Alexander Meddings
Verified Writer4.912527 reviews
Verified Writer
5(1852)
14 Guests Max
3.5 hrs
Flexible TravelLast updated March 2025
There’s an old Italian proverb - piove sempre sul bagnato: it always rains where it’s already wet. The English equivalent is ‘when it rains it pours’. And while figuratively this means that things always tend to go from bad to worse, in Italy this saying also speaks to a more meteorological truth.
When it rains in Rome, it quite literally pours.
The good news is that rainy days are few and far between in Italy. And even when it rains, it rarely rains all day. In a sense, Italy’s climate mirrors its culture with sudden stormy outbursts of showers (or shouting) appearing out of nowhere. But once the clouds (or citizens) have got everything out of their system, the sun re-emerges, the puddles evaporate, and life returns to normal.
Our favourite time to visit Italy is between March and May or September and October. But come during these months and you might find yourself in for a wet spell.
If that happens, here’s how we recommend you spend a rainy day in Rome.
This guide was written by Alexander Meddings, a travel writer based in Rome. All of our articles are authored by local writers who know their cities inside out & provide commission-free recommendations.
Situated just a couple of minutes' walk from the Pantheon, Ikono is an immersive, interactive exhibit like no other. We don't want to spoil too much about what's inside, so suffice to say that there's something for everyone, and plenty to keep you entertained for an hour or so if you go as a couple or family.
Make sure to charge up your phone before going in: this place is fantastic for getting memorable photos!
The best way to appreciate the architectural ingenuity of the Pantheon is to go inside while it’s raining. Unfortunately, the Pantheon started charging entry back in 2023 and, although two years have passed, the Roman authorities have never got to grips with managing visits.
You may have to queue for a few minutes out in the rain. But trust us, it's worth it.
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Oculus of Rome’s Pantheon
Seeing the rain fall through the oculus and drain away into the floor beneath as you take shelter inside beneath its vaulted, inexplicably supported dome is an unforgettable experience—and makes for some pretty good photos.
If you're happy to brave the rain or drizzle, join us on our daily Rome Walking Tour. An expert local guide will wow you with fun facts and historical context at all of the historical main sites: the Altar of the Fatherland, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and, of course, the Pantheon.
A rainy day in Rome offers the perfect opportunity to try something different and get stuck into a hands-on cooking class. Recreate authentic Roman pasta and tiramisù recipes under the guidance of a fun, fluent chef, and indulge in what you’ve made at the end of the class!
Craft two Italian classics and enjoy plenty of prosecco on this hands-on cooking class!
Our cooking classes take place in our newly renovated sleek and stylish school a stone's throw from the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Classes last around three-and-a-half hours, group sizes are small (enough people to have a good time and strike up foodie-loving friendships), and our clients consistently rate this one of the best ways to spend a rainy afternoon or evening in Rome.
Located a few minutes walk from Trastevere station, the Cube Challenges are great fun for families and small groups. Put your problem-solving skills, fitness and perception to the test as you take on other groups (or each other!) by completing physical and mental challenges.
Red Ropes Area in Rome’s Cube Rooms
Subbuteo – Cube Rooms Rome
If traditional Escape Rooms are more your thing, you'll find plenty in Rome's peripheries—especially the Nomantana, Trieste and Appio Latino districts. Bear in mind that you may need to take either a taxi or public transport to get there though, so leave plenty of time and book ahead.
Saint Peter's Basilica may be the most famous church in Rome (or technically the Vatican). But it is not the only magnificent church with strong links to the papacy. Another three papal basilicas reside in Rome: the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran or San Giovanni in Laterano (of which the Pope is acting bishop), the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls or San Paolo fuori le Mura.
Each is free to enter, and each contains a wealth of priceless artworks, religious relics, and magnificent medieval architecture.
ℹ️ What are the Four Papal Basilicas?
Should you find yourself near the Spanish Steps during a rainy day in Rome, there are worse places to seek shelter than inside Babington's Tea Rooms.
Established in 1893 by young aristocrats, one of whom could claim ancestry from Antony Babington, who was hanged in 1586 for conspiring against Queen Elizabeth I, this family-owned English-style tea house is steeped in history. It was an important stop on the European Grand Tour and has been a favourite haunt of artists, writers, and tea-lovers ever since.
Open Daily (except Tuesdays) from 12:00 am until 10 pm.
