Top 10 Must-Experience Guided Tours in Rome

For those who want something more than the usual tour, Rome has a myriad of options. You can tour Rome on a vintage Vespa or in a Fiat 500. Take the family on a tour designed for children, become a gladiator for a day, go underground at the Colosseum, or enjoy an after-hours visit to the Sistine Chapel with these unique tours.

The following are some of our favorite unique and special-interest tours of Rome.

Sistine Chapel Private After-hours Visit

Visit the Sistine Chapel without the crowds on this special after-hours tour. Your two-hour tour inside the Vatican Museums with an English-speaking guide includes several of the most important galleries, including the Raphael Rooms and the Gallery of Maps, as well as the stunning Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s masterpiece. This tour can be arranged as an exclusive and expensive private visit, or you can join a small group tour at a lower price.

Both Select Italy and The Roman Guy offer private or small-group before- or after-hours Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tours.

Be a Roman Gladiator for a Day

Have you ever dreamed of being a Roman gladiator? With this unique interactive adventure, you can become a gladiator for a day. You’ll start with a tour of Rome’s Gladiator Museum, where you’ll learn about the daily life of a gladiator. Then, you’ll dress in gladiator armor and enter the training arena for a lesson that includes using various weapons and self-defense techniques. This engaging activity is suitable for families with children aged 6 and older, and those who prefer to observe can do so for free. This activity takes place along the Via Appia Antica, the historic Roman Road.

Colosseum Dungeons and Upper Tiers

You’ll need to reserve in advance for a limited-access tour of the underground passageways and dungeons of the Colosseum. Following this, you can continue to the upper tiers, or Belvedere, for an unforgettable view of Rome. Entrance to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum is included in the ticket, valid for two days, but they are not part of the guided tour.

Tour Rome in a Vintage Fiat 500

What could be better than seeing the Eternal City as a passenger in a Vintage Fiat 500, or Cinquecento, a famous Italian icon? Guests can enjoy views of Rome’s top attractions while riding with an English-speaking driver-guide who narrates the sights as you drive by. Daytime and nighttime tours are available from several companies, including ItalyXP.com and Select Italy, and many hotels also offer tour arrangements.

Scoot Through Rome on a Vintage Vespa

If you’ve seen the movie Roman Holiday, you may imagine yourself doing as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck did—scooting through Rome on a Vespa. Motor scooters are indeed the best mode of transportation for navigating the narrow streets of Rome’s historic center. With DeaRoma Tours, you can relax as a passenger on the back of a Vespa, transported by an English-speaking driver-guide. Alternatively, with MyScooterinRome, you can drive your own Vespa as part of a group ride/tour.

The Domus Aurea, Nero’s Golden House

The Domus Aurea, or Golden House, was the extravagant palace of Nero, one of Rome’s most notorious emperors. After his death, his successors filled the palace with rubble. Currently, English-language tours of the underground archaeological site located near the Colosseum are available on Saturdays and Sundays—reservations are necessary. Hardhats are provided for the scaffolded site, and it’s advisable to bring a light jacket. A captivating virtual reality experience transports visitors back to the Domus during its prime at the end of the tour.

Underground Rome and Catacombs With The Roman Guy

This small-group guided tour leads you through the layers of history beneath San Clemente Church, followed by a visit to the Appian Way (transportation included) for a glimpse of the ancient road and a guided visit to the Catacomb of Domitilla, which is the oldest and among the best-preserved of the Roman catacombs.

Crypts, Bones, and Catacombs with Walks of Italy

The Crypts, Bones, and Catacombs Underground Tour of Rome showcases one of Rome’s eeriest sights, the Capuchin Crypt, as well as a tour of catacombs that house the oldest known image of the Virgin Mary and the remnants of both an early Christian basilica and a pagan temple situated underneath the Basilica of San Clemente.

Rome for Children

Rome4Kids provides a range of family-friendly itineraries designed specifically for teenagers and younger children, yet suitable for all age groups. Options include scavenger hunt tours, golf cart excursions, and explorations of underground Rome.

Eating Italy Food Tours in Testaccio or Trastevere

On these delightful food tours, you’ll venture out of the historic center to stroll through one of Rome’s traditional neighborhoods. Experience small food shops and bakeries for tastings, enjoy pasta in a renowned Roman restaurant, and conclude with a gelato. Additionally, you’ll gain insights into the history and culture during this engaging walk.

Updated by Elizabeth Heath