Rome Tours & Experiences

Walk the Colosseum floor, stand under the Sistine Chapel ceiling and eat your way through Trastevere with a local guide.

Explore Rome experiences

Planning advice from our team

How to plan tours and activities in Rome

Rome layers three cities on top of each other — ancient, papal and modern — and they are close enough to walk between. That is why the city rewards slow days: the walk between sights is often as memorable as the sights themselves.

Two things decide how the trip feels: the month, because summer heat and crowds are genuinely difficult, and whether you reserved entry to the Colosseum area and the Vatican Museums in advance.

When to go

April, May, September and October are the most comfortable months. July and August are hot, with midday sightseeing best avoided. Winter is cool and much quieter, with shorter daylight but far shorter queues.

Practical tips before you book

Book the big two in advance

Colosseum, Forum and Palatine entry and Vatican Museums tickets should be reserved with a time slot, ideally first thing in the morning.

Respect dress rules

Shoulders and knees must be covered in St Peter's Basilica and many churches. A light scarf solves this in summer heat.

Split ancient and Vatican days

Both are large, and combining them means rushing the second half of the day in the heat.

Carry water and good shoes

Public fountains refill bottles across the centre, and cobbles are hard work in unsupportive footwear.

Mistakes we see most often

Queuing on the day for the Vatican Museums in high season.
Booking a midday Colosseum slot in July with no shade plan.
Eating on the main tourist squares by default.
Scheduling an early airport departure after a late evening tour — Fiumicino transfers take longer than expected at rush hour.

Read the full Rome destination guide for where to stay, getting around and entry requirements, or browse all travel guides and our travel blog. When you want the trip built around your dates, our travel team can plan it with you.

What to book