Exterior of Babington’s Tea Room
Taste your way through its menu and you'll soon understand why it's so popular. Babington's specialises in coffee, cake, light lunches and, of course, traditional tea and scones, all served in beautiful china pots. Babington's is a little on the pricey side, but for true tea lovers it's a must.
Rainy days are the worst times to visit the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica! Everyone will have had the same idea, meaning the lines will be longer and the collections will be more crowded.
Instead, spend a rainy day in Rome checking out the city's other galleries and museums. For ancient sculpture and statues, don’t miss the Capitoline Museums (the world’s oldest public museum) above the Roman Forum in the city centre. If modern art is more your thing, head to Villa Borghese’s National Gallery of Modern Art, while if contemporary is your cup of tea, make sure to check out MAXXI.
Did you know that Rome is surrounded by warrens of catacombs where the ancients once buried their dead? Venture down the Appian Way to explore the catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano or join our catacombs tour and enjoy the context and content of an expert guide!
A catacomb tour is the perfect excursion for a rainy day in Rome, taking you deep underground and nearly two-thousand years back in time. The bodies have long since been looted from these underground chambers (though that doesn't make them any less atmospheric) but some stunning frescoes, tombs, and decorated chambers remain.
Okay, so hear us out on this one. While this green area is entirely out in the open and exposed to the elements, it does contain the remains of no less than seven ancient Roman aqueducts.
During the height of the Roman Empire, these magnificent stone structures used to bring in around 998 million litres of water per day—almost 1000 litres per person—for drinking, bathing, washing or indeed firefighting. And so it's more than fitting that you should explore their remains and learn this history while getting soaked in the substance they used to convey!
What remains is truly remarkable, and best unlocked through a guided tour.
Rome’s Aqueduct Park is actually well worth visiting on a rainy day!
For a break from Rome's mainly ancient artistic offerings, spend a few hours at Rome's National Gallery of Modern & Contemporary Art. Situated among the expansive gardens of Villa Borghese, up in the north of the city centre, the gallery houses more than 20,000 works of Italian and international art from the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries, much of which is breathtaking.
The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am until 7 pm and tickets cost €15 per person.
If you find yourself caught out in the open on Rome’s main high street, Via del Corso, venture underground into Libreria Cicerone, a subterranean bookshop with an impressive (albeit mainly Italian) selection.
If you’re looking for some literature more linguistically close to home, check out the nearby Anglo-American Bookstore. If you're in the market for literature about Roman art and history, we'd recommend visiting one of the museum or gallery gift shops (especially the Capitoline Museums).
A rainy day in Rome is the best time to take shelter and sip on spritz (or two) 😍. If you want to learn how these are made with other curious fun-loving travellers, check out our Spritz & Spaghetti Class!
This fun-filled three-hour class blends a trendy mixology class with a traditional pasta-making class, bringing you the best of Italian food and drink. You'll learn the steps behind making Aperol spritz, Campari spritz, and limoncello (sipping as you go, of course) and recreate the authentic pasta recipe of carbonara (for meat-eaters) or cacio e pepe (for vegetarians).
Who says you have to do something active or artistic every day in the Italian capital? When in Rome, eat as the Romans do by spending a relaxing few hours eating your way through a four-course meal: an antipasto (a starter), primo (a first course), secondo (a main) and dolce (a dessert).
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Da Bucatino’s Interior
Bucatini all’amatriciana
My favourite place to do this is Da Bucatino in Testaccio.
I came here around noon on a rainy Saturday in 2020 with an appetite and a Kindle copy of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, and spent the best lazy Saturday imaginable. Over about four hours, I made my way through a starter of Roman-style artichokes, a first course of bucatini all'amatriciana, and, after a long break, a main course of coda alla vaccinara (ox-tail stew), finishing with traditional creamy tiramisù.
Pure bliss.
Carpe Diem offers a range of tours and experiences for everyone from first-timers to return visitors. Trusted by travellers, with thousands of five-star reviews, we pride ourselves on offering unforgettable experiences — from Tipsy Tours and Spritz & Spaghetti Cooking Classes to spooky Ghost Tours you won’t find anywhere else.
The best way to keep up to date with all the latest news, offers, and travel tips is to sign up to our newsletter! By joining the Carpe Diem community, you get exclusive access to discounted tours in Rome and beyond as well as loads of helpful tips, straight to your inbox.
Be sure to check out our Rome tours for skip-the-line entry and immersive itineraries around Rome's most popular attractions (and lesser-known treasures)!
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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!
