Alexander Meddings
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2.5 hrs
Flexible TravelWhether you're a culture vulture, art enthusiast or food aficionado, Rome offers something for everyone. Walking around the city centre can feel like browsing an open-air museum, but the city's state and private collections are something else entirely.
That Rome excels in museums and galleries should hardly be surprising given Rome's vast heritage. But the sheer extent of experiences on offer can surprise even regular return visitors. So, whether you're a history buff, or just looking for an exciting (and air-conditioned!) way to spend an afternoon, make sure to include some of these Roman museums in your Italian itinerary.
The Borghese Gallery (Galleria Borghese in Italian) is one of Rome's best-known art museums. Situated within a magnificent magnificent seventeenth-century mansion, the gallery displays an enviable collection of sculptures, paintings, and artifacts.
Its sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, including the famous Apollo and Daphne and David, are among the most well-known pieces on display and some of the most famous statues in Rome. Raphael, Caravaggio, and Titian are just a few of the Renaissance and Baroque masters whose works may be found in the Galleria Borghese's remarkable collection.
The museum is known for its picturesque setting in the Borghese Gardens, in addition to its unmatched art collection. Visitors can stroll around the well-kept grounds and take in views of numerous other historic residences, including the Villa Farnese.
The Galleria Borghese is a must-see for anybody visiting Rome. Just make sure to book your tickets well in advance as the gallery operates a timed entry system and spaces fill up fast.
The Baths of Diocletian was an enormous public bathhouse with a staggering capacity for around 3,000 bathers. It was constructed between 298 and 306 AD, during the reign of the emperor Diocletian, and was among the largest (but by no means the only) public baths complex in Rome.
Outside Museo Nazionale Romano
Like all imperial baths, including the beautifully preserved Baths of Caracalla and Baths of Trajan, the Baths of Dicoletian swimming pools, saunas, and gymnasiums along with a caldarium (hot chamber), tepidarium (tepid-water chamber), and frigidarium (cold room).
As the years went by, the Baths of Diocletian fell into ruin, no longer fed by the once abundant supply of water that had fed the city during the Roman Republic and Empire. Then, in 16th century, the Vatican commissioned Michelangelo to design the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, which was constructed inside the ancient frigidarium.
Constructing this basilica required the demolition of a portion of the baths complex. But other sections of the baths were preserved in the Roman National Museum, which opened to the public in 1889.
Click here to plan your trip and book your tickets
Roman architecture doesn’t get much more awe-inspiring than the Pantheon. Erected outside the city walls in the Campus Martius where the Roman army used to train, the Pantheon was the centrepiece of an elaborate monumental theme park which marked Rome’s transition from a city of brick to a city of marble.
The Pantheon still boasts the largest freestanding dome in the world, weighing more than 4,535 tons of Roman concrete, and its imposing temple colonnade is among the most recognizable icons of the Eternal City. But they mask a building with a fiendishly complicated history, which even the ancients writing 200 years after the Pantheon’s completion were debating.
As its name suggests, the temple was most likey built in celebration of all the gods (the Greek word for “all” was pan and the Greek for “gods” was theos.) The inscription on the outside attests that it was built by Marcus Agrippa, the emperor Augustus’ right-hand man, in the first century BC, but his original Pantheon is lost, subsumed within the present structure. The Pantheon you visit today instead dates from some 140 years later during the reign of Hadrian.
With the rise of Christianity and the gradual decline of the Roman Empire, the Pantheon was converted into a church. In fact, this is the reason it survives so intact (most pagan temples didn’t fare so well!) Learn all about the Pantheon on our Rome Walking Tours
Situated at the top of one of the Capitoline Hill (arguably the most famous of the Seven Hills of Rome), the Capitoline Museums is a multi-museum complex all rolled into one. They are the world’s oldest public museums, dating back to 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV gifted a series of bronze statues. The collection has since expanded to contain of a range of famous artifacts from bronze and marble sculptures to frescoes and inscriptions.
Its two main buildings, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, were designed by Michelangelo himself, and house the majority of the museums’ collection of ancient artworks. The first houses the original bronze Romulus and Remus, frescoes depicting Rome’s early history, and a series of rooms containing marble busts of emperors and gods.
