The 12 VIP Experiences in Rome That Earn the Upgrade

1.VIP Vatican Breakfast and Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,796 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $107Our pick

Meet near the Vatican Museums at 8:20 am for an American-style breakfast in the Cortile della Pigna, then follow an English-speaking guide through the Vatican Museums, Gallery of Maps, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s Basilica. Groups are capped at 20, with headsets and priority entry.

“Overall we had a great time. Our guide was very friendly and incredibly informative. It is a very fast paced tour so you will mainly just get an overview and only be able to see a lot of things very quickly so if you want a more leisurely pace I would recommend choosing a different option.”

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2.VIP Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,128 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Spend about 2.5 hours with an English-speaking official Vatican guide, touring the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica in a group of up to 20. Guides such as Deborah, Maggie, Christine, and Koen bring the art to life, while priority access helps you avoid much of the waiting.

“Fantastic tour, Maggie did a great job and was very knowledgeable. We had the perfect day as there were not a lot of tourist in town and we were able to access everywhere without long lines nor crowd.”

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3.Rome Catacombs & Capuchin Crypts VIP Group Tour with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 652 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $13Best value

Meet near Piazza Barberini for a 3.5-hour English tour of Rome’s Capuchin Crypts and St. Callixtus Catacombs. You’ll ride between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle, hear stories from guides such as Davide, Monica, Matteo, and Ilaria, and see the Appian Way and Aurelian Walls. The bone displays are striking, while the catacombs offer a quieter look at early Christian burial.

“Matteo is great guide. He did not rush us, gave us time to enjoy the tour and educational. Great job!”

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4.Exclusive Golf Tour Private VIP with Local & Gelato o Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 500 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $115Top rated

Explore Rome in a private electric golf cart with a local guide such as Cristian, Matteo, Alex, or Stefano. See the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Aventine Hill, and Santa Maria Maggiore, then stop for traditional gelato. Hotel pickup is available within the central restricted-traffic zone.

“Our tour guide Marguerite was amazing and made the experience even better. She showed us many of Romes most important sites and added interesting historical facts to enhance the experience.”

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5.VIP Colosseum Underground and Ancient Rome Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 332 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $107

Spend about three hours at Rome’s Colosseum and Roman Forum, including the Arena and Underground areas when available. Your English-speaking guide explains gladiator games, imperial politics, and the machinery beneath the arena. Headsets help you follow along, while the small-group format aims to keep the experience personal.

“Our guide was excellent, like a walking history book, who made our tour very interesting and memorable. The underground section is definitely worth seeing, to get a better understanding of how the entertainment at the Colosseum was conducted. The Roman Forum part at the end of the tour was also excellent. I would recommend this to anyone instead of a self-guided tour. There are quite a few steep stairs involved, so be prepared with comfortable shoes!”

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6.Colosseum: Semi Private Tour with VIP Arena Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 294 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $50

Walk onto the Colosseum’s reconstructed Arena floor, look down toward the underground chambers, and explore the ground floor and second tier with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Ivano, Sofian, Teddy, and Gigi are praised for lively history lessons. Expect a small group in theory, but group size can vary.

“The tour was excellent. We had our 9 year old son with us and he kept up with the history easily. Gigi, our guide was great, very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the site. It was easy to find the meeting spot. Our only slight issue was entering the forum afterwards. We needed to wait for the group entry upon exiting the colosseum.”

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7.Colosseum VIP Top Floor Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 292 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $84

Enter through a dedicated door, ride a panoramic elevator to the Colosseum attic, and explore the upper rings with an English-speaking guide. Groups of up to seven make it easier to hear guides such as Teddy, Giovanni, or Christian and take photos without the usual crush. Your ticket also includes self-guided access to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.

“My tour guide JoJo was very knowledgeable. He explained the history in great detail and was very personable. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this experience and am looking forward to the other tours I scheduled with this company during my visit to Italy. Thank you for all that you do!”

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8.VIP Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill & Special Access Sites

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 252 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $139

This 3.5-hour walking tour links the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill’s limited-access SUPER Sites, and the Colosseum’s first and second tiers. Guides such as Luigi, Guido, Marco, Paula, and archaeology professor Sev bring the ruins to life. Expect special access, a moderate pace, many steps, and changing site access based on opening conditions.

“I am not sure if you’re able to request a guide, if so ask for Guido! He was so informative, with a great well of knowledge. There was never a moment where we were bored or left wondering what we were looking at. Now to the sites, we hit most of the highlights you’d expect from the title of the tour. We spent ample time in each location, we were never rushed, and with the exception of a short 10 minute wait at the Colosseum there were no lines! Everything was well run, and the meeting point was easy to find and get to. Overall I would recommend this tour,…”

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9.VIP Tour of Rome (3/5/8hrs) Colosseum & Vatican Museums

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 221 reviews · 3 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $580

See Rome with a private guide and chauffeur in a Mercedes sedan, van, or golf cart. The 5-hour tour adds the Colosseum and Roman Forum, while the 8-hour option can include the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica area. Guides such as Nicola, Patricia, Laura, and Michele have led past tours.

“This VIP experience was so worth it. With the heat, having a car to drop us off close to sites and a tour guide who knew how to navigate lines and entrance to the major sites. Would never have been able to see this much in one day if we had done it on our own.”

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10.Colosseum Gladiator’s Arena and Ancient Rome VIP Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 214 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $90

Enter the Colosseum through the Gladiator’s Gate and walk across the arena floor before exploring the first and second levels. Your English-speaking guide then leads you through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Guides have included Cristina, Christina, Laura, Patricia, Amy, and Feola. Bring matching ID and expect a group of up to 25 people.

“Upon arrival we were provided with audio receivers. They were easy to use and worked well. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. We saw all of the venues described in the tour description.”

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11.VIP Rome Golf Cart Food Tour with Eating Europe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $141

Spend about four hours tasting Roman food and wine while riding between Trastevere, Gianicolo Hill, the Jewish Ghetto, Testaccio, and Giolitti. Your English-speaking guide may be Luca, Cesare, Fabio, Riccardo, or another Eating Europe host. Expect generous portions, little walking, and a group of no more than seven.

“Cesar was an absolutely amazing guide. The food was fabulous and lots of varieties to really try different cuisines.”

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12.VIP Colosseum & Roman Forum Small Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $77

Explore the Colosseum’s first two levels, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum in about three hours with a guide and a maximum group of 12. Guides such as Catalina, Alessandro, Arturo, and Valerio bring the ruins to life. Expect stairs, crowds, strict ID checks, and a walking-heavy route.

“Excellent tour guide. I could not hear the guide well with the ear piece they provided so I used my own ear buds. We really enjoyed this tour.”

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