5(1839)
With your Fun and Witty English Mother-Tongue guide, we will take you off the beaten path and bring ancient Roman society to life, telling the stories behind the art and architecture. Showing you the hidden masterpieces that you absolutely have to see before you leave Rome.
We will visit the Bones Capuchin Crypts. Six Crypts decorated with the Bones of almost 4000 monks. Art and symbols of Christianity made from Human Bones. You will see works by Caravaggio and Learn the intricacies of religious burial rights as we try to grasp that universal question.
Next we will walk past the Colosseum and the Ludas Magnus where the Gladiators trained before going 4 levels underground to the Basilica of S. Clemente – a 12th century Basilica built on top of a 4th century Basilica, built on top of a 2nd century Temple of Mythros, On top of a 1st century Roman Apartment block.
Starting with the 12th century Basilica we will learn about the relics of the 4th Pope. Continuing down to the 4th century Basilica where you will discover the early formation of the Christian Church and admire the frescoes and symbols within. See the earliest written vernacular Italian in the world. Moving down to a 2nd century Mithra temple and seeing a 1st century Apartment Block with its fountain that has been running for over 2000 years.
5(143)Learn to cook like an Italian in this small group pasta & tiramisù cooking class that gives you mastery over the country’s best-loved classics. Over the course of three-and-a-half-hour fun-filled hours, you’ll enjoy the expert guidance of our fluent professional chef and get hands on recreating real Roman recipes, culminating in a well-deserved dinner in which you feast on what you’ve made.
Situated in our centrally situated air-conditioned cooking school, your interactive class will give you the true sense of an Italian nonna’s loving kitchen. Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable English-speaking chef, our cooking masterclass is perfect for kids and adults, beginners and experts.
Savoiardi (ladyfingers) are gently dipped in rich coffee before being layered with dollops of delicately mixed eggs and panna (cream). Finished off with a sprinkle of cocoa, these delicious desserts are set aside to rest in time for an after-dinner energy boost. In fact, the espresso within a tiramisù is what gives it a name that translates literally as “pick me up”!
Rolling up our sleeves, here is where we channel our inner nonna. Mixing, kneading, rolling, and shaping our fresh pasta from scratch will work up a sweat but result in elegant end products. We will then combine these carefully crafted creations with the flavors of the season and locality; be it twangy cacio e pepe or creamy carbonara.
How else to conclude your cooking class than by fully indulging in your culinary creations! Celebrate your accomplishment with family-friendly company, a gorgeous setting, and a selection of red or white wines and soft drinks.
Whether returning a culinary maestro or a self-proclaimed novice, you’ll be sure to take the memories home with you and ruling your dinner parties back home!
5(1852)
Rome may be the world’s most beautiful city. But after dark a more sinister side emerges. Lurking around every corner are the shades of popes, emperors, and artists: their lives claimed by two-thousand years of tragedy and conspiracy. Our Private Ghost Tour of Rome is not for the faint hearted — you’ll hear the ghastly tales of beheadings and murder that will haunt you forever.
Your Ghost Tour of Rome starts at Campo de’ Fiori, a square, where you’ll be regaled with the tale of Giordano Bruno. Born in the 16th century, Bruno was one of Rome’s greatest minds, but his discoveries led to him angering the Church. After learning about his grisly fate, you’ll begin exploring the city.
Venture through medieval backstreets with your storyteller guide; visit an ancient church adorned with skulls; and step inside the home to a mysterious order of monks. Discover the childhood home of one of Rome’s most infamous executioners; see the site of one of Rome’s most infamous prisons; and pass by a poisonous perfumery where the cosmetics killed.
Your private tour ends at the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo, where your guide will reveal the horror of Rome’s most disturbing executions and leave you with an image that will chill you to your bones.
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Master the art of authentic Italian cooking through this private cooking class! The generational tradition of extended mealtimes will be stretched across three-and-a-half fun-filled hours, culminating in a well-deserved dinner in which you feast on your recipes.
Your private class will give you the true sense of an Italian nonna’s loving kitchen. Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable English-speaking chef, our centrally situated cooking masterclass is perfect for kids and adults; beginners and experts!
Savoiardi (ladyfingers) are gently dipped in rich coffee before being layered with dollops of delicately mixed eggs and panna (cream). Finished off with a sprinkle of cocoa, these delicious desserts are set aside to rest in time for an after-dinner energy boost. In fact, the espresso within a tiramisù is what gives it a name that translates literally as “pick me up”!
