• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Can you imagine walking the same paths as the rulers of ancient Rome, amidst the grandeur of the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum? Discover the cradle of civilization as we peel back the layers of history, revealing the epicenter of power, politics, and culture in the ancient world.

Destination

Rome, Italy

Category

Skip The Line Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano, Español, Deutsch

Included

• Private Licensed Guide
• All Withlocals tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Tickets

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 9 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at On the left side of the ticket office, close to the lamp post - Rome to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Journey's Start

   Our exploration begins at the entrance to the Palatine Hill, ready to uncover the stories of Rome's legendary origins and its rulers' lives.

4. Imperial Residences

   Discover the personal and public spaces of Rome's emperors, marveling at the art and architecture that defined an era.

5. Heart of the Empire

   Enter the Forum, walking through the center of Roman public life, where politics, religion, and society intersected.

6. Curia Julia and the Temple of Saturn

   Centers of Power and Faith: Visit the core institutions of Roman governance and religion, understanding their role in shaping the empire's destiny.

7. Via Sacra and the Arch of Titus

   Concluding with Triumph: Conclude our tour along the Via Sacra, beneath the Arch of Titus, reflecting on the legacy of Rome and its lasting impact on the world.

8. Discover the House of Augustus

   Emperor's Private World: Explore the intimate quarters of Augustus, adorned with remarkable frescoes, offering insights into the personal life of Rome's first emperor.

9. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Bernadette🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Pietro Paolo)

27 May 2025

Pietro Paolo hat für uns das Leben auf dem Forum und dem Palatin wieder auferstehen lassen. Er ist begeistert von der Geschichte und kann begeistern. Die Bilder auf seinem Tablet haben unserer Phantasie prima nachgeholfen. War toll!Großartige und spannende Zeitreise

Kristofer🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Max)

13 May 2025

We had a very good tour of the Forum Romanaum with Max who was the perfect guide - knowledgeable, courteous and patient. My father - 85 years old - took his time and Max adapted his spiel with plenty of rest (in shadowy spots) and with guidance at the right level. When we were done my father said ”Max, you are the best guide I ever met and I’m an old man who have travelled quite a bit” (all true).”Best guide I ever had”

charley🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

7 May 2025

A talented and knowledgeable guide that enjoys what he does and it really shows Federico is excellent!

Anshuman🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

29 March 2025

My family (wife, 5 year old daughter, cousin, mom, and dad) all thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour with Pietro. Pietro made the site come to life and helped us understand the amazing history on display. He was highly accommodating of my family's needs, in terms of timing, location, and content. I would strongly recommend him to anyone looking to make the most of their time in Rome.Great tour of Roman Forum & Palatine Hill!

Karen

(About local Pietro Paolo)

22 February 2025

Pietro was very knowledgeable about the Forum and Roman history and was full of fascinating stories that made the Forum visit both entertaining and interesting. Informative and fun

Bob

(About local Cecilia)

12 February 2025

Cecilia was very knowledgeable and very pleasant. She really tried to help us conceptualize what we were looking at.VERY THOROUGH TOUR

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sara)

26 January 2025

Sara was a wonderful tour guide who brought all the history to life in a very engaging way. She is an expert historian who is super friendly and an amazing source of knowledge and stories. We came away so much more informed about the history and life of ancient Rome and cannot recommend this tour more highly. Top Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Forum Tour!

Lucija

(About local Eleonora)

13 December 2024

We loved it!

Jakob

(About local Pietro Paolo)

8 December 2024

Super knowledgeable and fun guy. Definitely worth it.Great tour

Tina🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Pietro Paolo)

17 October 2024

Pietro's in-depth and informed narrative, great humour and passion for Rome brought the Forum and Palatine Hill to life! Not only hugely knowledgeable but with a great sense of humour and tremendous wit, he kept us spellbound for 2 1/2 hours while he took us on a journey through the history of this famous and much loved Roman Antiquity. He is to be thoroughly recommended. Thanks Pietro!Pietro - Rome Guide par excellence!

Gregory🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Pietro Paolo)

13 September 2024

Paolo was an amazing tour guide. The way he wove in historical and mythological stories along with information about construction and architecture was so well done. We could have stayed at the forum all day with him to learn more! We can’t recommend him enough. Best Possible Forum Tour

Mike and David🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

26 July 2025

Eleonora was the perfect option for me and my 17 year old son. She was knowledgeable and moved at a pace that suited us (fast, but she seems adaptable to other preferences). She also agreed to do the tour on a day that was supposed to be off for her. Very accommodating and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.Quick Tour of the Colosseum

Larissa

(About local Pietro Paolo)

25 July 2025

Paolo is an amazing guide! He knows to adapt the content to the levels of teenagers and adults. he is kind and very competent. We feel how deep he knows topics and historic events. We highly recommend Paolo if you want a memorable experience of Rome.Highly recommended

