It’s for good reason Rome is called the Eternal City. Over the course of more than two millennia, layers of ancient, medieval and baroque architecture have built up to form one of the most immersive, incongruous, and unique city centres in Europe – if not the world.
Rome’s wealth of attractions can seem daunting to the first-time visitor. Household names like the Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain take precedence on the list of must-see landmarks. But to focus on these famous few risks overlooking Rome’s lesser-known, though equally mesmerising monuments.
That’s why the best tours in Rome effectively combine the two. Furnishing expert insight into Rome’s star attractions while providing an insightful, local perspective on landmarks most tourists tend to overlook.
Best tours in Rome: must-see attractions
Whether you are in Rome for a day, a long weekend or even a full week (lucky you!), Walks Inside Rome is perfectly positioned to recommend the right tour itinerary to help you unlock the Eternal City.
Here are some of the most significant sites, monuments and things to do:
Venture to the Vatican: the crucible of Christianity
You could easily spend a weekend exploring the world’s smallest city state.
The Vatican Museums’ vast collection offers enough sculptures, tapestries, frescoes and other priceless artworks to captivate all visitors, whatever their taste.
Venture deep into the Vatican Museums and you’ll find the resplendent frescoed walls of the Raphael Rooms and Michelangelo’s masterpiece: the frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Both deserve the expertise of a licensed guide to provide the knowledge that feeds your curiosity and provide the context that develops your appreciation. Our Vatican tours offer a wealth of options to tailor your Vatican experience. From private openings of the Sistine Chapel to combination tours of the Vatican and Colosseum.
Immerse yourself in the imperial grandeur of ancient Rome
Ask anyone to name Rome’s most famous monument and chances are they’ll say the Colosseum. This iconic first-century AD amphitheatre is the most mesmerising monument of the ancient world. Exploring it on your own is evocative in itself, but the best way to dig down into the heart of the Colosseum is in the company of an expert guide, who can recount the stories of its gladiatorial participants and senatorial spectators as you explore the amphitheatre and its underground.
Take a few steps from the Colosseum and you’ll enter the Roman Forum: the bustling heart of the ancient world. Venture down the Via Sacra, where victorious generals rode during their triumphs. Pass by the Arch of Titus and the Temple of Romulus as you tread the same cobblestones of Julius Caesar, Cicero, and Caligula, and climb the Palatine Hill to discover where it all began.
But ancient Rome goes far beyond the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The expansive Baths of Caracalla lie nearby, not far from the entrance to Rome’s most famous ancient road – the Old Appian Way.
Combine culture and cuisine through a hands-on cooking class
No visit to Rome would be complete without combining cultural tours with culinary experiences. So what better way to get a true taste of the Eternal City than by taking one of our cooking classes!
Set in one of our two centrally situated cooking schools (the first a 17th-century palazzo around the corner from Piazza Navona, the second a sleek and stylish terraced school a stone’s throw from the Pantheon), your private cooking class will equip you with everything you need to know to recreate divine Italian recipes at home!
We can combine these cooking classes with a private tour of the Colosseum or Vatican (or both), or customise your day completely with guided visits to any other attraction of your choice.
Discover the authentic neighbourhoods of Trastevere and Testaccio
While Rome’s historic centre is relatively compact, the Italian capital as a whole is a sprawling metropolis. Because of this, locals have a saying – si vive in quartiere (“one lives in one’s neighbourhood”), for it’s the intimacy of the local community that shapes a Roman’s social and private life.
What better way, then, of immersing yourself in true Roman culture than by visiting one of these authentic neighbourhoods in the company of an expert local guide?
Maybe you want to cross over the River Tiber to beat the cobbled, medieval streets of Trastevere, exploring its churches and experiencing its vibrant nightlife. Or perhaps you’d prefer to explore Rome’s most Roman neighbourhood – the gentrified, gastronomic heartland of Testaccio, for a divine dining experience.
Whichever side of the Eternal City you want to see, Walks Inside Rome can make it happen.
Walks Inside Rome – The Best Tours in Rome
Walks Inside Rome is a family-run company of travel services and guided tours which was established in Rome over 20 years ago.
We are a specialized tour operator to guarantee you the best tours in Rome for private tours or small-group tours. With us you are sure to have an experience unlike any other in the world. All our tours can be combined and customized to meet your needs and interests.
Our team is formed of knowledgeable and kid-friendly licensed guides, including art historians, archaeologists, and food and wine lovers to provide our clients with the highest quality tour guide services in art, history, food and fun across Rome and in Italy’s most spectacular destinations.
Contact us for further information
Ready to discover an authentic side of Italy. Join us on one of our immersive tours and experiences and let our licensed tour guides and storytellers shine new light on Italy’s globally beloved attractions.
If you have any questions, or want any more information about our services, there are plenty of ways to get in touch. You can fill out the form on our website, send us an email, call us or chat with us on WhatsApp.
Contact us today to tailor the right tour, experience or itinerary right for you. We look forward to meeting you soon so we can start exploring Rome together!