Rome Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia
Book a private Rome tour and see the Colosseum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and more in just one day!
Arranging tickets for the Colosseum and Vatican, managing transport, and navigating traffic make exploring Rome in a day from Civitavecchia nearly impossible. With luxury transport and a dedicated guide, our shore excursion takes care of everything. Skip the lines to marvel at the Colosseum, explore treasures in the Vatican Museums, and admire the Sistine Chapel. From tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain to exploring at your pace, this is the perfect one-day Roman adventure.
- Meet your guide at Civitavecchia Port
- Colosseum
- 1st & 2nd level
- Roman Forum
- Trevi Fountain
- Piazza Navona
- Lunch break
- Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel
- Return to Civitavecchia port
In reality, you'd need a month for us to show you all of the treasures of Rome. But since you're on vacation, leave reality at home and let us show you the famous sites and hidden gems the Eternal City has to offer in a day! Your Roman day trip begins in the morning when our driver picks you up from your cruise ship at Civitavecchia port. With luxury, air-conditioned transportation, you'll drive into the city with your expert local guide. We've planned a great itinerary for you, but as a private tour you can have your say on the pace of things and any special places you want to see.
Today, your private guide will give you a tour of the mighty Colosseum before taking to the streets of Rome for a walking tour. You'll see famous landmarks including the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, and the ancient Pantheon, and you'll also have free time to enjoy an authentic Roman lunch at one of the city's incredible restaurants (not included). Before returning to your ship, you'll skip the line to enter the Vatican for a guided tour. Your guide will show you the best of the museums, as well as the Sistine Chapel.
Rome Private Shore Excursion Description
Your 8-hour private Rome shore excursion includes:
Luxury, air-conditioned private transportation from Civitavecchia (return)
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of the Colosseum
Guided walking tour of Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and more
Lunch break in central Rome (lunch not included)
Skip-the-line tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel
Entry to St. Peter's Basilica
Engaging, English-speaking private guide for the entire tour
Please note that the Basilica is closed on Wednesday mornings due to the Papal Audience and will not be included in tours.
Luxury Transportation Around Rome
To make this private tour in Rome super-easy for you, you'll be picked up from your cruise ship in Civitavecchia port and driven around Rome in luxury, climate-controlled vehicle. And don't worry, we'll make sure you get back to the ship in time too! Just relax and let your expert local guide take care of you, while sharing fascinating facts and stories of Rome.
Skip-the-Line Private Colosseum Tour
There are few more awe-inspiring places than the mighty Roman Colosseum, and there's no better way to explore than on a private tour! Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, you'll have skip-the-line access to avoid the crowds of tourists waiting to enter. Your expert guide will set the scene for what it felt like to attend the thrilling events that took place inside the arena from epic gladiator fights to public executions held in front of eager crowds of more than 60,000 Romans.
This tour takes you to the first and second tiers of the Colosseum—areas reserved for seating Rome’s most elite classes during the Colosseum’s gladiator games. As you look around and picture what life must have been like here, your guide will enlighten you with intriguing stories of some of the Colosseum’s most gruesome events.
Private Rome City Tour
A trip to Rome wouldn't be complete without seeing some of the most famous fountains and piazzas. After being driven into Rome's historic center, it's time to set off on a tour of the city's historic sites. While some central Rome sites can only be reached on foot, your driver will also be nearby if needed! You'll follow your guide to the beautiful Piazza Navona to see the Fountain of Four Rivers, before seeing the outside of the Pantheon (entry inside not included), Rome's iconic dome with an open oculus.
Finally, you'll head to the Trevi Fountain to see what is likely the world's most famous fountain. Remember to bring some coins to make a wish here! Your guide will make sure you know how to do it just right. Along the way, your super-knowledgeable local guide will show you some of Rome's hidden gems to help you get to know the city better.
Free Time for Lunch
You'll have some free time in central Rome to grab a delicious Roman lunch, usually near the Trevi Fountain where there's a good selection of eateries. Lunch isn't included, but your guide can point out some of the best places to eat, depending on your tastes.
Guided Vatican Museums Tour
After driving to the Vatican, you'll skip the long general admission line and start exploring the impressive art collection at the Vatican Museums. Your guide will lead you on through the Vatican Museums, visiting the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of the Tapestries, and Gallery of Maps. Admire the ancient Roman and Greek statues, the Flemish tapestries created by Raphael's students, and the gorgeous topographical depictions of Italy.
At the height of the Roman Empire, pontiffs rarely left Rome. In order to understand the Italian peninsula without endangering his life, Pope Gregory XIII commissioned 40 huge and meticulous maps to be created for his use. Most of these maps measure more than 15 by 16 feet, and the end result is nothing short of spectacular.
You'll hear the stories behind these treasures from your expert guide as the Vatican secrets are slowly unveiled to you.
