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Rome Full-Day Highlights Tour with the Vatican and Colosseum

Discover Rome in one day
From US$1,217 privately
Book a Tour
Tour Details
Duration
8 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Colosseum
  • Roman Forum
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • Palatine Hill
Photos & Highlights
  • Perfect for brief visits or business trips to the city, get the opportunity to immerse yourself in the pinnacles of Italian culture
  • Led by a local expert or historian
Tour Description
Together, the Vatican and Colosseum form two high points of Italian culture: the former, a dazzling ode to Renaissance opulence, and possibly the world’s greatest collection of the era’s art; the latter, a monolithic tribute to the engineering acumen and cultural excess that characterized the height of the Roman Empire. While they sit across town from one another, combined they form the two necessary destinations for anyone who seeks to understand the magnificence of Rome. On our Rome in a Day: Vatican and Colosseum Tour, we take an in-depth look at each of these sites. Beginning our day at the Colosseum, we’ll survey this most emblematic icon of the Roman Empire before hopping on the Metro, grabbing a quick lunch, and marveling at the Vatican’s stunning collection of art ranging from famous frescoes to ancient artifacts. This is a great tour for anyone spending a brief period in Rome who wishes to take in its most important sites in a day.
 

Full-Day Vatican and Colosseum Tour

Meeting outside the Colosseum and armed with reserved entry tickets, we’ll make our way into the Colosseum, where we’ll receive a primer on the history of the structure—including its decay through the Middle Ages and eventual restoration—as well as the astonishing strides in architectural engineering the Roman Empire made in order to realize one of its greatest feats. Proceeding into the arena area, we’ll learn about the varying spectacles that took place inside, from naval battles to the exploits of gladiators. Our guide, using an array of supplemental materials and evocative imagery, will help the long-dormant structure come alive, placing us mentally within the heights of the Roman Empire.

Onto the Vatican

From here, we’ll hop on the metro to the Vatican, near which we’ll grab a quick bite to eat before proceeding onward into the Museums. Once again, we’ll take advantage of reserved tickets to jumpstart our visit, getting a primer on papal history and the construction of the premises. After brushing up on the necessary background to understand what lays ahead of us, we’ll dive in, receiving a highly curated, compelling look at the sprawling collections, getting an art historian’s take on everything from the ancient statuary collection of Pope Julius II to his private apartments decorated by Raphael. All of this, of course, will serve as lead-up to the grand finale, the Sistine Chapel. While we aren’t allowed to talk once we’re inside, our guide will have primed us to fully appreciate the masterpiece, pointing out details often lost on visitors and giving us a thorough introduction to Michelangelo’s creative process so we may marvel completely at the pinnacle of Renaissance art.

Take Aways

Concluding our tour in the late afternoon, we will be able to reflect upon some of the most revered accomplishments of Rome—from Renaissance art that continues to astound and inspire today, to the incredible advancements made by the ancient Romans. We’ll part with the guide feeling awed, filled with knowledge...and perhaps ready for aperitivo. 

FAQ

Will I need to bring identification to enter the Colosseum?
Yes, original identification is required to be presented upon entry to the Colosseum for all visitors including children. These should be original documents, copies will not be accepted.   

How crowded are the Vatican sites?
Please be aware that during the summer travel period, the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica can be subject to extremely high levels of visitor traffic. It’s important to anticipate slower movement, limited visibility, and potential restrictions on accessing certain areas due to the density of crowds. Our experienced guides are adept at navigating through these challenging conditions and will strive to optimize your tour experience.

Do we have to buy tickets on-site?
For this tour, your Colosseum and Vatican tickets are pre-purchased, which allows you to go directly to the security line where you will have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.   

Is this tour accessible to those with mobility issues?
The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are wheelchair accessible while the Palatine Hill is not. The Palatine Hill can be skipped and the itinerary can be adjusted to make it more accessible, however, this tour includes cobblestones, uneven and natural terrain, stairs, and hilly areas that are tricky to maneuver. Additionally, people with disabilities may be entitled to free entry to the Vatican Museums. If you use a wheelchair or have any mobility concerns, please contact us to discuss alternate options.

Do you reserve headsets for this tour? 
Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.

Experts
Federico Federico
Local Guide
Roberta Roberta
Art Historian
Sabrina Sabrina
Art Historian
Pier Paolo Pier Paolo
Art Historian
Francesca Francesca
Archaeologist
Massimo Massimo
Local Guide
Simona Simona
Archaeologist
Siriana Siriana
Local Guide
Richard Richard
Medievalist
Flavia Flavia
Local Guide
Carlo Carlo
Local Guide
Giulia Giulia
Archaeologist
Francesca Francesca
Art Historian
Alessia Alessia
Art Historian
Fabio Fabio
Art Historian
Alessandro Alessandro
Local Guide
Kasia Kasia
Local Guide
Andrea Andrea
Historian
Maria Stella Maria Stella
Art Historian
Marina Marina
Local Guide
Olivia Olivia
Art Historian
Priscilla Priscilla
Archaeologist
Doriana Doriana
Local Guide
Maddalena Maddalena
Art Historian
Paola Paola
Architectural Historian
Laura Laura
Local Guide
Mara Mara
Local Guide
Sara Sara
Art Historian
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Barbara Barbara
Architect
Fiorenza Fiorenza
Art Historian
Arianna Arianna
Art Historian
Gianluca Gianluca
Art Historian
Alessandra Alessandra
Art Historian
Maria Emilia Maria Emilia
Art Historian
Michele Michele
Local Guide
Valeria Valeria
Archaeologist
Simona Simona
Local Guide & Teacher
Laura Laura
Art Historian
Luisa Luisa
Local Guide
Sandro Sandro
Local Guide
Elisa Valeria Elisa Valeria
Archaeologist
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Archaeologist
Vannella Vannella
Art Historian
Simona Simona
Archaeologist
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Where You'll Start
(4.89) 44 Reviews

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Paola, was amazing and a pleasure to spend the day with… exceptional knowledge maybe a little above my head but that is not her fault… would definitely use her services again!
Alessandra was an excellent guide. I am so glad we did the private tour on our first day in Rome. She gave us a wonderful and easy to understand history of the city and the monuments we say. I highly recommend this tour.
Andrea was very knowledgeable, accommodating, fun, and moved at a perfect pace.