• 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, Deutsch, Español

Included

• Private Licensed Guide
• All Withlocals tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Tickets

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 10 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

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

Alexander

(About local Carlo)

23 April 2025

Carlos was amazing, a lot of extra information and anecdotes about what we saw inside the Vatican. He greeted us on time at the gate of the museum and while we waited in the long line, he started to inform us what we saw around us and what we needed to do to enter the Vatican City. We had “skip the line” tickets. The lines were long, but we cut through them quickly with Carlo who knew exactly what to do. In 3-5 minutes, we had past all the security and ticket controls. We learned a lot from a very informative tour. It was very crowded when we started at 10:00 on a Tuesday, but he handled it nicely with some extra information while we waited on some bigger groups to move. Carlo was interested in what our next destination in Italy was and we got some good recommendations from him for Florence and Bologna. Several days later we contacted him regarding tips for restaurants and they gave us excellent recommendations for local spots with little to no tourists and good-priced food and drinks. We would absolutely recommend Carlo and if we are ever back in Rome we are booking him again for other tours.A good experience

Mark🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

20 April 2025

Pietro is an exceptional tour guide who combines deep knowledge with a warm and engaging personality. He's friendly, humorous, and fantastic with kids, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and involved. Our tour of Ancient Rome was truly unforgettable, thanks to the fascinating insights and historical context Pietro provided. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone eager to dive into the rich history of Ancient Rome.Great Tour Experience

Clayton

(About local Eleonora)

16 April 2025

Our driver Stefano Piersigilli was absolutely fabulous, and because of his expertise, great personality and fluency in English we would use this service again, and always recommend it.A Great Experience

Joana🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Max)

16 April 2025

We spent four epic hours with Max, who was able to keep the whole family entertained and captivated with Roman stories. We hit most of the hotspots (which can be catered to each family/group) and all feel we learned ao much about what the city has to give. There is what we read in guide books, and then there are those stories which can only be told by someone who has lived and breathed a city with so much passion and curiosity. The tour was both entertaining and enriching, catered for both myself and my two boys (aged 9 and 11). We walked for miles, but all felt light and manageable - even in Rome’s organised chaos!! I couldn't recommend Max more! Thank you so much for making our Roman adventure ao special. Amazing guide with captivating stories

Cally🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Bado)

16 April 2025

We booked Bado for a city walk guided tour, with our 2 kids, aged 7 and 15, while we were visiting Rome for the first time. Firstly, Bado is really friendly and so easy to chat to. He balanced history, culture, architecture and story-telling perfectly. It wasn't too much info so as to overload the kids and he was so happy to answer their questions and pick up on what interested and engaged each of them. We covered a lot of ground, all the 'showstopper' moments (Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum) and stopping regularly along the way for views you might not get on a larger more generic tour, and of course breaks for gelato and snacks (crucial when touring a city with kids!) This kind of personalised pace is something you simply cannot get when joining a big group. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thank you Bado!Super Experience with Bado!

John and Jess🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

15 April 2025

Federico stepped in at the last minute after our booked guide fell sick. We spent 3 fantastic hours with him learning all about the Colosseum and the Forum. He was super well prepared, and tailored some aspects of the information to our cultural background and current residence. At the end of the tour, he gave us many tips for the remainder of our trip, and was even on hand to answer a couple of questions we had after the tour had finished. Would highly recommend him for future tours.Wonderful tour of the Colosseum and Forum

Michelle🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Ledio)

15 April 2025

r9z9rrygfn

(About local Eleonora)

15 April 2025

Super nette , kompetente und sympathische Führung. Wir haben die Zeit sehr genossen und konnten viele interessante neue Eindrücke gewinnen. Die Informationen waren nie trocken und wir haben uns stets gut unterhalten gefühlt. Wir können Eleonora zu 100% weiterempfehlen.Top Ereignis

Nick

(About local Bado)

14 April 2025

Bado was an excellent tour guide. He was very friendly and informative and took time to explain things to our two children - which is not easy as they are 7 & 15 years old. His knowledge of Rome and relaxed manner was perfect for us. We would recommend him very highly! Thanks Bado from all of us…Excellent Bado

heide🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Alessandra)

13 April 2025

Our afternoon with Alessandra at the Colosseum was our best for our stay in Rome! Alessandra's passion for Roman ancient history is clear and infectious. She showed us sights and perspectives that the guide books could never do, which made our experience all the more memorable and enjoyable. Her energy never dipped throughout the 3 hour tour, appealing to my 22 year old daughter, as much as me! Book Alessandra now! Side note, I hope the tour guides get to keep the large proportion of the fees!The Best Tour Guide!

Barbara

(About local Sara)

12 April 2025

Sara is an amazing guide because she is not just well informed but intellectually honest with that information! She is super knowledgeable about art, Roman and church history and is happy to tailor the tour to what most interests you. We had other guides, but they often presented the material as a laundry list of facts and dates whereas, Sara is conversational, relaxed and responsive to your perspective (and not without a clever sense of humor.) She knows the Vatican like the back of her hand, which is very helpful when you need to navigate around all the crowds and lines. On the practical side: she was very easy to reach and was able to offer suggestions about other places to visit and good neighborhood restaurants. We highly recommend Sara!!!Fantastic Vatican Tour!

