As mentioned on our main page about fascinating Rome, it is an immensely walkable city. In fact, most of Rome’s attractions are in narrow pedestrian streets that open up to startlingly beautiful piazzas and these are inaccessible by buses and larger vehicles. Even if you take a hop on hop off tour in Rome, you need to walk a lot to reach the actual attractions from the bus stoppages.
So, if you are reasonably fit, love street photography and want an immersive experience of Rome….taking a walking tour of Rome is a good idea. These are cheaper, detailed and you will see a lot of places not covered by hop on hop off tours.
When you are doing a city walking tour in Rome, a good Travel Pass will help you save a lot of money and time. For example, if you have the Roma Pass (3-day version) you can have free entry to 2 attractions and discounted entry to other attractions. Then there is the Rome City Pass which gives fast track skip the line access to top attractions like the Forum, Colosseum and the Vatican Museums.
Those with a special interest in the Vatican City & Museums should buy the Omnia/ Vatican Pass that offers free skip the line access to Basilica St John, Sistine Chapel and St Peters. Obviously combining your tours with free/ skip the line access will add value to your trip.
Read: The best travel passes in Rome.
About Rome Walking Tours
When you talk about Rome walking tours it’s important to remember that there are two large subgroups. There is the city tour which covers famous piazzas, fountains, Spanish steps and shopping districts. Then there are the ancient Rome tours which cover archaeological areas and the Colosseum, Palatine Hills, Forum, Roman Hills etc. Both tours are necessary in order to understand the essence of Rome but both usually have to be done separately as they cover completely different routes.
Also, ancient Rome tours will involve manoeuvring archaeological areas and require more stamina than a city tour….they are also priced higher than city tours. A good option would be to do a city tour in one day and an ancient Rome tour on the other day. Or you could do a hop on hop off tour of the city and then do an ancient Rome walking tour.
Read: The Best hop on hop off tours in Rome.
Or you could read our extensively researched article on famous Rome fountains and do a self-guided city tour. The historic Rome tours, as a rule, should definitely be done with a guide otherwise you end up missing many points of interest. City tours are also offered in an area-specific bundle like the Jewish ghetto and Trastevere tour or an attraction centric offering like the Villa Borghese and gardens tour or the Catacombs and Appian Way Tour.
Remember that if you take a night walking tour then you won’t be actually allowed inside many monuments like Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon etc. unless the tour operator has a special commercial agreement. However, night tours of the city show the city and its beautiful monuments from a different angle and you will be able to appreciate the wonderful lights. Being able to avoid the scorching Roman sun is also a definite advantage.
Walking around in Rome requires stamina and a decent fitness level and if you have these then other tools that you require are sunglasses, sunscreen and a camera. So get yourself a bottle of water and your most comfortable pair of walking shoes.
You can choose from a range of walking tours in Rome and book online from this Viator site.
Below are some of the top operators of walking tours in Rome.
Roma Experience
The Rome City Tour; UNESCO Fountains and Piazzas is a great tour to take if you want to experience the beauty of the city. The major stops on this tour are Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori, Column of Marcus Aurelius etc.
The first attraction on the tour is however the shopping zone of Via del Corso and Tridente (Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino) with its dazzling stores and il Babuino statue. The next stop is Trevi and then the Piazza di Spagna- Spanish steps zone. The guide will then take you to Pantheon and then the Piazza Navona.
Done in small groups not exceeding 12 people this tour has an English speaking guide and lasts for nearly 2.5 hours. The tour is offered in two slots; 4.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.
Or you could opt for their early bird city tour that starts at 8.00 a.m. and includes a complimentary Italian breakfast. This tour has a slightly different route. The tour starts off with Piazza di Spagna and its Fountain of the ugly boat and then explores the Spanish steps surrounded by a profusion of cafes and shops before moving to the Trevi fountain and then the Marcus Aurelius column in Piazza Colonna.
The next stop is the Pantheon and then the Piazza Navona and the fountain of four rivers and its pink granite obelisk. The tour finishes off in the Campo di Fiori market that’s one of the best local shopping spots in the city…say goodbye to your guide and fill up your bags.
