Full-Day: Colosseum, Vatican Museums & St Peter's Guided Tour

Meet your English speaking expert guide for a tour of the historical heart of Ancient Rome. Dominating the center of the Eternal City, this ancient arena puts modern stadiums to shame. As you stroll through the vast walls of the Colosseum your guide will recount the gruesome spectacles, battles, and politics that played out here.

The heart of the Roman Republic that inspired many modern democracies. The Roman Forum was once home to a bustling marketplace and was viewed as the pinnacle of the city.

Then your tour continues to the Palatine Hill, where Rome originated in a battle between two brothers. You’ll be taken from the origin of ancient Rome to its hub. In the continued company of our expert guides, you'll traverse the slopes of Palatine Hill, listening to tales of myth and history that echo through the ages. No other tour takes you so close to so much of the history, significance, and fabulous riches of Rome.

After your Vatican tour, enjoy some free time to sample authentic Italian cuisine (at your own expense) before crossing the border from Vatican City back into Rome for the second part of your tour.

With your friendly guide, enter the ornate Vatican Museums through an exclusive partner entrance. Unlike the more than 200 tour operators offering standard entry, we provide you with special access through this Partner Entrance. This allows you to start your visit promptly, saving up to four hours during peak season and giving you more time to explore the beauty of the Museums.

Once inside, you and your small group will enjoy all the highlights of the Vatican with an expert guide by your side. The tour takes in a treasure trove of artistic wonders, from masterworks such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescos and La Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica to the precious relics, paintings, and tapestries adorning the museums’ gilded galleries. Throughout the tour, your expert, English-speaking guide will share fascinating insights only a local could know.

After your Sistine Chapel visit, continue with your guide to St Peter’s Basilica to explore the symbolic heart of the Catholic church. Learn about its history and see more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s La Pietà, which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. Gaze at the baldachino by Bernini, and then say goodbye to your guide in St Peter’s Square. Keep in mind that St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square might be unavailable on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. As an alternative, you'll be offered an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums.