Uncover the darker side of Ancient Rome on this ghost-filled walking tour through the city’s bloodstained past. From the assassination of Julius Caesar to haunted imperial palaces and cursed streets, you’ll explore the stories history books prefer to forget. Hear of emperors murdered by their own guards, empresses executed in scandal, and traitors left to rot on the Gemonian Steps. Walk through the old Suburra — once home to brothels and riots — and end with a chilling view of the Colosseum, where death became public entertainment. Led by expert storytellers, this tour blends real history with eerie legends from Roman writers and ancient accounts. It’s not about costumes or gimmicks — just strange tales, violent ends, and the lingering presence of the past. If you’re looking for a Rome ghost tour that’s smart, spooky, and steeped in truth, this is it.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Stand above the very site where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE. Hear the story of his brutal murder, the chaos that followed, and the chilling legends of his ghost returning to haunt the men who betrayed him.
View the ruins of Rome’s oldest surviving theatre and learn about Livia, the empress accused of eliminating rivals — including her own stepson — to secure the throne for her son. Discover how imperial ambition may have been laced with poison.
Look out over the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, once home to emperors like Caligula. Hear how his descent into madness ended in assassination — and how his ghost was said to haunt the palace halls long after his death.
Stand beside the infamous steps where traitors and enemies of the state were executed and left to rot. Visit the entrance to the Tullianum prison, where powerful prisoners were strangled underground and denied a proper burial.
Walk through the area of Domitian’s forum and hear how he tried to escape a prophecy about his death — only to be murdered at the predicted hour. Discover how his name was erased from history and his ghost feared by the servants who survived him.
Enter what was once Rome’s seediest district, the Suburra. Hear the scandalous story of Messalina, the emperor’s wife who allegedly walked these streets at night — and whose ghost is still said to linger in the shadows.
Visit the staircase near the ancient Vicus Sceleratus, where a Roman princess drove her chariot over her murdered father’s body. Learn how the Romans believed acts of violence could curse entire streets.
Finish the tour with a dramatic view over the Colosseum. Hear how this arena was built from conquest, filled with blood, and possibly haunted by the countless gladiators and prisoners denied burial and peace.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Ancient Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
Prices start at $23 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting at 8:00 PM.
Children aged 6–16 pay from $11, adults from $23. Infants go free.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Please meet your guide at the Largo Di Torre Argentina. They will be waiting in front of “L'Antica Enoteca”, holding a sign saying "Ancient Rome's Dark Side". PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES BEFORE TOUR START TIME - WE CANNOT GUARANTEE WAITING FOR LATE ARRIVALS. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 25 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Dark Side City Tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Ben was great, so much cool information. Would totally do it again!
Thank you, Hannah. We’re delighted you enjoyed the tour with Ben. Ancient Rome has a fairly unreasonable amount of dark material to work with, so we’re glad he found enough of the good stuff to make you want another round.
Arielle was fantastic! So knowledgeable and showed a different side to the history of Rome - highly recommend if you want something other than the same old your find elsewhere!
Thank you, Gavin. We’re so glad you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood with Arielle. Rome’s history gets much more interesting once you leave the standard script behind and look at the stranger, darker parts properly. Delighted the tour gave you something different.
Very nice tour with knowledgeable guide! Took us to several nice places and was a great start to our vacation. Got some good tips for places to visit and food to eat, very nice and personal tour and guide. We were 3 that took the tour and that was a good group size for us.
Thank you. We’re delighted Ancient Rome’s Dark Side was such a good start to your trip. Small groups suit this tour nicely, especially when discussing emperors, murders, and other deeply personal Roman problems. Very glad the stories, local tips, and food recommendations all landed well.
Guide was very knowledgable about the history of Rome and had a quirky sense of humour
Thank you, Shelah. We’re so glad you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood. Knowledge and a slightly quirky sense of humour is exactly the right combination when discussing emperors, murders, betrayals, and other Roman hobbies. We’re very pleased it landed well.
Great tour and the guide was very knowledgeable and kind. Small group which was really great. Highly recommend.
Thank you, Nicole. We’re delighted you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood. Small groups do make it easier to appreciate imperial paranoia and historical bloodshed properly. We’re very glad the tour felt kind, informative, and worth recommending.
We loved Ben! He was very knowledgeable & answered any & all questions you had. He had visual aids to assist, too! He knew so much about Rome and its history. You truly learn so so much on this tour. We would highly recommend if you’re interested in learning about Rome and the dark side of the history!
Thank you, Alexandra. We’re so glad you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood with Ben. Rome’s ancient past is much more entertaining once someone points out the murders, betrayals, and imperial dysfunction properly. Delighted the visual aids, the questions, and the darker history all landed so well.
It was great! The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Worth the experience!
Lots of information and great photo opportunities. Perfect time of day to explore the city. Recommend comfortable shoes.
Thank you, Jamie. We’re very pleased you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood. It’s an excellent time of day to see the city, especially when the crowds thin out and the imperial bad behaviour starts to feel more plausible. And yes, comfortable shoes are wise. Rome was not built with mercy in mind.
Our guide Ariell was GREAT! I highly recommend! Love from Croatia! AQUA TOFANAAAAA! 💪💪
Thank you so much. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your tour with Arielle. And yes, Aqua Tofana does tend to stay with people. Rome had a remarkable talent for making its scandals memorable. Sending our love right back to Croatia, and thank you for the recommendation!
Ivana is a lovely storyteller and engaging guide, weaving tales of Rome’s dark history that kept us delighted the whole night. With a cafe stop for hot cocoa and a multitude of historical sites, it was one of our favorite experiences of the trip: book now or regret it !
Thank you so much. We’re delighted you enjoyed Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood with Ivana. Rome does provide excellent material if your tastes run to imperial bloodshed, suspicious deaths, and the occasional hot chocolate break. Very pleased it became one of your favourite experiences. Sensible advice, too. Regret is such an untidy souvenir.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood | 2 hours | 5.0 (25) | $23 | |
 Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Legends & Dark History Night Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (132) | $29 | View |
 Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Scandals and Crypts - Small Group Tour | 2 hours | 5.0 (46) | $51 | View |
 COMBO: Rome's Capuchin Crypts Tour & Rome's Dark Side Ghost Tour | 4 hours | 5.0 (27) | $63 | View |
 Rome Ghosts, Secrets Stories & Dark History Tour with Tasty Bites | 2 hours | 4.9 (8) | $45 | View |
 Ghosts and Crimes of Rome Night Walk | 1h 30min | 4.8 (68) | $33 | View |
 Rome After Dark Ghost Stories and Hidden History Walking Tour | 2–3 hours | — | $33 | View |