History on the ground · ANCIENT HISTORY TOURS IN ITALY

The 15 Ancient History Tours in Italy That Earn Their Price

38 tours  ·  from $23 a head

Good ancient history tours in Italy fill up weeks ahead and the best go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour - Starting 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

Spend three hours with a live English, French, or Spanish guide at the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Colosseum. The tour includes the restricted underground chambers, arena floor, ground floor, upper level, exhibition, admission tickets, and headsets. Guides such as Carmelo, Teddy, Maya, and Enza are praised for clear explanations and warm humor.

“Very informative and a fascinating step back into history! Teddy was a great guide. Whilst it seems a chunk of money up front, we felt it was good value given we were there for nearly 3 hours in a small group and Teddy was happy to answer questions. The underground tour addition felt such a privilege given the restricted numbers and really added to the atmosphere of the trip, knowing you have walked the same paths as the gladiators! For history fans this is a must see!”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome with Arena Floor Option I Max 6 People - Entering the Colosseum through Gladiator’s Gate
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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 upgrade for Gladiator’s Gate access. Guides have included Dennis, Fabio, Caterina, Annalisa, and Laura Sensi.

“LivTours was ideal for the Colosseum Tour; and while I booked a small tour, no one else happened to book my time slot so I got a personal tour! How lucky I was bc I got Maria Gabriela. Even before the tour began, I had clear communication on where to meet, and even when I got it wrong, they texted in real time to make sure I could find my guide. She was knowledgeable and warm; and I felt very welcomed by the whole experience. I highly recommend this group as there was no guessing once I booked with them. As context, this was the first week in Dec- so…”

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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour - Entering the Colosseum and seeing the first two tiers
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Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

3.Rome: Colosseum, Ancient Rome Tour or AudioGuided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,879 reviews · 2h 30m · from $54

Choose an English-led Colosseum tour or explore with a multilingual smartphone audio guide. You’ll see the first and second tiers, then use 24-hour tickets for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guides such as Fabrizio, Fleur, and Frederico have made the history lively for families, while the audio option suits visitors who prefer their own pace.

“Recommend the tour through ‘get your guide’ , organised and easy to locate the office opposite the Colliseum and over the bridge. Pleasant guide and the tour was just under 2 hours from start to finish, the weather needs to be kind to get the full experience!”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - The Roman Forum, where Rome did its public business
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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 with an English-speaking guide at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose underground access for the arena floor, dungeons, and second level, or select arena-only entry. Guides such as Carmelo, Solomon, Mirta, Teddy, and Katia bring the ancient sites to life, with headsets provided.

“Daniella was informed friendly and adaptable to the needs and interests of our group. She even looked up information for specific questions.”

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Taormina: Ancient Theater Skip-the-Line Ticket & Audio Guide - Getting through the entrance and security
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Taormina: Ancient Theater Skip-the-Line Ticket & Audio Guide

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

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

Visit Taormina’s Ancient Theater at your own pace with a one-day skip-the-line ticket and audio guide in English, French, Spanish, or German. Exchange your digital voucher at the box office, pass security, and explore Greek and Roman ruins with views toward Mount Etna, Taormina, and Giardini Naxos. No live guide is included.

“This is very historical and impressive wit a very breathtaking views. Highly recommended”

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Discover the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome - Lunch in Pompeii: convenient, but uneven
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Discover the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome

6.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, stop for lunch, and tour the UNESCO-listed ruins with a local guide. You’ll hear how Vesuvius buried the city in AD 79 and see landmarks such as the Teatro Grande, Temple of Apollo, Villa dei Misteri, and House of the Faun. The day can include multilingual commentary and optional hotel pickup arrangements.

“Pompeii was one of my most anticipated and favorite parts of our whole trip, but a lot of things about their tour could have been streamlined. We wasted hours of he day, with very minimal time off the bus, because of how the day was scheduled and sharing a duel-language guide. Pros: comfortable bus, sufficient stops for bathroom/coffee, the Pompeii tour itself was amazing. Cons: half our group was going to Capri, so we had to sit in very heavy Naples traffic to drop them off. The “panoramic tour of Naples” was essentially learning a bit here and there while sitting in the same traffic. It added very little of…”

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Discover Matera, the ancient city - English tour - Seeing part of Sasso Barisano
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Discover Matera, the ancient city – English tour

7.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. Over two to three hours, you’ll learn how cave homes, water systems, bakeries, family stories, and changing attitudes shaped the city. This small-group English tour favors local life and overlooked corners over a church-by-church sightseeing route.

“Excellent guide Gaetano, with a huge wealth of knowledge about Matera. Would highly recommend this tour - wear sensible shoes!”

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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour - Rome's Iconic Ancient Temple - Inside the Pantheon: about 40 minutes
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Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

8.Pantheon Elite Guided Tour – Rome’s Iconic Ancient Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,447 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $41

Meet near Piazza della Rotonda for a one-hour English tour of the Pantheon. Guides such as Amanda, Elena, Nina, Silvia, and Samantha explain the temple’s engineering, oculus, religious changes, and royal and artistic tombs. Timed entry helps you get inside efficiently, though the square and building can still be crowded.

