Rome Tours and Colosseum Tickets

Colosseum and Vatican Tours to Book in Advance

Two sites take most of the planning in Rome: the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. Both run on timed entry, both sell out in high season, and both are far better with a guide, because the Sistine Chapel is at the end of a very long route and the Forum is a field of stones without someone to explain it. The guided tour that pairs the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is the most reviewed activity in Italy, and the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill tour is the equivalent for ancient Rome.

Rome Food Tours and Local Experiences

The pasta and tiramisu class near the Vatican is the highest-rated experience in Rome, two and a half hours of rolling fettuccine with wine poured throughout. For getting around without the walking, the golf cart tour with a gelato stop and the vintage Fiat 500 tour are the two favorites, and the Fiat tour includes photos.

Day Trips from Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast

Pompeii is the big one. The Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Sorrento day trip is long, around thirteen hours, but it covers the ruins and the coast in one go, and the Pompeii-only trip with an optional Vesuvius climb is the shorter alternative. Closer to the city, the Tivoli tour visits the fountains of Villa d'Este and the ruins of Hadrian's Villa in half a day.

Rome Travel Tips: Heat, Dress Codes and Timed Entry

Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Vatican and St. Peter's. Rome is hottest in July and August, when early morning slots for the Colosseum and Vatican are worth the alarm. Most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.