History tours · ANCIENT HISTORY TOURS

15 Ancient World Tours Worth the Airfare

123 tours  ·  from $3 a head

Rome, Athens, Ayutthaya, the excavated cities under Vesuvius. These 15 take you into sites where a guide is the difference between a field of stone and a working city, each priced and clear about how much walking it involves.

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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Athens: Ancient Greek Theater Performance - The Koilon Theater terrace and its Acropolis view
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Athens: Ancient Greek Theater Performance

5.Ancient Greek Theater Performance

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,481 reviews · 1h 15m · from $35

At Koilon Theater beneath the Acropolis, you watch a 75-minute English performance that mixes Medea, Oedipus, Odysseus, Prometheus, comedy, and tragedy. The terrace setting near Plaka gives you a clear Acropolis backdrop, while the cast turns familiar myths into lively, accessible theater. Wine, water, and blankets may be provided.

“Great experience ! The play was short, funny and engaging. We were seated right away and the audience was small. There were free drinks like wine and water. Nice memory of our visit to Athens.”

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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

6.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

7.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

8.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

9.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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Dubrovnik: Ancient City Walls & Wars Walking Tour - Walking the 2-kilometer City Walls
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Dubrovnik: Ancient City Walls & Wars Walking Tour

10.Ancient City Walls & Wars Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,270 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Meet near Pile Gate for a two-hour English walking tour through Dubrovnik’s Old Town and along its 2-km walls. Guides such as Davor, Goran, Mara, and Andrea explain the city’s fortifications, diplomacy, sieges, and recent war. The tour ends near the old port. City Walls admission is extra.

“The views of Dubrovnik from the city walls are truly spectacular! Only second to the amazing stories of the city’s history. Our guide Andrea did a magnificent job relaying stories and information in a clear and engaging way- navigating the crowds and sun with skill - I highly recommend this excursion”

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Historical Delphi One Day Tour with Arachova Stop & Expert Guide - Entering the sanctuary of Apollo
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Historical Delphi One Day Tour with Arachova Stop & Expert Guide

11.Historical Delphi One Day Tour with Arachova Stop & Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,247 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $34

Travel from Athens to Delphi by air-conditioned coach, hearing Greek history and mythology from an English-speaking guide such as Marianna, Dimitrios, or Michael. Explore Apollo’s sanctuary, the Delphi Museum, and Athena Pronaia, then stop in mountain-town Arachova. Expect a long day, uphill walking, and optional lunch and entrance fees.

“We had a great time on this tour! Our guide, Michael, was phenomenal; not only was he very knowledgeable but also very passionate about the information he was conveying! We are both vegan and there was a vegan lunch option on this tour.”

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Antalya: Ancient Perge, Aspendos Theater & City of Side Tour - Perge: the day’s best lesson in ancient city life
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Antalya: Ancient Perge, Aspendos Theater & City of Side Tour

12.Ancient Perge, Aspendos Theater & City of Side Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,237 reviews · 9 hours · from $41

Travel from Antalya to Perge, Aspendos, and Side with an English, German, Spanish, or French-speaking guide. Walk Perge’s colonnaded avenue, visit Aspendos Theater, enjoy a local lunch by the river, and finish at Side’s Temple of Apollo. Guides such as Ozzy, Recep, Ibrahim, and Fatima are praised for clear explanations and good humor.

“We are so glad we did this trip, it was amazing. Recep our guide was lovely and helpful. Perge Antik is a beautiful historic site, then we went on the Aspendos which is so well preserved. Side completely blew us away with beautiful location of the Temple of Apollo, just wow! We stopped for a lovely organic lunch with a view. An amazing day. Thank you Recep!”

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From Athens: Ancient Corinth Day Trip with Canal & VR Guide - The minibus ride from central Athens
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From Athens: Ancient Corinth Day Trip with Canal & VR Guide

13.Ancient Corinth Day Trip with Canal & VR Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,073 reviews · 6 hours · from $41

Travel from central Athens to the Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, and the old port of Kechries in six hours. You get an air-conditioned minibus, English-speaking host, earphones, and a VR audio app, while the €15 Ancient Corinth entry fee is extra. Guides such as Angela, Stefanos, Christopher, and Dido have earned strong praise for clear, friendly help.

“Corinth was a beautiful ancient city and well worth a day trip from Athens! Guide was friendly and knowledgeable and there was plenty of time to explore the archeological site and museum! I would highly recommend!”

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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

14.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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Dubrovnik Combo: Old Town & Ancient City Walls - Meeting near Pile Gate and Brsalje
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Dubrovnik Combo: Old Town & Ancient City Walls

15.Dubrovnik Combo: Old Town & Ancient City Walls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,019 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Spend about 3.5 hours with Dubrovnik Walks exploring the Old Town and 2-kilometer city walls. Guides such as Goran, Mara, Lana, and Antun bring Croatia’s past to life through stories of war, diplomacy, architecture, and daily life. Expect stone streets, many steps, excellent views, headsets, and a separate €40 walls fee unless you use the Dubrovnik Pass.

“Fabulous tour with lots of history and background. Rarely have met a guide as knowledgeable as this one.”

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