Palazzo Nuovo houses more ancient sculptures and statues as well as sarcophagi and minor artifacts. Perhaps its most famous artifact is the enormous reclining Oceanus statue in the courtyard, which might be Rome’s most stunning statue feature beyond the Trevi Fountain.
Something you must do while visiting the Capitoline Museums is to venture into the underground passage that connects the two buildings. As well as an impressive collection of ancient epigraphy, you’ll find a section of the tabularium that overlooks the Roman Forum, offering one of the best views over the heart of ancient Rome.
Throughout the year, the Capitoline Museums organize temporary exhibits to supplement the permanent collection. Previously, these have included multimedia displays portraying the history of Rome, insights into Rome before Caesar, and painting showcases by historical and contemporary painters.
Book your tickets here or just turn up on the day! (There’s never too much of a line).
Clients inside the Vatican’s Hall of Maps
The Vatican Museums is an attraction of extremes: the world’s richest collection within the world’s smallest city-state. Home to more than 70,000 artifacts, which would take a lifetime to browse, the Vatican Museums captivates millions of visitors a year, who travel from around the world to see such sites as the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Dating back to the early 1500s, the Vatican Museums cover a vast complex of buildings and display some 20,000 artifacts at any one time: less than a third of its total collection. Among its many attractions are the Raphael Rooms, adorned with incredibly intricate frescoes that tell captivating stories of Rome’s pagan and Christian history, the Pinacoteca Gallery, featuring works by Leonardo, Caravaggio, and Titian, and Ignazio Danti's Gallery of Maps, a fascinating corridor adorned with cartographic marvels.
But the most famous part of the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel. Its ceiling, meticulously painted by Michelangelo, is a masterpiece that truly transcends time, as is the Last Judgement fresco which adorns its northern wall.
To truly immerse yourself in the magnificence of the Vatican Museums, join one of our top-rated Vatican tours. These tours provide insightful commentary, expert guidance, and priority, skip-the-line access, allowing you to make the most of your visit and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical significance of each of the museum’s unmissable artworks.
Situated on the Via Veneto not far from Metro Barberini, Rome's Capuchin Crypt is a bizarre ossuary that holds the bones of 4000 Friars.
Created in 1631, the cryipt houses the bones of 3000 friars, belonging to the order of Saint Francis of Assisi, who were buried between 1528 and 1870. The rest of the 1000 bones are displayed through two glass panels. The crypt is an ossuary, which is a form of burial location where bones are kept. The Friars belonged to the order of Saint Francis of Assisi, and they opted to be buried in the crypt because they valued simplicity and modesty.
Because of its unusual design, the crypt has been dubbed "the most touching of all cemeteries." The bones of the Friars are adorning the walls and ceilings, with some of the bones organized in creative designs.
The Capuchin Crypt is a unique and eerie location that gives visitors an insight into the mortality of man.
We hope this list of must-visit museums has helped you plan your trip to Rome. If you truly want to elevate your Italian experience and make the most of your time in Rome, make sure to check out our guided tours. We offer cultural, walking, food tours and more for everyone from first-time travellers to seasoned veterans.
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Explore the wonders of the Eternal City on our best of Rome walking tour. As you get your bearings around Rome’s cobbled historic centre, your expert storyteller will bring Rome’s most must-see sites to life, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Take photos, make memories, and most importantly, get the most out of your time in the Italian capital!
Your private guide will share the city’s secrets and narrate its story in a way that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time – from explaining how the stunningly intricate churches and palaces were erected, to how the grand fountains were used to channel water throughout the city.
We will start at Trajan’s Column, which portrays the bloody victory of the emperor during the Dacian wars in Eastern Europe. We’ll then head to the Piazza Venezia, the crossroads between the ancient city and the modern capital and one of the most scenic squares in Italy!
After taking a moment to marvel at the imposing Altar of the Fatherland, we’ll make our way to the iconic Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin into the fountain, spend a moment soaking in its sounds and scenery (metaphorically, not literally!), and uncover the fascinating stories behind the fountain’s statues and symbols.
After discovering the incredible frescoes within the church of Sant Ignazio, we’ll make our way to the Pantheon where the spectacle of the 2000-year-old dome will blow you away. Marvel at one of the best-preserved buildings of the ancient world, hear the story behind the man who built it, and discover the shocking architectural secret behind how the dome is (or isn’t) supported!
