Looking for a private guide in Rome Easter Sunday and Monday 2025

[abatlin]

We are a group of 6 who will be in Rome Easter Sunday and Monday, departing for Sorrento Tuesday.  Understanding now, didn’t know before, this that it is Jubilee Year.  So in preparation for crowds and making the most of our time there, we are looking for a guide to get us through the crowds.  Any suggestions?

[euro cruiser]

Just to be clear, are you looking for a driver, a guide, or both?

[abatlin]

Either or both.

[CruiserBruce]

Rome in Limo has a huge thread here...highly recommended, great company. In Italy, a driver and a guide is two different positions. A little prep on your part, and a driver will be all you need.

[euro cruiser]

As Cruiser Bruce notes, these are two different licenses in Italy, and even if one person happens to hold both they cannot employ them simultaneously.

 

It would be extremely expensive to have both, unless cost is no object I'd seriously consider which is more important to you.

[abatlin]

So greatly appreciate all the great input !  Thinking with this being Easter weekend of a Jubilee year, arriving Saturday morning, the only way we would be able to get access to Vatican tour would be thru a guide.  Did find an evening tour on Saturday thru Liv Tours, but did not offer both Sistine chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica. Driver would be great for Monday.  Read on here about Joe Bananas?  Would this be our best option or are there other suggestions?  Finally, Easter Sunday, how do we make the most of our opportunity to be in The Holy City in a jubilee year, a once in a lifetime opportunity?  

[euro cruiser]

The basilica will be difficult to visit during Holy Week, the most important part of the  Christian calendar.  There will be big, ticket required masses every day from Thursday through Sunday.  Easter Monday is also a public holiday in Italy.

 

You might try to get tickets for one of the Saturday masses to ensure you can get in.

 

I'm frankly surprised that an after hours tour is available for the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel on Holy Saturday.   I would not be surprised if this gets canceled on you, as the official Vatican schedule hasn't been released yet (and won't be for months).  Third party suppliers sell tours assuming they will have access,  then cancel if that's not the case.

 

I don't want to be Debbie downer here, but I wouldn't want you to be caught unaware either.

[euro cruiser]

One tradition that many Italian families still follow is a passegiata (walk) after a big meal.  Even though the city will be full of tourists,  there are still some residents hanging in there.  I would head out to one of the traditional walking sites to enjoy being part of this custom on Easter Sunday.

 

Among the options would be Giancolo (up near the Garibaldi statue), the Apian way, Villa Borghese, Villa Doria Pamphili, or the path along the Tevere.

 

Speaking of which, be sure to have a reservation nailed down for Easter lunch, the big meal of the day.  Din ner is typically something small, the midday meal followed by a walk is the focus.

Edited October 15 by euro cruiser

[cruisemom42]

Have you thought about focusing on some of Rome's ancient sites, rather than on the Vatican? 

 

You can reserve timed tickets in advance for a number of different tours of the Colosseum (as well as the associated sites of the ancient Roman Forum and Palatine Hill where the emperors lived), with or without a guide. These sites may be easier to visit than the Vatican over the weekend you'll be in Rome.

[abatlin]

3 hours ago, euro cruiser said:

One tradition that many Italian families still follow is a passegiata (walk) after a big meal.  Even though the city will be full of tourists,  there are still some residents hanging in there.  I would head out to one of the traditional walking sites to enjoy being part of this custom on Easter Sunday.

 

Among the options would be Giancolo (up near the Garibaldi statue), the Apian way, Villa Borghese, Villa Doria Pamphili, or the path along the Tevere.

 

Speaking of which, be sure to have a reservation nailed down for Easter lunch, the big meal of the day.  Din ner is typically something small, the midday meal followed by a walk is the focus.

Thank you for the great suggestion along with the caution.  Do you by chance have a suggestion for a place to have Easter lunch?  Love the idea of joining in on the walk afterwards.

[euro cruiser]

This place was open last year, so I assume it will be again in 2025:  Trattoria romana - Roma - La Tavernaccia da Bruno (multiscreensite.com)

 

There are lots of great options, it's a city full of wonderful restaurants, you just need to book one several weeks in advance.

[cruisemom42]

Never mind. Cruise Critic is playing tricks with my posts. 

Edited October 15 by cruisemom42

[kohanfam]

Check out toursbylocal.com.  They are a consolidator of local tour guides.  We used one today for Uffizi and have one booked for Pompeii 

[CruiserBruce]

2 hours ago, kohanfam said:

Check out toursbylocal.com.  They are a consolidator of local tour guides.  We used one today for Uffizi and have one booked for Pompeii 

Before you use a tour broker, one might want to read this review:

 

You will understand the very common recommendation by many experienced travelers to use recommended locals, rather than tour brokers, like Tours by Locals, Viator, Shore Excursion Group, etc.