Skip to main content
Top Rome activities
Top Rome landmarks
Beyond Rome
Rome trip ideas

Rome Historical True Crime Tour

Recommended by 92% of travelers
Rome, Italy
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Perfect for true crime lovers, this small-group historical walking tour uncovers Rome’s murderous events, from poisonings to hauntings. Enjoy a memorable journey through the city’s secret history, from the bustling Campo De' Fiori to the hidden backstreets of the Eternal City, and gain insights into Rome’s biggest scandals and darkest characters.
  • Discover Rome's hidden history and infamous figures
  • Gain insights into the city’s criminal past from your guide
  • Learn to navigate Rome’s secret spots and landmarks on foot
  • Experience chilling stories of betrayal, murder, and hauntings

What's Included

  • English Speaking Expert Guide
  • Small Group of Maximum 15 People
  • Food and Drink - a rest stop will be offered at a cafe
  • Rain/Sun Protection
  • Gratuities (optional)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Campo de' Fiori, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

    Your guide will meet you in front of the statue in the middle of the square. They will be holding a sign saying "Rome's Dark Side"

End point

  • Ponte Sant'Angelo, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Operating hours
.8:00 pm

Itinerary

1

Campo De' Fiori

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

2

Piazza Farnese

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

3

Vicolo delle Grotte

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

4

Ponte Sisto

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

5

Via Giulia

10 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

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

9

Castel Sant'Angelo

10 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
  • Interpreters can be provided for sight/hearing impaired guests
  • No health restrictions
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by

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)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6
based on 13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

Good opportunity to see...

Anonymous, Nov 2025
Good opportunity to see some of the sights that are off the beaten path. Especially good for a first timer to Rome.

100% worth it if you like the gory side of stuff

Ciaran_S, Jun 2025
Ben was an incredible guide. He was very informative and kept it to mostly facts but still sprinkled in some more imaginative horror and snuck in a well timed joke every now and then too.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thanks Ciaran, glad you enjoyed the tour! I hope you join us again if you return to Rome in the future!

Wear comfortable shoes....

Taylor_H, May 2025
Wear comfortable shoes. Be prepared to learn about little known ancient Rome history. Tour was comfortable for all walking levels.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Taylor, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring some of the lesser-known (and darker!) sides of ancient Rome with us. It’s great to hear the tour was comfortable and accessible for all walking levels - we aim to make the experience enjoyable for everyone. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another City Stories adventure in the future!

Great tour guide!

Karen_M, Sep 2024
Tour guide was excellent and very well informed on the area's history! Would definitely recommend to friends!

Super fun experience!

Florence_W, Jul 2024
Super fun and informative. Without giving away too much, it was something my kids and I really enjoyed doing together. Our guide had such a natural talent in telling the stories and making every character come alive.👍🏻👍🏻

Crime walk

Sarah_W, Jun 2024
Difficult to hear the guide because Rome is so loud. I would recommend giving the guide a microphone/lavalier. I would have liked to see some more landmarks on this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Hi Sarah, I'm sorry you didn't have a great experience on the tour. As Rome is a busy city it can be loud, but we try and train our guides to speak louder/project their voice when it's not possible to use a microphone. However, we will take this suggestion to mind as I understand it's important. This tour also is mainly based around the darker backstreets of the city, as that is where these stories actually happened, rather than at the main landmarks. We do have another Dark Centre tour though that takes in some of the darker stories of the city's highlights if you'd like. You can find it with our Dark Side City Tours brand. Thank you for coming along, and also for your valuable feedback. All the best, Ben Messenger - Owner and Manager

This tour was so fun!

Lisa_T, Mar 2024
Not so much “true crime” but more of a “dark side”. I really enjoyed the information and our guide pointed out and shared landmarks we may have just walked past and not noticed. Our guide was enthusiastic and was willing to give us local tips and where to get the best gelato :)

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this lovely review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the unique perspective of our tour, focusing on the darker side of history rather than traditional true crime. It's fantastic to know that our guide's enthusiasm and knowledge enhanced your experience, pointing out hidden landmarks that could easily be missed. We're also glad you appreciated the local tips - especially the recommendation for the best gelato in town! It's feedback like yours that truly makes our day. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon. Thank you again for your kind words!

Brothels, naughty popes and ghosts galore!!

Jill_S, Jan 2024
Ben was full of great historical stories from the city. You can tell he loves Rome and history. It was a fun and interesting evening exploring a different part of the city we would have never seen without the tour.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear Jill, Thank you very much for sharing your positive experience with us! We're delighted to hear that Ben's passion for Rome and its rich history made your evening tour both fun and informative. It's wonderful to know that you were able to explore and appreciate a different part of the city that you might not have discovered on your own. Our guides, like Ben, truly love sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with our guests, and your feedback is a testament to their dedication. We hope to have the pleasure of guiding you again in the future to uncover more hidden gems. Thank you for choosing our tour!

From $29.34

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 51 days in advance.

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
Rome Historical True Crime Tour
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$29.34
Historical Walking Tour in Pantheon with Tickets
1 hour
Free Cancellation
From
$76.28
Historical tour of the Jewish Ghetto
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$46.94

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Rome, Italy
More attractions near Rome, Italy
Nearby Destinations
More Tours in Rome