“Elena was knowledgeable and entertaining. Timing and choreography of tour was great. All of our group’s questions were answered.”

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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour - Inside the underground chambers
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Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

9.Ancient Rome: Colosseum Underground Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,059 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $66

Meet near the Colosseo Metro station for a guided visit to the Colosseum’s underground chambers and arena floor, then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill at your own pace. The group may reach 24 people, and the guide inside the monument may be separate from the booking company. Bring matching photo ID and arrive early.

“Great night tour of the Colosseum with an excellent and informative guide! You get to see the top layers and then head below the floor of the arena.”

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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included - Security, identification, and the meeting point
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Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

10.Colosseum Express Guided Tour and Ancient Rome Admission Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,008 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

See the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in about two to three hours with an English-speaking guide and timed admission. Guides such as Katerina, Sam, Andrea, and George have earned praise for clear explanations and good pacing. Expect a group of up to 24, security checks, stairs, crowds, and no underground access.

“very knowledgeable and didn’t prioritize one historical period - spoke about all an equal amount and kept it fun”

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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour - Meeting your guide near the Colosseum
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Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

11.Rome: Ancient History and Colosseum Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 996 reviews · from $104

Meet your English-speaking guide near the Colosseum, pass through a separate entrance, and explore the underground chambers where gladiators and wild animals waited. You’ll also walk onto the arena floor, then visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill independently. Small-group and private options are available.

“Was our tour guide provided by the colosseum. She was an Amazing speaker and deserves a raise. She made the tour feel like a movie!!”

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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade - Meeting near the Colosseum
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Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

12.Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Optional Arena Upgrade

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 900 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $34

Walk through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a live guide in English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. The $34 tour includes entry, headsets, and guided visits. Add Arena access to stand on the ancient fighting floor, or choose a small group for more personal attention.

“The experience was very satisfying. Jan was very well prepared and it was obvious that he had knowledge and a very strong background about history. He spoke slowly, clearly and we could understand everything he said. He was calm and friendly and it felt like we were having a tour with a friend. I would suggest a tour with him and crown tours again without second thought.”

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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome - Meeting at Largo Gaetana Agnesi
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Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

13.Colosseum Underground All-Access Experience w/ Ancient Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 850 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $49

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring Rome’s Colosseum, including the underground chambers, arena floor, first and second levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. English-speaking guides such as Francesca, Giovanni, Andrea, and Georgia bring the ruins to life. Check your booking carefully, since the arena option does not include underground access.

“Francesca was great, told us all we needed to know!”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour - What the guide adds inside the Colosseum
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Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

14.Rome: Colosseum Arena Access and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 774 reviews · 3 - 3.5 hours · from $94

Enter the Colosseum through the gladiator gates and stand on its reconstructed arena floor, then follow an English-speaking guide through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guides such as Angela and Marcello bring the ruins to life, while small-group options, skip-the-ticket-line entry, and photo tips make this a practical choice for first-time Rome visitors.

“Angela was amazing! She was very knowledgeable and entertaining. She was so sweet with my teens/preteen and kept them engaged for the entire 3 hour tour. Highly recommend!”

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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs - Starting near the Arch of Constantine or Trajan’s Column
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Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

15.Colosseum Special Access Tour, with Ancient Temples & Tombs

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 747 reviews · from $95

Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring ancient Rome with a licensed English-speaking guide. Choose the Colosseum’s underground dungeons or arena floor, then visit the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, temples, tombs, and rooms in Caesar’s Palace. Guides such as David, Eugene, Andrea, and Polina are known for clear storytelling and lively historical detail.

“the guide was incredibly helpful, considered, and he has all the knowledge.”

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New in Ancient History Tours in Italy

★ 4.9Discover Herculaneum: A guided tour of the ancient Roman city34 reviews
★ 4.2Communal dinner in an ancient Tuscan farmhouseFrom $7529 reviews
★ 4.8Rome: Colosseum Arena and Ancient Rome Guided TourFrom $9223 reviews
★ 4.5Rome: Colosseum and Ancient Rome Access with Optional ArenaFrom $28198 reviews
★ 4.9Ostuni: E-bike Tour, Ancient Olive Trees & Oil TastingFrom $5542 reviews
★ 4.9CastelBrando: Relax at a Spa inside an ancient castleFrom $5952 reviews
★ 4.8Ancient Rome Half-Day Segway TourFrom $10025 reviews
★ 3.9Ancient Rome: Archeological area Largo ArgentinaFrom $2349 reviews
★ 4.6Alghero: walking tours around the ancient cityFrom $2930 reviews
★ 5.0Colosseum Forum Ancient Rome Small Group Tour for Kids FamiliesFrom $180198 reviews
★ 4.5Ancient Syracuse: private guided tour of the Neapolis archaeological parkFrom $10888 reviews
★ 5.0Colosseum & Ancient Rome Semi-Private TourFrom $133208 reviews
★ 5.0Skip-the-Line Half-Day Private Tour Ancient Pompeii Highlights with Native GuideFrom $83146 reviews
★ 5.0Ancient Pompeii Private Tour: Skip the Line & Kid-Friendly OptionFrom $165167 reviews
★ 4.5Ancient Rome Tour in a Golf CartFrom $8472 reviews

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