Supersaver: Early Bird Vatican Museums, Colosseum and Ancient Rome Guided Tour

Head to Vatican City at 7:30am, and meet your guide near the Vatican Museums. At this early time, the Vatican is free from the larger crowds that materialize later in the day.

Step inside the museum complex and wander around the galleries, admiring a centuries-old collection of influential art that was amassed by the popes. Learn about the frescoes of Raphael’s Rooms, then step inside the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, which adorns the high ceiling. Finish your tour of the Vatican with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, accessed via a skip-the-line entranceway.

Bid goodbye to your guide, and then spend three hours at your leisure before your afternoon tour of Ancient Rome. 

At 1:45pm, you’ll meet your guide by the Colosseum. Use your skip-the-line ticket to bypass the general entrance line and step inside the ancient amphitheater. 

As tales of the Roman gladiators ring in your ears, you’ll walk around the arena to see where the battles took place. Peek in the dungeons where animals were kept before the fights, and learn about the braying Roman crowds who gathered at the stadium to watch events unfold.

Leave the Colosseum and finish with a stroll around the ruins of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Your tour then ends in the heart of Ancient Rome.

• Head to Vatican City at 7:30am, and meet your guide near the Vatican Museums. At this early time, the Vatican is free from the larger crowds that materialize later in the day. Step inside the museum complex and wander around the galleries, admiring a centuries-old collection of influential art that was amassed by the popes. Learn about the frescoes of Raphael’s Rooms, then step inside the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, which adorns the high ceiling. Finish your tour of the Vatican with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, accessed via a skip-the-line entranceway. Bid goodbye to your guide, and then spend three hours at your leisure before your afternoon tour of Ancient Rome.  At 1:45pm, you’ll meet your guide by the Colosseum. Use your skip-the-line ticket to bypass the general entrance line and step inside the ancient amphitheater.  As tales of the Roman gladiators ring in your ears, you’ll walk around the arena to see where the battles took place. Peek in the dungeons where animals were kept before the fights, and learn about the braying Roman crowds who gathered at the stadium to watch events unfold. Leave the Colosseum and finish with a stroll around the ruins of Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Your tour then ends in the heart of Ancient Rome.

Join this walking tour, perfect for those who want to visit Rome's two most famous sites all in the same day. Your expert guide will help you discover the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum, which you will access from the Arena, one of the restricted areas. You can choose the tour option to extend your tour and visit also the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Benefit from the included exclusive early entrance to the Vatican Museums giving you an additional hour before the doors open to the general public, and skip-the-line tickets, allowing you to maximize your time and enhance your experience of these must-see monuments. Enjoy a 3-hour break between the Vatican and Colosseum visits to either grab something to eat or spend more time exploring on your own.

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
A current valid passport or ID document is required on the day of the tour for children under 18 as proof of age and also for adults for the entrance at the Colosseum
St. Peter's Basilica is a Church and as such the Vatican can decide to close it for religious functions without any notice. Local operator is not responsible for unexpected closure of the Basilica. If the Basilica closed for religious functions, you'll spend more time in the Vatican galleries with your guide
Please be aware that to enter the Colosseum it is necessary to pass a metal detector security check. Visitors cannot avoid these checks. Even though skip the line tickets are purchased in advance, local operator is not responsible for time spent waiting to pass security checks
The tour consists of 2 different tours: a Vatican tour in the morning and a Colosseum / Ancient Rome tour
If you choose the option with Roman Forum and Palatine hill, the order of the visit of this tour can be: first Roman forum and Palatine hill and then Colosseum
If you arrive late you might lose the entrance at the Vatican or Colosseum
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Please note that, for disabled visitors with certified invalidity of more than 74%, the Vatican Museums offers free entry that is extended to a companion for visitors who are not self-sufficient. To benefit from this, make sure you mention it at the time of booking so that our staff may handle your request.
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers