Skip the Lines Rome in a Day Tour Ancient Rome Historic Centre and Vatican

Skip the Lines Rome in a Day Tour Ancient Rome Historic Centre and Vatican

If you only have one day to see the important sites of Rome, this tour will ensure that you take in the very essence of Roman history, culture, art, and architecture.

Enjoy skip-the-line access to monuments including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica with a very small group of like-minded travelers.

The semi-private tour is limited to a maximum of 10 people, making for a more enjoyable, relaxing and interactive tour experience.

You can also choose a private tour, to enjoy your own personal tour guide that will cater the tour to your own needs and preferences. This option is available at the booking page.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, 00184 Rome Italy

Your full-day tour starts at the Colosseum, where you’ll avoid the long lines of tourists that will be queuing up for entry and enter the ancient world’s greatest sports arena without any waiting around. Your guide will introduce you to the enthralling tales of gladiators and martyrs that made the Colosseum famous while exploring the remnants of their history together.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Roman Forum, Largo della Salara Vecchia 5/6, 00186 Rome Italy

Next you’ll head over to the Roman Forum to learn how the heart of Rome’s all-encompassing empire functioned and thrived. Forget battling through the crowds inside the Forum, your guide will lead you directly to a stunning lookout point. From there, you can take in the entire Forum complex, including the Senate House and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Your guide will make it easy to imagine how the Forum must have appeared 2,000 years ago with stories of war, politics, economics and religion that shaped the ancient city.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Rome Italy

No walk through Ancient Rome would be complete without a visit to the Pantheon. This nearly 2,000-year-old building has the largest non-reinforced concrete dome in the world. As you view if from inside, you’ll hear the story of how it was built and why it has inspired so many other buildings, from St. Peter’s Basilica to the U.S. Capitol Building.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Rome Italy

Your tour through the Historic Centre continues with a stop at the stunning Trevi Fountain, which is the largest baroque fountain in Rome. Legend has it that if you toss a coin over your left shoulder into the Fountain you’ll return to Rome one day.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Rome Italy

Next stop is the Spanish Steps for a spot of people watching and plenty of photo opportunities. From here your guide will take you on the metro (if you have booked the walking option) to the Vatican, where you can take a break for lunch before entering the Vatican City.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy

After lunch, your guide will take you to the Vatican, where you’ll skip the long lines of people waiting to enter. With your Vatican expert to guide you, you’ll delve into one of the world’s greatest art collections.

This specially-curated Vatican tour highlights the best works in the vast collections here, giving you a broad understanding and appreciation of what you’re seeing. You’ll explore the sculpture galleries and the world-famous Laocoön Group before heading to the Sistine Chapel.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sistine Chapel, Viale Vaticano, 00165 Vatican City Italy

The highlight of your Vatican tour is the Sistine Chapel, which is undoubtedly the most famous chapel in the world. You’ll learn about the paintings of Michelangelo (yes, he spent 8 years of his life painting here!) and his predecessors, who covered every inch of these walls and ceilings. You’ll hear about the history of the period, including the difficulties encountered between the patron, Pope Julius II and Michelangelo.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy

Known as the greatest architectural masterpiece in Rome, St Peter's took over a century to complete. Your guide will tell you the story of the nine master architects who each carried the project forward until their deaths; including how that genius Michelangelo – again! – would be the one to finally complete the design for the most challenging aspect of the ambitious design - the great dome which is one of the most iconic images of Rome today.

Inside St Peter’s you will visit a selection of the many ornate monuments, statues and mosaics (there are no paintings in the Basilica – find out why from your guide!), and stand in front of the sacred altar of St Peter, from where the Pope says mass on very special occasions.

Duration: 45 minutes