A private tour means that it will be just your party and your guide, no other people taking part into the tour. That means, no waiting for other travellers who are running late, or pre-defined pee- and coffee-stops, and no rigid schedule to adhere to!

It means that the tour will be mostly about YOU. It’s YOUR holiday, it’s YOUR dream vacation, it’s YOUR quality time with your family we are talking about.

And believe me, I know very well what precious assets these are. I feel honoured every time someone entrusts to me the most valuable days they have: their family holiday. 

My goal is to make sure you get the most out of every moment. 

I can make sure you are saving time, by providing a custom-built itinerary that will include all the sights you wish to see (and maybe some you didn’t even know about!), skip-the-line tickets, efficient planning, and tips about eating out, moving around and shopping like a local. I can take away the hassle of researching your destination,  finding out about opening times, best times to visit, how to avoid tourist traps.

I’m bringing 20+ years of experience in planning and running memorable tours and experiences in Rome, a solid background in art history and archeology, and a network of highly motivated professional guides to help you shape your perfect holiday. 

It’s not just about booking a tour: it’s about getting your personal consulting session with a pro who knows the in’s and out’s of this wonderful city. 

And once you get here, we’ll spend some hours or days together, adapting the tour to your pace and needs, leaving space for an unforseen detour if something special piques your curiosity, and pointing out the details you might appreciate most, according to your interests. We’ll probably spend some time together enjoying a gelato or a coffee in some of my favourite places.

Once you leave, we’ll stay in touch, you might pass along my contact to your friends, or you might be back in the future. And you’ll always have a friend in Rome ready to help you planning your next trip to Italy!

Planning a trip to Rome? You like the tours I offer? Get in touch by using the form provided or by sending an email! I can’t wait to hear when you’ll be here, whom you are traveling with, what you like doing most during your holidays, what your interests are, what’s on your bucket list when you think of Rome…

I will send you an itinerary created just for you, based on your preferences. We’ll work on it until it’s perfect, exactly the way you want it to be. You will have plenty of time to talk everything over with your family, to talk to me about any special plans you have that you might need help with (a birthday gift, an anniversary celebration, a marriage proposal, a family reunion…).

Once you are ready to book, I will send you a PayPal link to pay a non-refundable deposit of 40,00 EUR per tour to confirm your booking. If you book any additional services provided by third parties (entrance tickets, workshops, private driver) they may be payable in advance. The balance you’ll pay directly to your guide once you get to Rome, this way even cancelling a tour due to any unforseen events will be as hassle free as possible (see our Cancellation Policy).

Planning a holiday trip is not exactly like buying something over the counter. A tour is a very personal experience. To make it perfect just for you, I’d like to “meet” you beforehand, exchanging some emails or even setting up a Skype or Zoom call to chat things over, if that’s easier for you.

If this is your first trip to Rome, consider booking my live virtual tour Your beginner’s guide to Rome: everthing you need to know about the Eternal City and never dared to ask. It is not a pre-recorded video, but a live experience with your expert local guide.

Dive headfirst into Rome’s amazing history, get facts, data, tips and tricks to plan a perfect trip to Rome in this 1-hour long presentation, with plenty of time for an in-depth Q&A session. Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact, ask questions, take part in games and quizzes, get together over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with the family and friends traveling with you! It’s the perfect way to get into holiday mood straight away.

The tour descriptions on this site are suggestions, to help you figure out what you wish to see most, and hopefully to inspire you to also get off the beaten path and explore some of the hidden gems Rome offers. Everything is customizable, you can mix and match and together we can create just the tour you are looking for.

Each itinerary comes with one or more “add-ons”, so you can create a more in-depth experience, depending on how much time you have, what your budget is, what you want to see most and what awakes your curiosity when you read about it in the tour description!

On the other hand, if you find one or more tours which fit the bill, you can decide to book straight away by using the Instant confirmation option which is available for most tours (with the exception of tours including sites or museums where tickets have to be purchased in advance and might be sold out, and tours/experiences involving third party suppliers).

Instant confirmation means you fill the form, pay the 40,00 EUR non-refundable deposit via PayPal, and you are good to go – the balance you will pay directly to your guide on the day of the tour.

Once you have booked a tour and paid the deposit, you’ll get all the relevant information: services booked, meeting point, info about how to get there, and so on.

Most tours are walking tours. If a van or a taxi is needed, it’s specified in the tour description.

Regarding walking tours, I usually suggest meeting directly at the starting point of the tour, since that’s the easiest option. However, if you are more comfortable in meeting me at your place, it’s no problem. If you wish, I can also arrange a limo service to pick you up at your hotel to take you to the starting point of the tour.

Tours typically take 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the itinerary and on your pace. Everything is customizable: the tours listed on this site are suggestions, inspirations, ideas. Most tours offer some add-ons, that is interesting things to see nearby, often a bit off-the-beaten-path, that allow you to dig a little deeper. You can list the add-ons you would like to include on your booking request.

Sometimes, in the tour description you’ll find suggestions for combo-tours, that is 2 half-day tours that can be easily combined and turned into full day tours: in this case, please keep in mind that the combo option is usually cheaper than doing 2 different tours on different days.

If you book a full day tour, there will be time for a lunch break along the way. It might be a meal in a nice restaurant, or some delicious street food, or some pizza or gelato on the go: it’s entirely up to you and your schedule.

The cost is always for the tour, not for person.

Entry fees are not included in the cost of the guided tour you see on this website, since tickets vary depending on the number of people in your party, and on whether there are any kids in your family (children usually get a reduced or even free ticket in Italian museums). Besides, entry fees may vary in case there’s any special exhibition taking place at the museum.

That’s why the cost for the entrance tickets will be listed on the detailed summary you receive when sending a request for information or a booking.

Just as a rule of thumb, the top seller museums (Vatican, Colosseum, Borghese Gallery) are more costly (about 20-50 EUR per person depending if you are able to get them on the official website of the museum, or if you have to buy them recurring to the secondary ticketing circuit); the entry fees to other museums and sites are generally between 10-15 EUR per person.

For some sites, tickets can be purchased on site, either by cash or credit card; BUT, tickets must be purchased in advance for some of the major sites (Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Borghese Gallery).

In this case, you have 2 options: you can buy the tickets online yourself, paying by credit card, just following the simple instructions I’ll send to you; or I can take care of everything, for a small handling fee.

Tour cost doesn’t include transportation to the starting point of walking tours or in between different locations while on tour, unless a limo service is included.

Meals, drinks and gratuities are not included.

Cost guideline – Guided Tours

• For larger groups and families with children, I’ll be happy to send you a quote.
• Entrance tickets, transportation, meals, snacks and gratuities not included in above rates.
• Please note that we reserve the right to vary the prices shown on this website at any time before you book (during Bank Holidays, National Holidays, Christmas Holidays, Easter Holidays, or last minute bookings).

You will be advised of the current price at the time of booking. Once you have booked we will not increase your tour price other than for changes in VAT or any other Venues or Government imposed levy.

Payment

40,00 EUR non-refundable deposit for each tour + entrance tickets/transportation/additional services provided by third parties to be paid on booking via PayPal (no account needed! I’ll send you a link and you can pay by credit card).

Balance to be paid on the day of the tour. This is the easiest option, and it offers you the greatest benefits in case you have to cancel the tour for whatever reason.

I know very well how unpredictable life can be! That’s why I try to be as flexible as possible regarding cancellations. If you decide to cancel for any reason, you’re kindly asked to do that with a minimum of 72 hours prior to tour start time.

I put a lot of work into planning your tours and activities, and for that reason the 40,00 EUR deposit for each tour is always non-refundable.

Entrance tickets and any other additional service provided by third parties, such as headsets, private driver, meals, workshops – different from the guided tour -, are usually non-refundable.

If you have paid just the deposit plus any entrance tickets/additional services, and opted to pay the guide in cash on the day of the tour, cancellation has no further cost than what you already paid, which is non-refundable.

If you decided to pay in full in advance, cancellations made more than 7 days before the tour will be refunded in full, except for SumUp transactions cost and the items listed above: deposit on guided tour rate + tickets/additional services.

