Top Italy Historical Tours

Make the most of your time at Rome's Colosseum with exclusive access to the Arena Floor—something most visitors miss out on. Explore the site independently as you listen to a behind-the-scenes history of fighters, spectators, and more with an audio guide. Next up, join a guide to visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and learn more about daily life for the ancient Romans.

Many tours visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii but only a few include the first-hand expertise of an archaeologist guide. Explore the ancient Roman city and discover what life was like before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the company of a guide who brings history to life while leading you to important buildings and structures such as the Basilica, the Forum, and the thermal baths.

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).

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.

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.

Many travelers head to the Colosseum, but few are lucky enough to stand in the same spot where gladiators once fought. With this self-guided, special-access experience, walk on the Arena Floor while an audio guide gives you insight into the history of the amphitheater. Round out the experience by joining a live guide to explore the nearby Roman Forum and 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.

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, explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii with a guide, and visit Positano. Unlike many tours that simply drive along the coastline, you have free time to experience Positano's colorful streets, stylish boutiques, and breathtaking Mediterranean views for yourself.

Step back in time and learn about life in ancient Rome with this small-group guided tour of the city’s top archaeological treasures. Visit the Colosseum, with access through the restricted area of the arena floor , and learn about this magnificent amphitheater from your guide. Then continue on to stroll through the ruins of temples and squares in the adjacent Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Getting around to see Rome's vast number of landmarks is tricky when you're short on time. This group tour is optimized for travelers without much time to spare. Learn about Rome's rich cultural, artistic, and architectural history from your guide as you follow them to multiple city highlights, including the Vatican and the Colosseum.

The Vatican Museums span dozens of galleries, and first-time visitors lose hours working out which rooms hold the works they came for. A guided route runs straight through to the key pieces, ending at the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with admission included. A small group keeps questions possible in crowded galleries, and an interior passage links the chapel to the basilica.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill make up the heart of Ancient Rome, and shouldn’t be missed—but unless you’re an archaeologist, deciphering the ruins can be tricky without explanations. During this half-day tour, spend time exploring each site alongside a guide who can fill you in on ancient history—or an audioguide, if that’s what you prefer. Combined admission tickets are included for seamless sightseeing.

Few visitors to the Colosseum get to see all of its areas. This guided tour provides access to parts of this ancient arena that are usually off-limits. Choose to explore either the Arena Floor or the Underground during this experience, and walk in the footsteps of gladiators. After your visit, continue your tour at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and gain deeper insight into Ancient Roman life.

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 in Venice with an express tour designed to feature the city’s top sights in a short time period. Explore Venice with a walking tour that includes entry to St. Mark’s Basilica, and skip-the-line entry to the popular Doge’s Palace. To fully appreciate the grandeur of Venice, finish your tour in style with a scenic gondola ride.

Plan ahead and make the most of your visit to Florence’s world-famous Uffizi Galleries with a small-group guided tour. Head inside the historic galleries with a guide who leads you straight to must-see highlights, such as Botticelli's “Birth of Venus” and Caravaggio’s “Medusa,” plus hidden treasures you might miss on your own. After this insightful art history tour, continue exploring the museum at your leisure.

Skip the lines at Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge's Palace and opt for a small-group guided tour instead. Then, enjoy the quintessential Venice experience—a gondola ride through the city’s canals and waterways. Your ticket also includes access to several landmarks surrounding Saint Mark’s Square, as well as access to a mobile app that provides commentary to a walking tour of the city at your own pace.

Explore the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel without spending hours waiting in line on this comprehensive tour that includes entry to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Navigate the vast halls, artwork, and history with a guide who gives special insights into the collections that you would likely miss if alone. Go beyond the guidebook and enjoy commentary that enlivens highlights such as the Gallery of the Maps and the Pineyard Courtyard.

Cover the Renaissance highlights of Florence without getting lost or overwhelmed with this small-group choose-your-own-adventure tour. Choose to explore just the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's iconic "David" statue, or add on the Uffizi Galleries to admire more Renaissance artworks, with a brief tour of Florence's highlights in between. Ideal for time-pressed travelers who want to fit in as much art and history as possible.

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.

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

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.

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.