Rome Neighbourhoods and Site Tours

Where is Prati, Rome?

Prati is a relatively new neighbourhood in Rome created after Italy was unified. In fact the word Prato means ‘field’ in Italian and it used to be filled with lots of fields. It’s nestled between the Vatican, Borgo and Centro. Prati is a very elegant neighbourhood with lots of elegant buildings and great restaurants.

Favorite Places to Eat in Prati

Castroni: international food store! Very good for coffee, Toni gets her morning coffee (well 1 of 3!) here every day. You can also find vegemite here!

Rome Vatican Tour

Prati is right near the Vatican and if you watch my tour with Toni above, you can see we end up right in the main square at the end. Visiting the Vatican is one of the most popular activities on a trip to Rome and whilst you don’t need tickets to enter St Peter’s Basilica, you absolutely must have them for the Vatican Museums. Booking in advance is the way to-go.

I would recommend context tours for this they have a great tours

The most comprehensive Context Vatican tour, offering a deeper understanding of the history, art, politics, and religion.
Navigate the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica with your expert guide leading the way.

Tour Description

Surrounded by paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and more, the Vatican holds an incredible array of artwork and history. This Complete Vatican guided tour is for those who want to unlock that vast amount of information with an exclusive deep dive that most visitors simply skip over.

As one of the only Context tours to include all three historic sites — the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica — you’ll enjoy the incredible value of experiencing these famous venues with an expert who knows how to bring the powerful history of each one to life.

Rather than simply looking at a painting or tapestry like most Vatican visitors, you’ll get an exclusive understanding of the dramatic stories behind each work and the hidden meanings held within.

Begin with a walk through thousands of artworks in the Vatican Museum before moving into the iconic Sistine Chapel. Many visitors find its sheer magnitude and beauty overwhelming. Your expert will give you the background and history you need to appreciate the craftsmanship while also understanding the stories held within the famous frescoes, including The Creation of Adam.

Use special access to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, skipping long lines outside, to see Michelangelo’s famous Pieta, St. Peter’s grave, and the incredible detail of Bernini’s canopy, among many other breathtaking statues and mosaics.

This Vatican private tour provides a deep dive into the sprawling history contained within the walls of the Vatican City’s iconic sites. Ready for an unforgettable journey through history, art, politics, and religion? Your Context expert is waiting!

The Rome Jubilee (Dec 24, 2024 – Dec 14, 2025) may affect access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel on short notice. Visitors should anticipate potential disruptions or last-minute closures to accommodate official Jubilee events, funeral ceremonies, and conclave proceedings. As updates are announced, we will alert any affected tours.

Choose this tour if…

You want to hit the three major venues — the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica — with an expert who can help you get the most out of your visit.
You’ve been to the Vatican sites before, but it felt overwhelming without an expert to guide you through the venues. This time, you’re looking for a better understanding of the art and history held within each site.
Navigating miles of Vatican hallways on your own sounds daunting. You’d like to go with an expert who already knows the best routes and highlights, allowing you to enjoy the works you’re most interested in while also being shown the hidden gems often missed by others.

It’s a little like being in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code crossed with Night at the Museum as you open the doors to each of the galleries and switch on the lights. It’s a truly money can’t buy experience – you would never have the opportunity to walk the halls of the Vatican alone otherwise. But the most memorable part is being in the Sistine Chapel alone – and with the possibility to take photos (normally forbidden!)

Rome Food Tour Prati

Instead, if you’re looking for a food lovers tour near the Vatican, join this one! See Rome from a local’s perspective as you eat and drink your way around the neighbourhood. Pop into gourmet food stores, visit hidden gems, and snack on cured meats and cheeses, amazing pizza, and meet artisanal food makers who share their recipes.

Where is Monti?

Monti is a neighbourhood closest to the Colosseum. It is ‘rione #1’ so the oldest neighbourhood in Rome. It used to be called ‘Suburo’ which means outside the city centre (the Forum) and was where the people originally lived. Today, it is a very central and beautiful neighbourhood.

