Vatican and Colosseum in One Day

 5.0
(25 Reviews)

Price:

From

 199.00

This combo tour is ideal for travelers with limited time in Rome, offering a full-day experience that covers both the heart of ancient Rome and the Vatican City. Begin with a 3-hour exploration of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. After a lunch break, head to the second meeting point to start your afternoon tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

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  • Comprehensive Full-Day Tour: Explore both ancient Rome and the Vatican City in one day.
  • Colosseum Tour: Delve into the history and legends of the world’s greatest amphitheater.
  • Palatine Hill & Roman Forum: Walk through the birthplace of Rome and its ancient political center.
  • Lunch Break: Recharge before heading to the Vatican for the afternoon tour.
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: Discover iconic masterpieces, including Raphael’s rooms and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.
  • Expert Guides: Learn from knowledgeable guides who bring history and art to life.

Accessibility: Stroller/pram accessible, public transport nearby, not wheelchair accessible.

Suitability: Not suitable for pets;  not recommended for people with mobility and hearing impairments

Security: Metal detector check at Colosseum.

Meeting point: Colosseum Tour: Largo Gaetana Agnesi,5 close to the upper floor exit of the metro Colosseo. Start time 9:45, meeting time 9:30 am Vatican Tour: Our office in Via Tolemaide, 10 Start time 2:50 pm, meeting time 2:35 pm

Booking Requirements: Full names of travelers are required at booking; a valid ID must be presented at entry.

Booking in Advance: Tours must be booked at least 3 days in advance

Itinerary: The actual starting time and order of the tours may vary depending on the chosen language. We will contact you to provide the exact schedule after booking. The itinerary might include visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill first.

Meeting Points: There are two separate meeting points for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums tours. Please note that the transfer between these locations is not included in the price.

Arrival: Please arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes before the tour starts to ensure a smooth departure.

Colosseum Ticket Prices: Adult: €16 + €2 booking fee; Children (under 18): Free.

Languages Available: English, German, Italian, Russian, French, Spanish.

Voucher Presentation: Show the booking voucher to the guide at the meeting point. The guide will have all tickets ready. If you booked through Tripadvisor/Viator, please show the confirmation voucher on your mobile.

Special Note: Starting from October 18, 2023, nominative tickets are required for the Colosseum. Ensure all participant names and birth dates are provided at booking. Incomplete booking information may result in denied entry.

Headsets to hear the guide clearly

Entry/Admission – Vatican Museums

Entry/Admission – Sistine Chapel

Entry/Admission – Colosseum

Entry/Admission – Palatine Hill

Entry/Admission – Roman Forum

Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person)

Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)

Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.

Any private expenses

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Lunch

  • Please bring your ID or Passport
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Dress Code: The Vatican has a dress code for men and women both need to cover their knees and shoulders to access the Sistine Chapel. Please note that if you do not follow the dress code they can deny your entrance.

Itinerary

The Colosseum

Visiting the Colosseum is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There is no better time to visit the Colosseum, as visitor numbers have been drastically reduced. This means that you are able to marvel at the awe-inspiring site without having large crowds around you. Learn about the history, features and tales behind the greatest entertainment venue of all times. The construction of the Colosseum, whose official name is Flavian Amphitheatre, was begun around 72 AD and completed in 80 AD. This means it took the ancient Romans around 8 years to complete this engineering masterpiece designed to entertain the citizens of Rome. Find out about the political and social background of the Roman Empire before, during and after the construction of the Colosseum. Get to know its purpose and its role within the Roman society.

The Palatine Hill

Just above the the Roman Forum there’s the Palatine Hill, where Rome was established in 753 BC, 21st of April. This is where the first nucleus of Rome took shape, and where the houses, villas and palaces of the kings, emperors and notable people were. The Palatine hill was chosen by Romulus as it was deemed to be the best of all the 7 hills of Rome thanks to its ideal and central position. The Romans, as other ancient civilizations, tended to choose the high grounds close to rivers for their early settlements. This gave a strategic advantage in case of military attack as well as against the frequent floods of the water streams. Walk on the hill where the history of Rome started from. Learn about the early history of the city, the foundation myth of Romulus and Remus, and how the former managed to become the first king of Rome. Explore the ruins of the once imposing structures of the imperial houses of the emperors of Rome!

