Rome's Dark Side Ghosts and Legends Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Rome, Italy
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Join a tour group for a ghost and legends tour of Rome, where the city's dark side comes to life. Wander after dark with an expert guide and uncover chilling stories of gruesome executions, murders, and haunted sites. Hear about the execution of a brilliant philosopher, the tale of a female Pope who haunts a bridge, and more. From notorious poisoners to macabre churches, this tour will leave you both fascinated and spooked.
- Uncover Rome’s ghost stories and legends as you stroll the city at night
- Learn the tales of the 18th-century magician and the woman who ruled Rome
- Listen to the tales of Rome’s famous executioners and the notorious Pope
- Try gelato from a shop that used to be run by prolific poisoners
What's Included
- English Speaking Expert Guide
- Small Group of maximum 15 people
- Entertainment and Chills
- Led by award-winning guides and professional storytellers
- Food and drink - a break stop will be offered at a cafe
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Campo de' Fiori, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Your guide will be waiting in front of the statue in the middle of Campo De'Fiori, holding a sign saying "Rome's Dark Side - Ghosts & Legends"
End point
- St. Angelo BridgePonte Sant'Angelo, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
We will end by Castel Sant'Angelo - your guide will give any directions needed to get to anywhere you need to be.
Operating hours.8:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Campo De' Fiori
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Piazza Farnese
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Vicolo delle Grotte
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Ponte Sisto
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Via Giulia
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Via di Monserrato
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Via dei Banchi Vecchi
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Via del Banco di Santo Spirito
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Castel Sant'Angelo
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- We can often provide sign language interpreters if we are told in advance
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 107 reviews
Ashley_O, May 2026
We did the Dark Side of Rome tour and our guide (we think Ben) was witty and informative. We learned some local history that we would not have learned! Walking through the cobbled lanes scenic and Rome is even more beautiful in the moonlight. Midway through we stopped at a cafe and got Aperol spritzes for the walk. Would recommend!
Emily_G, Apr 2026
Had a great time! Ariel was engaging and the stories were great. The tour ends at a beautifully scenic view.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Emily. We’re delighted you enjoyed Rome’s Dark Side Ghosts and Legends Tour with Arielle. A good guide, strong stories, and a final view of Rome looking far more innocent than it really is makes for a very decent evening. We’re so glad it landed well.
Michelle_F, Mar 2026
Great night with a fab host and learned stuff we didn't previously know about parts of the city and its history
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Michelle! We’re so glad you enjoyed the Rome’s Dark Side Tour. Rome is very good at looking respectable in the dark, so it’s always pleasing when people leave having learnt what was actually going on underneath the nice façades. Delighted you had a great night and that our host could introduce you to a few less obvious corners of the city’s history. Rome does reward curiosity, especially the slightly morbid kind.
Christo_C, Sep 2025
Ariel had us captivated during the tour. Very informative with a tinge of dark humour. A must do when in Rome
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring the Eternal City after dark on our Rome’s Dark Side Ghosts & Legends Tour. Arielle has a gift for mixing solid history with just the right touch of dark humour - the perfect recipe for a Rome ghost tour. Thrilled you’d call it a must-do!
Jason_S, Aug 2025
Nice tour with some interesting history you wouldn’t necessarily get from the standard walking tour. Rome is excellent at night, as well — less crowded and hot. I wish I did the tour earlier in my stay because the guide had good recommendations.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks, Jason! We agree, Rome saves its best atmosphere for after dark, when the crowds thin and the ghosts come out to play. Delighted you enjoyed the stories and Arielle’s recommendations. Next time, we hope you can join us earlier in your stay so we can haunt your whole trip properly.
Alli_P, Jun 2025
Ben was an excellent guide. His tour was engaging and showed us parts of Rome we would never have normally seen. We learnt a lot about the darker side of Rome but although ‘dark’ by nature, Ben made it entertaining. We 100% recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks so much, Alli! Delighted you enjoyed slipping into Rome’s Dark Side with Ben as your guide. We take our ghosts seriously—just not ourselves. This Rome ghost tour is all about peeling back the beauty to find the murder, mystery, and mildly unsettling beneath. Come back anytime… we’ve got plenty more secrets to share.
Pamela_U, Jun 2025
This is an evening tour so don’t wear yourself out by taking an extensive tour earlier in the day unless you are in great shape. The tour director called me to check and see if we were showing up. I felt bad saying no but it was too much after Ancient Rome touring for 3-1/2 hours in the sun. I was really looking forward to this tour. Wish we could stay longer.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks, Pamela - and we completely understand! Rome has a way of wearing people out (especially when the sun turns the Forum into a slow-roast setting). We missed you on the tour, but we’re touched you left such a kind review anyway. Next time you’re in town, the ghosts will still be waiting… they’re very patient.
VickiLynne_E, Mar 2025
Our guide was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. We enjoyed her very much. There were many interesting stories on our walk. The hardest aspect of the tour for us was the AMOUNT of walking on cobblestone streets. The description says it is wheelchair accessible, so we assumed it would be easier walking. However, it was difficult to keep up with the group for both my husband and myself. I believe this is something to be considered if you want to book this tour.