While you don't need to wait in the normal line, a shorter security line is still required for entrance. Short delays at the security check may occur during the busiest months of June and July.
Experience Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel likely rivals the Colosseum as the focal point of this Rome in a day private tour. Until you stand beneath the chapel's frescoes, there’s no way to fully appreciate Michelangelo’s astonishing accomplishment.
The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so speaking inside is prohibited. Your guide will explain the significance of Michelangelo’s artwork before entering.
Please note that to enter the Vatican's Sistine Chapel both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot, so a great idea is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
St. Peter's Basilica
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, your private guide will bring centuries of art, faith, and power to life—explaining everything from Michelangelo’s majestic dome to Bernini’s towering Baldachin. With personalized insight, you’ll understand the meaning behind every marble detail in the world’s most important church.
What you get with this tour

See what people are saying
48 total reviews
Leave a reviewKatie Winckler
Rome - was toured in a day
Michael Fluke
Guide Eleanora and Driver Stefano were excellent! It’s impossible to see everything in just one day but Eleanora, who is Roman from birth, showed us a huge chunk of history in the short time we had together. We were picked up next to our ship and driven into Rome in a nice air con’d Mercedes van. Our tour then started at the Coliseum. Eleanora orated a brief history lesson outside the massive structure and then we went in for which she had pre-arranged our tickets. Once inside, she continued her fascinating talk about the structure, its very dark and sordid history and explained why it’s in the condition it’s in today as we strolled through the hallways. All the while, Eleanora pointed out the congruency with today’s modern stadiums. After a brief restroom stop, we continued to the interior arena. The feeling of being there looking down onto what was the basement chambers and holding areas was astonishing. To think about what it was like at its peak is almost overwhelming! Our tour guide then took us past/through the Forum, with a short stop on the street to see the ancient city center and old street system. She showed us the Roman expansion across the world over centuries. We then made a stop at Trevi Fountain. The lines to go down closer look intimidating but move rather quickly. Eleanora was awesome pointing out features and sculptures on the fountain and what they signified. As we continued on to the Spanish Steps, Eleanora pointed out a section of the old aqueduct still in existence that had not been demolished to make way for something new. We had a 45 min free time for lunch (Eleanora suggested a few spots to sit down and enjoy food) before entering Vatican City for which we needed to show passports. Again Eleanora had our pre-arranged tickets (which are specific to each person) and we went right to the queue to enter. The line moved in quickly and there we were in view of St Peter’s Basilica and all its beauty! Eleanora was superb, showing us key points on signage outside so we’d know what to look for and what we were looking at once inside the Sistine Chapel and the basilica. It can be overwhelming and with not much time, we were happy to have her show us the most important points for having never been there. No photos/videos allowed in Sistine Chapel so take lots of mental pictures. Gorgeous! We could’ve easily spent an entire day too in just the basilica but alas had to conclude our tour to be back on ship in timely manner. So we took a lot of pictures in the basilica which does NOT do it justice as you witness the magnitude of where you are. We walked down and out of the basilica using the private staircase that the Pope himself uses! Stefano then drove us safely back to our ship. We couldn’t have been happier with our guide(s) and were extremely pleased with the tour - how engaging it was for our entire family and how smooth it all ran!
Justin Furr
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Bring a water bottle, sunscreen in the summer months, and some coins for making wishes in the Trevi Fountain. Since many sites on this tour can only be explored on foot and there will be some uneven terrain, please also wear comfortable shoes. Please be prepared to cover your knees and shoulders in places of worship such as the Sistine Chapel.
What if I don't see availability on the day I want to go?
Just reach out to us and we'll try our best to accommodate your scheduling needs.
Is lunch included in the price of the tour?
No, lunch is not included but we will carve out time for you to grab a bowl of carbonara!
How many people can I bring?
If there are more than seven people in your group, please contact us prior to booking so we can make sure of getting the right transport and arrangements in place.
How do we arrange the timing of this shore excursion?
Please reach out to us upon booking to provide the exact time you'll disembark from your ship and we'll take care of the details. ***Since the Vatican is closed on Sundays, if you need to do the Shore Excursion on this day, we will contact you for a substitute site.
What to bring?
Bring a water bottle, sunscreen in the summer months, and some coins for making wishes in the Trevi Fountain. Since many sites on this tour can only be explored on foot and there will be some uneven terrain, please also wear comfortable shoes. Please be prepared to cover your knees and shoulders in places of worship such as the Sistine Chapel.
Is there a dress code to enter the religious sites on this tour?
We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you might be refused entry to religious sites and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
This private tour is your best bet if you have concerns about navigating the areas on this tour. Our private tours offer more flexibility in terms of pace and special accommodations.
Does this tour enter St. Peter's Basilica?
Please note that the Basilica is closed on Wednesday & Saturday mornings due to the Papal Audience and will not be included in tours. Afternoon tours will still include St. Peter's Basilica entry.