Rome Experience offers a great ancient Rome Tour too… ‘The historic Coliseum experience‘. The main stops on the historic coliseum tour are Colosseum (first and second rings), Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Arch of Septimius Severus and Arch of Titus, Roman Senate and Temple of the Vestal Virgins, Arch of Constantine and the Sacred Way.
The historic Coliseum experience (around 59 euros per adult) starts off at 8.30 a.m. and lasts for around 3 hours. The skip the line admission tickets to Palatine hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum are included in the tour.
Read: Complete information guide to Colosseum.
You can check their very popular small group walking tour of the Colosseum and ancient Rome and book online using this Viator site.
You can even take the 360-degree virtual reality tour of ancient Rome that has accurate 3D reconstructions to represent Roma as it was in ancient times. This tour will cover the first and second ring of the Coliseum, Imperial Roman Forum, Constantine’s arch, Maxentius Basilica and Ulpia Basilica, gladiator’s barracks and the Temple of Peace along with the Trajan forum.
This 3-hour tour (priced at 89 euros per adult) is offered at 1.30 p.m. in the afternoon and 5.30 p.m. in the evening.
If the virtual tour experience appeals to you then you can even sign up for Nero’s Palace and Domus Aurea virtual tour. The frescoed ceilings and colourful walls are all faded now so the 3D reconstruction may seem like a good idea. This tour is suited for seniors too…a lot of time is spent sitting in the Golden vault room and putting on headsets and 3D glasses to see how the rooms looked 2000 years ago. Scenes from the archaeological excavations are also shown and the vision of how the magnificent rooms were unearthed from the belly of earth provides a moving spectacle.
The virtual reality tours are great for kids who like the entire movie-like experience of the headsets and 3D goggles… all Rome experience tours are done in groups of 16 or less.
Contact Details
Phone: +1 (719) 266-2360. Email: [email protected]; Website
City Wonders
City wonders (formerly known as Dark Rome) offers a good Rome City Tour called Best of Rome which is a walking tour with Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain & Pantheon, Piazza Colonna and Piazza Navona with its Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
This 2.5-hour tour operates daily at 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. and starts off from piazza di Spagna. The tour also includes a gelato or an aperitivo (depending upon whether it’s a day or evening tour) at one of the iconic gelato shops/ bars across the city. This tour is priced at around 32 euros and is a good option for guests who want to gain an overview of the city.
City Wonders also offers a comprehensive historic Rome 3 hour tour called Colosseum and an ancient Rome tour with Palatine hills and Forum. This includes skip the line entrance into Coliseum, Palatine hills and Roman Forum along with via sacra. This tour is offered several times a day including 8.30 a.m., 9.30 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 3 p.m. and is priced around 45 euros.
If you are very fit and want to fit in all attractions in one day then the Full day combo with Coliseum and best of Rome (most city sights) is a suitable tour. The tour lasts for a longish 8 hours and starts off at 10.00 a.m. every day. All major sights of historic Rome like Forum, Coliseum, Palatine hill and Rome city (Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Pantheon and Spanish steps) are covered on this tour. There is even a coffee/ gelato stop in between but the tour is exhausting (though interesting). Priced at around 80 euros this offers great value as well as skip the line entrance tickets to Forum, Coliseum and Palatine Hills.
Those with a special interest in the Coliseum can take the Express Coliseum Tour with Gladiator’s Entrance and Special Arena Floor Access (with or without Breakfast). The 2.5-hour tour meets up near the Trajan column and you can choose from 3-time slots (7.00 p.m., 7.30 p.m. and 9 .00 p.m.)
this tour begins from the Capitoline hill (a great view of the Coliseum is provided from here)and is aimed at exploring the Coliseum (including special access to the arena floor and underground) thoroughly before the guide takes visitors to the forum where they get skip the line entrance and can do a self-guided tour. City Wonders offers excellent Vatican City & Museum tours too.
Read: Great Vatican Museum Tours.
Then there is the intriguing: Dark Ages of Rome Night Walking Tour with Hidden History & Hauntings this is a 1.5-hour tour that meets at St Andrea Della Valle Church. The tour is offered every evening in two slots; 8.00 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. with a focus on murders, intrigues, hauntings and mysteries. The guide takes visitors across sites like Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Farnese, Via Giulia, Via del Governo Vecchio, Castel Sant’Angelo (no entry inside). Priced at under 20 euros this is one of the most affordable tours around.