Cancellations made within a week until 72 hours before the starting time of the tour will be refunded for 50% of the guided tour rate (again, no refund for tickets and additional services).

No refunds for cancellations made within 72 hours and no shows.

For events not caused by RomArt Tours and due to force majeure, including strikes or other unexpected closures (including church services), I’ll do my very best to reschedule the tour or change the itinerary, if only one part of the tour is not accessible. Any such changes to the itinerary do not entitle to partial or total refund of the tour.

All tours are operated “rain or shine” – if you decide to cancel due to bad weather, we might discuss the option of rescheduling the tour, but there’s no refund granted.

In the extremely unlikely event I have to cancel a tour, you’ll be of course entitled to a full refund of all the moneys paid, but to no other refund to compensate for any loss, expense, change of plans caused by the tour being canceled.

Due to extremely strict time slots for entry into attractions, we recommend you show up on time. If you show up late or cannot find the meeting point, for any reason, and entry is denied because of the delay, there’s no refund.

RomArt and your private guide shall not be liable for any injuries or any damage to any client or be subject to any claim, demand, injury, or damages, whatsoever, including without limitation, those damages from acts of passive or active negligence on the part of RomArt, its associates. Client does hereby expressly release and discharge RomArt and your private guide from all such claims, demands, injuries, damages, actions or causes of action. By paying the deposit, client acknowledges that he/she has carefully read this paragraph and fully understands that this is a waiver and release of liability.

• RomArt Tours Youtube Channel

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSlzC0_8RxSvip5cM1zEeA

• Tourist Info Rome 

http://www.060608.it/

(For opening times, events, accomodation)

• Luggage storage facilities

https://www.stowyourbags.com/en/shop/rome/

convenient locations:

1. Termini train station
2. Piazza di Spagna
3. Vatican area
4. Piazza Navona

• P Stop Rome

https://www.pstop.it/

A network of infopoints located throughout the city centre, where you can find free wifi, clean toilets equipped with baby changing facilities, water dispenser, information desk

• Articles to read about Rome

https://anamericaninrome.com/wp/blog/

My friend Natalie is an american expat living in Rome since 2010 – definitely my favourite blog about Rome, tons of practical info to navigate the complex reality of the Eternal City

• Public Transit Rome

https://www.atac.roma.it/

Real time updates on public transit, route planner, fares

• Taxi Free Now App

https://apps.apple.com/US/app/id357852748?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=taxi.android.client&hl=it&gl=US

The easiest and safest way to call a taxi wherever you are in Italy

• Trenitalia

https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

The national railway network: route planner, eticketing

• Italo

https://www.italotreno.it/en

High-speed trains connecting the major Italian cities: route planner, eticketing

• Fiumicino Airport

http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en-/pax-fco-fiumicino

The largest intercontinental airport in Italy, serving Rome

• Ciampino Airport

https://www.adr.it/ciampino

The Roman hub for low-cost airlines (Ryanair, Wizzair)

• Civitavecchia Port

https://civitavecchia.portmobility.it/en

The port of Rome for cruise ship passengers

• Vatican Museums Tickets official site

https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

• Colosseum and Roman Forum Tickets official site

https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

• Borghese Gallery Tickets official site

https://www.ticketone.it/biglietti.html?affiliate=ITT&kuid=476825&doc=artistPages/tickets&action=tickets&fun=artist&language=en

• U.S. Embassy Rome

https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/contact-information/

• U.K. Embassy Rome

https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-rome/office/british-embassy

• Deutsche Botschaft Rom

https://italien.diplo.de/it-de/vertretungen/botschaft/-/1601340

• Medical care (English speaking doctors):

https://www.doctorsinitaly.com/

From specialists to hospital assistance, Doctors in Italy offers a range of medical services. The website contact and WhatsApp number make it easy to get in touch with English speaking doctors in Rome at any time of day or night, even for house (hotel) calls and same day appointments. They list their prices, so no surprises there.

https://www.aventinomedicalgroup.com/en/homepage/

Practitioners cover everything from pediatrics and family medicine, to specialties such as dermatology and orthopedics. Probably the most diverse pool of English speaking doctors in Rome.