Experiences in Rome
The Colosseum before lunch, the Sistine Chapel after, and Pompeii or Capri the next day.
Destination
Rome
Date
Add dates
Rome: Tours & Experiences
1 experiences and tours
Frequently asked questions
Book weeks ahead in high season if you can. Entry is by timed ticket, and the morning slots go first. The ticket also covers the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, so plan at least half a day. Tours with entry included take the ticket hunt off your hands.
Book a timed ticket or a guided tour with entry included, and come early in the morning. The museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and the queues are very long.
Shoulders and knees must be covered in the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica, and in many churches across Rome. A light scarf or shawl is an easy way to cover up in summer.
Yes. Combined tours visit the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums in one day, usually with a lunch break in between. It is a long day on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.
Yes. Pompeii is about two to three hours from Rome by road, and full-day tours take care of the transport and the guide. Some also stop in Sorrento on the coast, with a taste of local limoncello.
Yes, but it is a long day. The fastest way is a high-speed train to the south, then a boat or a drive along the coast to Positano and Amalfi. Guided day trips from Rome put the trains and the boat together for you, so you can enjoy the coast instead of the timetables.
They are underground burial places dug outside the ancient city walls, mainly by early Christians. The best known lie along the Appian Way, and guided visits take you down into the tunnels and explain how they were used.
The Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, the Pantheon square and the Spanish Steps are all within a short walk of each other in the historic centre. They are at their quietest early in the morning.
Yes. Day trips from Rome visit Siena and San Gimignano, or Montepulciano and Pienza in the Val d'Orcia, usually with food and wine tastings. The drive is about two to three hours each way.
Yes. Tip-based free walking tours of Imperial Rome pass the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums and Piazza Venezia from outside. You reserve a free place and tip the guide what you like. Entry to the Colosseum and the Vatican is always paid.
Rome holds nearly three thousand years of history in one city: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Pantheon still standing after almost two thousand years, and, across the river, the Vatican, the smallest country in the world. It is also the starting point for some of Italy's best day trips.
Start with ancient Rome: a small-group tour of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, where the emperors lived. Then cross the Tiber to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgement. Between the two, walk the piazzas and fountains of the centre, from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Under the city, the catacombs along the Appian Way show where the early Christians buried their dead.
From Rome, day trips go south to the ruins of Pompeii, to Positano and the Amalfi Coast by high-speed train and boat, and to the island of Capri, or north to Siena, San Gimignano and the vineyards of the Val d'Orcia. For a longer stay in the south, Naples is the base for Pompeii and Vesuvius. Cruise passengers arriving at Civitavecchia can see the best of Rome on a shore excursion, and for a first look at the ancient city there are tip-based free walking tours of Imperial Rome.
About Rome
Few cities can rival Rome for sheer density of things to see. At its heart stands the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built, alongside the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — the political and religious centre of the ancient world. A short walk away, the perfectly preserved Pantheon, the baroque splendour of the Trevi Fountain and the sweeping Spanish Steps draw visitors day and night.
Across the river, the independent Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. Between the landmarks, Rome is a city for wandering: the cobbled lanes of Trastevere, the piazzas of the historic centre, and long lunches that turn into afternoons. A local guide helps you make sense of it all and see far more of the ancient city in the time you have.
What to expect on a Rome experience
Most first visits to Rome are built around two big days: ancient Rome and the Vatican. Colosseum tours usually include the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, and Vatican tours cover the museums, the Sistine Chapel and often St Peter's Basilica. Combined tours fit both into one long day.
Strolls through the centre link the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, with stories of the popes and the artists they paid. Minivan tours reach sights that are harder to get to, such as the catacombs and the old basilicas along the Appian Way.
Day trips from Rome are long but rewarding: Pompeii and Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Tuscany with food and wine tastings. Semi-private tours keep groups small, and each tour page shows the group size, the language and what is included.
Best time to visit
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit Rome: warm but comfortable temperatures, ideal for long days of sightseeing.
Summer (July–August) is hot and busy, so book early-morning Colosseum and Vatican slots. Winter is mild by northern-European standards and far quieter, with shorter queues at the major sites. Whenever you come, bring comfortable shoes, sun protection in the warmer months, and note that some churches (including St Peter's) require covered shoulders and knees.
Getting around
Rome's historic centre is compact and best explored on foot — most of the famous sights are within walking distance of one another. For longer hops, the Metro (lines A, B and C) and an extensive bus network cover the wider city on a single integrated ticket.
From Fiumicino Airport (FCO), the Leonardo Express train reaches Roma Termini, the main station, in about 32 minutes; Ciampino (CIA) is served by shuttle buses. Taxis and ride apps are widely available. Most city tours meet at a central landmark that's easy to reach on foot or by Metro — the exact meeting point is shown on each tour listing.
