Best of Rome in a Day Private Guided Tour Including Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Colosseum
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Rome, Italy
- 6 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Make the most of your time in the Eternal City on a comprehensive private tour of Rome’s top sights. Visit the interior of the Colosseum plus the Roman Forum before enjoying a city tour of highlights including the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. Cap off your day with a visit to the expansive Vatican Museums, including the stunning Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
- Soak up the atmosphere of the city on a walking tour
- Get insider tips from your guide on where to eat, drink, and explore
- Private guide for a more personalized experience
- Includes admission to the Colosseum, Vatican, and Pantheon
What's Included
- Professional art historian guide
- Skip the Line Vatican tickets
- Pantheon entrance ticket
- Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person)
- Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Transportation to and from the sites and during the tour
- Underground Level
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- P.za del Colosseo, 23, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
at the newsagent in front of the Colosseum Metro Station Exit (there is only one exit, just in front of the monument). Your guide will be holding a sign with your name on it.
End point
- Saint Peter's SquarePiazza San Pietro, 00120
Itinerary
Start your "Rome in day" tour at the city's most famous ancient monument—the Colosseum. Walk through the interior and try to imagine the gladiator battles that took place there. Visit the nearby Roman Forum to see the Temple of Saturn, House of the Vestal Virgins, and the Arch of Titus, among other things. Go from ancient Roman monuments to more modern ones with a stop at the Vittoriano on Piazza Venezia.
Throw a coin into the water when you reach the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome. Stop for lunch (own expense) at one of the restaurants in the area before heading on to the Government District. See the Palace of the Council of Ministers, Parliament, and the Column of Marcus Aurelius.
See the Temple of Hadrian on your way to the Pantheon, where you'll see tombs of Italian kings as well as the artist Raphael. Continue on to the Ancient Baths of Nero and then to Piazza Navona to see Bernini's famous fountain at its center.
Visit the Vatican as your final stop. See the highlights in the enormous Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms and Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, before ending at St. Peter's Basilica.
Throw a coin into the water when you reach the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome. Stop for lunch (own expense) at one of the restaurants in the area before heading on to the Government District. See the Palace of the Council of Ministers, Parliament, and the Column of Marcus Aurelius.
See the Temple of Hadrian on your way to the Pantheon, where you'll see tombs of Italian kings as well as the artist Raphael. Continue on to the Ancient Baths of Nero and then to Piazza Navona to see Bernini's famous fountain at its center.
Visit the Vatican as your final stop. See the highlights in the enormous Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms and Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, before ending at St. Peter's Basilica.
1
Colosseum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Roman Forum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Complex of the Victorian Ala Brasini (Pass By)
3
Trevi Fountain
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Column of Marcus Aurelius
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Pantheon
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Piazza Navona
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
7
Vatican Museums
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
8
Sistine Chapel
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
9
St. Peter's Basilica
30 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
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and select museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Each traveler must show a valid ID matching the booking name for entry. Without ID, entry is not guaranteed.
- READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 60 reviews
Loredana_K, Oct 2025
Our guide was so well versed and knowledgeable about all of the venues we visited and went above and beyond with the education we received. We developed a new found love for Rome with everything we learned and because of it would love to revisit Roma!!!! Thank you for working with such knowledgable and kind tour guides.
Douglas_R, Aug 2025
Claudia was an exceptional guide! Her knowledge of each site we visited was thorough, and she was able to answer our many questions. We could never have seen and learned as much as we did without her. This tour was an experience that our family will never forget! Thank you, Claudia!
rikkib3, Jul 2025
Both Paola and Marco were fabulous with our family to help make our stay in Rome that much more amazing! We did an all day tour and they were so informative and kept us all very interested! Thank you for a wonderful last day of our trip
lisa_d, Jul 2025
This was an amazing tour. Our guide Masimilliano was extremely knowledgeable and hands on showing us all Rome has to offer. His background and education in Languages, History and Theology added to our understanding and appreciation of this great city. He was so friendly and personable. The tour itself is a bit pricey but well worth it if you want the best experience and skip the lines everywhere.
My husband and I were celebrating our 35th anniversary and this was our first time to Italy and this truly made our special occasion memorable.