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to knead, roll, and shape your fresh pasta from scratch. After running your pasta dough through a traditional pasta machine, you’ll get to combine your carefully crafted creations with the flavors of the season and locality; be it twangy cacio e pepe, creamy carbonara, or saucy amatriciana.
How else to conclude your cooking class than by indulging yourself in your culinary creations! Celebrate your accomplishment with family-friendly company, a gorgeous setting, and a selection of red or white wines and soft drinks.
Whether returning a culinary maestro or a self-proclaimed novice, you’ll be sure to take the memories home with you and ruling your dinner parties back home!
5(849)
Join us on a journey through Roman history on our immersive Rome by Night Walking Tour. Your expert guide will share the city’s secrets, history, and fascinating tales—from antiquity through to the modern day, and at a pace to suit you.
Our tour starts in Rome’s most picturesque square, Piazza Navona, where the ancient Romans used to watch athletic contests (agones). Today’s piazza sits above the ancient stadium and boasts Gian Lorenzo Bernini‘s stunning Fountain of the Four Rivers as its centrepiece.
A five-minute walk from Piazza Navona takes us to the world-famous Pantheon. Constructed more than two-thousand years ago by the eccentric emperor Hadrian, the Pantheon was consecrated as a monument to all the pagan gods (pan theos, in Greek meaning all the gods). This second-century temple is one of the best-preserved monuments in the Roman Empire and its unreinforced concrete dome still perplexes architects.
Our next stop is the iconic Trevi Fountain. Immortalised by Anita Ekberg wading through its water in Federico Fellini’s iconic film La Dolce Vita, the Trevi Fountain one of the most romantic spots in the Eternal City. Snap your photos of the monument in the moonlight, listen to your guide decipher its symbols, and toss a coin over your shoulder to guarantee your return to Rome.
We emerge from Rome’s winding backstreets onto Piazza Venezia. Stretching from the foot of the Capitoline Hill, against the backdrop of the Altar of the Fatherland, Piazza Venezia is Rome’s most recognisable square, and a repository of history involving figures from Napoleon to Mussolini.
Your guide will lead you down the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the boulevard that cuts through ancient Rome, past Trajan’s Column and alongside the forums of Trajan, Augustus and Nerva. Your guide will feed your curiosity and nourish you with knowledge about ancient Rome and its empire as you make your way towards the most famous monument of all: the Colosseum.
The Colosseum is one of the most awe-inspiring attractions that has survived from antiquity. As a colossal feat of architecture and engineering, its form has been replicated throughout the ages, manifested in stadiums and sports venues around the world. But while its form is familiar to us, the spectacles it accommodated are entirely alien, and remind us of the violent nature of Roman culture.
Group sizes are 15 people maximum.
Book your spot now to avoid missing out!
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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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Feed your curiosity while pleasing your palate on this indulgent Rome Food Tour! This fun (and filling) food tour gives you and a small group of others insider access to Rome’s best delicatessens, pizzerias and restaurants as well as Rome’s tastiest traditional food the locals keep to themselves.
Our Rome food tour takes place in Trastevere, Rome’s most traditional medieval neighbourhood. The area is renowned for its buzzing nightlife and fantastic eateries with delightful aromas spilling out of them. However, it’s also known to have its fair share of tourists traps! Our team of expert foodies invite you, and your tastebuds, to try some of the finest flavours in the city! Vacations are too short to eat bad food, right?
During the experience, we will try at least 10 different tastings together with a selection of local wines. However, this experience is more than just simply trying different local foods while sipping on red wine. This is a journey inside the Roman kitchen—discovering the delicacies, the diet and the cultural dos and don’ts.
Not only will you experience the mouthwatering flavours of Rome, but you’ll also discover the process, meet the makers, and truly understand why Italian cuisine is considered the best in the world. So book your spot on our Rome Food Tour today and get ready for a true taste of the capital!
Please note: the places that we visit and the food that we try depends on the season.
This is a sustainable tour, meaning part of its profits goes towards reforestation and other sustainable projects. We also ask all of our guests to bring a reusable water bottle to refill at one of the water fountains along our route to stay hydrated and help us reduce waste.
**Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate a gluten-free or vegan diet but we hope to be able to in the future. While we can cater to vegetarians, we ask that you let us know about dietary requirements in advance so we can best suit your needs.**
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Rome may well be the world’s most beautiful city, but after dark a more sinister side emerges. The ghosts of popes, emperors, and artists lurk on every corner, their lives claimed by tragedy and conspiracy across more than 2,000 years of history. Our Rome Ghost Tour is not for the faint hearted — you’ll hear the ghastly tales of beheadings and murder that are sure to keep you up late at night.
