time. Ideal for first-time visitors, this full-day tour of Venice checks off top sights. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Finally, visit St. Marks's Basilica and enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge's Palace.

Maximize time at Florence's historic galleries, cathedrals, and museums during this tour. Including stops at the Accademia Gallery, the Florence Duomo, and more, your guide will lead you to their highlights. Save vacation time with skip-the-line access to the Accademia. Don't worry about missing Michelangelo's David; it's a key stop on the tour. Get a deeper insight into the Duomo complex with stops at the Duomo Museum and the Baptistery.

Discover the famous beauty of one of Italy’s most iconic shorelines with this full-day tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento. Travel in an air-conditioned mini-coach along spectacular coastal roads, stopping to visit the region’s three most popular and beautiful villages—Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. With tips from your knowledgeable guide, enjoy leisure time in each town to stroll narrow cobblestone streets and shop for unique handmade goods.

The entrance lines at Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice can sometimes feel like they last forever. Bypass the annoyance of waiting in long queues by prebooking a Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica skip-the-line tour. Perfect for those with a limited time in Venice, you’ll visit both big attractions with a guide leading the way and loading you with historical information you wouldn’t hear otherwise.