Free Walking Tour Rome: the 7 Best Ones You Can Join
Free Walking Tour Rome: the 7 Best Ones You Can Join
If you're traveling to Rome, you can take the chance to get to know a city that has been the cradle of civilizations without spending much. To help, here's a list of what we consider the 7 best free tours in Rome, based on ratings, how interesting the route is and overall popularity.
Beyond helping you find the free tour in Rome that suits you best, you'll learn how they work, what their advantages are and how much you're expected to pay.
What are the best free tours in Rome?
1. Free Tour of Imperial Rome
This tour is a two-hour trip back in time to Imperial Rome.
Starting at Piazza Venezia, you'll set off into Ancient Rome, passing key spots in the historic center. You'll hear anecdotes and curious facts about life in the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, from why the Romans were such good builders to the whims of their emperors.
You'll walk past the Imperial Forums and learn all the details and history of the Colosseum. It's one of the highest rated free tours in Rome.
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2. Free Night Tour of Rome
Can you picture strolling through Rome at its most magical, under the moonlight? This free night tour of Rome takes you to the monuments that look even more spectacular after dark.
We start at the emblematic Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna): climb the famous steps up to Trinità dei Monti, take in the Barcaccia and feel the city pulsing at your feet. Then get ready to toss your coin into the Trevi Fountain and find out things like how much money it collects each day (it will surprise you!).
We carry on along elegant Via del Corso to Piazza Colonna, where the imposing Column of Marcus Aurelius and the Obelisk of Montecitorio, brought to Rome by Augustus himself in 10 BC, will take you back in time.
In the lively Parione district, Piazza Navona awaits with Bernini's fountain and the masterpieces of Giacomo della Porta, traces of the ancient Stadium of Domitian and Rome's passion for chariot racing.
You'll also see places like the Ponte Sant'Angelo, with views of Castel Sant'Angelo, witness to Roman epics and refuge of popes, and we finish in Piazza Pia, with a postcard view of St. Peter's Basilica.
3. Free tour inside St. Peter's Basilica
A unique chance to explore the interior of St. Peter's Basilica. Let yourself be won over by the splendor of the Renaissance, guided by two tour guides (one of them a Vatican archaeologist). You'll discover works by masters such as Michelangelo and Bernini.
Hear about the pope's outbursts, the misfortunes of pilgrims and other stories that shaped the course of Catholicism. And don't leave without admiring one of Michelangelo's crowning works: the basilica's dome, which took more than 40 years to build.
4. Free tour around the Vatican
Discover the hidden symbolism of St. Peter's Square and Castel Sant'Angelo. Walk through Piazza Cavour and Borgo Pio until you reach the walls that once held off barbarian attacks, and slip away along the same secret passage the popes used to escape the Vatican.
This tour does not include Vatican tickets, so before visiting the Sistine Chapel, get familiar with the landmarks of the city state on this hour-and-a-half tour.
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5. Free tour of Rome's mysteries and legends
Make the most of your afternoon in Rome with this tour, departing at 17:00 and 18:00, where you'll hear stories of ghosts and witches, murderers and prostitutes who in the Middle Ages were buried in the «cursed cemetery». Did you know it's close to one of the most famous squares in Rome?
In just over two hours you'll uncover curiosities and secrets such as the supposed atheists sentenced to death for calling out the perversions of the pope of the day, or who the mysterious woman was that inspired Caravaggio's face of a virgin. Not to be missed!
6. Free tour of Rome's baroque churches
See some of the most important works by artists such as Caravaggio and Raphael on this two-hour tour, visiting Rome's most important baroque churches. It's your chance to discover treasures in places you'd probably walk right past.
Follow your guide into historic churches like Sant'Agostino, home to Caravaggio's masterpiece «Madonna di Loreto», and San Luigi dei Francesi, known for the Contarelli Chapel, also by Caravaggio.
The tour ends in Piazza Navona, where you'll discover one of the basilicas built by the brilliant Borromini. Do you know which one?
7. Free tour of monumental Rome
The story begins with a she-wolf raising twin brothers who, sons of a god, founded a city: Rome.
From that starting point, every street, every park, every building and even the air you breathe in the Eternal City is steeped in legendary stories, and you can hear them on this tour that takes you back in time.
As a hint, this tour passes places like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna). More than 30,000 people rate it as one of the best free tours in Rome!
What is a free tour?
A free tour is a guided walk you can join without paying a set fee. Despite the word «free», they aren't really free, since you're expected to tip based on how much you enjoyed the experience.
There are several options for those looking to see the best sights in Rome in an affordable and fun way.
Here are the advantages of taking one (or several) free tours in Rome:
- You can book for free and won't have to pay anything up front. At the end of the walk you pay the guide whatever you think it was worth.
- You get to see the city with a local guide who can give you valuable tips, not only about Rome's monuments, but also on where to eat or what to do in Rome.
- It's a chance to meet other people who share your interests.
Free tours in Rome are run entirely in Spanish, so you won't waste time listening to explanations in other languages.
Tips for getting more out of Rome
A free tour is a cheap and fun way to start getting your bearings in Rome, but keep in mind that they don't include admission to monuments or attractions.
Are any of the paid tours in Rome worth it? It depends on what you're after, but if you want to get inside places like the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, then yes, they're worth it. Some of these tours also include transport between sites, which is very handy if you have limited mobility.
You can combine a free tour with a conventional one and, while you're at it, make the most of some of the free places to see in Rome, as well as take advantage of the free admission days at Rome's museums.
Finally, a conventional tour also opens up the option of taking one of the day trips from Rome, since it includes transport and a guided visit to places like Pompeii, Ostia Antica or Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli.