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Rome by Night Walking Tour - Legends & Criminal Stories

Badge of ExcellenceRoma, Italy

From $27.35

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Rome Tours
All Rome Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

For a twist on the usual sightseeing experience, take an after-dark tour of Rome to admire its illuminated landmarks and monuments while listening to stories about ghosts, myths and legends. You’ll explore the winding alleys and squares in the city’s historical center with a guide, who provides eerie commentary about the supernatural and historical mysteries that have plagued the Eternal City for centuries. See attractions like Campo de’ Fiori, Castel Sant’Angelo and Palazzo Farnese in a whole new light.
  • Ghost and mystery walking tour of Rome
  • Explore Italy’s ancient capital under the cover of darkness
  • Discover top attractions such as Castel Sant'Angelo, Palazzo Farnese and Ponte Sisto illuminated at night
  • Wander down winding alleyways with an expert guide and hear terrifying tales of myth and legend
  • Learn of the Corte Savella Prison, where late-Renaissance noblewoman Beatrice Cenci was unfairly put to death in the 16th century
  • Take an alternative nocturnal view of Rome's major sites on this entertaining evening tour

What's Included

  • English-speaking guide
  • Small group of 20 people
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Piazza di S. Andrea della Valle
    Piazza di S. Andrea della Valle, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

    The tour starts from steps of the church San Andrea della Valle located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, about 150 metres from Largo di Torre Argentina on the left hand side heading towards the Tiber river. The church is located right next to Piazza Vidoni.

End point

  • Castel Sant'Angelo
    Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy

    Public transport and taxis are easily accessible

What To Expect

Your evening tour starts at Sant'Andrea della Valle, where you’ll meet your guide in the shadows of the church’s baroque façade. Then begin your exploration into Rome’s thousands of years of ghostly history.

Walk along Corso Vittorio to Campo de’ Fiori, an ancient square that has been a lively part of the city since the 1200s. While you soak up the chilling atmosphere of the square after dark, hear about the supernatural activity that has taken place here over the centuries. Then head across Piazza Farnese, passing by Palazzo Farnese, on your way to Ponte Sisto, a 15th-century bridge. Cross the Tiber River, walking toward the Church of Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte, and stop at the site of the ancient Corte Savella prison, where Beatrice Cenci, a noblewoman from the late Renaissance era, was sentenced to death for the murder of her father. Was it fair? Hear about her story and her ghost that still calls for justice.

Continue along Via dei Banchi Vecchi and Via del Banco di Santo Spirito to Castel Sant’Angelo, commissioned by Rome’s Emperor Hadrian in 123 AD as a mausoleum. The imposing structure has had many lives, from fortress to pope’s residence to prison, and as such, is shrouded in legends and mysteries.

Your tour ends here, where you are centrally placed to continue your night out in Rome on your own.

Campo de' Fiori (Pass By)

Between the glory days of the Roman Empire and the beauty of the Italian Renaissance, medieval Rome was a city of desperation and suspicion. Your expert local guide will reintroduce you to monuments you thought you knew, transformed by night-time illuminations, and describe how they were desecrated by citizens desperate for something to sell.

Via Giulia (Pass By)

You’ll also hear about the Inquisition that turned neighbor against neighbor, roasted heretics on spits, and tried to suppress crime by hanging paintings of the Virgin Mary on street corners.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Operated by City Wonders Ltd

