Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

• A Memorable Experience

• Professional and Fun English-speaking guide for entire tour

• Comfortable, climate-controlled transfer to the Vatican

• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica guided tour*

• Guided Colosseum Tour*

• Guided tour to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona*

*The order of the itinerary may change, depending on the time of year, site openings and ticket availability. 

Colosseum Arena Floor Tour

Stand where gladiators and wild animals once fought. Your guide will go into detail about the highly competitive and gruesome games that were fought right where you are standing, on the newly reconstructed Colosseum Arena Floor. Then, look up to the stands and imagine what it must’ve felt like here when it was filled with up to 60,000 screaming spectators. Before moving onto the Roman Forum, see the first and second tiers. 

The Streets of Downtown Ancient Rome

The area next to the Colosseum, the ancient Roman Forum, is full of sprawling ruins. However, back in the day, the Forum served as the political and commercial hub of the powerful Roman Empire. Admire the ruins from outside as your guide explains the most interesting details surrounding the Forum.

Rome City Tour on Foot

After visiting the Colosseum, your tour continues with a Rome city tour of the most iconic piazzas, fountains and places in this awe-inspiring city. Stroll through the classic beautiful Piazza Navona, Pantheon and the famous Trevi Fountain. Plus, you’ll see plenty of Rome off the beaten path because you’re under the wing of a local guide.

Guided Vatican Museums Tour

After a break for lunch (lunch is not included in the price of the tour), we drive you directly to the Vatican in a private, luxury vehicle. After skipping the regular line*, visit the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, Gallery of the Maps on the way to the Sistine Chapel.

*While you do not need to wait in the normal line, a shorter security line is still required for entrance. Short delays at the security check may occur during the busiest months, June and July. 

Sistine Chapel

Want to skip the line at the Vatican without having a guided tour? Click here for skip the line Vatican tickets.

Experience the wonders of the Sistine Chapel in person. Perhaps even beyond the Roman Colosseum, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is the focal point of this Rome in a day tour. A visit to the Sistine Chapel is included with your skip the line Vatican tickets.  Without actually standing beneath the Chapel's frescoes, there’s no way to fully appreciate Michelangelo’s world-famous accomplishment.

The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so speaking inside is prohibited. We provide you with a map/handout for reference before entering the chapel, while your guide explains the significance of Michelangelo’s artwork. Use the map when you are inside for orientation. 

Please note: To enter the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

The Palatial St. Peter’s Basilica

Except on Wednesday Mornings

Designed by Renaissance architects that include Bernini, Bramante and Michelangelo, St. Peter’s Basilica is the size of two American football fields and took 120 years to build. Skip the regular entrance and use a special door to continue your comprehensive tour of Rome. Among other things, see the statue of St. Peter's, La Pieta and of course the famed Baldacchino. Standing 95 feet tall, Bernini's Baldacchino sits right above the papal altar and beneath St. Peter's dome.

* As of June 23rd, 2021, the Vatican has closed the "licensed guide entrance" to St Peter’s Basilica for all tour companies and tour guides. Therefore a guided visit to the Basilica won’t be possible due to the distance between sites. Not to worry! Your awesome guide give you a detailed introduction of the church and will explain how to visit on your own at the conclusion of the tour. Hopefully, this changes very soon!

Remember, it isn’t possible to return to the Vatican Museums from St. Peter’s Basilica. If you want more time inside the museums, you must forgo the guided tour of the basilica. Also, if you’d like to stay in St. Peter's Basilica longer, don't leave with the guide to take photos in the piazza. Because the security line is long and re-entry on your own is not recommended, we suggest you stay inside St. Peter’s and explore on your own after the tour concludes.