Colosseum, Roman Forum & Vatican Highlights Combo Tour

You’ll have break for lunch in Rome before making your way to Caffé Vaticano for the second part of your tour. With skip-the-line entry again, you'll walk past the long line of tourists and enjoy faster entry into security. Explore the masterpieces of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, hearing fascinating stories from the Vatican’s long history from your guide along the way.

Vatican and Colosseum Combo Tour Description

Your 8.5-hour tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry to the Colosseum

• Colosseum tour with first and second tier access

• Guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

• Free time for lunch in Rome

• Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican

• Guided tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica

• Engaging English-speaking guides

• Maximum group size of 25

This Vatican and Colosseum tour is a combination of two popular tours. After enjoying lunch on your own, meet up with your group again to explore the Colosseum with a new guide. Booking a combo tour saves you money since you see more attractions at a lower price!

The Jaw-Dropping Colosseum

Breeze past the crowds to start exploring this ancient Roman structure, and your passionate local guide will take you back in time with stories of the gruesome fights and epic spectacles that once happened here. You’ll explore the first and second tiers of the Colosseum—areas that were originally reserved only for Rome’s most elite classes.

Learn how the Colosseum was built and the history of the bloody battles that defined Roman history. After an hour inside the mighty arena, you’ll be in the mood for a little more of the ancient city.

Please note that depending on the assigned entry time for the Colosseum, your tour might enter the Roman Forum first and end in the Colosseum.

Guided Roman Forum Tour

Just a stone’s throw away from the Colosseum sits the historic Roman Forum—once the location of downtown ancient Rome. Your guide will show you some of the most famous Roman Forum buildings including the Temple of Julius Caesar, Arch of Titus, the Roman Senate House, and more. Re-live ancient history as you walk down the same roads taken by famous Roman emperors and philosophers.

Climb Palatine Hill

From the ancient downtown, your guide will lead you to a place we like to think of as the Beverly Hills of Ancient Rome. Climb the Palatine Hill and take in the views over Circus Maximus. You'll explore the 2,000-year-old palaces and learn stories of Rome's rich and famous.

Free Time for Lunch then on to the Vatican

Your friendly Colosseum guide will say goodbye and you’ll have some free time to buy a tasty Roman lunch before making your way to the Vatican Museums for your guided tour.

Pio-Clementino Museum and Nero's Bath

At the start of your tour, you'll follow your guide to the Bramante Courtyard, designed by Donato Bramante. This part of the Vatican Museums is home to the Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön and His Sons, and the Belvedere Torso.

Learn about the myths and legends associated with these iconic sculptures before visiting the oldest and largest bathtub in existence. Nero's bathtub is an incredible 25 feet long and is made from a rare red marble that isn't even available nowadays!

Popular Vatican Galleries

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 giant 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.

Raphael Rooms and The School of Athens

Raphael is the epitome of a Renaissance artist. In the period of European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages, a great period of revival in art, literature, and thought occurred. Raphael encompassed the ideals of a Renaissance man and frescoed multiple rooms inside of the Vatican Museums.

His most celebrated work is the School of Athens which is on display here. The painting represents a gathering of the greatest mathematicians, philosophers, and scientists. Raphael included himself in the painting, much like an early version selfie.

Borgia Apartments

Downstairs from the Raphael Rooms and once occupied by Borgia Pope Alexander VI, these private chambers were frescoed by early Renaissance artist Pinturicchio. As a co-pupil of Raphael’s under master Perugino, Pinturicchio had a penchant for embedding fake jewels and other three-dimensional objects like metal saddle studs in his frescoes. The Borgia Apartments also contain another hidden gem: the first European depiction of Native Americans.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

One of the top things to do in Vatican City is visit the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel is the private chapel of the pope, and it's where cardinals from around the world gather when it's time to elect a new pope. Only when you are inside, is it clear why the Sistine Chapel is one of the most celebrated works of art in western civilization. Michelangelo painted more than 600 figures in all, and the sheer magnitude of his endeavor is mind-blowing.

Take in the wonder of Michelangelo's masterpiece and examine the vivid depictions of biblical stories, from Genesis to Revelations. You'll see the famous Creation of Man and the Last Judgement as you enjoy the serenity of the world's most famous chapel.

Since the Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, speaking inside is not allowed. Your guide cannot explain the frescoes while you are inside, but they’ll take time to explain in detail what you’ll see.

To enter the Sistine Chapel, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders, otherwise, the Vatican might refuse entry to religious sites and you’ll 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.

St. Peter's Basilica

After your time in the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, you'll walk through a passageway that allows you to bypass the ticket lines and enter St. Peter's Basilica more quickly. Here, you'll be awestruck as your guide leads you around by the impressive architecture, statues, and artwork made by famous artists like Michelangelo and Bernini. Gaze upon the beautiful Pietà, the incredible mosaics, the Tomb of Innocent XI, and Bernini's canopy under the dome.

Please note that St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays for the Papal Audience and can occasionally experience other unexpected closures. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican.