Best Vatican Tours And Colosseum Tours (Skip The Line)

This selection of Vatican and Colosseum tours help you skip the line and save time when in Rome. Here's the best Vatican tours and Colosseum tours in Rome.

Looking from the Vatican out over Rome

Colosseum and Vatican tours

Rome, the capital of Italy, needs no special introduction. Often described as an open museum, this amazing city has tons to offer.

Two of the main attractions in Rome that you'll want to visit are the Vatican City and Colosseum. You'll soon discover though, that tens of thousands of other visitors also have the same idea!

The Vatican and the Colosseum are two of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome and, as such, can get very crowded.

This results in monumental queues to buy Vatican and Colosseum tickets. If you don't want to spend half of your precious time in Rome standing in line, I suggest taking Vatican and Colosseum tours. 

Why taking Vatican City and Colosseum tours is a good idea

Expect lots of people inside the Vatican

If you have limited time in Rome, you'll want to make the most of every second you can. Taking a guided tour removes the hassle of queuing for Vatican and Colosseum tickets. You'll also get the benefits of an expert guide who'll explain what it is you are actually seeing!

Additionally, you should note that as of 1st July 2019, independent visitors who want to visit the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica might have to queue twice. This is because the passage leading from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica is only accessible to people who are taking a tour.

For time-conscious visitors, a skip the line Rome tour is by far the best option.

Why taking Colosseum and Vatican tours might not be so good

Inside the Colosseum in Rome

The main downside to taking a guided tour of the Vatican City and Colosseum, is that you may feel rushed. You'll be on the set schedule for the tour, and due to the very nature of a 3 or 4 hour tour, you can't possibly see everything.

If you have plenty of time, and want to see things at your own pace, it might not be your cup of tea.

Choosing which tour in Rome to take

Skip the line Rome with one of these Vatican city tours

This is actually a bigger problem than you might think! There are literally hundreds of tours in Rome, and sorting through all of them can literally cause you a headache.

Fortunately, we've done the hard work for you. Our selection of the best Vatican and Colosseum tours in Rome has been carefully curated based on variety, ratings, and the number of reviews. These are all available through our trusted partner Get Your Guide, who we use ourselves when booking tours when we travel.

Vatican and Colosseum Tours

These Vatican and Colosseum tours in Rome will help you skip the line, save time, and enjoy the highlights of Rome with a guide.

Vatican and Colosseum tours in Rome

So there you have it! This list of popular tours in Rome is by no means complete, as there are literally hundreds of tours in Rome, but it will help you decide what you want to do in the Eternal City.

If you take one of these Vatican and Colosseum tours in Rome, or any other tour in Rome for that matter, let me know what you thought!

Related: Captions About Italy 

Vatican Tours Skip The Line FAQ

Readers planning to spend time in Rome often ask questions similar to:

Can you do the Colosseum and Vatican in one day?

You can just about see the Vatican and Colosseum in one day if you have skip-the-line tickets, but it will feel very rushed. It would be much better to allow a full day for the Vatican in order to better appreciate it.

How do I skip the line at the Vatican?

Experience the awe-inspiring Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without waiting in long lines by buying skip-the-lines tickets with an audio guide. Book a group guided tour, or buy your ticket online from their official website to save time. Use any discount card you have obtained through travel deals as well!

Can you buy skip the line tickets at the Vatican?

If you're looking for a guided tour of the Vatican but don't want to fit it into your budget, consider purchasing an affordable skip-the-line ticket. This will allow you access without having to navigate through crowds and also get priority entry at museums!

Is Skip the Line Vatican worth it?

The Vatican is a popular tourist honeypot, with long lines that can seem like they're never-ending. Skip the hassle of waiting in line for hours on end by simply purchasing your tickets online.

Can you see the Vatican without a tour?

You can go sightseeing in the Vatican without a tour, ut you may spend a considerable amount of time waiting in queues to enter museums and rooms. This can be avoided with a skip the line ticket.

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The Best Vatican and Colosseum Tours

Interesting Facts About The Vatican

If you're thinking to take a Vatican tour, you might be interested in some of these facts so you know before you go:

  • The Vatican is the official residence and principal headquarters of the pope, located in Vatican City on the west bank of the Tiber River within the Greater Rome metropolitan area
  • The Vatican is actually a relatively small country, measuring just 0.44 square kilometers (109 acres), making it the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world
  • The Vatican is home to some of the world's most famous artworks and museums, including the Sistine Chapel, which is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art
  • Vatican City has its own radio station, television station, newspaper, and postal service
  • The Vatican's Swiss Guard is one of the oldest military units in continuous operation, having been founded in 1506
  • Vatican's library is one of the oldest and largest in the world, with over 82,000 codices (handwritten books) and 1.6 million printed books
  • The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical research institutes in the world, and operates two telescopes, one in Arizona and one in Italy
  • Vatican City is the only country in Vatican City is the only country in the world with its own pharmacy, which sells medicines not available anywhere else
  • Vatican City is home to over 9,000 works of art, making it one of the largest private art collections in the world
  • The Vatican Museums receive over 6 million visitors each year, making it the 6th most visited tourist attraction in Vatican Museums receive over 6 million visitors each year, making it the 6th most visited tourist attraction in the world
  • Vatican City has its own railway station, but no trains actually enter or leave the country!
  • Vatican City has a heliport, which is used by the Pope when he needs to travel by helicopter

Interesting Facts About The Colosseum

Before you take the Colosseum tour, you might be interested to know a few facts about the famous amphitheatre:

  • The Colosseum is a massive stone amphitheatre built in Rome, Italy between 70 and 80 AD
  • The Colosseum could seat up to 80,000 people, and was used for public events such as gladiator fights, executions, re-enactments of
  • The Colosseum was built on the site of a former lake, which was filled in and leveled to make way for the massive structure
  • The Colosseum is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions, and receives over 6 million visitors each year

More Travel Guides

You might also find these other travel guides useful when planning a trip to Italy and Europe.


Which one is Dave Briggs and which one is the donkey on SyrosDave Briggs

Dave is a travel writer who's been blogging here are Dave's Travel Pages since 2005. In addition to writing this guide about the best Vatican tours, he's created hundreds of travel itineraries and blog posts about amazing destinations all over Europe. 

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