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more

Traveler Tips

Don’t let the name of the tour discourage you if you aren’t into ghost tours!
Reviews
4.5
898 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 898 reviews
Do this!
Lindsay_L, Feb 2023
Amazing! I booked this as a surprise for my boyfriend on our trip to Rome. We loved the stories and getting to hear lesser known historical stories.
Great tour
Gladys_D, Feb 2023
The ghost stories and all the history behind everything. Great tour could of been longer and more detailed. But overall good tour
Take this rome by night tour
James_T, Dec 2022
Our guide was a natural at telling stories. I would definitely recommend. He was engaging with all the tour group, almost like making eye contact with an actor
Brilliant tour + tour guide
Cara_H, Nov 2022
Alicia is a great tour guide - very friendly, the right level of humour. And the stories she told were really interesting. Definitely a good tour especially for solo travellers as has the feel of going for a walk with a really clever friend. Would give more stars if I could.
Its was ok
kimmjorrey, Oct 2022
Tour was good. Guide was fine and knowledgeable. He got into a weird confrontation with another guest was very rude and continued to argue. Very off putting.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Hey Kimm, Thank you for taking the time to leave us an honest review on Viator. While we're happy that you enjoyed some aspects of your experience with us, we are not satisfied with producing 3-star experiences. Our sincere apologies for the rude and confrontational behavior your guide exhibited at one point. There is no excuse for that sort of behavior at City Wonders, and we will be investigating the matter further. We thank you again for your time and input -- it means a lot to us. Hopefully we may see you again in the hopes of providing you with a more perfect experience on any of our unique tours. Kindest regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Great!
Adrienne_K, Oct 2022
Really interesting tour that deep dives into more history. Our guide Semi was engaging and funny, and showed us some things that we never would have known to look for.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us an amazing review! Our entire team is thrilled to hear that you loved your tour as well as your guide Semi. We would all like to thank you for the kind words and for choosing City Wonders. We hope to see you again on any of our other unique tours in the future. Kindest regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Night stroll through Rome
patfrank, Oct 2022
Elizabetha was a great guide and had many fascinating stories about Rome to keep us entertained. We loved this tour, had a lot of fun!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Hey patfrank, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us an amazing review! Our entire team is thrilled to hear that you loved your Rome by Night Walking Tour as well as your fascinating guide Elizabetha. We would all like to thank you for the kind words and for choosing City Wonders. We hope to see you again on any of our other unique tours in the future. Kindest regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Incredible
Michael_T, Oct 2022
Rob is a talented and funny guide! Absolutely incredible experience that combined artistic storytelling with interesting history. This is a must-do event that provides great relief to the overwhelming number of standard churches and cathedrals.
Thoroughly enjoyed
Laura_P, Oct 2022
Flag held high, Roberto led us through the dark streets of Rome regaling us with dark stories of ghosts and criminal. His enthusiasm and dramatic pauses draw you right into the stories and his wonderful personality made you want to hear more. I was enthralled!
BE READY TO RUN TO KEEP UP! This is not a leisurely walking tour!
bobbika, Oct 2022
We had a tour with Roberto on October 7th. I have to say his stories were very good, however he walked so fast we could not keep up with him. He needs to be mindful of the different ages and physical types of people on the tour. It was not a pleasant experience at all. My husband said this is the last walking tour he will ever do and we have done plenty but this tour ruined walking tours for us. We have NEVER been rushed like this. We felt like it was a race to each stop and we could barely catch our breath. Finally some of the other people on the tour saw the agony we were in trying to catch up, they slowed down to meet us and walk at our pace which is what Roberto should have done. We do not expect the entire tour to go at our pace as we do understand Roberto needed to complete the tour on time. Perhaps the time could be another 30 minutes or leave a few places out so that people can all keep up. There was another woman that also could barely keep up. It is a shame because of Roberto I now have to cancel our tour to Tivoli as my husband is petrified we will he left behind again out of breath, trying to run on cobblestone streets! My husband tripped on this tour but thankfully was able to hit a wall and not fall down on the ground. We went on a City Wonders tour and had a WONDERFUL tour guide named Nicole who took us through Florence, Padua and Venice in 2017. She was sweet as can be and never rushed in front of us! She actually walked with us and the entire tour group. At the end of the tour a man tipped Roberto and told him to continue taking drama classes as he is getting better. Roberto yelled back that he has never taken a drama class and never will!! The man was giving him a compliment and Roberto's response was extremely rude! This was after the man had given him a tip for the tour!! Nicole should give a class on how to be respectful to people on tours because, clearly, it is needed.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Hello bobbika, Everyone at City Wonders would like to thank you sincerely for leaving us such a detailed and honest review. We would also like to extend our apologies for any inconveniences caused by the tour qualities -- or Roberto your tour guide. As you've seen in the past, City Wonders is home to some of the finest and most knowledgeable tour guides in the world. Your experience with Roberto in Rome this time around is not reflective of the quality of our tour guides. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, as we will make sure this type of pace is not repeated. While tours need to be completed in a timely manner, that is no excuse for rushing you through your experience. It's important for you to have enough time to enjoy every moment, and more importantly, not put your bodies in any sort of physical stress. Thank you again for your feedback, and please also extend our apologies to your husband for the pace of the tour. We hope you give us another opportunity to provide you with exceptional and memorable service in the future. Kindest regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Great Stories and welcoming host- take the time to appreciate
Murray_D, Oct 2022
Elizabetha did a great job trying to bring the dark side of Rome to life through stories and pictures during our walking tour…. It was unfortunate that here efforts were neither recognized or respected by most of our tour companions who were more intent on complaining about how warm it was…. How busy it was…. Or how noisy it was….. Through all of the complaints Elizabetha maintained her professionalism and soldiered on…. Elizabetha was a great representative of Roman people…. Sadly our tour companions were poor representatives of tourists…. More interested in selfies and instagram and complaining about how experiences are different than at home….not even taking the time to thank or offer a tip to our host for her efforts at the end….
Something different!
normawilson1, Oct 2022
Elizabeth had some very interesting stories to share on our route. It was definitely a worthwhile tour.
Highly recommend
Kelly_C, Sep 2022
We loved this tour! It was fascinating to learn about a different side of Roman history. Roberto was so engaging and informative. He was very passionate about this subject which made the tour so fun! Highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants a different perspective about Rome!
Amazing Tour
ROGER_B, Aug 2022
Our tour guide Roberto was amazing. The stories were captivating and a nice departure from the rote, factual style of guiding that we have experienced in other tours. Roberto embodied the drama and intrigue that was prevalent in the legendary stories.
Good!
libby_d, Aug 2022
The only thing I would suggest is for the guide to slow down for older guests! It was hard to keep up!!! Also— help older guests secure taxis!
An amazing walk in the dark side of Rome
Wilma_F, Aug 2022
Roberto is a charismatic tour guide who made our walk an unforgettable experience. You will learn amazing things that probably you’ve never heard before.
Roberto
Pia_L, Aug 2022
Rob was a great tour guide. He made the experience memorable. The history, friendly approach and great people skills . We love Rome, thank you Rob. Ps he held the flag up the whole time.
Already recommended to family members
Kristen_W, Aug 2022
Our guide Rob did a great job sharing entertaining, historical stories about Roman history that you would not hear on a traditional tour. I've already recommended this tour to other family members. It's a great evening activity!
They didn't show up. When...
Sabina_R, Aug 2022
They didn't show up. When we called them they had no explaantion but gave us a phonenumber to call. It was 9pm and the number had office hours. Never again
Night Tour NO SHOW!
Marina_R, Aug 2022
Guide never showed up! We waited at the designated location. Guide never came. We want a refund. VERY DISAPPOINTED.
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