Ancient Rome Walking Tourprivate, two hours, outside only
Private by default · no tickets, no queues · free cancellation up to 48h
What you’ll see
Five Imperial Forums, Trajan’s Markets and the Colosseum from the outside — two hours on foot, no ticket needed for any of it.
The route, stop by stop
All of it outdoors, and none of it ticketed.
- Start Largo Corrado RicciA corner everyone walks past, and the only place where all five Forums are in front of you at once. Five minutes here and the rest of the walk has a shape.5 min
- Stop The Colosseum, from the outsideFive minutes downhill and you are standing under the arches. We don’t go in, so there is no ticket and no queue — and from out here you can actually see the thing whole.20 min
- Stop The forum with no roomTwo columns and a strip of carved frieze, wedged into the last gap left between the others. Nerva built a public square in an alley, because there was nowhere else left to build one.10 min
- Stop Augustus’ firewallThirty metres of grey stone rising behind the temple. It exists because of the slum that used to burn down every few years, and it is the most underrated wall in Rome.15 min
- Walk through The path over the excavationsA raised walkway cutting straight through the dig, with the Forums open on both sides and the traffic somewhere above your head.
- Stop Trajan’s Markets and ColumnSix floors of brick still standing after nineteen centuries, and beside them a column carved top to bottom with a war — a hundred and fifty metres of story wound round the stone.20 min
- Walk past Piazza Venezia and the CordonataMichelangelo’s ramp up to the Capitoline, built wide and shallow on purpose so a man on horseback could ride to the top without dismounting.
- Final stop The terrace above the Roman ForumYou come round the side of the palace and the whole Forum opens up underneath you, end to end, with the Colosseum closing it at the far side.20 min
- Return Back to Largo Corrado RicciFive minutes downhill, and you are back in Monti with the rest of the day free.
What’s included
Included
- Licensed guide, two hours, your group only
- Radio headsets for groups of seven or more
- A route adjusted to your pace on the day
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
Not included
- Entrance tickets — nothing on this route is ticketed
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pick-up
Walking in winter, and what to wear
- The whole walk is outdoors, so the weather is the tour. Cobbles and gravel throughout — comfortable shoes matter more than anything else.
- Winter afternoons are the best light on the Forums, and the quietest. The 14:30 finishes around sunset from November to February.
- Rain? We move you rather than send you out in it. Message us and we’ll find another slot.
Price and departures
€220 / groupTwo hours, your group only, licensed guide. Nothing else to pay — there are no tickets on this route.
+ €45 / personRadio headsets included from seven people up, so everyone hears on the busier stretches of Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Converted prices are estimates — we charge in euro.
What our guests say
4.9 average from 1,400+ reviews on Google and Tripadvisor
Book the walk
Pick a date and a departure. Private by default, so the group is only ever yours.
Cancellation policy
All times are Rome local time.
FAQ
What people ask before they book.
Do we go inside the Colosseum or the Roman Forum?
No, and that’s deliberate. Everything on this route is seen from outside, which means no tickets, no queues and no timed entry — and from the terrace above the Forum you see more of it at once than you do from inside. If you want to go in, book that separately and do this walk first: it makes far more sense of what you’re looking at.
Is the tour always private?
Yes. You never share it with strangers. The price is for your group, up to four people, with a small addition per person after that.
How far do we walk?
Around two and a half kilometres over two hours, mostly flat, with one gentle climb up to the terrace. Cobbles and gravel throughout, so comfortable shoes matter.
Can we do this if we’re not riding a Vespa?
Of course. It’s a standalone walking tour — no Vespa, no licence, nothing to ride. Plenty of guests book it on its own, and plenty pair it with a Vespa ride on another day.
Can children come?
Yes. It’s two hours on foot with regular stops, which most children over about six manage comfortably. Tell us their ages when you book and the guide adjusts the pace and the stories.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain doesn’t stop us and the tour runs as planned. If we must cancel because of storms or an official weather warning, you can choose another date or a full refund.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure, with a full refund. Within 48 hours the booking is non-refundable and the remaining balance is charged. Tap “Free cancellation” under the booking button for the full policy.
Can I buy it as a gift?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll set up a voucher with an open date — useful if you’re giving it to someone whose travel dates aren’t fixed yet.
★ 4.9 from 1,400+ reviews · Free cancellation up to 48h
Two hours, and the Forums stop being rubble.
A licensed guide, your group only, and the whole of Imperial Rome laid out from the terrace above it.
Ask on WhatsAppTwo departures daily, English or Italian • prefer to see Rome by Vespa? →