The 6 best night tours in Rome

Get to know the most romantic and enigmatic side of Rome with a very special night tour of the city's most emblematic sites. It will be an experience you will always remember!

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

8 min read

The 6 best night tours in Rome

Vatican City at night | ©Giuseppe Milo

Rome's antiquity gives the city an irresistible charm and beauty. At every corner there is a palace, a temple or an ancient monument that envelops the city with a special atmosphere. And although this uniqueness is already evident in the morning, as the sun sets Rome is transformed into a magical and exciting city.

At dusk, when the lights that adorn the city are illuminated, it is the perfect time to take a leisurely stroll through the monumental streets of Rome and discover the most romantic side of the Eternal City. Here are the 5 best night tours in Rome to do during your holiday.

1. Take a night walking tour of Rome

Roman Colosseum by Night| ©Raul Valdizan
Roman Colosseum by Night| ©Raul Valdizan

Taking a night walking tour of Rome is the best way to admire the city's monuments in all their splendour.

Accompanied by a guide, you can take a pleasant stroll through the streets of the historic centre and discover some of the most emblematic places of the city with a different atmosphere and as you have never seen them before (the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, etc.).

It is a fantastic plan that I recommend you to do if it is the first time you visit the city because besides enjoying the views and the scenery you will also learn a lot about the history of Rome.

The guide will accompany you during the tour through some of the best sights of Rome (Terrazza del Pincio, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, etc.) so you can take some fantastic photos as a souvenir of the experience. In addition, he knows a lot of interesting facts and will give the cultural tour a very entertaining touch so that you will have a great time.

Book a night tour of Rome illuminated

2. Join the adventure of a night tour of Rome on wheels!

Night tour of the Spanish Steps| ©Allie_Caulfield
Night tour of the Spanish Steps| ©Allie_Caulfield

If you feel like discovering Rome by night in a fun and different way... have you ever thought about taking a night tour by segway or by bike? It's a fantastic plan to do in the city, especially if you're travelling with your family - the kids will love the idea!

Besides, by going on wheels you'll cover much more ground than if you were on foot, with the advantage that you'll see much more without ending up with sore feet after a long walk.

Accompanied by a guide along the route, you will learn many anecdotes and stories about the monuments you will see along the way (the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum...) and you will enjoy the beautiful illuminated Roman landscape from iconic places such as Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona or the Capitoline Hill, among others.

In just one night you will get a sensational photographic report of Rome while you tour the city in a very original and exciting way. Do you dare to try it? It will be a plan you will not forget!

Book a night Segway tour of Rome

3. Dare to discover the most enigmatic side of Rome with a ghost tour by night

View towards the bridge and Castel Sant'Angelo| ©Jose Mateo Jurado
View towards the bridge and Castel Sant'Angelo| ©Jose Mateo Jurado

An ancient city like Rome has forged a wealth of surprising and interesting stories over time. If you are not visiting Rome for the first time and you feel like doing something different to explore other facets of the city, a night tour of Rome's legends is a very entertaining option. You also have some more specific ones like the Angels and Demons tour of Rome based on the work of Dan Brown.

With this kind of activities you will be able to admire several of the most emblematic monuments and places of the city like the Castel Sant'Angelo, the Palazzo Farnese, the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle or the Ponte Sisto under the light of the stars and under a new perspective while listening to amazing stories, legends and myths that have happened in Rome for centuries.

Rome's night legend tours usually don't last too long (around 1 hour and 30 minutes) so they are pretty cool activities to do if you don't have much time in the city but you don't want to give up seeing it lit up at night and with a touch of mystery- you'll have a blast!

Book a night-time ghost tour of Rome

4. Take a bite out of the Roman night with a night tour with a gastronomic twist!

Enjoying Italian Pizza| ©Nik Owens
Enjoying Italian Pizza| ©Nik Owens

If two of your greatest passions are art and food, Rome is the place for you to enjoy both. And taking a night tour of Rome with a gastronomic twist is the best way to do it.

It's customary to have pizzas in Rome at night, so you'll start your evening with a delicious thin-crust pizza at an Italian restaurant. Afterwards, you'll take a moonlit tour of the city's streets to see the more enigmatic side of the city and its beautiful monuments such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Square and Basilica, the Capitoline Hill and Piazza Navona.

The finishing touch to an unforgettable evening will be an authentic Italian gelato. This is the country where this delicacy was invented and the gelato has a special flavour - once you try it, you're sure to want to try it again! That's why, in this post, I'll leave you with a list of the best gelato shops in Rome so you can come back whenever you want.