Peter🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

25 July 2025

My family booked a private tour for 4 (2 adults and 2 preteens) of the Colloseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Paolo was an excellent tour guide. He is a great combination of extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling. Both of my kids raved about how much they learned during the tour, especially about the Roman Chicken. His planning and communication prior to the tour was seamless. We would recommend Paolo to anyone, especially to those who have kiddos in tow. Private family tour with kids

Aurianne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Max)

25 July 2025

Max knows his stuff. We threw varied and difficult questions his way. Max handled them all gracefully, generously, and confidently. Max connects well. He was in step with us and our needs. He’s personable, got a great sense of humor, and he’s a really cool human being. Simply put, Max is the perfect tour guide. We loved our time with him and could have spent 5 more hours with him! Top recommendation! You’ll be super happy with him!Superior Tour Guide

Ghazaal🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

24 July 2025

We enjoyed our time with Eleonora She was knowledgeable and friendly She arrived on time and was easily reached We are so happy we picked her Excellent

Bernadette🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Pietro Paolo)

22 July 2025

We spent a wonderful morning with Paolo learning about the Roman Empire! He entertained all - young (our four children aged 8 years to 13 years) and old. He is a natural storyteller and a font of knowledge. He kept us all engaged and our children particularly loved the images he shared of the sites as they once were to compare with now, to support his storytelling. Would highly recommend!! Grazie Paolo!Great story teller!!

Sara

(About local Yanira)

21 July 2025

Yanira was an absolutely fantastic guide! She brought the Vatican and Sistine Chapel to life with her knowledge, energy, and warmth. What really stood out was how engaged she was with the kids—she even created a fun scavenger hunt to keep them interested throughout the tour. We all learned so much and had a great time. Highly recommend her for families!Shes amazing with kids!

Patty🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

20 July 2025

Eleonora was an amazing tour guide for our family of five, which included our three children, now young adults. Not having been to the Vatican before, we were so grateful for her knowledge. She had the perfect personality to keep all of us engaged and interested. She covered a lot of information and territory within our 2+ hour tour. Given the volume of crowds, a private tour is definitely the best way to see the Vatican. We highly recommend Eleonora as your private guide!Excellent Private Tour of the Vatican

John🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Pietro Paolo)

19 July 2025

Great guided tour. Pietro brought the Colosseum and ancient Roman times to life. Nice pace, very considerate of the needs of the kids and grandparents, and answered all our questions with in-depth detail with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended. Just Fabulous

Alana

(About local Alessandra)

17 July 2025

Alessandra was absolutely amazing. We got to the meeting place early and she was there ready to start. I have 4 kids ranging from 7-16 and they were all so engaged in everything she said. She always made sure my youngest came to the front so he could see and hear. Alessandra was so informative, we learnt so much from our hour with her and she happily answered any questions that we had. We were all so glad we had an expert showing us around, it made the experience so much more worth it. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Alessandra with anyone looking to learn about the history of the Colosseum.

Kari🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

16 July 2025

We had the best time in Pietro in Rome. It was hot, and he took the time to find shade and water as we walked round the Colosseum and Roman Forum. He answered our questions and was very engaging. A highlight of our trip! We would highly recommend!Absolutely Amazing

Mike🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

16 July 2025

Paolo does an excellent job bringing ancient Rome to life through the use of images and detailed descriptions that help paint a vivid mental image of the forum and Coliseum. Even in the scorching heat we wanted the tour to keep going. Thank you Paolo - highly recommend for anyone wanting a great tour guide.Paolo brought ancient Rome to life

Amy

(About local Pietro Paolo)

13 July 2025

We had such a wonderful tour with Paolo around the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. It was a hot day and prior to the tour I could tell our girls, 11 and 7 were worried they’d get hot and bored but Paolo did a wonderful job telling them stories to keep them engaged. He had photos and videos to bring it all to life and found lots of places for shade to keep us cool. My husband and I had done this tour 10 years ago but I learned so many new things from Paolo. Could not have been more grateful for his time, patience and knowledge. Thank you for a wonderful day!!!Engaging, knowledgeable and fun!!

