History tours · ANCIENT HISTORY TOURS IN ITALY

15 Ancient History Tours in Italy Worth the Morning

34 tours  ·  from $23 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 ancient history tours in Italy earn it, priced and timed so the decision takes a minute.

Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour - Beginning at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
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Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

1.Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 12,691 reviews · 3 hours · from $160Our pick

Meet The Ultimate Italy team at Via dei Fori Imperiali, then tour the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Colosseum with access to its underground chambers, arena floor, ground floor, and second tier. Guides such as Carmelo, Teddy, Maya, and Enza bring the ancient site to life in English, French, or Spanish.

“our guide Chris was so so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I really enjoyed the tour, it is long though, not too long but you know, a lot of walking and information. I really enjoyed it.”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People - Roman Forum: Walking Through Rome’s Public Center
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People

2.Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,306 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $180Top rated

Spend about three hours with a guide and no more than five other people at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose the Arena Floor option to enter through the Gladiator’s Gate, then follow your guide through ancient temples, imperial homes, and views over Circus Maximus. Guides such as Dennis, Caterina, and Fabio tailor the pace and detail.

“My wife and I went with the personal guide and Colosseum floor options. While expensive, was well worth the cost from our perspective. Fabio — our guide — was incredibly knowledgeable and personable and took the time to tailor the tour for us based on our conversation. Highly recommend visiting the Colosseum during the low season. If you visit during the busy season, I think a more personalized experience with a private or semi-private tour is even more helpful.”

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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour - Meeting near Piazza di San Clemente
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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

3.Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,879 reviews · 2h 30m · from $54

Choose an English guided visit or explore with a multilingual smartphone audio guide covering 44 points of interest. Your ticket includes the Colosseum’s first and second tiers, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for 24 hours. Expect stairs, security checks, and a meeting point near Piazza di San Clemente.

“Collosseum is excellent but after Forum Romanum and Palatine are too big for walking especcialy with kids. Maybe is better idea to take some rest after collosseum.”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - Entering the Colosseum with timed admission
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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

4.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,590 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $74

Spend about three hours exploring the Colosseum arena and underground dungeons, then walk through the Roman Forum and visit Palatine Hill. Choose underground access or arena-only entry. English-speaking guides such as Carmelo, Soloman, and Katia bring the ancient games, engineering, and politics to life. Headsets help you follow along in a group of up to 24.

“Carmelo excellent tour today colleseum and underground very knowledgeable and experienced the very best!!!!”

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Taormina: Ancient Theater Skip-the-Line Ticket & Audio Guide - From Greek theater to Roman arena
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Taormina: Ancient Theater Skip-the-Line Ticket & Audio Guide

5.Taormina: Ancient Theater Skip-the-Line Ticket & Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,412 reviews · 1 day · from $28Best value

Explore Taormina’s ancient Greek and Roman theater at your own pace with a one-day ticket, priority ticket-line access, and an audio guide in English, French, Spanish, or German. Exchange your digital voucher at the theater box office, pass security, and enjoy views toward Mount Etna, Giardini Naxos, and the sea.

“The skip the line feature is absolutely indispensable. Audio information was slightly out of sequence with the current arrangement of the exhibit but overall very informative.”

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Discover the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome - The 7:15 meeting and the ride south
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Discover the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome

6.Discover the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,247 reviews · 13 hours (approx.)

Travel from Rome to Pompeii by air-conditioned coach, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and tour the UNESCO-listed ruins with a local guide. The day may include multilingual commentary and shared routing through Naples. Expect a long day, limited Pompeii time, and a guided look at the Teatro Grande, Villa dei Misteri, Temple of Apollo, and House of the Fauno.

“Very hard to differentiate between the best parts. Fantastic experience all round. Walking up Vesuvius was incredible and gave a different perspective of what happened. The only suggestion for improvement is to provide clearer advice on the lunch menu options, especially important for people with allergies to seafood.”

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Discover Matera, the ancient city - English tour - Why Matera makes more sense on foot
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Discover Matera, the ancient city – English tour

7.Discover Matera, the ancient city – English tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,771 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $36

Walk Matera’s Sasso Caveoso and part of Sasso Barisano with Renato, Gaetano, Sara, or Domenico. This two to three hour English tour focuses on how people lived in cave homes, why Matera was once called the Shame of Italy, and how the city became a UNESCO site. Expect alleys, valley views, personal stories, and a few lesser-seen corners.