Antonia_S, May 2025
Francesco was the most amazing guide. Incredibly knowledgeable, and extremely professional. The only way to do a tour of Rome is via this private tour. I can not recommend it highly enough.
Ronald_M, Apr 2025
Awesome tour as we saw most of the sights in thr first half of the day with a great guide. His ability to navigate the crowds and skip all the lines was a godsend.
If you want to do Rome on a day this is the way to go.
The second half of the tour was the Vatican and that guide was excellent as well. So much great information.
Denise, Oct 2024
We debated on booking this because of the cost, but it was worth every penny especially if this is your first trip to Rome. We saw so many things were directed to a local coffee shop went shopping in one of the districts and got the best truffle products and Rose balsamic vinegar. We didn’t get into the Vatican because the tickets were sold out and frankly There had to be 2000 people waiting to get in line so I don’t think that would’ve been enjoyable anyway and did not damping our tour at all.. Maria our tour guide was awesome. She was so nice and personable and made sure we got to see everything we wanted to see and more; thank you so much Maria!
Ping_C, Oct 2024
I had booked this tour for myself, my daughter, her boyfriend and his mom from Uruguay. Our guide Valeria was great, informative and friendly and we enjoyed the first part of the tour. However, due to some software glitch, she didn't have our tickets to the Vatican City ! We had to wait about an hour in line with everyone else after which a tour office nearby that she had gone into, called to say they had 4 tickets which I could purchase. I paid 55 euros each for the 4 of us so as to get in which I did get reimbursed afterwards (so kudos to the tour company!)..but our visit to the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel was cut short. Also, this was more of a walking tour (we walked to the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Roman Forum) and I had to pay for all of us to go to the Vatican City on a taxi....and the tour initially cost me around $1.700 which was considerably steep. I would give the tour a 4 or even 5 star review but the fact that it was not cancelled one day before, with the company knowing that the Vatican City tickets were not available, was a real let down. Anyone booking this tour , please confirm the Vatican City tickets are there for you for sure before going on it.!
DIANE_H, Aug 2024
Due to reasons outside Viator, our private tour was tweaked full circle. In order to make the best of the time we had left in our day and physical limitations of the group, our guide, Paola, was absolutely amazing in adjusting the day. She was able to direct us through Rome and provide detailed knowledge to sites that mattered to us the most in the limited time we had due to cruise time restrictions. Without Paola being so accommodating the day would have been a disaster. We were bummed to have missed the full day, but Paola left us feeling fulfilled with a great taste of Rome. Paola you are a charm and highly recommended. You saved the day 100%.
Samantha_B, Jul 2024
Excellent guide and saw so much in a day! Sara was very knowledgeable and patient with young children on a hot day.
Kenneth_P, Jul 2024
Remember when you were in school and you had a great teacher? One that got you excited about learning and made the time fly by? That was our tour guide Thomas in Rome. To say he was engaging is an understatement. His passion for teaching and his knowledge of the history of Rome is unmatched. He shared information, while using historical photos and books as references that made it easy to understand. He was patient in very busy areas and we didn’t feel rushed even though we covered so much ground. For our lunch break, Thomas recommended an area where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Our group of four including two teenagers was so impressed with the tour and we would highly recommend Thomas and definitely a private tour when you visit Rome. Ciao!
Jayma_C, Jun 2024
We saw all the major highlights of Rome and the Vatican.
Massimiliano went into depth on each area explaining the history of Rome. He told us lots of wonderful stories of love war, victory and betrayal. It was a great day. Massimiliano was punctual, polite, respectful, knowledgeable and kind. He also has a voice which was easy to listen to.
Suneet_R, Jun 2024
If you are short for time and want to see the main attractions of Rome in a day, this is the Tour for you! Our Guide Francesco was amazing. He explained everything in detail and went through the history of all that there is to know about Rome. He even had diagrams and books to show the old verses the current buildings and what they look like especially the ruins. He was on time, polite and considerate of me taking my Instagram shots (lol) and even treated us to some desserts! Although it was very hot and this is a walking tour still worth every penny and a wonderful way to see the main sights of Italy. Make sure you have some comfortable shoes on! Everything is so jaw droppingly amazing!