Your private walking tour of Rome finishes at Piazza Navona. The square is situated near some of Rome’s best and most vibrant bars and restaurants and your guide will be happy to recommend where to go.
This tour is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. You can expect this memorable experience to last about two hours, which leaves you with more than enough time to explore the city beyond.
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Channel your inner-Maximus as you step out onto the Colosseum Arena floor and access this recently reopened area of the world famous amphitheatre. Then, explore the rest of the heart of ancient Rome, with a friendly, expert guide and a small group of like-minded travellers!
Unlike regular tours of the Colosseum, our Colosseum Arena Tour gets you straight inside the ancient amphitheatre and out onto the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. This is the route the gladiators themselves took almost 2,000 years ago. Imagine the moment they left the gates, and were greeted by the cheers and jeers of 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators.
Your expert guide will transport you back in time to the height of the Roman Empire when the Colosseum was constructed. These were times when Rome was ruled by all-powerful emperors (sometimes wise, sometimes wacky), the city was flooded with exotic riches from around the world, and the Colosseum acted as the city’s main stage for showing off the animals and people that Rome had conquered and captured.
After a short 30-minute break, we’ll head off on the next part of the tour…
Next, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill, where the ancient city was founded. The Palatine Hill is a real archaeological wonder, home to settlements from the Iron Age to the 16th century. Gaze upon such sites as the Hut of Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder, and the Imperial Palace, where the emperors in their family engaged in ruling, politicking, and scheming. Get your camera at the ready – you really can’t beat these views!
The final destination on our Colosseum Arena Tour is the Roman Forum. As the beating heart of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum was once a bustling hub of markets, law courts, temples, and more. It was here that Julius Caesar was cremated, where victorious triumphs paraded with the spoils of Roman conquests, here where two disgraced emperors were murdered in 69 AD, and here where Cicero delivered the speeches that shaped western culture for centuries.
When our tour is over, feel free to stay and explore the Roman Forum at your own pace.
Book the complete ancient Roman experience today with our Colosseum Arena Tour!
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Channel your inner-Maximus as you emerge onto the Colosseum arena floor, enjoying exclusive access to this newly reopened section of the world most famous amphitheatre. Don’t settle for half-measures on your Roman holiday. Seize the moment—carpe diem—and treat yourself to an immersive tour of ancient Rome with a private expert guide!
Unlike most other tours, this private tour gets you straight inside the Colosseum and out onto the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. This is the route Rome’s gladiators took almost 2,000 years ago. Imagine the scene of them being greeted by the cheers and jeers of 50,000 spectators.
Your expert private guide will transport you back in time to the height of the Roman Empire when Nero’s Golden Palace fell and the Colosseum was constructed in its place. These were times when Rome was ruled by all-powerful emperors (sometimes wise, sometimes wacky), the city was flooded with exotic riches from around the world, and the Colosseum acted as the city’s main stage for showing off the animals and people that Rome had conquered and captured.
Next, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill, where Romulus founded the city. The Palatine Hill is a real archaeological wonder, home to settlements from the Iron Age to the 16th century. Gaze upon such sites as the Hut of Romulus, the houses of Augustus and Livia, and the Imperial Palace, where the emperors in their family engaged in ruling, politicking, and scheming.
The final destination on your private Colosseum arena tour is the Roman Forum. As the beating heart of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum was once a bustling hub of markets, law courts, temples, and more. It was here that Julius Caesar was cremated, here where two disgraced emperors were murdered in 69 AD, and here where Cicero delivered the speeches that shaped western culture for centuries.
At the end of your private tour, feel free to stay and explore the Forum at your own pace.
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The best way to understand Rome is to take a look beneath it. Our Rome Catacombs Tour is perfect for travellers who want to get off the beaten track, unearth underground passageways, and discover the secrets of the largest catacombs in Rome.
Prepare to discover the deeper, darker, and more mysterious parts of Roman history with a small group of like-minded adventurers. By digging downwards into the ancient labyrinth of tunnels, we’ll uncover all the secrets and dark tales of the catacombs of Domitilla.
