Ancient Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
A city as ancient as Rome is sure to have plenty of gruesome, dark stories. On this small-group walking tour, see a side of the Eternal City that most tours miss as you learn about the haunted Roman palaces where emperors were murdered, explore cursed alleyways home to ghosts and ghouls, and hear about mysteries that still baffle historians to this day.
- A small-group tour makes for a more personal experience
- Take in views of the Roman Forum from Capitoline Hill
- A chance to snap photos of the Colosseum as you listen to bloody tales
- Listen to tales missing from most guidebooks
What's Included
- Expert English-speaking storyteller guide
- Small group experience (max 15 guests) for a more personal atmosphere
- Guided 2-hour walking tour of Ancient Rome’s dark history and ghost stories
- Entry to archaeological sites or museums (the tour takes place outdoors)
- SnacksA stop will be made for optional snacks and drinks
- GratuitiesOptional
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Largo di Torre Argentina, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Please meet your guide at the Largo Di Torre Argentina. They will be waiting in front of “L'Antica Enoteca”, holding a sign saying "Ancient Rome's Dark Side" PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES BEFORE TOUR START TIME - WE CANNOT GUARANTEE WAITING FOR LATE ARRIVALS
End point
- P.za del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
We will end at Largo Gaetano Agnesi, above the Colosseo metro stop.
Operating hours.8:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Area Sacra di Largo Argentina
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Teatro di Marcello
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Capitoline Hill
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Carcer Tullianum
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Via dei Fori Imperiali
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Monti
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Scalinata dei Borgia
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Colosseum
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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 21 reviews
Nicole_M, May 2026
Great tour and the guide was very knowledgeable and kind. Small group which was really great. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Nicole. We’re delighted you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood. Small groups do make it easier to appreciate imperial paranoia and historical bloodshed properly. We’re very glad the tour felt kind, informative, and worth recommending.
Alexandra_S, May 2026
We loved Ben! He was very knowledgeable & answered any & all questions you had. He had visual aids to assist, too! He knew so much about Rome and its history. You truly learn so so much on this tour. We would highly recommend if you’re interested in learning about Rome and the dark side of the history!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Alexandra. We’re so glad you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood with Ben. Rome’s ancient past is much more entertaining once someone points out the murders, betrayals, and imperial dysfunction properly. Delighted the visual aids, the questions, and the darker history all landed so well.
Jamie_M, Apr 2026
Lots of information and great photo opportunities. Perfect time of day to explore the city. Recommend comfortable shoes.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Jamie. We’re very pleased you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood. It’s an excellent time of day to see the city, especially when the crowds thin out and the imperial bad behaviour starts to feel more plausible. And yes, comfortable shoes are wise. Rome was not built with mercy in mind.
Juan_A, Mar 2026
It was great learning the dark side of history. Ben our tour guide was friendly and very knowledgable.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Juan. We’re very glad you enjoyed the Ancient Rome’s Dark Side tour. It’s the Roman history that tends to be a little less polished than the statues suggest, so we’re pleased Ben could bring it to life with the right balance of knowledge, warmth, and imperial-level bad behaviour. He does know his way around the darker corners of ancient Rome rather well.
Shaun_C, Mar 2026
Due to me being temporarily navigationally embarrassed, we very nearly missed the start of the tour. I messaged the tour operator in a bit of a panic, but our guide Ben replied quickly and kindly said not to worry — he’d wait for us. That level of customer service immediately set the tone.
After arriving a few minutes late, we jumped straight into the darker side of Rome’s history — murders, ghosts, political intrigue, and even the lengths some mothers would go to in order to make sure their sons ended up on the throne.
The storytelling was brilliant and really brought the history to life. There was also a well-timed stop for a beer along the way, and we were shown the cursed steps where the king’s daughter famously rode her chariot over him.
Ben was funny, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable, and he made the whole experience engaging from start to finish. I would thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rome — just make sure you know where you’re going… or hope you get a guide as patient as Ben!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
First of all, congratulations on overcoming temporary navigational embarrassment - not everyone manages it in Rome’s streets.
We’re delighted you made the tour and enjoyed the journey through ancient Rome’s more murderous and politically complicated side. Ben will be very happy to hear his storytelling helped turn the evening into a memorable one. Rome’s imperial past is full of drama, betrayal and the occasional very determined mother, which is exactly the kind of history we love to explore on our Ancient Rome dark history tour.
Eileen_B, Sep 2025
Ivanna was a wonderful guide that brought wonderful stories that kept us entertained throughout the evening. We learned a lot. We enjoyed seeing the sites at night and learning the history. My daughter felt it was the best tour she's been on.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you Eileen! We’re thrilled you and your daughter enjoyed uncovering the scandals and spectres of the Eternal City on our Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood tour. Ivana has a gift for turning ancient history into something both haunting and entertaining - glad to hear it made such an impression. The ghosts will be pleased to know they’ve earned “best tour” status.
Maria_T, Sep 2025
This was a fun evening experience learning about the ancient emperors and the literal backstabbing the Roman elite did within their own families to stay in/gain power. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. The walk itself had a a couple of sets of stairs but nothing that you wouldn’t be doing in Rome anyway. The added element of a night tour means we got to see things at a less crowded time and more importantly avoid the heat.
We saw a few spots that wouldn’t have been on our list and that made the evening worth it.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you, Maria! We’re thrilled you enjoyed uncovering the betrayals, ghost stories, and backstabbing of Rome’s emperors on our new Ancient Rome ghost tour. Exploring by night really does bring out the atmosphere - fewer crowds, cooler air, and just the right amount of menace. Glad we could show you a few hidden corners along the way!
Lillian_I, Aug 2025
The tour guide was great she knew so much about everything Rome. I would highly suggest doing this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you! We’re delighted you enjoyed uncovering the shadows of the Eternal City on our Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood tour. Our guides love blending deep knowledge with the city’s darker tales — it’s history with a ghostly edge. We’d be thrilled to haunt your itinerary again next time you’re in Rome!
Joel_C, Jul 2025
We really enjoyed this tour. It was a fascinating way to see Rome at night while hearing stories of murders, betrayals, and the darker corners of the city’s history.
Our guide had a high level of knowledge, having studied Ancient Rome at university, and it showed. He mixed historical facts with ghost stories in a way that kept the walk engaging without feeling overdone, bringing depth and context to each stop.
If you’re looking for something different from the usual daytime tours, this is a great way to experience Rome’s streets after dark with fresh stories and insights. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks, Joel! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your descent into Ancient Rome’s darker depths — where murder, betrayal, and imperial bloodshed are just part of the evening stroll. Our guides do have the academic chops, but we like to mix textbook facts with the kind of ghost stories that make you glance over your shoulder on the way home. Come back anytime — Rome’s shadows are always waiting.
Aron_H, Jun 2025
Lots of fun, a great way to spend an evening and gaining some insight and fun stories along the way!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks, Aron! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the Ancient Rome’s Dark Side — where the bloodstains are old but the stories never die. Ghosts, murders, emperors behaving badly… what more could you want from a night out in the Eternal City? Come back anytime for another stroll through the shadows!
From $23.27
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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