Your Rome Ghost Tour starts at Campo de’ Fiori, a central square, where you’ll be treated to the tale of Giordano Bruno, one of Rome’s greatest minds who got on the wrong side of the church. After learning about his grisly end, you’ll begin to explore the city. Venture through medieval backstreets; visit an ancient church adorned with skulls; and step inside the home to a mysterious order of monks. Discover the childhood home of one of Rome’s most infamous executioners; see the site of one of Rome’s most infamous prisons; and pass by a poisonous perfumery where cosmetics killed.
Your tour ends at the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo, where your guide will reveal the horror of Rome’s most disturbing executions. If you’re (un)lucky, you might even encounter a ghost or two.
No matter what, you’ll never see Rome the same way again.
5(910)
Did someone say Spritz? Discover the flavours of Rome on our Spritz and Spaghetti Class. Our centrally located kitchen is where you’ll learn everything you need to mix traditional Italian cocktails, and perfect the art of making fresh pasta. This is the only cooking class of its kind in Rome – a perfect blend of food, friends, and tipsy fun. So come join us and see what all the fuss is about!
Our team will welcome you and your small, intimate group with a mixology demo making Italy’s best-loved drink: Aperol Spritz. You’ll then get started on your hands-on pasta-making lesson led by a fun-loving, fluent professional chef, during which we’ll also be making two other drink.
Your professional chef will guide you every step of the way – from kneading the dough to cutting the pasta. You’ll also be making a creamy carbonara sauce to coat your fresh pasta (vegetarians can try out another Roman classic of cacio e pepe). Travelling is all about meeting new people. At the end of this cooking class, you’ll dine on what you’ve made in the fun, tipsy company of your new foodie friends.
Book now and start making memories.
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One of the best ways to meet people in a new city is to grab a drink together, and few city serve up more iconic drinks than Rome. Whether you’re travelling solo or with a group, for a long vacation or a short city break – our Rome Tipsy Tour is for you!
This unique nightlife experience combines all our favourite elements of travel: discovering new places, being immersed in different cultures, meeting fun people, and trying out a range of delicious drinks! It’s not a run-of-the-mill bar crawl. It’s a sociable tour that gives you a real taste of with Rome’s sights, stories, and signature drinks in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with fun, local hosts. We also welcome sober travellers who want to join for a social experience but who want to forgo a hangover, so we’ll have non-alcoholic options available as well!
You’ll meet your guide and group at Piazza Madonna dei Monti, where we’ll break the ice with a warm Italian welcome – aka, a refreshing glass of local wine. After saying cheers—salute—we’ll head into Monti, an uber-trendy district filled with quirky bars and cobblestoned streets, and plenty to unpack. In ancient Rome, Monti was known as a suburra – the red-light district of Rome where prostitutes plied their trade and gangsters once roamed. As we wander through the cobblestone streets your guide will tell you scandalous stories of sex and bloodshed that you won’t hear on your typical walking tour.
After so much scandal, you’ll surely need a drink. So at our first stop on the Rome Tipsy Tour you’ll get an extra stiff one. The spotlight will be on Carpano Classico a venerable vermouth with a curious story! Unravel the history of the man who made it – Antonio Benedetto Carpano – back in 1786 whilst sharing some sips with your newfound friends.
We’ll keep the night going with some more saucy stories before trying a classic Italian Spritz. Indulge in the bitter flavours of Aperol or Campari Spritz while enjoying dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing—apart from getting tipsy of course!
Our final stop is Rome’s most iconic road, the Via dei Fori Imperiali, leading down to the Colosseum. The views of the ancient city are best enjoyed after dark with an ice-cold Limoncello – trust us. Sip away as your guide tells shocking stories of the power-hungry Roman emperors who once ruled the known world.
At 11 p.m., the Tipsy Tour officially ends, but the night out begins! We will continue drinking with our new friends at some of Rome’s most popular bars!
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We promise to make your night in Rome one you’ll never forget! Skip a boring walking tour, and come get tipsy with us.
Book your spot now!
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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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Explore the wonders of the Eternal City on our Wonders 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 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.
We’ll then 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!
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.
Our Rome Walking 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. Make sure you don’t miss out.
Secure your spot today!
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