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Rome in a Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum

11 Reviews 4.55 out of 5 stars Based on 11 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 91% of reviewers
91% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Rome, Italy
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from $119.88 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.
7 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Rome Vatican & Colosseum Highlights Tour: see Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in one full-day Rome tour with a licensed English-speaking guide.

Start with a skip-the-line Vatican Museums tour and discover Vatican City highlights, papal art collections, the Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael’s Rooms and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s frescoes.

After the Vatican tour, independently reach the second meeting point for your Ancient Rome tour. Visit the Colosseum with reserved entrance and learn about gladiators, emperors and ancient Roman entertainment. Then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, including imperial ruins, temples, basilicas and panoramic views over the archaeological area.

This small-group Rome highlights tour is ideal for travelers who want to combine the Vatican and Colosseum in one day with expert guidance, reserved entrances and an English-only experience for higher guide quality.

What's Included

  • Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person + 2 € per person res fee)
  • Rome Vatican & Colosseum Highlights Tour in English
  • Vatican highlights: Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael’s Rooms and papal art collections
  • Transportation from the Vatican to the Colosseum
  • Optional Gratuities
See 4 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point
End point

Piazza del Colosseo
1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

What To Expect

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Vatican Museums

This museum houses a large collection of artifacts from Ancient Egypt and also many Egyptian works of Roman production in nine rooms. The Carlo Grassi Collection of bronzes is part of the collection. Such material includes papyruses, sarcophagi, mummies, sculptures and reproductions of the Book of the Dead
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2 hours 30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna ('Great Chapel'), the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today, it is the site of the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Colosseum

The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir, Titus further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian. The three emperors who were patrons of the work are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named the Flavian Amphitheatre by later classicists and archaeologists for its association with their family name (Flavius).
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3 hours Admission Ticket Included

Foro Romano

The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum (Italian: Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life in Rome: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million or more sightseers yearly.
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20 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill, which relative to the seven hills of Rome is the centremost, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire. The site is now mainly a large open-air museum while the Palatine Museum houses many finds from the excavations here and from other ancient Italian sites.Imperial palaces were built there, starting with Augustus. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the rich.The hill originally had two summits separated by a depression; the highest part was called Palatium and the other Germalus. Using the Forma Urbis its perimeter enclosed 63 acres; while the Regionary Catalogues of the 4th century enclose 131 acres
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20 minutes Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Due to heightened security measures, you may experience delays in clearing security checks when entering the Colosseum
  • Entry to the Vatican Museums is based on strictly timed tickets. For this reason, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed access. All visitors must have a photo ID for the security check
  • Bags (Colosseum): Bulky bags, trolleys or backpacks are not allowed at the Colosseum. No glass bottles are allowed. There is no cloakroom in the Colosseum

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Rome in a Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-5049P66

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.55
11 reviews

Average 4.55 out of 5 stars based on 11 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
9
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Rome in a Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum?
A:
This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person + 2 € per person res fee).
  • Rome Vatican & Colosseum Highlights Tour in English.
  • Vatican highlights: Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael’s Rooms and papal art collections.
  • Sistine Chapel visit with Michelangelo frescoes.
  • Colosseum guided tour with reserved entrance.
  • Roman Forum and Palatine Hill guided tour.
  • Vatican Museums guided tour with licensed English-speaking guide.
The following is NOT included:
  • Transportation from the Vatican to the Colosseum.
  • Optional Gratuities.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Rome in a Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Rome in a Day: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Colosseum will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person + 2 € per person res fee)
  • Rome Vatican & Colosseum Highlights Tour in English
  • Vatican highlights: Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael’s Rooms and papal art collections
  • Sistine Chapel visit with Michelangelo frescoes
  • Colosseum guided tour with reserved entrance
  • Roman Forum and Palatine Hill guided tour
  • Vatican Museums guided tour with licensed English-speaking guide
  • Transportation from the Vatican to the Colosseum
  • Optional Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour visits religious sites, and there is a dress code to be observed. Visitors must be dressed appropriately: no sleeveless blouses, no miniskirts, no shorts, and no hats are allowed
  • Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
  • Due to heightened security measures, you may experience delays in clearing security checks when entering the Colosseum
  • Entry to the Vatican Museums is based on strictly timed tickets. For this reason, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed access. All visitors must have a photo ID for the security check
  • Bags (Colosseum): Bulky bags, trolleys or backpacks are not allowed at the Colosseum. No glass bottles are allowed. There is no cloakroom in the Colosseum
  • Important: If you have a pacemaker you will need to show a certificate, otherwise you will not be admitted without being screened
  • For the Colosseum tour: The schedule is subject to changes pending more precise information from the Colosseum management
  • Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum
  • Please be advised that the tour itinerary may change, but the guided tour is always guaranteed
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

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