Maria🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Pietro Paolo)

10 July 2025

A very nice guided tour that was appreciated by the whole family. I recommend it! Communication beforehand was also very good. Good tour

Peter🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

8 July 2025

We opted for the shorter 1.5 hour tour thinking our kids would lose interest and Frederico made the most of it, filling us in on the history and giving us an appreciation of what it was like in Ancient Rome. It was a nice and relaxing pace with plenty of good photo ops along the way. Two Thumbs Up!Great tour of the Colliseum

louise🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Pietro Paolo)

8 July 2025

We booked a 90 minute tour of the Colosseum with Pietro Paolo. The administration of booking and connecting was highly efficient and user friendly. Pietro Paolo was extremely welcoming and helpful ahead of our trip and made the logistics and planning very easy. The actual tour was phenomenal, Pietro Paolo's background knowledge, level of detail and understanding, coupled with his ability to communicate not just fluently in English, but with nuance and metaphor was fantastic. He brought the Colosseum alive for us and skillfully described not just the brilliance of the engineering for its time, but the historical purpose and many more broader learnings that can be taken away from the Romans and how they existed.Best tour guide you will find

Becky🇨🇷 Costa Rica

(About local Lia)

7 July 2025

We had the pleasure of touring the Colosseum and Roman Forum with Lia, and she was absolutely fantastic. It was an extremely hot and crowded day, and I was traveling with my two-year-old—but Lia handled everything with incredible poise, warmth, and professionalism. She made a real effort to keep us in the shade whenever possible and thoughtfully guided us along stroller-friendly routes, which made a huge difference in our experience. Her deep knowledge of the sites, combined with her clear storytelling and great pacing, brought the history to life without ever feeling overwhelming. We left with a deeper appreciation for Roman history and felt truly taken care of throughout the experience. Highly recommend booking a tour with Lia—especially for families or anyone looking for a personalized and seamless visit.Outstanding Tour with a Thoughtful Guide

Jennie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Max)

6 July 2025

A really interesting and very informative morning with Max. So many places we went which we wouldn’t have found ourselves. A very charming and knowledgeable guide who bought Ancient Rome alive. We loved every minute! Thankyou! A Great morning with Max!

Nicole🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sara)

6 July 2025

I booked an all day private tour with Sara and she was amazing. She was able to speed the tour up and skip a few things to appease our crowd. It was about 100 degrees and everyone was done after a few hours. We still got to see all the highlights we wanted to and had an expert in our pocket throughout the day. Great day with Sara. I cannot recommend her more. Great day in Rome

Venetia🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Pietro Paolo)

6 July 2025

We ( Parents) were looking forward to this tour. Having been to the Coliseum years ago BK (before kids), we thought it would be more meaningful and engaging for the kids (10 and 14) to have our own guide. TBH they were already moaning about the 3hr length even before the start of the tour! Thankfully our guide Paolo was brilliant. His knowledge and story telling was engaging and captivating that the kids quickly forgot about the time and the heat! It was a truly enjoyable and very informative tour! The kids and us rated this 10/10! Entertaining and very informative tour.

Jenna🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Max)

5 July 2025

Max was a great guide. Super informative and fun. Managed the tour at a good pace especially in the heat!Great experience all around

Nisha🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Max)

5 July 2025

SARAH 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

4 July 2025

Had a fantastic tour with Federico of the colosseum and surrounding area. We were in a group of 3 adults and 2 children and everyone enjoyed it and found Federico to be personable, incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. He even helped us with restaurant and other recommendations. Wish we’d met him earlier into our trip as we would have booked him for other tours too! I’d definitely recommend to anyone staying in the area. Highly recommend Federico

Lea🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Pietro Paolo)

3 July 2025

Pietro took us on a truely immersive tour of the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum. His knowledeg, his entertaining stories and the help of the ipad really brought the past alive. The tour was also really well planned and ended on an absolute highlight, looking down in the arena of the colosseum. Best tour we have done, by far! Pietro was kind and entertaining and he kept the kids engaged while being super patient with their questions. Five stars from kids and parents alike, we all highly recommend a tour with Pietro for your next visit to Rome! Fantastic family tour

Sheree🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Yanira)

3 July 2025

What a fun morning. Yanira kept our whole family entertained and informed. We had a large tour party of 11, including grandparents to grandchilren. Children enjoyed the treasure hunt very much. Don’t hesitate to book with Yanira- you won’t be disappointedFun filled tour with Yanira

Jesse🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Alessandra)

1 July 2025

Alessandra was a wonderful guide through the colosseum and forum. Great for families and kept it moving. Very kind and answered all our questions. Patient and passionate!!Amazing friendly knowledgeable easy going!