Paula_F, Jan 2025
Great walk around the narrow streets at night. Guide very knowledgeable about Rome and it's dark history. could have walked listening to her for ages.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Rome’s narrow streets at night and that our guide’s knowledge made the experience so engaging. It’s wonderful to know you could have listened for ages—that’s the best compliment we could hope for!
We truly appreciate your feedback and would love to welcome you on another tour in the future.
Best regards,
The Dark Side City Tours Team
ANDRE_p, Dec 2024
This was an excellent tour guide, with wonderful information provided in a fun and interesting way that just made Roman history come to life!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that our guide made Roman history come to life in a fun and engaging way. That’s exactly what we aim for!
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
Best regards,
The Dark Side City Tours Team
Kathleen_V, Nov 2024
Alethia’s presentation was entertaining yet had an intimate aspect to it. She has a deep knowledge and understanding of the history of Rome. We would certainly recommend this tour to others.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much for joining us and we're glad you enjoyed Alethea's storytelling style and the tour! We hope to host you on another of our tours in the future!
Joao_A, Oct 2024
Small group. Great guide. Lots of great stories about Rome’s most infamous characters. Be prepared to walk a bit.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much for joining us and we're very happy you enjoyed your tour! The stories of Rome's characters are what makes the city, so it's good to hear you enjoyed them. We hope to host you on another of our tours in the future!
Thomas_R, Sep 2024
Ariel our tour guide was great and very informative.... the tour was very fun and brought rome to life in a way that I didn't expect... definitely something to do for the price 😁
Marie_W, Sep 2024
The guide was informative, knew her city and the history of Rome. Not spooky, but fun to hear the stories.
Loved that our tour was smallish.
9hcthxhqnv, Aug 2024
Our guide was a great storyteller and showed us historical sights and shared stories of what they were famous for. Real people with colourful and sometimes horrific lives whose spirits / memory still haunt the streets of Rome.
Monica_D, Jul 2024
Ben was a wonderful guide! We learned a lot about uncommonly things not mentioned in the bigger tours. It added to our wonderful experience of Italy. THANK YOU!!
Gina_a, Jul 2024
Great tour, the guide is very passionate about the experience and it makes it all the more fun. Good stories, lots of dark history and even a cafe stop.
Christina_L, Jul 2024
Alethea was our very enthusiastic guide and she took us on a fascinating tour of Rome's lesser known areas, complete with hilarious, sinister and downright spooky stories (the one about the former jail sent chills down my spine). It's an easy walk around the historic centre of Rome, and a great way to absorb the history of the place without being overbearing. Being at night also helps with the summer heat!! Thanks Alethea for a great evening out!
Margaret_F, Jun 2024
Alethia’s narration was fascinating and informative, and the sights brought history to life. Highly recommend!
Jordan_D, Jun 2024
So much fun! Guide was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a great storyteller. I feel like I learned more than I will remember than any of my other Roman tours!
Michael_C, Jun 2024
Ivana did a very nice job. She is full of knowledge and tell stories in a very nice manner and seems to truly enjoy what she was doing. This was well worth the time spent
Robert_S, Jun 2024
Some of the legends talked about he was very knowledgeable. Nice person and enjoyed the tour. Would book again
Lynn_M, May 2024
Absolutely excellent and a wealth of knowledge about the darker side of romes shady citizens and the totally innocent through the centuries. Tour guide very personable. Thoroughly enjoyed. Put comfy shoes on.
ANGELA_B, May 2024
This was arguably the most fun we had in Rome. Ivana was hilarious and so personable! She got everyone talking together, stopped in the middle for a wine break (for those who wanted), and helped several of us with directions and taxis at the end. It’s helpful to know that it’s a bit of walking and a lot of standing on cobbled streets.
Alexander_M, May 2024
We thoroughly recommend Ben's Dark Side Ghosts and Legends Tour. It showed a darker, lesser known side of Rome and was full of interesting facts all delivered with a sense of humour. This tour gives the visitor another historic perspective of life in Rome.
Shona_W, Feb 2024
Really informative, interesting and amusing tour of Rome’s darker history. Felt safe wandering the city by night. We’ve already been relaying the stories to friends. Good choice for our last night.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi Shona,
Thank you very much for your kind review, and we're glad you enjoyed your tour!
All the best,
Ben - Dark Side City Tours
Sarah_F, Feb 2024
Our guide, Ben, was very knowledgeable, informative, entertaining, and made us feel safe walking around the city at night. The stories he told were fascinating and he held our attention the entire time. We learned a lot about the city's history as well as the creepy stories that go along with it! Would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi Sarah,
Thank you very much for your review, and we're glad you enjoyed your tour!
All the best,
Ben - Dark Side City Tours
Mark_R, Jan 2024
A fascinating and fun evening. Ivana was an entertaining and knowledgeable guide who even brought personal experience to her stories. The sites and tales were well-chosen and it was one of the most entertaining tours of this kind that I've been on.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for your kind review, and we're very happy you enjoyed Ivana's tour!
All the best,
Dark Side City Tours
Blaine_B, Dec 2023
I love learning about the parts of cities not necessarily found in history books. Ben is an incredible guide and a great storyteller. He is witty and made this an awesome walking tour experience.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Hi Rob,
Thank you for your review, and we're very happy you enjoyed the tour! We hope to see you again in the future on another of our tours!
All the best,
Ben - Dark Side City Tours
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