TourTruth score 8.7 out of 10
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Rome Dark Side Walking Tour 2 hr
TourTruth score 7.3 out of 10
AverageTop 35% in Rome
21 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Rome, Italy
- 2 hrs
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore Rome’s darker history on a small-group walk through cobbled lanes, notorious sites, and chilling stories of popes, crime, and ghosts.
About this tour
Step into Rome’s shadowy past on a two-hour small-group walking tour, where cobbled lanes and historic landmarks set the scene for stories of crime, ghosts, and public executions. With a passionate local guide leading the way, discover a side of the city that grand piazzas and sunlit ruins rarely reveal.
Follow the trail of notorious events and hear about the secret lives of popes and their families. Along the route, visit the resting place of the Borgia, see places once used for public executions, and admire a papal palace built by Michelangelo. The group is limited to 15 people or fewer, giving you room to listen closely and ask questions as Rome’s darker history unfolds. The tour runs in all weather, so dress for the conditions.
Meet your guide between Ponte Sant’Angelo and Castel Sant’Angelo, where they’ll be holding a “MORE OF ROME” sign. Choose this Rome Dark Side Walking Tour for a memorable look at the city’s unsettling stories and hidden history.
Highlights
- Uncover Rome’s chilling stories of crime, executions, and ghosts
- Walk cobbled streets where public executions once took place
- Hear tales of the secret lives of popes and their families
- Visit the resting place of the Borgia
- See a papal palace built by Michelangelo
What's included
Included
- Passionate local guide
- Guide’s name and phone number
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
4.86 / 5 · 21 reviews
Important information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wheelchair accessible, including all areas and surfaces
- Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
- Service animals are allowed
Show 5 moreShow less
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Public transportation is available nearby
- Operates in all weather; dress appropriately
- Meet between the end of Ponte Sant’Angelo Bridge and Castel Sant’Angelo; look for a guide holding a “MORE OF ROME” sign
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration; watch for messages about possible changes
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.86 from 21 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Rome
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.3. Top 35% in Rome means it ranks in the top 35% of tours in Rome by this score.
Provider rating distribution in Rome
How many tours in Rome have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- Viator
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