“Gaitano, our guide, was excellent. He made the tour interesting, fun and thought provoking. We really felt immersed in the history of Matera and its people. We benefited of becoming aware of so many details we would have missed without his input. He was genuinely passionate about the town and both its original and current inhabitants. Not to mention, his personal demeanour was lovely and the 3 hours went quickly.”

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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour - Rome's Iconic Ancient Temple - Inside the Pantheon: one room, many centuries
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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

8.Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,447 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $41

Spend about an hour exploring the Pantheon with a licensed English-speaking guide. You’ll examine the ancient temple’s dome, open oculus, columns, Christian artwork, royal tombs, and Raphael’s burial place. Guides such as Elena, Amanda, Nina, Silvia, and Samantha have led highly praised visits, with groups capped at 20.

“Elena was absolutely wonderful. A wealth of information and brought all of Roma together for us. It was only an hour but her passion brought it all alive. Highly recommend this tour.”

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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour - Meeting near the Colosseo metro station
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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

9.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,059 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $66

Meet near the Colosseo metro station for a roughly two-hour visit to the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor. A guide explains the gladiators, animals, lifts, and ancient spectators, while your ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for self-guided exploring. The group can reach up to 24 people.

“The Colosseum is an unbelievable place and the night tour of the underground is a great way to see it. Our guide was great, but every encounter with a Colosseum staff member was extremely unpleasant. Once completed we stopped to take a photo and then took the wrong pathway to the exit despite following exit signs and got screamed at and given filthy looks by Colosseum staff.”

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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included - The first hour inside the Colosseum
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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

10.Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,008 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

This 2 to 3 hour English tour takes you through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a group of up to 24 people. Guides such as Katerina, Andrea, and Sam have been praised for clear history, humor, and good crowd management. Your ticket covers all three sites, but not the underground level.

“Great guide . Great venue. Can't remember guides name but she spoke good English, a bit fast at times, with her accent was a bit hard to understand but she did really well”

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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour - Meeting near the Colosseum
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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

11.Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 996 reviews · from $104

Meet your English-speaking guide near the Colosseum for skip-the-line entry, an arena-floor visit, and access to underground chambers where animals and gladiators once waited. After the guided Colosseum visit, explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace. Small-group and private options are available.

“Our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable! Also took great photos :)”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade - Entering the Colosseum and meeting the gladiator arena
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

12.Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 900 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $34

Follow a live guide through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in 2.5 to 3 hours. You can add Arena Floor access or choose a small group for more questions and closer attention. Guides such as Max, Annalisa, Giuseppe, and Daniele have been praised for clear storytelling, good pacing, and care in Rome’s summer heat.

“Our guide was so knowledgeable he made the whole experience great.”

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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome - The Arena Floor, Where the Spectacle Began
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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

13.Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 850 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $49

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring the Colosseum’s underground chambers, arena floor, upper levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. English-speaking guides such as Francesca, Giovanni, Andrea, and Georgia bring the ruins to life. Choose carefully: the arena-only option does not include underground access.

“The tour was perfect. Plenty of time at all of the locations and was bolstered by Francesca’s combination of knowledge and entertainment. This was our second time to these locations, opting to spend the extra money for the underground experience. Definitely recommend it.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour - What to expect at the Roman Vacations meeting point
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

14.Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 774 reviews · 3 - 3.5 hours · from $94

Spend 3 to 3.5 hours with an English-speaking guide exploring the Colosseum arena floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You will enter through the gladiator gates, hear about famous battles, and see imperial palaces, Caesar’s Temple, the Senate House, and sweeping Forum views. Small-group and private options are available.

“Angela was great!! In heavy rain she still made the tour as safe, informative and fun as possible. Would definitely recommend!”

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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs - The Roman Forum in 45 minutes
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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

15.Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 747 reviews · from $95

Enter the Colosseum through the Gladiators’ Gate, then choose the underground dungeons or arena floor. Your English-speaking guide leads you through the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Caesar’s Palace, temples, tombs, and new exhibits in a small group when available. Expect 2.5 to 3 hours of walking, steps, hills, and outdoor sightseeing.

“This was a wonderful tour. Eugene was a fantastic guide. He’s personable and easy to converse with, and he has a fantastic knowledge of these sites. The length of the trip was just right and everything was very well organized. We loved it!”

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