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You can save time and take the hassle out of your visit by booking Skip the Line tickets and heading straight inside. Skip the Line tours and tickets are available for many of Rome’s most popular sights and experiences, like Viator’s exclusive VIP Vatican tour, as well as Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Fast-track entry can also be enjoyed at some of Rome's other famous attractions with Skip the Line: Borghese Gallery and Gardens and Skip the Line: Colosseum and Ancient Rome, meaning you’ll have plenty of time left for quintessential Rome experiences like throwing coins into the famous Trevi Fountain or eating gelato on the Spanish steps. You won’t even have to wait for a table for dinner by booking a Skip the Line Rome Hard Rock Café reservation and you’ll be whisked to your table upon arrival.

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

Michelangelo is considered one of Tuscany’s most famous sons, but many of the masterpieces for which is he is best known are not found in Tuscany. In fact, Michelangelo spent much of his life in what is now the Italian capital of Rome, and you can see much of his artistic legacy in Rome today. In his artistic youth, Michelangelo was held in local esteem by the ruling Medici family of Florence, but he was by no means an artistic legend by the time he arrived in Rome in 1496 at age 21. But the following year, he began work on a commissioned piece that would become one of his most celebrated sculptural works - the stunning Pieta, which now sits near the entry of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The other Michelangelo masterpieces in Vatican City are his enormous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was painted from 1508–1512, and the Last Judgement fresco behind the altar was painted from 1534–1541.

Explore Rome in style on a private tour! Whether you desire a more flexible Vatican experience or want to take your time viewing legendary art and historic structures, we have a variety of private tours for you to choose from. Explore on your own on an independent tour or enjoy personalized attention with a guide. You'll come away with a better understanding of Rome and a host of stories (and photos!) to share with your friends and family back home.

From picturesque farmhouses to auburn sunsets, Tuscany is one of the most romantic and visually seductive areas of the world. The pomp surrounding this region isn't pomp, but rather well earned admiration. The rolling hills, the amber grasslands, the sunny vineyards; they all make for splendid living - and boy, do the Italians know how to drink full from these rich waters of life. An easy day trip from Florence is all it takes to see them yourself. Gourmands and sommeliers from around the world gather to this illustrious region to sharpen their palettes and indulge in a little gastronomic extravagance. A small group tour of Chianti and the surrounding areas is a good way to stay intimate, and appreciate more. Scenic sunsets and drives through the hillsides are another romantic foray into Tuscany, but perhaps the most personal route is Tuscany on horseback. Can there be a better way to see the countryside?

Getting to Pompeii from Rome is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take the train to Naples, and then change trains to the slower Circumvesuviana line that will take you to the excavation site at Pompeii. (The Circumvesuviana is in the same station as the main trains to and from Naples, so that part is easy - it’s just in a different part of the station.) From Rome-Naples on the high-speed train takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and then from Naples-Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes a little over a half-hour. You can catch an early train from Rome and be at the entrance to Pompeii with plenty of time to explore the site before retracing your steps for the journey home. It’s definitely an investment in time, since you’ll spend nearly four hours of your day in transit, but it beats missing out on the ruins of Pompeii completely.

The heart of Roman civilization, which once included some 80 million inhabitants, has now been reduced to a series of important ruins in the center of the city of Rome. It is believed that Rome itself was founded in 753 B.C. by brothers Romulus and Remus, decedents of a Trojan prince. Over just a couple of centuries the city evolved into the most powerful entity on the planet, with over 20 percent of the entire Earth's estimated population under its control at one point. In its glory, this part of the Roman city was full of intricately built temples and other important buildings made of the world's finest marble and stone. However, in the 15th century, many of the ancient city's temples were scavenged of their materials and used to build a number of churches and other more modern buildings.

Day 1: City of Rome Explore Rome with a hop-on hop-off bus or a specialist walking tour that includes Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, Jewish Rome, and art history. Don’t forget to visit the Colosseum, the Roman catacombs, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Then end the day with a night tour of the city or a Tiber River cruise. Day 2: The Vatican Spend a day in the Vatican City. Witness the Papal Audience and skip the line to the Vatican Museums, Raphael's Rooms and La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Then view Michelangelo's masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel or experience an exclusive viewing of the Vatican Museums. Day 3: Day Trips Take a food trip out of the city to Chianti and Umbria or an overnight tour of the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. Sail across the Gulf of Naples and discover the secrets of Capri, or take a three-day excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri.

The city of Rome alone is full enough of treasures to last a lifetime, however, when in Rome you shouldn’t forget the other amazing sights of Italy. It may be impossible to truly discover everything, but luckily with some planning, any traveler can experience the best of other regions and cities in just one day. So take a day and go beyond the hectic urban sprawl on one or more of these fantastic full-day sightseeing tours from Rome. Ah Tuscany. The gorgeous landscapes, quaint villages and lush vineyards of this hilly region provide the perfect setting for a relaxed day trip. On a Tuscany in One Day trip, you’ll explore three villages in the Val d’Orcia, Italy’s most fertile region. Tuscany’s largest city and cultural center deserves as much exploration as possible. You might think you can’t see the top attractions and artworks of the birthplace of the Renaissance in a day, but with the help of a Skip-the-Line Tour you’ll enjoy many of Florence’s highlights.

The city’s cathedral is a reminder of Siena’s proud centuries of independence. Siena is just one of the glories of this area. Dotted across the landscape are the high walls of hill towns which once repelled marauders, but now welcome travelers, like Little Monteriggioni, with its quiet winding streets and perfectly preserved fortifications, and San Gimignano. This town’s fame rests on its extraordinary grouping of medieval towers (14 in all). This UNESCO World Heritage site is also noted for its association with the great Italian writer Dante Alighieri, and for its churches abounding with fine Renaissance artworks. If you’re staying in Florence, you can see Siena and San Gimignano and surrounding areas on a day trip. Some of the finest Tuscan cuisine is served up here, and you’ll want to sample fine wines in the numerous historic vineyards. Honey and olive oil are among the other local specialties.

The cultural and historical impact of Florence is overwhelming. Cradle of the Renaissance and home of Machiavelli, Michelangelo and the Medici, the city seems unfairly over-blessed with art, culture and history. It is understandable then, that the labyrinthine alleyways get confusing. Orient yourself with a tour, either by bike, Segway, or the Hop-on Hop-off tour. The Uffizi and Accademia Galleries are world famous for their prisons and for housing numerous famous Michelangelos and masters of the 14th and 15th century Florentines, so consider starting your day off there. From here, a walk into behind-the-scenes Florence, where a tour of the Vasari Corridor will lead you on to Piazza Santa Maria Novella and its magnificent Dominican church. Florence has many wonders to behold, but one of those wonders is the legendary Italian Countryside. Easily accessible from Florence, the town of Pisa lies a scenic 102 kilometers west.