Top Rome Literary Tours

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.

Discover the secrets of the Castel Sant’ Angelo with the option of an audio-guided tour or a small-group tour with a live guide. Cross the bridge, beautifully decorated with statues of angels, and head inside with your admission ticket. Using the app or following your guide, hear stories of Emperor Hadrian, who commissioned the fortress as a mausoleum, and how it has been used since his death.

The Vatican is enormous and extremely popular, which can make exploring overwhelming. Save time, make sure you see all the highlights from its collections and gain a greater understanding of the history and significance of the art on this private guided tour, which includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

Explore the Vatican's noteworthy sights on this half-day private tour. An expert guide points out and explains the history of the pieces while you avoid lengthy queues with pre-reserved tickets. Marvel at wonders including Ancient Roman and Greek statues, Raphael’s Rooms, the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square. Take photos and enjoy your time at the Vatican.

Getting to Civitavecchia Port from Rome usually involves a long ride on a regional train—plus a taxi ride from your hotel to the station. Skip the hassle of getting around by public transportation with this deluxe one-way transfer service. Ride in your own private, chauffeured vehicle door-to-door. Transfers can be booked all week long, with departures timed to your cruise schedule.

Sample food from spots that locals love, and few tourists know about, on this small-group food tour. Head off the tourist trail to visit eateries in Campo de Fiori, the Jewish Ghetto, and Trastevere—including hidden locations you'd otherwise miss out on. As you explore, learn how food plays a part in Roman culture, and enjoy sampling food and wine at various vendors in the city.

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.

Avoid the rush of group tours and explore the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum at your own pace with this self-guided AI video tour. Simply download the app on your phone, plug in your own headphones, and explore. Wander the main floors of the ancient amphitheater before continuing to the nearby ancient sites. Upgrade for access to the restricted arena floor, or to add on a VR experience.

Step away from the crowds in Rome's historic center—and explore the lesser-known neighborhood of Prati, known for its excellent dining scene—on this small-group walking and tasting tour. Discover locals-only gourmet shops and eateries you're unlikely to uncover on your own, and sample a wide variety of specialties. Feast on artisan charcuterie and cheeses, Roman pizza by the slice, classic pasta dishes, and Italian wine as you learn about the city's culinary culture.

Make the most of a visit to one of the world's greatest art collections on this priority access, wheelchair-accessible tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Head right inside the complex with a private guide and a provided headset so you can clearly hear the commentary. Together, navigate highlights like the Pigna Courtyard and Raphael Rooms, and finish inside the magnificent Sistine Chapel adorned with Michelangelo’s frescoes.

Adult-focused Colosseum tours move at a pace and content level that younger travelers quickly disengage from—and managing bored kids through a large archaeological site is a challenge most parents would rather avoid. This private family tour covers the Colosseum and Roman Forum with a guide who tailors the storytelling to children, covering gladiatorial battles and political intrigue.

Avoid wasting time waiting for a taxi or navigating unfamiliar public transportation with this hassle-free private transfer service. Meet your driver as you exit the arrival terminal at Fiumicino airport, and relax on the journey to your city hotel while you leave the tricky traffic to an expert. Enjoy the ease of drop-off directly at your hotel or other accommodation in Rome's city center.

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 the same day, 24, 48, or 72 hours, or two panoramic night tours.

The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica are among Rome's busiest sites, and navigating all three with children takes a particular approach that standard tours don't offer. This private family tour includes guaranteed skip-the-line access, with a guide who uses games and stories to keep younger travelers engaged throughout.

The Colosseum draws some of the largest crowds of any site in Rome, and navigating the arena and Roman Forum without context makes it easy to move through both without a clear understanding of what you're looking at. This private tour is led by an art historian who covers the history of the gladiatorial arena and walks through the Roman Forum, where the layout and remains of ancient Rome's civic center come into focus.

Enjoy an up-close way to experience one of Italy's top attractions—and see a perspective on Rome and Vatican City that few other visitors get to experience—on this private tour of St. Peter's Basilica. With just your guide for company, head into the storied church—a major pilgrimage destination for Catholic worshipers—and learn all about its rich history. Then, have the special chance to ascend to the Dome via 281 steps for sweeping, postcard-worthy views.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum have significant accessibility infrastructure, including elevators, accessible routes, and step-free paths, but the routing isn't obvious to wheelchair users without prior knowledge. This private tour takes you across both sites using the accessible routes and elevators with a guide planning the path through the Colosseum and the Forum's step-free sections.

This family-friendly tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel is perfect for groups with young children. With skip-the-line access, you can bypass long waits—ideal for restless kids. Limited to a small group of 10 or fewer, your art historian-guide engages with children through interactive games and puzzles, all while you take in artistic wonders.

Knowing where to start when visiting Rome's archaeological sites can be daunting, especially for first-time visitors. This group tour handles the planning for you, with an itinerary that includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Enjoy stepping onto the amphitheater's restricted arena floor, something the majority travelers aren't able to access. Gain deeper insights through your guide's commentary, which goes beyond what you'll find on the information panels.

Check off a significant number of Rome's sightseeing highlights in just one day on this private tour. Ideal for time-pressed travellers, explore the Eternal City without the hassle of planning and organizing an itinerary; your guide will do this for you. Enjoy a route that includes the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and the Vatican.

The vast size of the Vatican Museums can be overwhelming for young visitors. On this family-friendly tour, zip past the long line and head directly inside the galleries. Learn about the most important works with an art historian guide who will keep kids engaged. Walk through the Raphael Rooms, see the stunning frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and enjoy an experience tailored to your family.

Save time and explore the grand mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian with prebooked skip-the-line entrance tickets to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. Learn how the magnificent monument was built around AD 123 and used over the years as a fortress, prison, and papal residence. Enjoy access to the National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo, home to a fascinating collection of fine art, antique furniture, military memorabilia, and medieval weapons.

The sprawling Vatican Museums can be challenging to visit for families. With this kid-friendly private tour, explore with a specialized guide who knows how to keep the entire family engaged while covering the massive galleries and the Sistine Chapel in just a few hours. Avoid a long line with fast-track admission and engage with top artworks through trivia questions and scavenger hunts.