Rome & Vatican tour from Civitavecchia: Skip the bus lines

A series of stops from the Colosseum to St. Peter's, lunch at a Roman table, no long walks

A full-day private tour from Civitavecchia Port to Rome and Vatican City with a professional driver, entry tickets to major sites, a licensed guide (full-time or Vatican-focused), and lunch at a traditional Roman restaurant. You choose between a guide who stays with you all day, a guide for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel only, or a driver-only option without tickets or meals. Pickup and return to your ship are included. Large buses cannot enter central Rome, so private vans get you closer to each landmark and cut the walking distance significantly.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Colosseum1h · entry included
2. St. Peter's Basilica30m · entry included
3. Trevi Fountain30m · entry included
4. Pantheon30m · entry included
5. Spanish Steps30m
6. Circus Maximuspass by
7. Rome Termini45m
8. Piazza Veneziapass by
9. Arch of Constantinepass by
10. Roman Forumpass by

Explore Rome and Vatican highlights

• Visit the Colosseum
• See the Arch of Constantine
• Pass by the Roman Forum
• Pass by Circus Maximus
• Pass by Piazza Venezia
• Visit the Pantheon
• Visit the Trevi Fountain
• Visit the Spanish Steps
• Enjoy lunch at a Roman restaurant
• Tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Visit St. Peter’s Basilica

The experience

Large tour buses are banned from Rome's historic center, which means most shore excursions dump you miles away and make you walk 4 to 6 miles to reach the sights. This tour uses a private, air-conditioned van that can navigate the narrow streets and drop you at each stop: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia, Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. The route covers ten hours from port to port, and the van holds your group together without splitting you onto a bus with strangers.

The private guide options include entry tickets and a curated lunch at an authentic Roman restaurant featuring local specialties. If you book the full-time guide, they stay with you throughout the day and explain each site as you move through it. The Vatican-focused option pairs a driver with a guide who specializes in the museums and chapel, then you explore the remaining landmarks on your own pace. The light option gives you the van and driver alone, with free time to choose your own lunch and decide how long to spend at each stop. Your driver can recommend traditional restaurants along the way. Every guest needs a valid ID matching their ticket for entry to the paid sites.

Pickup happens at your ship in Civitavecchia, where your English-speaking driver waits outside with a name sign. If your group is eight or more, you can book multiple vans that travel together and hit the same stops, so families stay connected. The vehicle is fully licensed, air-conditioned, and holds your group without the crowds and delays of a shared bus.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking driver and fully licensed, air-conditioned vehicle for the entire day.
• pickup and dropoff at Civitavecchia Port with your driver waiting at the ship with a name sign.
• entry tickets to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica (private guide options only).
• a dedicated tour guide for the full day or Vatican portion only (private guide options only).
• a traditional Roman set lunch at an authentic local restaurant featuring local specialties (private guide options only).

Options for this experience

3 options

Light tour: no guide, no ticketsGuide in English · 07:30The most affordable way to see Rome! Includes a full-time driver and vehicle. Tickets, lunch, and a tour guide are not included. Pickup is included.

Private-2hours Vatican guideGuide in English or Italian · 07:30Includes a private driver and vehicle, a 2-hour private Vatican guided tour, tickets, and lunch. Pickup is included.

Full-day private tour guide in RomeGuide in English or Italian · 07:30Includes a private driver and vehicle, a full-day private tour guide in Rome, tickets, and lunch. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by ItalyBestExcursions

Is this one for you?Choose the full-time guide if you want context and stories for each landmark as you move through them; pick the Vatican-focused guide if you want expert insight into the museums and chapel but prefer to explore Rome's other sites at your own pace; book the light option if you're comfortable navigating on your own and want to spend your budget on lunch and time rather than a guide's narration.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's actually included if I book the private guide option?

The private guide options include entry tickets to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica; a professional English-speaking guide for either the full day or the Vatican portion only; a traditional Roman set lunch at a local restaurant; and the driver and vehicle for the entire ten-hour tour from your ship.

Can I do this tour if I don't want a guide or tickets?

Yes, the light tour option includes only the driver and air-conditioned van for the full day. You skip the entry fees and guide, and you have free time to eat lunch wherever you choose at your own expense. Your driver will recommend authentic local restaurants if you ask.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The private van drops you at each landmark, so you avoid the 4 to 6 miles of walking that bus tours require. Walking time at individual sites depends on how long you spend there, but the van eliminates the long walks between the port and the attractions.

What happens if St. Peter's Basilica or another site is closed on my tour date?

Specific sites are subject to official closures, capacity limits, and unexpected events beyond the operator's control. If a site is unavailable, you'll receive an exceptional alternative experience or a partial refund of the ticket price. St. Peter's Basilica in particular can occasionally close or have very long waits, and no refund is issued in that case.

Do I need to bring anything for entry to the Vatican or Colosseum?

Every guest must present a valid ID (a passport, driver's license, or national ID card) that matches the name on the ticket at security. No name changes are allowed. If your ID doesn't match your ticket or is missing, entry will be denied and no refund is issued.