History tours · ITALY HISTORY TOURS

Top 15 History Tours in Italy

86 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Rome has a second Rome underneath it, Pompeii is a full day from either coast, and every hill town has a guide worth an hour. The 15 below are priced and timed, with entry noted.

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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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour - Palatine Hill provides the wide views
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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour

2.Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5,598 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Spend about 2.5 hours exploring the Colosseum arena floor, first and second levels, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. A professional guide such as Paola, Francesca, Hillary, or Laura Antonucci explains the ruins with visual aids and clear headsets. The underground and third level are not included.

“Our tour guide Paola was fantastic. She was so knowledgeable... we learned so much! In addition, she has a lovely personality. Definitely, request her!!”

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Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour & VR History Intro - Starting at the History Gallery
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Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour & VR History Intro

3.St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour & VR History Intro

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 4,880 reviews · 45 minutes - 2 hours · from $26

Start with a VR journey through the changing face of St. Mark’s Square, then enter St. Mark’s Basilica with a guide such as Francesco, Elena, or Valentina. Expect golden mosaics, marble floors, five domes, and practical skip-the-line help. Your pass also includes Santa Maria della Salute and Torcello Cathedral, while some booking options replace the basilica visit with Doge’s Palace.

“A must, if you are in Venice. It is really beautiful.”

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Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour - The Roman Forum was ancient Rome’s downtown
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Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

4.Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,526 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Walk onto the Colosseum’s Arena floor, see the upper levels, and hear Roman stories from guides such as Paola, Massimo, Tanya, or Andrei. The 2.5-hour visit continues through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Guided and audio options are available, but check your exact entry time carefully.

“Incredible tour. Maximo? knows everything and is a delight! Funny, patient and full of knowledge. He also has a great binder of pictures to help bring ideas to life. The tour company though ... we booked 200p and planned the day around it. Shortly after booking, I received an "update" - we are now scheduled for 245p. Then we're at the meeting point, and we don't get started until 300p. Just be careful with your timing and don't cut anything too close.”

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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

5.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

6.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

7.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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Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery - Doge’s Palace, the halls of power, and the Bridge of Sighs
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Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

8.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

This 3.5-hour Venice tour pairs guided visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with a shared gondola ride and a Venice history VR experience. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have led highly praised visits. Expect a group of up to 15, assigned gondola seating, security checks, and some walking.

“The use of the ear phones was not positive. Our guide did not always speak into her Microphone and it made it difficult to hear/ understand what she was telling us.”

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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

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

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

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

10.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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Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line Last Supper Ticket - Meeting at Santa Maria delle Grazie
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Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line Last Supper Ticket

11.Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line Last Supper Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,976 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $111

Meet an art historian at Santa Maria delle Grazie for a timed 15-minute visit to Leonardo’s Last Supper, then walk through Milan to Sforza Castle, Via Dante, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, and the Duomo. Expect a maximum group of 34, headsets when needed, and an English-speaking guide such as Silvia, Valentina, or Jade.

“Our tour guide was wonderful, knowledgeable and you could tell she genuinely loves Milan. We bought this tour to get in to The Last Super, but did continue on for the remainder of the tour and so glad we did! You do not go into the Duomo at the end (we knew this when purchasing), so do get a separate tour for the Duomo, it is a must see and the 2.5 hrs flew by.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour - The Roman Forum explains how Rome functioned
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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

12.Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,874 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Enter the Colosseum through the Gladiator’s Gate and walk onto the Arena Floor before touring the first and second tiers. Your guide then leads you through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, including the Temple of Caesar, Curia, and Temple of Saturn. Choose a live English guide or audio guide option.

“5 star rating applies to the historical sites which I had read about all my life. It was very hard to understand the guide in many instances which was probably not his fault as the audio on the receiver was terrible. The Coliseum portion was very good, walking past the Arch of Constantine and Titus was top notch as well. However standing at the top of the stairs leading to both the Forum and Palatine Hill listening to the guide drone on and on without actually getting into both sites was not good. I understand that our ticket allowed us to skip the line for both but then expecting us…”

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Venice: City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour - St. Mark’s Square, Venice at full volume
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Venice: City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

13.City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,873 reviews · 1 - 2.5 hours · from $14Best value

Explore Venice with a live guide through St. Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge, narrow calli, hidden squares, and Teatro La Fenice. The tour adds a short VR trip through old Venice, with an optional gondola ride afterward. Guides speak English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish, and private or small-group options are available.

“Very good. Lots of information. Covered a larger area than I expected to, but saw many alleys, squares etc which were not full of tourists (like us!). We also stopped for a drink at a small bar and I tried a few cichetta - that was unexpected. A word to prospective customers - if you have any mobility problems, or can only walk slowly, this is not for you. Although the pace wasn't fast, one couple could not keep up and dropped out. The guide explained that she was on a tight schedule, and there would be others waiting at the office for the next tour, so she could not…”

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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

14.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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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Meeting at the Arch of Constantine
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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

15.Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,568 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend about three hours exploring the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum with a licensed guide and headphones. Guides such as Francesca, Ivana, Mariana, Andrea, and Kopal have earned praise for clear storytelling. Choose an arena-floor option if available, arrive early, and bring ID matching your booking.

“Absolutely fantastic tour. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful! Wonderfully done by Carpe Diem tours.”

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New in Italy History Tours

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