Favorite Places to Eat in Monti:

Monti Market: Indoor local market where you can get fresh pasta, cakes, fish, vegetables and fruits.
Taverna dei Forni Imperiale: Family run, great high quality food but home cooking
Gelato ‘Fatto Morgana’
Panificio Monti: bakery
La Licata: A favorite bar for coffee

Colosseum Rome Tour

This neighborhood literally borders the Colosseum! If it’s your first trip to Rome, I definitely recommend taking a guided tour into the Colosseum rather than just entering by yourself. Firstly, the queues are long so with this option you’ll reduce the time spent waiting in the heat. And secondly, nothing is signposted inside so you’ll have limited context as to the history and what you’re looking at.

Experience the Colosseum Like an Ancient Spectator — With the Time and Insight to Understand Its Power, Purpose, and Design
See More Than Just Ruins — Let an Archaeologist or Historian Bring the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to Life

Tour Description

What does it feel like to truly take in the Colosseum—not just see it, but feel its scale, its drama, and its stories unfold around you?

This tour offers a deeper experience of Ancient Rome’s most iconic landmarks, with a special focus on the Colosseum, along with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Whether you’re discovering the Colosseum for the first time or returning to explore it more deeply, this experience offers a thoughtful balance of insight and ease.

Spend up to 90 minutes inside the Colosseum, discovering how power and spectacle shaped an empire. From the first tier to the second, you’ll see the monument as ancient crowds did—whether seated as a citizen, a senator, or even the emperor himself. Your journey then continues through Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum—the heart and birthplace of the city. Walking in the footsteps of emperors, philosophers, and everyday Romans, you’ll explore how these ruins shaped not only ancient life, but the world we live in today.

Led by an expert archaeologist or historian, you’ll uncover the layers of Ancient Rome through its most important sites. Your curiosity leads the way, and your pace sets the rhythm. This is a personal discovery, where everyone in your group can engage with history in a way that resonates.

This Colosseum guided tour invites you to experience Ancient Rome not just as a collection of facts, but as a living story—full of emotion, drama, and complexity.

More than a checklist of sights, this is a story-rich experience, designed to bring meaning to every stone and spark curiosity in every traveler.

Need help choosing the right tour for your needs? View a comparison of our most popular Colosseum tours.

Choose this tour if:

You want ample time inside the Colosseum exploring the first and second floors, soaking in its atmosphere and imagining the lives of ancient spectators without feeling rushed.
You’re curious about how the Colosseum fits into the larger story of Rome—its connection to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum—and want a coherent, story-driven journey through all three sites.
You want more than just names and dates: you want someone to connect the dots, guide you through the crowds, and provide a meaningful, story-rich overview of Ancient Rome.
You didn’t travel all this way for a quick overview—you want time to explore, reflect, and truly let the stories sink in.
You’re traveling with others and want everyone—history lovers and casual travelers alike—to walk away inspired.

Rome Foodie Tour

Looking to join a Rome food tour? This is one of my favorite things to do when I travel because it sets your whole trip up to be full of fabulous eating and drinking. I often revisit the places we go on tour for a meal and pick my tour guide’s brains about their favorite places not included in the tour. Here are my top suggestions run by Devour Tours.

Testaccio Market and Food Tour: Come and visit my local market and neighborhood on this delicious tour! You’ll enjoy coffee and pastry at a local bar in the morning before wandering the market and trying pizza, prosciutto, wine and other tasty snacks. Local pasta and wine at a local trattoria is included before the tour ends with artisanal gelato. Yum!
Trastevere at Sunset Tour: This was the first neighborhood in Rome I ever did a food tour in and it was well-worth it as Trastevere is full of tourist traps! The tour starts with sparkling wine, prosciutto and cheese at a local specialty grocery store. Next you’ll try supplì, spritz at Trastevere’s most iconic bar, bruschette with paired wines, pasta and artisan gelato!