Rome Private Tours

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Sistine Chapel: Essential Experience

Best One Day Tour of Rome including the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel



all inclusive price


7 hours plus a break


Rome wasn’t built in a day, but with our Rome in a Day tour you can make the most of your time in the Eternal City even if you only have a few hours to see it all! In the company of one of our passionate expert guides, we'll take you on an amazing journey across centuries of history, art and culture.

Walk in the footsteps of the ancients and learn about daily life in antiquity as you explore the most iconic highlights of the ancient world in the Colosseum and the Roman Forum: discover the arena where gladiators fought, stroll through the beautiful House of the Vestal Virgins and the Senate, and stand on the very spot where Julius Caesar was cremated after his assassination in 44 A.D.

Then head across town to the Vatican City, where we'll admire some of the greatest masterpieces ever painted in the flesh. Experience the Sistine Chapel at its best as we enter the chapel at one of the least crowded times of day. Gazing up at Michelangelo's epic of Renaissance art, you'll be able to understand how this awe-inspiring work changed our idea of art forever. Come face to face with the highlights of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, where our guide will reveal the secrets behind famous ancient sculptures like the Laocoon, Raphael's School of Athens fresco and Michelangelo's powerful Pietà.

Finish your day-long journey by drinking in the magical atmosphere of the famous piazzas and fountains of Rome's historic centre, visiting breathtaking sites such as the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. We'll take you through the key events that shaped Rome as it's today, and get the real stories that lie behind the city's great artistic masterpieces.

Years of experience and your feedback have helped us shape our unique Rome Day Tour. As the sun sets on your journey through the Eternal City, you'll have not only stunning photos to take home but unforgettable memories that will stay with you forever.

Experience Rome on a Day Tour with a personal guide

You could easily spend a lifetime exploring Rome, but at Through Eternity Tours we know that time is precious. With careful planning, we believe that it is possible to discover and appreciate Rome attractions in a single day, through an optimized itinerary. While exploring sights such as the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, some of the must-see in Rome, you’ll go on a journey through over 2,000 years of Roman history. The mythical foundation of Rome, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and the life and work of the great Renaissance artists will all be revealed by our expert guide in the spots where the crucial events of their time took place. 

Walk in the footsteps of the gladiators on your Colosseum tour

Your voyage begins at the Colosseum, the most magnificent monument in Rome. The bloody spectacles of the Colosseum are legendary, as slaves, gladiators and wild animals were killed for the entertainment of Rome, on a scale that had never been seen before. You’ll be amazed by stories of violent gladiatorial combat and awe-inspiring naval battles that were staged in the arena, but you’ll also learn about what went on behind the scenes. Your personal guide will help you to separate fact from fiction as you walk through the Colosseum, allowing you to discover what it was like to be a gladiator and how the shows were staged, thanks to ingenious engineering and the labour of the slaves beneath the arena floor.

Looking up at the Colosseum from the inside is an unforgettable experience, as the sheer size of the amphitheatre never fails to astound. It is only on a private Rome day tour that you can appreciate the Colosseum as an immense architectural achievement, an iconic monument that has endured for 2,000 years.

Explore the impressive temples and courthouses of the Roman Forum

On your Roman Forum tour you will see another side of Roman history, learning about religious rituals and political power struggles in the buildings where they happened. The mysteries of Roman religion will be revealed when you visit iconic temples such as the Temple of Saturn, or walk through the gardens of the House of the Vestal Virgins, while a tour of the famous courthouses is an opportunity to find out more about the great debates and speeches of Ancient Rome.

The Roman Forum is a microcosm of Roman society. A walk across the cobblestones of the Via Sacra, where you can still see the wheel-ruts of ancient carts, takes you to the Arch of Titus, which was built to commemorate the emperor’s military victories. Ordinary Romans went about their daily business in these streets, but as the political centre of Ancient Rome, it was also the scene of triumphal processions and high profile events such as the funeral of Caesar or the decapitation of Cicero. A walk through the Roman Forum offers a fascinating insight into the daily life of the city, covering all levels of Roman society, and bringing you closer to the people of the past.

Discover the highlights of the Vatican Vatican Museums, with Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica

You haven’t truly seen Rome until you’ve visited the Vatican, the Catholic capital and the location of one of the greatest collections of art in the world. Your day in Rome continues with a visit to the Vatican Museums, where masterpieces include the moving Laocoon - perhaps the most important and influential classical statue of all time. On our Rome in a Day Tour you’ll gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Michelangelo’s breathtaking frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. The Last Judgement was initially one of Michelangelo’s most controversial works, but it has since been considered one of the greatest works of art of all time.

The splendour and grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica is there for all to see, but a tour of the basilica gives you a more in-depth understanding of this awe-inspiring building. As well as showing you the highlights of the basilica, such as the poignant beauty of Michelangelo’s Pietà, your guide will tell you stories of the popes, artists and architects who transformed the Vatican over the centuries.

The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. Because these are often last-minute for security reasons, we may not have time to notify our guests but instead the full tour will be spent exploring other parts of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We do not provide refunds for unexpected closures of St. Peter's and your guide will still give you a introduction to the Basilica, should you wish to return in your own time during your stay in Rome.

Stroll through the streets of Rome’s historic centre

The beauty and history of Rome are best appreciated in its streets, as you wander through the charming back streets and elegant piazzas of the city centre. At the end of your relaxed day in Rome, you will stroll through the oldest and most characteristic neighbourhoods, where artistic treasures and captivating stories of the past can be found on every street. The Baroque splendour of the Trevi Fountain has to be seen to be believed, while the Pantheon is another highlight, due to its architectural beauty, atmosphere, and history of transformation and survival against the odds.

As the sun sets in the enchanting Piazza Navona, gaze into the waters of Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain and savour the atmosphere of the Eternal City at twilight. You will end your tour with a completely new perspective of Rome and its history, having heard stories of emperors, popes and artists in the places where they lived and worked, transforming Rome over the centuries.

This is not the Rome of the history books, but Rome as it lives and has lived over the passing millennia. Book now your unforgettable experience of the Eternal City.

  • This is a completely private tour, so you will have a personal guide just for you and your party
  • Skip the Line tickets

Classic sights included in our itinerary:

  • The Sistine Chapel
  • Raphael Rooms
  • The Vatican Museums
  • St. Peter's Basilica
  • Colosseum
  • Roman Forum
  • The Trevi Fountain
  • Piazza Navona

You will meet your guide at at a designated point. Details, a map, and photos provided upon booking.

We take you through the city center of Rome, some archaeological sites with steps and uneven surfaces and in the Vatican Museums. Comfortable shoes and a bottle of water are recommended.


Our strengths


Expert guides

5 hour
in-depth tours

Skip the Lines

Discovering hidden treasures

Optimising your time

Exclusive access