Another interesting offering is the Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour that’s a 3-hour 30-minute tour that covers the basilica of San Clemente, Capuchin crypt and Catacombs and Appian Way. This tour allows guests to experience a different side of Rome and the guide regales guests with stories about the hidden crypts, buried skulls and tales of the ancient Appian Way.
Contact Details
Address: Testaccio, Ostiense, Rome.
Phone: UK- (+44) 800 098 8019; USA and Canada: (+1) 800 358 1942
Email: [email protected]; Website
Rome Your Way
Rome Your Way prides itself on its linguistic diversity and they are the only walking tour group that offers tours in 6 languages; Dutch, English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.
Their City Tour is offered in the evenings and includes sunset-watching ….it has an overall romantic flavour. The guide meets the group near Piazza Popolo and the group proceeds towards Pincio terrace to admire the sunset over the city. The next stop is Piazza Spagna and the Bernini’s fountain after which the next destination is Trevi fountain… the group moves on to Piazza Della Rotonda and the Pantheon (entry isn’t possible).
The next piazza on the route is Piazza Navona with the four rivers fountain and then the Campo de Fiori market area. The 3-hour tour begins at 7 p.m. and is very affordably priced at 31 euros per adult. If entering the Pantheon is not a priority then the tour offers good value.
Then there is the Coliseum and historic Rome tour that takes in the first and second tier of the Coliseum, Roman Forum, and Capitoline hills. There are photo stops at Piazza Venezia Largo Torre Argentina, Pantheon and Piazza Navona. The tour is reasonably priced at 57 euros per adult and lasts for around 3.5 hours. There are two slots; 9.45 a.m. and 1.45 p.m.
All Rome Your Way Tours are done in groups of 16 people or less so you will have a greater chance of interacting with the guide. This is a relatively new tour group that was established in 2016 under the gifted Pammela Di Ciommo. Their guides all have a degree in archaeology/ art/ history and so provide excellent information.
Contact Details
Address: Via Marsala 82, Rome, Italy 00185
Phone: (068) 837-9680; Email: [email protected]; Website
LivItaly
Owned and managed by the dynamic duo of Angelo (famous tourist guide) and Kristin (talented opera singer) LivItaly offers tours that are meant to provide a well-rounded flavour of Italian attractions. Their tours are done in very small groups (meaning 5 to 7 people) and are intimate, innovative with quite a few personal touches. They have an eco-sustainable tour model that’s respectful of the local community and their tours are offered in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian.
There is the Rome Small Group Walking Tour (offered on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) that’s a 2.5-hour tour priced at 59 euros. This is sort of a Roman introductory experience that begins around the Spanish steps and then moves to the Pantheon and then the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona. There is a gelato ice cream break around Trevi Fountain… arguably Rome’s best gelato shops are located here.
The guide will regale guests with anecdotes and stories about Victor Emmanuel Monument, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Santi Apostoli, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza di Pietra, Pantheon, San Luigi dei Francesi, Piazza Navona etc. The small group size makes the tour personal and allows for more interaction.
LivItaly has this interesting Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere walk that’s 2.5 hours long and is offered every Tuesday and Friday from 10.00 a.m. This intensely cultural experience starts from the archaeological area of Largo di Torre Argentina, that’s the first attraction. Later the guide takes the group to Campo di Fiori local market area, Palazzo Farnese (outside only), Via Giulia, Ponte Sisto, Trastevere, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Tiber Island, Portico d’Ottavia, Theatre of Marcellus, The Great Synagogue of Rome (outside only) etc.
You can also opt for the Top Tiers Coliseum tour (offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) that’s a 90-minute tour priced at 69 euros. The special feature of this tour is the chance of being able to view the 4th and 5th tiers of the Coliseum that has been only recently opened to the public. As you ascend each level of the Coliseum you will see the social hierarchy of Rome from plebeians to patricians literally. The top levels afford wonderful views of the city. Though not exactly a city walking tour as this one covers only all Coliseum levels and no other monuments….this is an exceptional experience.