Bonnie_B, May 2024
Excellent tour! Thomas was a superb guide: personable and VERY knowledgable. We visited many highlights of Rome:
Coliseum
Roman Forum
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
Arch of Constantine
Vatican City (including St Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum)
Church of St Apostles
Piazza Navona
And we learned SO much. Thomas planned a nice spot for lunch (and mid-tour rest). Highly recommend. Both of our college-aged children loved the tour. Definitely worth the experience and extra attention to book a private tour.
Tin_T, Nov 2023
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. He as a college degree in history and a graduate degree. He was able to provide us with very detailed information about the Coloseum, the Pantheon and the the Vatican. I knew that the buildings in Rome were old but did not realize how much older they are than similar cities such as Paris. Francesca provided us with valuable and entertaining information about buildings built about two thousand years ago. He also pointed out paintings and sculptures done by Michelangelo during the Rennaissance and other buildings built during the Baroque period. He touched up on how governments today are modeled after those in Rome during the time when it was a Republic. I really enjoyed the private tour.
Pasha_B, Sep 2023
Donato is an incredible guide - knowledgeable, warm, animated, passionate. He is a historian and archeologist. Knows Rome so well. Telling the story of Rome with passion is a talent and he has it in spades. His explanations of the Forum, Colosseum, Vatican, especially the Sistine Chapel were extraordinary. Love to take another tour with him. So much to see and learn!
Julie_W, Sep 2023
Our guide Tomisso was so knowledgeable. He was a pleasure. Our group of 8 saw a lot and learned a great deal during this private tour. Highly recommended.
Diana_D, Aug 2023
You cannot go wrong by booking this tour! If the “skip the lines” feature weren’t enough of a selling point, the knowledgeable Roman guide is. Tommaso has his PhD in archeology and was well versed in church history as portrayed by the Roman historical ruins and monuments. Adapting his tour to meet our specific cultural background, we learned so much about Roman history and were left hungry for more. His tour ensured that we would return to Rome at a later date. Wear comfortable shoes! We clocked 27,300 steps this day, all worth it. And be sure to be hungry for lunch because you will eat your best meal here with Roman friends. Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Christine_L, Oct 2022
Guided all over the city by a friendly archeologist, who could beat that?! We had an Alston time. It was truly The Best of Rome tour.
Deborah_B, Oct 2022
Claudia was such a delight to spend the day with! She’s extremely knowledgeable and fun!! I would highly recommend her for any of the tours. Hope to spend another day with her in the future.
Doris_M, Jul 2022
Francesco was a great tour guide. He was very friendly and we were able to accommodate our tour to fit my parents needs.
Carlos_T, Jun 2022
This tour is expensive BUTTTT, it’s well worth it. We did our tour with Benedicta and she was just AMAZING! AWESOME!! OUTSTANDING!!! You have to ask for her! We never felt rushed or like in a hurry because she was consistent at all times. Tour includes fast pass to accelerate the process. You’ll never accomplish this tour without their help. I will add that you are going to walk a LOTTTTT. Bring the most comfortable shoes you have, eat a good breakfast and be ready. We walked over 18,000 steps tracked by our Iphone. I do not regret anything about this tour. It was just perfect! If you have time in your agenda, I would definitely split the tour in two days. In my case I only had one day available and was the best decision ever! Thanks again Benedicta!!!
Kerry_C, Mar 2022
A fantastic way to see the city and learn the history. Our guide Thomas was incredible. His passion and enthusiasm made the day even more special. It is a lot of walking but so worth it. We saw all the main sights and having a guide just brought it all together especially in the Vatican . There is so much to see so Thomas’s guidance and selection meant we got a much better understanding and didn’t waste time wandering around aimlessly. His friendly nature and good humour made him great company for the day. As an archeological lecturer he was more than adequately qualified but kept it fun and informative. I would definitely recommend this trip if like us, it was a whistle stop short break to Rome.
Louise_R, Nov 2021
The absolute highlight of our weekend in Rome. A simply awesome 8 hrs of private walking tour with Francesco. He was so incredibly knowledgeable, a truly unforgettable day, and one which has firmly planted memories.
