Private Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Vatican Museums

• Private English-speaking guide and driver

• Comfortable, air-conditioned luxury transportation

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

• Colosseum Tour

• Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona

* 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 at this time. Not to worry! Your awesome guide will give you a detailed introduction of the church and explain how to visit on your own at the conclusion of the tour. Hopefully, this changes very soon!

Please note: the order of the itinerary below may change, depending on time of year, site openings, and ticket availability. 

Luxury Transportation Around Rome (Drop-Off Included)

To make this private tour in Rome even better, you'll be driven around Rome in luxury, climate-controlled vehicle. While a hotel pickup is not included, we can arrange a private transfer in the morning for an additional fee. Otherwise, meet your guide at the designated meeting spot (Caffè Vaticano on Viale Vaticano, 100). Then, after your Rome driving tour, you'll be dropped off at your city center hotel. Not sure if you're staying in central Rome? Contact our Travel Experts by email or online chat to find out if your hotel is located within the drop off area.

Guided Vatican Museums Tour

Kick off your private Rome in a Day Tour with the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Skip the regular ticket line with your private guide who will lead the way. As an accredited tour operator, we do not have to wait in the ticket line—we get in right after the security check (during the busier months there may be a longer-than-usual line at security). Once inside, visit the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, and our personal favorite, the Gallery of the Maps.

Experience Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

Since the Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican Museums, it’s included in your Vatican tour tickets. Experience Michelangelo’s masterpiece the way it was meant to be: in person. Photos and video just don't do his work justice; only when you enter the Sistine Chapel is it clear how high the ceiling is and how many frescos there are. 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, after your guide explains the significance of Michelangelo’s artwork. The map will help you understand what you're seeing while standing under the most popular ceiling in the world.

To enter the Sistine Chapel, 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, so 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 Wednesdays

St. Peter's Basilica is a monumental, ornate church filled with works by some of the most celebrated artists in history. Enter through a special door reserved for visitors accompanied by guides, and go straight inside the palatial Renaissance church. Once inside, admire the Baldacchino, La Pieta, the statue of St. Peter and much more. St. Peter's holds the rank of Major Basilica. Only four exist in the world and all four are located in Rome!

After your first dose of culture, chances are, you’ll have worked up quite an appetite. You'll have a break for lunch so you can sample some typical Roman delicacies and high-quality Italian vino. While lunch isn't included in the price of the tour, you can count on your tour guide to suggest some ideal spots.

Private Rome City Tour 

Rome is full of historically significant buildings, impressive works of art, fountains, and hilltops with panoramic views. It often takes people two or three visits to check off the must-see sites in Rome, but with your personal guide and a driver, it’s not hard to do in one day. For this portion of the tour, you'll visit Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Largo Argentina, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. In addition to these famous places, your expert guide will show you several hidden gems along the way.

Skip-the-Line Private Colosseum Tour

After a refreshing gelato at our favorite artisanal gelato shop in Rome (gelato must be purchased separately), we'll drive you directly to Rome's most iconic site: the Colosseum. This must-see attraction in Rome was used for gladiator fights, mock sea battles, animal hunts and fights, drama shows, and even public executions. Witness the incredible history of this 2,000-year-old structure up close on a private, skip-the-line Colosseum tour.

If there is time after your visit to the Colosseum, your guide will escort you to the nearby Roman Forum. The ruins here are what remains of ancient Rome's downtown area. Visit some of the most famous Roman Forum buildings, including the Temple of Julius Caesar, Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vesta, and the Roman Senate House. Here you'll walk down the same roads taken by famous Roman Emperors and philosophers. Finally, you'll be dropped off at your central hotel where you can enjoy a well-needed rest.