Have you decided to visit Italy? If you’d like to discover the majesty of its capital, here are 10 ideas for guided tours of Rome!
It’s a well-known fact: Paris is second only to Rome. The dazzling beauty of Italy’s largest city radiates around the world! We owe the greatness of our civilization to this ancient city, which in its day became the most powerful in the world. Almost 3,000 years old, Rome attracts many visitors every year. What’s more, there are hundreds of guided and unguided tours available in Rome.
However, taking advantage of the experience of an experienced guide is an excellent idea. It’ll save you time, and help you discover the many ideas for guided tours in Rome. Andiamo!
Rome in a nutshell
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Rome has a rich history that permeates every building, street corner and monument. Although the city has long since lost its hegemonic power, it remains a major European metropolis and a major cultural and economic center. Millions of visitors flock here every year! Like Paris, it’s also a popular destination for lovers, who come to enjoy its hushed, typically southern ambience.
Having suffered the ravages of the Second World War, the city has risen from the ashes to showcase its fabulous architectural heritage. The Colosseum is world-famous, as are St. Peter’s Basilica and the Trevi Fountain. It’s impossible to stroll through the city center without being reminded of scenes from La Dolce Vita! Well served, it’s also easy to get to, with countless transport and accommodation options. After all, all roads lead there, don’t they say?
Visit Rome in French
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The good thing is that it’s not at all difficult to find guided tours in Rome in the language of Molière. In such a touristy city, there’s no shortage of guides, and many take advantage of their proximity to France to offer tours punctuated with information in French. But not all guides speak French, of course, and English is still the dominant tourist language in Rome! What we recommend, if you really want guided tours of Rome in French, is to check before booking that your guide is organizing the tour in French.
Thematic guided tours of Rome
The standard guided tour of Rome is pretty much always the same. After meeting in the Piazza del Popolo, your guide will take you to the Pincio, a hill north of the Quirinal. Along the way, the key elements of this tour are innumerable: you’ll start by admiring the twin churches of Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Next, you’ll pass the majestic Flaminio Obelisk and the two fountains of Piazza Barberini. You’ll have the opportunity to climb the Piazza di Spagna staircase, the most famous in the world, which takes you right up to the majestic Trevi Fountain, a must on any guided tour of Rome. After the spectacular Piazza Colonna, celebrating the victories of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Pantheon – perfectly preserved – and the remains of Pompey’s theater await you. The tour usually ends in Piazza Navona, with its many typical bars and restaurants.
Guided tour of the Baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus
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A guided tour of Rome of cultural and historical interest, ideal for learning more about the habits and customs of antiquity. This choice itinerary takes in Rome’s most famous thermal baths, named after the famous emperor Caracalla.
Your guide will show you the mosaics, sculptures and marble cladding that testify to the splendor of the place in its day. Nearly 2,000 years ago, this was a very important social meeting place! Here, public baths gave rise to many lively conversations and, at times, were used to conceive a few… conspiracies. After a close look at the remains of the Circus Maximus, where chariot races were held in scenes reminiscent of Ben Hur, you’ll make your way to the Piazza della Bocca della Verità. Then your tour ends in the heart of the ancient Theater of Marcellus, capable in its day of making or breaking the careers of ancient actors and playwrights.
Guided tour of the Vatican
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How about a guided tour of the Holy See in Rome? Open to all, and not just to Catholics, the Vatican has succeeded in making itself accessible, and many people are eager to discover it. After all, only the Lord’s ways are inscrutable!
This spiritual guided tour takes in the Vatican Museums, the sumptuous Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The presence of a guide also means you can take advantage of a queue-busting ticket to avoid the interminable queues. The Vatican Museums boast a fabulous collection of sculptures and paintings: you may even catch a glimpse of papamobiles!
The Sistine Chapel, with its world-famous ceiling and frescoes, needs no introduction. And what about St. Peter’s Basilica? Given its beauty, this place is bound to be touched by God’s grace!
Rome by night
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Rome is just as splendid by night as it is by day. The Italian belle may even be even more desirable after dark! Enjoy the illuminations that bathe the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain or Piazza Navona in a mysterious halo. A guided tour of Rome by night is often organized by bus from the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Piazza della Repubblica. You’ll be able to admire the Diocletian Baths, the Circus Maximus, the famous Palatine and the Imperial Palaces, and then the Colosseum, the emblem par excellence of the city of Rome.
The half-hour tour continues on foot to the Teatro Marcello, Piazza Venezia, Piazza del Campidoglio and the Roman Forum. The bus then takes you to Piazza Navona and its fountains, before dropping you off at St. Peter’s Square. The final stop is in Trastevere, near Tiberina Island and the Garibaldi Bridge, where you can enjoy a well-earned meal!
Free tours
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Did you know that you can enjoy guided tours of Rome without paying a cent? Free tours can be booked in advance, and the price is free: you only pay if you’re satisfied!
Gastronomic Rome
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We’re in Italy, a mecca of European culinary heritage. Many guided tours in Rome feature typical southern cuisine! Firstly, it’s interesting to note that most guides end their tours with a drink or a meal in a restaurant. Proof, if proof were needed, that gastronomy holds an important, if not central, place in the hearts of Italians. Some of Rome’s guided tours offer you the chance to discover the best pizzerias in Rome, and sometimes even to create your own pizza. Feeling peckish?
The different ways to visit Rome
On foot
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Rome is a gigantic city and one of Europe’s largest metropolises. But its ancient center isn’t all that extensive after all! For us, Rome is best visited on foot, which is clearly the best way to explore this splendid city. In fact, guided tours are often pedestrian-only. It has to be said, though, that public transport isn’t exactly plentiful. The fault lies with the remains, which constantly slow down construction work.
By bus
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The sightseeing bus has many advantages: with its two floors and covered roof, it’s one of the best ways to visit the Italian capital. You can enjoy commentary in French during your guided tour, which lasts an hour and a half on average, and get off at any time. Stops are generally as follows:
- Via Marsala: Termini station and Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli,
- Santa Maria Maggiore: Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,
- Colosseo: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Arch of Constantine,
- Circo Massimo: Circus Maximus and Bocca della Verità,
- Piazza Venezia: Monument to Victor-Emmanuel II,
- Vaticano: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel,
- Fontana di Trevi: Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and Pantheon,
- Piazza Barberini: Via Veneto
By bike
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When it comes to sightseeing in Rome, bicycles are a great way to get around! This clean and fun alternative is encouraged by the ever-growing presence of cycle paths. Your guide will take you to the most unusual and interesting corners of the city, recommending some of the best restaurants and bars. You’ll be able to see most of the sights more quickly than on foot, but just as serenely. Naturally, our guided tours of Rome include the loan of bicycles. So there’s no need to worry about renting one!
By Vespa
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Ah, the Vespa… We couldn’t fail to mention this typically Roman, romantic means of locomotion. The Vespa is more than just a scooter: it’s an institution for those who know the city and its spirit of freedom!
Guided tours of Rome are organized by Vespa, especially in summer, whether you’re a driver (with a valid 50 cm³ license, that is) or a passenger. They’ll take you around the city in record time and without tiring you, while giving you a typical experience to tell your friends about on your return!
Here are 10 ideas for guided tours in Rome to make the most of the transalpine capital! As you can see, there’s a plethora to choose from. Which means you can visit Rome in many different ways. And don’t hesitate to tell us about your own guided tours in Rome. For the rest of you, buon viaggio!