The Roman Forum

A stone’s throw from the Colosseum, you can find the Roman Forum: the political, religious, judicial and financial center of Rome and all the Roman Empire. This is where a city that once was barely a regional power became the core of the mightiest empire of the ancient times. This is where the Romans shaped the politics, laws and administrative systems that shaped the world we live in today, and affect the way we think about ourselves and our society. As the first core of Rome grew larger on the close by Palatine hill, the Romans started to settle also in the lower areas. The area occupied by the Roman Forum was once only a marshy land, but already under the regal period was chosen as the social, political and religious center of the city. Here you can find some of the most important buildings of the ancient Rome: the house of the Senate, temples, basilicas and much more. Plunge yourself in the heart of the Roman Empire by visiting the Roman Forum!

Vatican Museums

The Vatican City: The smallest country in the world. Despite its tiny surface area, the Vatican hosts some of the most important monuments and artworks of all times. St. Peter’s basilica is the most famous church of all Christianity, as well as one of the earliest ever built in history. Its origins in fact can be traced back to the Emperor Constantine, who commissioned the first two Basilicas of Christianity in Rome, St. John and St. Peter’s as early as in the 4th century. Find out much more with your tour at the Vatican. Learn about its history, the artists who worked at it and why it lies on this specific area of the city.

Sistine Chapel

After Vatican Galleries will reach the Sistine Chapel, where you will be amazed by its breathtaking fresco ceiling and by Michelangelo’s Last Judgement. Originally called the “Cappella Magna”, the “big chapel”, it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it in the 15th century. Since then, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity and today it is the site of the Papal Conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. Once again, entering before the general opening will allow you to take in the beautiful frescoes and take home with you wonderful memories.

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Testimonials

Hear What Our Happy Explorers Have to Say!

Stephanie Powell
Stephanie Powell
"Well worth it"
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"The meet up point was easy to find. The tour guide was well informed. It was great to avoid the long lines to get into the colosseum and Roman Forum. Recommend highly."
Christopher White
Christopher White
"The funniest, best tour possible.”
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"The tour company was on time and very organized. Our tour guide, Radu, was amazing. Great knowledge; punctual and amazing sense of humor. Definitely worthwhile."
Mark L
Mark L
"Great tour and fantastic guide"
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"Fantastic guided tour around the Coliseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum. Our guide Davide was brilliant. Very dry sense of humour and made the tour so much more."
Marc V
Marc V
"Great Tour"
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"The guide was so excellent - good humoured, very knowledgeable and made a n impressive effort to learn everyone’s names. Very personable"
Coleen C
Coleen C
"Well worth the walk!"
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"The trip was well worth it. Our city guide, Brian, was a wealth of knowledge, which was awesome 👌 we navigated the city with ease, despite the fact that the city was crowded. I highly recommend this tour."
Randall H.
Randall H.
"Excellent tour, very informative."
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"Tour guide did a great job, very informative, with a sense of humor. Be prepared for lots of walking. Overall enjoyed very much."
Julia J
Julia J
"Best colosseum guided tour"
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"Great experience! Our guide Radu was the most amazing and dedicated Guide! Gave a great experience ! Amazing knowledge and fabulous storytelling!"
Camper720188
Camper720188
"Surprisingly wonderful tour guide"
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"The tour guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and worth every penny plus more for her time. We loved the tour, skipping the lines and how she kept things moving- never a dull moment. Thank you!"
Claudia L
Claudia L
"The best tour in Rome"
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"What an amazing experience! We had a wonderful time in Rome with our awesome guide. He provided interesting and fun information about everything we saw! Thank you for making this tour an unforgettable one :)"
Zahrammm 97
Zahrammm 97
"Very enjoyable experience!"
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"An absolutely amazing experience! Great way to see all the spots worth visiting in a convinent way, specially for those who do not want to walk that much but would still like to enjoy the city.Highly recommend it to everyone!"
George O
George O
"Well organized and knowledgeable tour guide."
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"Paulo was EXCELLENT!! A wealth of knowledge that toured at our leisure and supplied fabulous info with every step. Totally recommend!"