A more extensive experience is the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Palatine hill tour that covers more of ancient Rome. The Coliseum’s famed gladiator gate and the arena floor are both a part of the tour. The tour includes entry tickets & reservation fees, privileged skip-the-line entrance and a guided visit to many attractions. The places on the route are Coliseum, Palatine Hill, Basilica Julia, Basilica Aemilia, Arch of Septimius Severus, Caesar’s Temple, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Antonio and Faustina, Basilica of Maxentius, Arch of Titus etc. This is a 3 hour tour that’s offered on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 9.30 a.m.
Guests can download the Livitaly app that has Virtual Reality reconstructions of Coliseum, Forum and other parts of ancient Rome and then they are provided cardboard glasses through which they can experience the virtual view.
There are some nice night tours on offer like the Rome Catacombs Night Tour with VIP Access after Closing. This 3 hours tour happen every Wednesday and Saturday at 5.15 p.m. and then there is the 2.5 hour Coliseum Night Tour with underground arena and forum views.
In case you are interested in private walking tours (2 people), Livatily has many curated options like Private Rome Sunset walking tour, Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto Rome Private Tour, Coliseum treasure unit family tour, Private morning tour of Rome with sunrise etc.
The private tours have snack breaks and are personalised and they are priced 200 euros upwards for 2 people. This is probably the best walking tour operator for families, couples and groups who are looking for a personalised experience. The guides are all extremely knowledgeable and provide maps, book extracts and visuals to enrich the experience…they will even recommend books about Roma to guests.
Contact Details
Address: Vicolo Del Divino Amore, 18/a, Roma 00186
Phone: USA (+1) 213 270 1990; Italy/Europe: (+39) 331 307 65 29; Website
The Roman Guy
The Roman Guy is one of the top Vatican City tour operators but they also offer a couple of good ancient Rome and Rome City Tours.
Check out their Skip the Line Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum which will let you access Coliseum through its back door secret entrance. After the first and second level exploration of the Flavian Amphitheatre and the Coliseum exteriors, the Guide will move the group towards the Roman Forum where guests can check out the Arch of Titus, temples of Faustina and Antoninus and the Maxentius and Constantine Basilica. The 3-hour tour is offered at 8.00 a.m. and 9.20 a.m. and is priced around 65 euros.
Guests with a special interest in the Coliseum can take the Coliseum Underground plus Belvedere Top Level Tour. Besides all the places mentioned above guests can access the 3rd tier of the Coliseum, the deadly trap door and lift and the underground dungeons that hold many spine-chilling stories. There is a nosebleed section exploration too. This 4-hour tour (priced around 100 euros) starts off in the morning but it’s not offered every day so you need to check for available slots.
Then there is a 3 hour Rome Catacombs tour with Capuchin crypts. This tour covers Santa Maria Della Cappuccini, Capuchin Crypt (Crypt of the Resurrection, Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Pelvises, Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones and Crypt of the Three Skeletons) and the Catacomb of Domitilla. The tomb and ancient frescoes are pointed out and explained and the guide takes the group on the ancient Appian Way demonstrating the importance of this route. This 3-hour tour starts off at 9.30 a.m. and is priced at around 60 euros.
The Roman Guy is known for its small group tours….group size does not usually exceed 15 people. Audio headsets of reasonable quality are provided and most guides are knowledgeable and respectful.
Contact Details
Phone: +1 888 290 5595; Website
Best Free Walking Tours Rome
Free tours or Pay what you like tours are a budget-friendly nice way to see Rome. These tours work on a pay what you want tips model but the usual practice is to tip the guide a small amount, say around 10 to 20 euros for services. Naturally free tours do not include freebies like free ice cream or headsets for hearing the guide better.
These tours run in small groups of around 15 people. Tour operators may cancel the tour if a minimum number of people don’t turn up. In spite of these being free tours, reserving in advance is necessary and most tour operators require tourists to print out the confirmation voucher/ receipt. Free tours should be used to get an overview of Rome and the walking tours specified in this list provide a qualitatively superior opportunity of doing so.
The operators specified below all offer guided paid tours too but those offerings are not as well-reviewed as the tours reviewed in our guided tours section. Nevertheless, you can check the official websites if you want to take your free and guided tours from the same operator. Many actually offer combo tour deals that may provide good value for money.
