Ancient Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Rome, Italy

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

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)
Snacks

A stop will be made for optional snacks and drinks
Gratuities

Optional

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

Colosseum, Piazza 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

Area Sacra di Largo Argentina

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Teatro di Marcello

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Capitoline Hill

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Carcer Tullianum

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Via dei Fori Imperiali

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Monti

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Scalinata dei Borgia

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 14 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

It was great learning the...

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.

Romes dark side

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.

Ivanna was a wonderful...

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.

Wonderful evening stroll stroll through history

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!

Great experience

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!

Another side of 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.

Lots of fun, a great way...

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!