Your friendly expert guide will meet you outside and give you a quick overview of the tour before we make our descent. With our close guidance, you’ll have the chance to explore and discover ancient passageways in the largest, most famous catacombs in Rome. These tunnels are sacred and an integral part of the Christian and Roman faiths. Learn how ancient Christian rites and rituals were held underneath the bustling city streets.
These tunnels were not only a place of ritual, but are still a sacred place of rest for more than 150,000 bodies. These catacombs and the bodies they hold stretch for almost 20 km underground, some of which is yet to be seen by the public eye.
With a maximum of ten travellers per tour group, you’ll have the opportunity to ask plenty of questions. The price of the tour includes the tickets. If you’d like to join us on our Rome Catacombs Tour of the darkest, largest catacombs in Rome, book your spot now to make sure you don’t miss out!
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People made a pilgrimage from all over the world to visit the spiritual home of Catholicism. Unfortunately, this means that getting into the Vatican is by no means easy. With our priority entrance, you’ll be able to skip the hours of waiting in line and walk right into one of the most historically rich places in the world.
Your private tour starts with the Vatican Museums. Don’t be overwhelmed by the never-ending rooms or twisting corridors – we’ll guide you through some of the thousands of rooms without missing their deepest secrets. Our route includes the Hall of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Gallery of Candelabra, The Raphael Rooms and much more. Your friendly expert guide will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
After our trip through the museums, you’ll make your way into the Sistine Chapel, one of the most fabled historical sites in the world. The Sistine Chapel houses the timeless masterpiece crafted by none other than Michelangelo himself. Marvel at the Last Judgement in all its glory.
The pace of this private tour is comfortable and can be adapted to suit you. It also includes all ticket prices for the areas that we’ll be visiting during our trip. Book your spot now to make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to visit one of the most sacred spaces on Earth!
5(132)
Home to Rome’s most impressive collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculpture, the Borghese Gallery is a must-visit for all art lovers. The 17th-century villa is an artwork in itself, furnished with frescoes by the Florentine-trained artist Ludovico Cigoli and situated in the midst of a vast landscaped garden. But the artworks it contains are unrivalled in Rome, featuring sculptures and paintings by the likes of Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Canova.
Tickets to the Borghese Gallery are had to find – and for good reason. Everyone wants to step inside, but few get the chance. Book your tour of the Borghese Gallery today and you can be among the lucky few. Simply turn up on time, and we’ll take care of the rest.
After meeting the rest of the tour group in the lush surroundings of Villa Borghese park, you and your expert art-historian guide will make your way into the gallery. This 17th-century villa is home to countless works of priceless art and is named after a passionate and wealthy cardinal, Scipione Borghese.
As an art enthusiast and nephew to the Pope himself, Borghese was known for going above and beyond to make sure he could own and display the masterpieces that caught his eye. You’ll have the chance to learn everything there is to know about the Cardinal, from how he hosted extravagant parties to the infamous threats he made to artists worldwide in an attempt to take their art for his own.
Unlike some of the other museums in Rome, the Borghese Gallery only allows a certain number of visitors at a time. Not only does that make for a more exclusive experience, but it also gives you the peace and quiet you need to really absorb the sheer beauty of its art.
Bernini’s sculpture of Apollo and Daphne and Raphael’s sensual depiction of La Fornarina are just a few of the masterpieces you’ll have the honour of seeing during this leisurely, private tour.
Book your spot now to avoid disappointment, skip the lines, and immerse in Roman history with Carpe Diem.
5(270)
Descend into the depths of the Colosseum Underground and follow in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors. The area beneath the Colosseum is closed to the general public. But our Colosseum underground tour can get you exclusive access.
Step straight inside the amphitheatre, onto its arena floor, and down into the dark underbelly of the Colosseum. What’s more, as well as touring the Colosseum, we’ll be visiting the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum to discover where Rome’s history began.
Your storyteller guide will walk you and a small group of like-minded travellers through the rich history of the world’s most iconic amphitheatre. Discover which animals the Romans caged beneath the Colosseum and how they winched them up onto the arena sands. Recreate the architectural ingenuity of the Colosseum’s hypogeum (underground chamber) and retractable arena floor.
