Arrive at Rome international airport, transfer to the hotel, and rest of the day free at your own leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel and after having your breakfast go out to take a Rome hop-on hop-off tour by open-top bus, and spend time city sightseeing as you travel past attractions such as the Colosseum and Vatican City. Relax aboard the double-decker Rome tour bus, listen to the audio commentary, and hop on and off at any of the stops. Select a sightseeing ticket that’s valid for 24 or 48 hours, or pick an upgrade option to include entry to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum, and more. Rome has a bounty of things to see and the mix of its architecture is a testament to its past; Roman ruins, baroque squares, and Renaissance gardens combine to give the city its enticing edge. See it all on a Rome hop-on hop-off bus tour, and learn about the Italian capital as you go. Show your ticket as you board your Rome tour bus, and then hop on and off at any of the eight stops around town. See the Colosseum where gory gladiatorial battles once took place, and have your camera ready for Piazza Venezia, home to the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain for luck, or stretch your legs on a walk through Vatican City. The full loops last between 1.5 and 2 hours, and audio commentary is provided for each sight you pass. Make use of the free onboard Wi-Fi to share pictures, tweet, or blog about your travels as you go.

Breakfast at your hotel and after having your breakfast go out to discover the Vatican on a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps and Raphael’s Rooms; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo, and hear little-known tales about sacred St. Peter’s Basilica. Choose from several departures, or upgrade to an evening experience or small-group tour with 12 people. Vatican tours with skip-the-line access are sought-after, so even the fast-track lines are long. This experience includes admission through a special entrance, so there are no lines whatsoever. Follow your guide directly inside the vast collection of private artwork that is the Vatican Museums. Walkthrough the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries as you listen to tales of Vatican intrigue. Gaze at artifacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras. Stop for photos in front of the Pigna statue in the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by Donato Bramante. Raphael’s Rooms are a series of galleries that highlight the talent of the lauded Renaissance artist himself. Pass through the rooms, and then step inside the Sistine Chapel—the pope’s personal place of worship and a highlight of any Vatican trip. Stand beneath Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam,’ which cloaks the ceiling, and admire ‘The Last Judgement,’ his colorful mural that adorns a wall. After your Sistine Chapel visit, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic heart of the Catholic church. Learn about its history and see more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s ‘La Pietà,’ which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. Gaze at the baldachino by Bernini, and then say goodbye to your guide in St. Peter’s Square. Keep in mind that St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square might be unavailable on Wednesdays due to the weekly Papal Audience. As an alternative, enjoy an extended itinerary within the Vatican Museums, which still includes the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms. If you want to make sure that St. Peter’s Basilica and Square are included in your tour, don’t select Wednesday as your travel date. If you want to enhance your Vatican experience, select one of the following experiences: Small-Group Tour in the morning: Enter the Vatican Museums as soon as it opens, before the other lines enter. Your tour is limited to 12 people for personal attention and information about the Vatican’s must-see sights. Tour in the evening: Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after the doors close to the general public. A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is not included.

Breakfast at your hotel and after having your breakfast go out to Skip the entrance line at the Colosseum so you won’t waste any time getting inside to marvel at this Roman icon. On this walking tour of Ancient Rome, you’ll explore the amphitheater’s first and second levels with a guide, who entertains you with tales of gruesome gladiator battles. Then visit the Roman Forum to see its ancient ruins like the Temple of Julius Caesar. This tour is limited to 25 people. If you want to enhance your experience, upgrade to a tour of the Colosseum’s restricted underground chambers, arena, and upper tier. Your Ancient Rome tour starts near Oppian Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, for a view of the Colosseum. Then walk down to the arena with your guide, and skip the main entrance line with your fast-track ticket. Inside, explore the Colosseum’s first and second tiers while listening to stories from your guide about the brutal events that were once held here, like executions and gory gladiator battles. As you stroll around the perimeter of the amphitheater, try to image the ancient crowd of up to 50,000 spectators who cheered as gladiators’ fates were decided by power-hungry emperors. Next, exit the Colosseum and walk over to the Roman Forum, once the political heart of the city. Get an up-close view of ancient remains like the House of the Vestal Virgins and the Temple of Julius Caesar, and then walk up Palatine Hill for another perspective of the ruins, including Circus Maximus, where chariot races once took place. Your tour ends here, from where you can continue exploring on your own. Optional upgrade to the Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour: Underground Chambers, Arena and Upper Tier (3.5 hours) For a more thorough exploration of the Colosseum select the upgrade option when booking for a tour that includes access to the third tier, the arena floor, and the underground chambers—sections of the Colosseum that are either newly opened or typically closed to the general public. You’ll see more than most visitors do. Walk around the reconstructed floor of the arena, where the gladiators once dueled in bloody battles, and look down through the gaps into the underground chambers. Then make your way below ground to explore the chambers themselves, checking out pits where wild animals like tigers and lions were held, before heading up to the third tier for a panoramic view into the Colosseum and out to Palatine Hill. Your tour ends with a visit to the Roman Forum, as described in the standard tour.

Breakfast at your hotel and after having your breakfast free at your own leisure, transfer to the airport for departure.