Bryan

(About local Sara)

12 April 2025

We spent a long time with Sara, where she showed us all of the secret, non-tourist spots during our tasting tour. The best pizza, the best gelato, different styles of Italian cuisine... she not only knew where to go, but was quite often recognized by the owner of the establishment who was more than happy to give us special tastings of their dishes. The day we spent with her was unforgettable. We would recommend this experience, and ESPECIALLY Sara as your tour guide for anything in Rome. Thank you, Sara!!Sara knows all the best spots!

Bryan

(About local Sara)

12 April 2025

Sara was overly flowing with kindness and knowledge of Rome. Our first tour with Sara was at the Colosseum and surrounding areas. She was very accommodating of our questions, and had visuals to share with us at all of the ancient sites. We met someone who loves her city and went above and beyond to share it with us. Highly recommend Sara!!Sara is the best!

Kimberly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sara)

11 April 2025

We had the best time with Sara and ate so much delicious food! We tried things we never would have and went to places we never would have found on our own. She was so accommodating of my 7 year old. Definitely don’t pass up on this tour with Sara!! So much fun!

Kimberly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

11 April 2025

Eleonora was fantastic! She was so knowledgable and very accommodating to my 7 year old answering all his questions and making it fun for him. We never could have made it through everything with her. Highly recommend! Couldnt have made it through without her!

David and Loren

(About local Carlo)

11 April 2025

Carlo went beyond our expectations, and we learnt so much. Carlo is warm and friendly, highly skilled and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We would only choose or recommend Carlo to friends and family. Loren and David, Queensland, Australia Amazing Experience

Mary🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Cecilia)

11 April 2025

Cecilia was informative, considerate, and a pleasure to explore the vast area of the Vatican City with, we certainly benefited from her considerable knowledge.An eclectic experience!

Kimberly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

11 April 2025

We had a wonderful tour with Pietro! He was very knowledgeable of the old and the new. Very accommodating of my 7 year old answering all his questions and keeping the context interesting. Highly recommend Pietro! Wonderful tour guide!

Angelina

(About local Federico)

9 April 2025

Best guide who looks like Roman:) ! We had great experience at Coliseum and Roman Forum thanks to Federico. He show us main locations and bring us back to history of Rome. As well he was very helpful with other suggestion where to go and what to visit in Rome. Thank you!

Tara🇺🇸 United States

(About local Max)

7 April 2025

We had a really wonderful time with Max, from the moment we met up near Piazza Navona. Not only was he incredibly kind, personable, knowledgeable, and charismatic, he also deeply cares about the history of Rome and sharing it with us. He was very passionate in sharing the hidden gems of Rome and went out of the way when he knew we would really care to see something. His joy and expression when we engaged him with questions and excitement about what he was sharing, only made him want to tell us more. We really appreciated the care and time he took with us, and his great story-telling! He also had great restaurant recommendations for later in our trip, which was great! We have done tours with "with locals" in a few Italian cities and have high-expectations...Max exceeded them. If you see him available for a tour, book him quickly! Thank you so much Max, very much appreciated! Max was a fantastic tour guide!

Kevin🇺🇸 United States

(About local Carlo)

7 April 2025

This is the second time I have used Withlocals on a tour in Rome. Carlo was so knowledgeable about the tour it made it very easy to get involved and thoroughly engrossed in what we were viewing. His attention to detail brought the area to life and made our time with him very enjoyable. Thank you Carlo for a wonderful tour.Colesseum and surrounding area tour

Angela🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleonora)

2 April 2025

Eleonora was very knowledge about the area and answered all our questions. I would recommend Eleonora to anyone who wants a great guide.

Carrie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

27 March 2025

I highly recommend Pietro. He took myself, my husband and my teenage daughter on a fabulous tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. He was engaging, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with for the 2 1/2 hours. He adapted to our needs and really knew his stuff. It was a great morning! Great morning with Pietro!

Gregory🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

27 March 2025

Federico is the best tour guide in Rome! Not only did Federico give an amazing tour of the Colloseum and Vatican but went beyond by making great suggestions and helpful tips that made our trip incredibly easy and enjoyable! Federico offered to meet us at our hotel if needed and was flexible on times and arranging a VIP experience all around. Getting the tickets ahead of time and skipping all the fuss and lines! Thank you Federico!Federico is the best!

Maissan

(About local Cecilia)

24 March 2025

We had a fantastic experience with Cecilia as our tour guide at the Colosseum. She was incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, bringing the history of the site to life with engaging storytelling. She also went out of her way to make the tour fun and interactive for our kids, keeping them interested throughout. Her enthusiasm and expertise made the experience truly memorable. We highly recommend her! Cecilia is the best!