Ashley_S, Aug 2021
My husband and I took this tour this past weekend and we have nothing but great things to say. We lucked out in that it was just the two of us. Francesco was our guide and he was amazing. His knowledge of the city and its history was immense. His love of the city was evident which made his explanations even better. He was very cognizant of our needs (breaks for rest/water/bathroom). He answered all of our questions about what we were seeing as well as general questions about Roman culture (past/present). When it came to our lunch break, he suggested a lovely sandwich shop and gelato place. He made sure to give us all the information on the Sistine Chapel before we entered as there is no talking allowed. Overall, this tour was great for those who want to see some of the main attractions of Rome in a short period of time. We never felt rushed, felt like there was adequate time to appreciate everything, and felt the cost of the tour was truly worth it. If possible, request Francesco. He took us past little gems in the city not mentioned in the tour and suggested more of his favorite restaurants for the rest of our trip.
sashagirl2, Nov 2019
This tour and our guide were wonderful. We were six adults and saw and learned so much. Highly recommend.
Jim M, Oct 2019
This was the best tour we have every had - PERIOD. This was a private tour with just me and my wife, and consisted of The Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel. Our tour guide, Adnan, was outstanding - Spoke perfect English, was engaging, personable, and funny ( also quite handsome - according to my wife ). We moved at an efficient pace, and Adnan provided detailed history on every aspect of the sites we visited. His knowledge and attention to detail is amazing. it would be impossible to receive this type of information on a group tour. We did the Colosseum and Palatine in the morning, and the others in the afternoon. For our two hour lunch break, Adnan suggested an area called Trastevere - a very cool neighborhood with mostly locals and very few tourists. We had an amazing lunch there and completed the tour in the afternoon. The tour began at 8:30 AM and ended around 3:00 PM. The tour might appear expensive, however we covered so much ground, and received so much information.in only a few hours. It would probably take three days of group tours to cover what we did in a short amount of time, and you would not get nearly as much information as we were given. Great tour, great value, great experience, highly recommended !!!!
Gabriela_H, Sep 2019
Paola was the best tour guide, so knowledgeable, interesting and kind to my senior in-laws. Once we met her right outside of the subway, she asked us more about what we have seen and what our interests were, so since we already saw Trevi's Fountain she altered the route so we could see something else. She also made sure we will get in the shade, take breaks, point to water fountains, give us restaurant recommendations and made both visits interesting.
It was also nice to have everything taken care of you, just show up. We didn't have to wait inline at all, just get check in the Colosseum and the Vatican for security but once in, Paola dazzled us with her knowledge and answer all of our questions. She was prepared with her books and showed us pictures on how things looked before and after.
She also gave us plenty of time for photos. We never felt rushed and it was like visiting with an old friend. Paola was very warm and friendly and we were sad not to have her as our tour guide for the rest of the trip.
It is a long walking tour, so bring comfortable shoes, hat and water and mind the Vatican dress code. We took a few breaks here and there for my in-laws but the longest one was for lunch and after we met Paola after in the Vatican Museum.
DANIEL_G, Jul 2019
This was the best tour of our trip. Our tour guide, Thomas, was waiting for us exactly where our reservation indicated. His tour was spot on with timing. We started at the Colosseum and walked right in (no wait). Felt like we had the Colosseum to ourselves. Thomas was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions...even from the kids. The walk from Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon were pleasant as he walked us through areas we would never have ventured by ourselves. He even was mindful of walking in areas that had shade since the weather was warm. Tour of Sistine Chapel and Vatican were fantastic. Again, no waiting in line. Thomas had tickets for us. We were treated like VIP's. Thomas made us feel like he was there for us the entire day and we were never rushed. Highly recommend this tour. Make sure to ask for Thomas. Also, wear comfortable walking shoes. If you have little kids, bring a stroller.
Thomas M, Nov 2018
Alesia was our tour guide for this wonderful tour of Romes most interesting and historic sites. It was truly delightful and informative as she was so knowledgeable about all of the venues. There was a rapid transition without waiting in lines for ticketed venues as she greeted the staff members on what obviously was a daily event for her. We could not have hoped for a more rewarding experience.
From $659.59
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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Best of Rome in a Day Private Guided Tour Including Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Colosseum
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