Sheree🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Max)

1 July 2025

What an edible morning with Max! Our tour was customised to our interests and energy levels. Our daughters (ages 7,10,12) were kept entertained and engaged throughout. Definitely fun and fact-filled. Don’t hesitate to book with Max, you won’t be disappointed!Treat of a tour with Max

Gonçalo🇵🇹 Portugal

(About local Pietro Paolo)

30 June 2025

Pitetro

Julie🇳🇴 Norway

(About local Max)

29 June 2025

First time in Rome and first time using With Locals. This is a private tour in every sense and we couldn’t be happier with our experience with Max! He tailored everything to our preferences (including breakfast place recommendations and switching meeting place to our Trastevere neighbourhood). With our two boys (15 & 11) and in an actual heatwave, Max made sure we saw all the key sights, found us shade and water (and gelato) along the way and held their attention the whole time. His knowledge of history, culture, religion, art and literature was so impressive and he peppered it all with hidden gems and local history stories off the beaten track. This was the best start to our Rome visit and Max’s recommendations helped us fill the next day too. No hesitation in highly recommending Max! Best possible introduction to Rome

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Max)

29 June 2025

He had a wonderful time walking with and learning from Max. He is incredibly engaging, crazy smart, but has the agility to communicate with individuals of all ages and interests. Max knows art, architecture, philosophy, history….but you could have a whole normal conversation with him, and never know he is such an adapt intellectual. He is very easy to talk to, and we absolutely loved spending time with him! I would suggest him to guide any tour, he will really make you think or he can just make you laugh! Players choice…thank you, Max!!Max is Fantastic!

Steve and Jo🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Cecilia)

29 June 2025

We met with Cecilia for a private tour of the Colosseum and greatly appreciated the opportunity to spend time with an extremely well-informed, interesting and pleasant young lady. Cecilia shared information about the arena and helped bring to life the history of the people who lived and died there. Cecilia was enthusiastic and willing to spend time answering our questions. We were delighted with the tour.An amazing tour of the Colosseum

Angelica🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Eleonora)

27 June 2025

A wonderful and informative experience, despite a very hot day this was a smooth journey through stories and incredible scenery. a very knowledgeable guide who could easily relate to the present and the past, find connections between human behavior and the collecting habits of men with great power and wealth, and could tell us about the buildings, the landscapes and the incredible art treasure that exists. we left the vatican extremely happy with the visit and the experience. thank youWonderful and informative experience

Alexandra

(About local Pietro Paolo)

27 June 2025

Super friendly and interesting guide, very talented in storytelling and able to answer all our questions and more. Simply a must for the visit of the Collosseum and Forum. He made the stones and dust come alive for us!!! Thank you Pietro, my husband and my sons appreciated your wealth of knowledge! Best guided experience with Pietro

sara🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Yanira)

26 June 2025

Fue una gran guía y muy simpática. Lo hizo en español y en inglés, sin problemas. Muy profesional tanto en cuanto al contenido como en cuanto a las formas. Muy empatía con todos. Excelente. Si volvemos la volveremos a pedir que nos acompañe. Fantastica guia y muy simpatica

Vicki🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

25 June 2025

We had a fabulous tour with Paolo, today. From booking to conclusion the process was seamless. His explanations and imagery brought the venue to life. His knowledge of the history was vast and his charming and engaging personality added to the overall perfect experience. Best Tour of the Colleseum!!

Ina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alessandra)

22 June 2025

I travel frequently and have booked many tours with many guides through different companies. I can say without any hesitation that Alessandra was the best and most enjoyable tour guide I’ve ever had. It started with the moment I booked the tour and she efficiently guided me through the process of purchasing tickets to the Colosseum. She then communicated frequently with me until the day of the tour. Despite having done another tour earlier in the day, she was still full of energy and enthusiasm. Her tour of the Colosseum and Forum was informative in the most entertaining way, she had the most fascinating stories to keep us constantly interested for the duration of the 2.5 hour tour. She was also so kind and accommodating to my mother who needed frequent breaks from the heat and the steps. I cannot recommend Alessandra highly enough if you want to have the most enjoyable guided tour through Rome. Grazie mille Alessandra, I really hope to see you again on my next visit. Best tour guide ever!

Alarik🇺🇸 United States

(About local Cecilia)

22 June 2025

Cecilia reached out ahead of time to suggest that the best time to see the Colosseum was in the morning before it got too hot, and boy am I glad she did -- the day ended up being a scorcher. We had my 80 year old mother-in-law with us, and Cecilia was able to tailor the tour of Palantine Hill to limit the amount of climbing -- we skipped walking through the Forum, and instead she talked to us about the Forum as we admired it from above. She is very knowledgeable and all in all it was a great tour.Great tour

Bob🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

22 June 2025

I would highly recommend Eleonora if you want to do a private tour of the Vatican/Sistine Chapel. This was the first time at the Vatican for our 18 and 20 year old granddaughters and Eleonora struck the perfect balance of providing interesting info about the most important features of the Vatican museum and Sistine chapel without getting bogged down on any one subject. Even though my wife and I have been to the Vatican several times, Eleonora made it interesting for us as well. She also did a great job of maneuvering our little group through the throngs of tourists. To top it off, Eleonora has a great personality.Best Tour of the Vatican and St Peters

Amanda🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Pietro Paolo)

22 June 2025

Pietro Paolo provided a fun, informative and engaging tour for our family, including our two small kids. Highly recommend!Great family tour