Hillel

(About local Max)

24 March 2025

Max is a fantastic guide. He told us a fascinating tale about Rome taking us into 16th century life, art, relationship, style and so much more. The tour had a great tempo, the venues were great and the group dynamics was excellent. Max made the group feel like we've been traveling together already.. Thanks Max, your love and passion to Rome and it's Arts is brilliant!!Max is a fantastic guide

Sean

(About local Max)

23 March 2025

This tour was my favorite one to date. Max was amazing and interesting. You can tell he is passionate about his work and it’s not just a job for him. I would take any tour he offers. This tour was my favorite one to date

Moran

(About local Max)

22 March 2025

Wonderful, interesting, entertaining! We loved Max, highly recommended!Ancient Rome Tour

Jessica

(About local Bado)

21 March 2025

Bado was so great with our group of 3. We wanted to set something up specifically for my son's interest in philosophy and the roots of democracy. Bado was such a pleasure as our host and tour guide. He catered the tour to our interests. His english was perfect and his personality and manner as a tour leader were a 10 out of 10. Loved every minute. Our 21 year old son said he thought it was the best tour he has been on. Thanks Bado!Perfect experience!

Andree🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Pietro Paolo)

21 March 2025

Rome is a beautiful and culturally rich city, and to discover it with a knowledgeable guide such as Pietro Paolo makes it a memorable experience. He is a passionate historian/storyteller and brought Rome to life for us! He was very patient with our questions and answered with great detail and also with wit and a great sense of humor. He was very generous with his time and knew where to guide us through the crowds, making it feel not as busy. We have learned so much about the history , the magnitude of the architecture, and the way of life of the ancient Romans. A tour with him is definitely a tour not to miss!Amazing tour!

Phillip🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Pietro Paolo)

20 March 2025

What an amazing place the colosseum and Roman Forum is! We had such a great day here and the tour was a highlight of our trip to Rome. Pietro Paulo was great, he brought the history and magic of Rome to life for the adults and the kids with great stories & facts. We would highly recommend a tour with Pietro Paulo Absolutely superb. History brought to life

Shafiqah

(About local Max)

18 March 2025

Witty, humorous and knowledgeable. Max did an incredible job showing us around and educating us on Roman history. Perfect way to get acquainted with the area and see the sights sans crowds.Witty, humorous and knowledgeable

Jane🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Eleonora)

18 March 2025

Eleanor was just fantastic. She brings such energy and enthusiasm to the day. I'd highly recommend using With Locals and getting Eleonora if you can.Colosseum tour

Noa

(About local Max)

17 March 2025

Max was such a wonderful guide ! The perfect balance of history, cool facts, relevance for today, love for Rome. He was kind and enthusiastic. We had a blast. Highly recommend it 🩷We had a blast

Gerard

(About local Bado)

16 March 2025

We had a nice walk passing all the main destinations of Rome, and the guidance was professional. We received insights about buildings, streets, and the city of Rome overall, so totally recommended.It was a good tour

Joanna

(About local Eleonora)

14 March 2025

We had a fantastic walking tour of Rome with Eleonora! She showed us the highlights of the city while sharing fascinating anecdotes and historical insights in a fun and engaging way. I was traveling with two kids (11 and 13), and she managed to keep all of us interested throughout the tour. Her storytelling made history come alive, and we all learned so much while having a great time. Highly recommend Eleonora for anyone looking for an informative and enjoyable experience in Rome!Interesting and fun Rome experience

Verified

(About local Max)

13 March 2025

Max was interesting and friendly, We realy enjoyed the tour and learned alotof things we didn't know about the Roman empire👏Max was great

Simone

(About local Max)

11 March 2025

Un tour che ti immerge nel mondo artistico e sociale del grande Caravaggio. Chi é appassionato di arte e di storia lo troverà molto interessante. Complimenti a Maks, la guida ha saputo coinvolgere la platea dall'inizio alla fine. Se tornerò a Roma, sicuramente lo rifarei molto volentieri.Esperienza immersiva nel mondo dell'arte

Eleanor🇺🇸 United States

(About local Pietro Paolo)

8 March 2025

We had a great time touring the Colosseum and the Forum with Paulo! He was very knowledgeable and thorough. The pace was excellent, and we all came away feeling like we learned a lot about the history of Rome. He was great with adults and kids. Would absolutely recommend him and use him again! Thank you, Paulo!Incredible tour with Paulo!

Daniel

(About local Max)

7 March 2025

Totally recommend. The guide, Max, took us on a mystery tour, which was both funny and mysterious as the name says. By listening to his stories, you can see that he is very knownleadgable. Good luck to you, Max. Thanks from Poland for the tour ;)Totally recommend

Ruth🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Carlo)

7 March 2025

We had a fabulous tour with Carlo at the Vatican. He is knowledgeable, friendly, very attentive and engaging. Thank you Carlo so much. Carlo is wonderful

Jon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sara)

3 March 2025

Sara was perfect! Her knowledge of local foods, traditions and local history made the whole afternoon a memorable and wonderful day. I would highly recommend Sara for any tours in Rome!Taste of perfection