All Rome Tours

Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center

4001 reviews

7.5 hours

Max 18

Think the Colosseum is impressive from the outside? Wait till you step inside.

Why take this tour?

Highlights

Visit the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon and much more in a single day.
Cover more ground with a thoughtfully planned walking tour and one private, air-conditioned bus ride to the Vatican.
Save hours waiting in line with quick access tickets to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums.
Learn about the history of the city from an expert guide who'll be with your small group for the full day.
Take the only group tour that combines tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican with a private transfer to the latter.

Sites Visited
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Historic Center
Pantheon (exterior)
Trevi Fountain
Piazza Navona
Campidoglio (view of the Roman Forum)
Gallery of Maps

Tour Includes
Skip the line ticket for Vatican Museums
Transportation to Vatican Museums
Colosseum entrance ticket (24h – Colosseo/Foro Romano/Palatino Ticket €18)
Small group of 18 guests maximum
Local English-speaking guide
Expertly guided walking tour
Headset (when needed)

Get ready to walk (a lot) and see all of Rome in just one day!

Book Now

Total Customer Reviews: 4001

Verified Ratings

4.8 /5

based on 3705 Walks’ customer ratings

Rating summary by category

Guide

4.9/5

Guest Support

4.8/5

Latest reviews

Great

Flavia was awesome! Super knowledgeable & entertaining. Lots of walking but at an easy pace. She was very attentive & her English was very good! Highly recommend.

Verified · Carol · Sep 28, 2024 · Canada · Female · 65 to 74 years

Great

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable however he did speak more than we anticipated meaning we had hoped to have a little more time to wander around at each of the stops. When we went to the Coliseum the tour guide spoke for 34 minutes and 1/2 of our tour group stopped listening and wandered away we also were stopped right in the middle of new people coming in to look at a prime spot so we were in the way. When we toured the Vatican, the tour guide spoke for 30 minutes about three poster boards of portraits. Again half of our group stopped listening and were showing signs of frustration. Our guide was clearly passionate about his knowledge but it would have been been better to curb the talking to allow for more opportunity to explore. The sites we toured were great and the 8 mile day with almost 9 hours of sight seeing was well worth it. It would have been nice to tour inside the Pantheon. Our friends ended up with another tour guide and they toured the Pantheon and had more free time to explore. Overall I would recommend the tour.

Verified · Gina · Sep 24, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years

Excellent

Federica was enthusiastic, well informed, a pleasure. My two fellow travelers share my opinion.

Verified · Diane · Sep 19, 2024 · USA · Female · 65 to 74 years

Excellent

Best tour, we loved our tour guide so much - she was extremely knowledgeable, and not only beautifully explained the history of Rome and its architecture, she also pointed out her favorites places to visit for a drink or food, and even helped my husband and I on a few questions we had about navigating Rome on our own! We will definitely use Walk tours for Rome in the future.

Verified · Jessica · Sep 15, 2024 · USA · Female · 25 to 34 years

Excellent

A very well organized and good size tour. Our guide Marco C. did a marvelous job in the history story telling, informative and entertaining. Good lunch recommendation and be prepared to walk all day.

Verified · Loletta · Sep 11, 2024 · Canada · Female · 55 to 64 years

FAQs

What if the weather is bad (rain, snow, hail, etc.) on the day of my tour?

Our tours run rain or shine so please dress for the elements. We also ask you to please remember hats and sunscreen if you are taking this tour in the summer as it might be very hot.

What's the cancellation policy for this tour?

This tour is fully refundable up to 4 days prior to the event. Within 4 days, this tour is non-refundable.

Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?

Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs, strollers or for those with mobility impairments?

Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact us at [email protected] so we can arrange your visit.

Does the order of the itinerary on this tour ever change?

Occasionally the sights on this tour are visited in a different order. This happens due to logistical changes and snap decisions made by our guides to avoid crowds and thus improve your visit.

Is there much walking on this tour?

This tour does involve walking. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty and comfortable walking shoes are a must!

Does Skip the Line Access mean no waiting?

During busy periods (May - October) there is sometimes a short wait to get inside the Colosseum. This is because the Colosseum has changed its admission policy to ensure that only 3,000 people are allowed within the amphitheater at any given time, meaning much less crowding during busy periods. Although our tickets are pre-booked with Skip the Line access, this may mean a slight delay on entering if capacity has already been reached. It's rare that we have to wait for more than a few minutes but if we do, it's unavoidable.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No. But your guide is always happy to offer you plenty of recommendations for great places to eat in the vicinity that will suit any price point.

Does the Colosseum ever close without warning?

Unfortunately, Yes. The Colosseum is subject to unforeseen closures due to weather conditions and worker strikes, as well as last minute changes in reservations, all of which are out of Walks of Italy (or any other tour operator's) control. If for any reason we cannot run the tour as described, we will contact you immediately, offering the best alternatives. Depending on the situation this might result in a modification of the itinerary or a change in the tour start time. Our aim is to offer you the highest level of service and in the rare occasion in which circumstances outside of our control mean that you cannot participate in a variation of this tour we will offer you a full refund.

What items can I NOT take into the Vatican Museums

Knives, scissors, and other cutting tools must also be deposited in the cloakroom as a precaution against harming the artwork inside. No hammers, either, as one was once used to smash Michelangelo's Pietá. This probably goes without saying, but firearms are also strictly prohibited for visitors within the Vatican Museums and you can't check them in the cloakroom.

I've heard the Vatican has a strict dress code. What should I wear?

It does, but it isn't anything too formal. The big rule is to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered - that applies to both men and women. Also remember that shorts of any length are not allowed at all in St. Peter's Basilica so if you are visiting both the Vatican Musuems and the Basilica, wear trousers or a long skirt. Occasionally visitors get away with wearing a bit less but it’s best not to risk it. Hats are also not allowed. Walks cannot be held responsible for guests who are refused entrance due to inappropriate dress so please remember to cover up.

IMPORTANT: Can I bring a bag into the Vatican Museums?

Yes, as long as it's within a certain size. You cannot bring any bag, backpack suitcase or container larger that 40cm x 35cm x 15cm into the Vatican Museums. In fact, size limits apply to all items; because of the sheer number of people that visit the Museums, space is at a premium. You can’t enter with medium to large umbrellas, any umbrellas with spiked tips, camera tripods, signage (apart from signs used by certified guides) or walking sticks – except those required by disabled visitors. All of these items can be left in the cloakroom, which is located at the entrance to the Museums. This means that you will need to walk 15 - 20 minutes back here after you finish your tour at St Peter's Basilica. On our afternoon tours you may need to leave the tour early to collect your bag before the cloakroom closes.

I'd like to climb to the top of the Dome of St. Peter's. Anything I should know?

The St. Peter's Dome climb requires separate tickets, one allows you to take the elevator up part of the way then climb a further 320 steps, while another permits you to climb the entire 551 steps. Either way the view from the top is worth it!

Why can't I take photos inside the Sistine Chapel?

When the chapel was restored in 1990 the biggest donors to the project (donating a whopping $4.2 million) were a Japanese television network. In return, they received exclusive rights to photograph and film inside and quickly banned any professional photographers from taking pictures. Although they didn't mind if tourists took photos, the Vatican guards decided to enforce the rule on everyone because it was impractical to differentiate between a normal visitor and who was a professional photographer. The Japanese network's exclusive contract has expired now but the rule persists. If you try to take any images in the Chapel Vatican, security is authorized to make you delete them.