Why choose this Rome tour ?
Experience Rome’s top attractions—the Vatican and the Colosseum—on this full-day guided tour. With an expert guide, enjoy exclusive, reserved entry to the Vatican Museums and explore its magnificent artistic treasures, including Michelangelo’s extraordinary frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. After some free time for lunch (at your own expense), continue to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Take a guided tour of the stunning amphitheater and explore the evocative ruins of the Forum.
Make the most of your Rome adventure
What makes Full Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum Guided Tour a unique experience ?
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.
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.
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.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note: All participant names are required at the time of booking in order to enter the Colosseum. If we do not receive the full customers names, we will cancel the booking. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Please note there will be approximately 2 hours free time between the two tours: You have to make your own way from your morning tour to the afternoon tour. There is plenty of time to travel either by taxi or metro.
- On Wednesday mornings St. Peter’s Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience taking place in St. Peter’s Square. Customers who wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica are advised to travel on another day. Saint Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we’re happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica’s opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
- Please note that the itinerary for our tours may differ from the advertised order of destinations. We assure you that any changes made to the tour itinerary are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience.
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
Full Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum Guided Tour Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Reserved Access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Colosseum entrance ticket (€18)
- Audio headset so you can always hear your guide at the Colosseum
- Reserved Access to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica
- Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Transfers between the two tours
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by City Wonders Ltd.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- If you cancel at least 7 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund. - This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 1130 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
TOURS DEPARTING at 8 AM or 9 AM: You will start at the Vatican in the morning, followed by the Colosseum Tour in the afternoon.
– If your Vatican tour starts at 8:00 AM, please be at the Colosseum meeting point by 12:55 PM.
– If your Vatican tour starts at 9:00 AM, please be at the Colosseum meeting point by 1:40 PM.
TOURS DEPARTING at 9:30 AM: You will start at the Colosseum in the morning, followed by the Vatican Tour in the afternoon.
– If your Colosseum tour starts at 9:30 AM, please be at the Colosseum meeting point by 2:15 PM.
It is your responsibility to make it to both the morning and afternoon tour meeting points on time.
Vatican tour: Meet at the bottom of the steps across the street from the Entrance of the Vatican Museums. The steps are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. The closest Metro stop is Line A (Ottaviano – Musei Vaticani).
Colosseum tour: Meet at Largo Gaetana Agnesi, above the 2nd floor of the metro line B (blue line) stop “Colosseo”.
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• Check-in 15 minutes before departure.
• Our City Wonders representative will be wearing blue City Wonders polo shirts/jackets to be easily recognizable at the meeting point
• Only very small bags are allowed
• At the Vatican appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites. Knees, shoulders, and backs must be covered
• Every customer on this tour is required to present a valid government issued ID or Passport at the Colosseum, that matches their name on the reservation, or entry will be refused. Name changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed
• Some of the venues or parts of the venue may be subject to last-minute, unpredictable closures. When this occurs, we are happy to offer customers an extended tour in keeping with the advertised total length of the tour
• You may experience delays in clearing security checks when entering the venue
• Gratuities for your guide/driver that provided excellent service are appreciated!