New Rome Free Tours
The 2 hours New Rome free tour is the most popular free tour in Rome. In fact, it’s so popular that reserving your seat well in advance is mandatory. All its guides are qualified by the local authorities and speak English well…they exclusively offer tours in English.
The tour is quite comprehensive and covers a number of points of interest including Spanish Square and Spanish Steps, Immaculate Conception Column, The house of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Saint Andrew Church, Bernini’s Angels, The famous “Galleria”, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Prime Minister House, Temple of Hadrian, Pantheon, The Tomb of the Kings, Tomb of Raphael, Saint Ignatius Church, Andrea Pozzo’s Trompe l’oeil, Trevi Fountain.
The guide will recommend the best cafes, gelato places and local pizza places. The tour doesn’t demand tips but mostly you will feel like tipping because of the nice experience. The only downside is that kids under the age of 10 cannot participate in this tour.
Usually, the group size is around 10 to 15. You need to print out the voucher after reserving the tour…they won’t accept a phone screenshot. There are two tour slots; 9.30 a.m. and 4.50 p.m.
Contact Details
Via Baccina, 32 A, 00184 Rome
Phone: +39 351 898 5954; Email: [email protected]; Booking Website
Rome Free Walking Tours
They have a morning city tour that covers some interesting city points like Spanish Square, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Temple of Hadrian, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Castel Sant’Angelo with Vatican View. The tour starts at 10.00 a.m. every day from the Piazza di Spagna Valentino store
Tip: it’s recommended to take this free tour on the day that you have your Vatican museum / St Peter/ Sistine chapel bookings. This way you can simply cross the Castel Sant Angelo bridge and reach St Peter’s Square. This tour operator also offers a private Vatican City tour which you can take.
There is the Afternoon City Tour which covers the Spanish steps, Roman Aqueduct, Trevi fountain, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum (the exteriors) and the Coliseum (exteriors). The afternoon tour is also 2 hours long and is offered every day from Monday to Sunday. The meeting point is the same Valentino store in Piazza di Spagna. Look out for the guide wearing the Rome free walking Tour Badge.
Tip: try and visit the Colosseum and Forum after you finish with this tour…after all the tour ends right in front of the Coliseum after admiring it from outside. This tour operator also offers a paid Coliseum group tour.
The tours usually have a gelato break but the gelato isn’t free. Kids are allowed on this tour.
Their guides all have a degree in either art or archaeology and they offer tours both in English and Spanish. On the downside, they don’t offer tours on January 1st, Easter Sunday, August 15th, December 8th and December 25th. They offer paid group tours too but there are other operators performing far better in this category.
Contact Details
Address: Via SS Quattro 81, Roma 00184
Phone: +39 389 0051 453; Email: [email protected]; Booking Website
Rome’s Ultimate Free Tour
This tour operator is basically known for its one very popular free tour.
This tour has a good combination of restaurant and café recommendations, spiritual insight (they focus on the origins of Christianity), anecdotes and nightlife tips. This is essentially a 3-hour tour that’s led by guides who have either history/ architecture as their background and are known to be very knowledgeable.
The tour starts off from the Porta Del Popolo near the Flaminio Metro station. The guide will meet the group there and then proceed to the Peoples Square …arguably Rome’s most attractive Piazza. The next stop is the Augustus Mausoleum and then the Pantheon followed by the Piazza Navona. The group then walks across the lovely Ponte Sant Angelo while admiring the angels and reaches Castel Sant Angelo. The guide also gives a nice overview of St Peter’s square and points out nice Vatican views.
Tip: combining this tour with a Vatican City tour is a nice option. This tour sort of sets the tone for a Vatican City Tour.
Their reservation process is the simplest….you need to fill-up the form on their website and then just turn up for the tour without any receipt or printed copy.
Contact Details
Address : Via dei Serpenti 89, Rome, 00184
Phone: +39 328 765 3883; Email: [email protected]; Booking Website
Note:
All participants are required to bring a valid form of id (passport, driver’s license, government id) in order to enter restricted areas of the Coliseum. Photocopies are acceptable.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.