Emerging from the Colosseum Underground, we’ll climb the amphitheatre’s original steps, following in the footsteps of its ancient spectators as we make our way up to the Colosseum’s upper-tiers. Here you’ll hear all about the social status of its spectators, discover the gory details of ancient entertainment, and geek out on the gladiatorial fights and performances that thrilled the Colosseum’s crowds.
Once outside the Colosseum, we’ll cross the ancient cobbles, passing the triumphal Arch of Constantine and climbing the Palatine Hill. Home to the sprawling ruins of Rome’s imperial palaces, the Palatine is the most picturesque of Rome’s Seven Hills.
It was here where Romulus founded the city in the 8th century BC and here where Rome’s rich and famous settled throughout the Republic and Empire. Take in the Palatine’s sweeping views of the Circus Maximus, Roman Forum, and Colosseum as we explore the ruins of the emperors’ luxurious palaces.
At the end of the tour, we’ll make our way down the Palatine Hill into the Roman Forum. Starting off as swampland between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, this area was drained by Rome’s Etruscan kings, becoming the bustling hub of the ancient city.
Its temples, basilicas, military monuments, and residences were Rome’s main areas of activity (as most ancient Romans spent as little time at home as possible!) Your expert guide will be at hand the whole time to answer all your questions to make sure you get the most out of this exclusive tour of ancient Rome.
Our pace is comfortable and leisurely, which means that our Colosseum Underground Tour is appropriate for guests of all ages and fitness levels. The tour lasts about 3 hours, giving you more than enough time to explore.
Spaces fill up fast, so be sure to book as soon as you can!
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Tired of big-group tours that move from one attraction to the other before you’ve even had the chance to understand what your seeing?
This is the Vatican Tour for you.
Our VIP Vatican tour offers a more personal, intimate experience that doesn’t compromise on anything. See it all, learn it all, and feel it all.
With a maximum group size of 12, you can guarantee you’ll have more than enough time and privacy to soak up the stunning artworks and fascinating history of the Vatican City.
Our tour starts at the Vatican Museums, where more than four millennia’s rich history resides. Worried about getting lost in the labyrinth of corridors and galleries? Don’t be. Gain real-world insight into the stunning wonders of the museum’s 1000+ rooms thanks to the help of your friendly, expert guide. They’ll be excited to answer as many questions that you could possibly come up with, so feel free to ask away.
Afterwards, we’ll head over to the Pope’s private place of prayer, the Sistine Chapel. Home to two of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, The Last Judgement and its famous ceiling, the Sistine Chapel is just as awe-inspiring today as when it was unveiled in the 1500s. Marvel at world famous frescoes and discover how Popes are elected, here in this very room.
Our VIP Vatican tour runs at a comfortable, leisurely pace and includes all ticket prices for the different sites and areas we’ll be visiting. Remember, our VIP tours only accommodate a maximum of 12 people at a time, which means that spots fill up fast.
Book your VIP Vatican Tour now to avoid disappointment!
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Take your Roman adventure to the next level with our semi-private tour of the Ancient City! With a small group of just 6 people, you’ll enjoy more personal attention from your guide as you explore the legendary Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. This means more chances to ask questions, deeper dives into history, and the opportunity to truly engage with both your guide and your fellow explorers.
What are the holes that pockmark the ancient amphitheatre? Why is one side shorter than the other? And how much do we really know about the gladiators—and even emperors—who battled on the arena sands? (We promise the answers will surprise you!)
After exploring the Colosseum, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill to discover the birthplace of the ancient city. Here, your storyteller guide will recount the mythical foundation of Rome, the legend of Romulus and Remus, and the stories of the emperors who resided on the Palatine, like Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula. Next, we’ll explore the ruins of some of the most luxurious palaces in Roman history, the emperor’s residences on the Palatine Hill, from which we get our word ‘palace.’
Last but not least, we’ll head into the Roman Forum, the heart of the ancient city. Discover what life was really like for everyday Romans as we explore the social, religious, and political hub of the Roman Empire. Marvel at the remains of towering temples, triumphal arches, sprawling basilicas, and the ancient senate house as you walk on the very same stones that the likes of Caesar and Cicero once did.
Prepare for a unique, unforgettable journey through Rome’s most famous landmarks with a small, friendly group that lets you explore at your own pace.
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