The night tours of this kind usually last a bit longer than the rest of the night tours in Rome**(a bit more than 3 hours**) but they are worth it because besides enjoying the illuminated landscape of the Eternal City, you will also have a small and fun gastronomic experience that always cheers up your spirits.

Book a nighttime food tour in Rome

5. Enjoy an intimate evening with a private night tour of Rome.

Night at the Trevi Fountain| ©Henning Klokkeråsen
Night at the Trevi Fountain| ©Henning Klokkeråsen

In case you prefer to get to know Rome by night in a more intimate way, without being part of a large group of tourists, or you want to surprise your partner with a romantic plan just for two through the streets of the Eternal City seeing its beautiful monuments illuminated under the stars, another interesting option to consider are the private night tours of Rome.

With this type of tour you will have the opportunity to explore Rome by night in a private vehicle with driver and customize your own itinerary around the city visiting the monuments you like the most: the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Vatican, St. Peter's Square, the Circus Maximus or Piazza Navona, among others.

In addition, private night tours of Rome are an excellent option to enjoy the special charm that the city gives off at nightfall if you do not have much time or if you do not want to get too tired, as they only last about 2 hours and 30 minutes and usually include the transfer to the hotel.

Book a Vespa Night Tour of Rome

6. Be captivated by the illuminated Rome with a minibus tour

Taking a photo of the Colosseum| ©David Monje
Taking a photo of the Colosseum| ©David Monje

Imagine gazing at the illuminated Roman monuments and streets from the comfort of a minibus. In a two-hour tour of the most emblematic places in the city you can enjoy the best views without getting tired and letting yourself be carried away by the driver who will leave nothing to improvisation.

Throughout this tour you will see the most representative squares of Rome such as Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Venezia or Piazza Navona, without forgetting of course the spectacular St. Peter's Square which, when illuminated, is even more impressive.

But on the route of this comfortable minibus you will not miss the Colosseum or the Circus Maximus, whose illumination will not leave anyone indifferent, as well as Mount Gianicolo, considered the most romantic place in Rome.


Is it worth taking a night tour in Rome?

The Pantheon by night| ©Ricardo Ramírez Gisbert
The Pantheon by night| ©Ricardo Ramírez Gisbert

Of course it is! If the beauty of Rome is striking in daylight, at nightfall the Eternal City shines with a special charm.

Moreover, compared to the mornings, at night there are usually not so many tourists and the stroll through the centre of Rome is quieter. For example, you can enjoy much more some monuments like the Trevi Fountain or the Sant'Angelo Bridge, which are always crowded with people.

Although these tours take place during the night, the monuments you will visit are well lit to enhance their charm and this will allow you to appreciate their architectural and ornamental elements from a different point of view than during the day.

Therefore, if you are a photography enthusiast, I recommend you to take a night tour in Rome because during the route you will get to take some of the best pictures of your trip. It will be an activity that you will enjoy a lot!

And not forgetting that taking a walk at night through the monumental Rome is a very romantic and intimate experience, especially if you choose a private night tour of the Eternal City. A great plan to surprise your partner during your holiday.

How much does it cost to take a night tour in Rome?

Night view of the Arc de Triomphe| ©Dennis Jarvis
Night view of the Arc de Triomphe| ©Dennis Jarvis

From 24 € you can find options in Hellotickets to make a night tour in Rome to suit all tastes and pockets.

The price of the tours will depend on factors such as the duration of the activity and the number of tourist attractions to be visited, whether it is a standard or private tour, whether it is done on foot or on wheels, if it includes a gastronomic experience during the tour or the transfer to and from the hotel, to name a few.

How long are the night tours in Rome?

St. John's Basilica in Rome by Night| ©Mark CjC
St. John's Basilica in Rome by Night| ©Mark CjC

Rome night tours usually last about 3 hours, which makes them a great activity to do before dinner.

Some of the night tours in Rome even include a small dining experience along the way, so once the tour is over you can skip that time to continue exploring the city at night on your own.

Can I do a night tour in Rome with kids?

The whole family touring Rome by night| ©Dale Cruse
The whole family touring Rome by night| ©Dale Cruse

Absolutely! Most night tours in Rome usually start around 6 or 7 PM, so it's a great thing to do in Rome with kids before dinner. The guides are always very friendly with children and the tours are very family-friendly.

In any case, parents are the ones who know the kids best to know if a tour of this kind is something they might like. In my opinion, I think so because during a night tour they will not only enjoy beautiful views of the centre of Rome and its monuments, but they will also learn things in a fun and entertaining way.

Moreover, there are night tours around Rome that can be done by bike or Segway to give them an extra touch of originality and adventure. A plan that teenagers will surely love to do during their stay in the Eternal City!