History on the ground · ITALY HISTORY TOURS

Italy History Tours: The 15 Best From Rome to Venice

95 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Imperial Rome, buried Pompeii, Renaissance Florence and the Venetian republic. These 15 tours cover the essentials, with which ones need booking weeks ahead.

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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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour - Entering the Colosseum by the arena floor
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Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour

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

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

Walk onto the Colosseum arena floor, then explore Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum with a professional guide. Guides such as Paola, Francesca, Hillary, and Laura Antonucci have brought strong storytelling and visual aids to the tour. Expect stairs, uneven ground, security checks, and no access to the underground or third level.

“This is a great tour if you want to know the basics and hit 3 major attractions in under 3 hours. It was nice at the end to tour the basilica solo and go at your own pace.”

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Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour & VR History Intro - Finding the meeting point without losing your morning
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Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour & VR History Intro

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

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

Start with a short VR journey through the changing face of St. Mark’s Square, then enter St. Mark’s Basilica with a guide such as Francesco, Valentina, or Elena. See its golden mosaics and marble floors, and use the pass for Santa Maria della Salute and Torcello Cathedral. Check your option carefully, since the Doge’s Palace package excludes the basilica tour.

“Overall this was a great experience. I was slightly confused because I was under the impression that I booked a self-guided audio tour but when I went to retrieve my tickets we were placed in a group for a guided tour. The app even had us download the audio tour beforehand but our names were on the guides list so we went with it. It ended up being a great tour.”

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Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Entering through the Gladiator’s entrance
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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

Enter the Colosseum through the special Gladiator’s entrance and see the Arena floor, upper levels, and an overview of the underground before walking through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guided and audioguide options are available in English, with praised guides including Paola, Massimo, Tanya, Andrei, and Mircea.

“Excellent your! Andrei our guide was great! Would recommend this group for anyone visiting the colosseum and ancient ruins.”

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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

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 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

6.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

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

Spend about three and a half hours with a small English-speaking group at St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, then take a shared gondola through Venice’s canals. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have led memorable visits, while the included History Gallery adds a short virtual look at Venice’s past.

“Very informational at the Doge’s Palace. The tour guide was very good. Fun trip on the Gondola, great driver.”

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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

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

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

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

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, 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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Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line Last Supper Ticket - Walking from Sforza Castle through Milan’s old center
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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 at Santa Maria delle Grazie for a short Renaissance introduction and a timed 15-minute visit to Leonardo’s Last Supper. Then walk through central Milan with an art historian, passing Sforza Castle, Via Dante, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, and the Duomo. Guides such as Silvia, Valentina, Jade, and Laura have received especially warm praise.

“you get into site...its very good. guides vary in skill and demeanor...but are very good overall. different styles of delivery.”

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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour - Palatine Hill and the best city views
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Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

12.Rome: Colosseum Arena, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour

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

Walk through the Colosseum’s Gladiator’s Gate onto the Arena Floor, then explore its first two tiers before visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. This three-hour English tour includes timed entry, headsets, and a group of up to 24 people. Guide quality can vary, so check whether you are booking a live guide or audio option.

“Great tour. Highly recommend. Didn’t have to wait in lines. Our guide provided lots of interesting information.”

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Venice: City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour - Calli and campi beyond the main route
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Venice: City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

13.Venice: City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

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

Walk through St. Mark’s Square, the San Marco district, narrow calli, Teatro La Fenice, and Rialto Bridge with a live guide in English, Italian, Spanish, French, or German. A short VR presentation brings old Venice to life. Choose the gondola option for a separate ride on the canals.

“We did this walking tour on New Year’s Day. Valentina was incredibly knowledgable and the tour was really enjoyable. Would highly recommend.”

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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

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. 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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Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour - Palatine Hill, imperial ruins, and the best views
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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 Rome’s Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a historian guide and headphones. You may enter through Gladiator’s Gate or add arena-floor access, depending on the option. Guides such as Ivana, Mariana, Kopal, Andrea, and Francesca are praised for lively storytelling, but expect stairs, hills, strict entry times, and a group of up to 24 people.

“Francesca was our guide. She is an excellent and very knowledgeable guide who also took time to explain things in detail. It was raining pretty much during the entire tour, but it didn't deter her even a bit. I would highly recommend the tour if Francesca were leading it. I bought arena access but last minute it was cancelled and tour was downgraded to regular tour. Not sure if it is a gimmick and common occurrence with this company. My time in Italy was very busy, so I am yet to see what the appropriate amount for refund is for the downgrade.”

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New in Italy History Tours

★ 4.5Forte di Bard: history tourFrom $2331 reviews
★ 4.6Florence Wine &Food: Taste Tuscan Flavors in Historic CellarFrom $7031 reviews
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★ 4.2Florence Medici Bike Tour – Cycle Through History and PowerFrom $3223 reviews
★ 4.2Florence: Fashion History Guided Walking Tour & Museum VisitFrom $9072 reviews
★ 5.0Essential Florence Walking Tour to discover its historyFrom $4121 reviews
★ 4.9Discover Herculaneum: A guided tour of the ancient Roman city34 reviews
★ 4.8Day drinking in Rome – Scandalous Roman HistoryFrom $6531 reviews
★ 4.7Cooking Class in a Historic Home in the Heart of BrindisiFrom $9028 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
★ 4.9Civitavecchia: Historical and Culinary Walking TourFrom $8061 reviews
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