Top Europe Historical Tours

Discover the Vatican on a group tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with an expert guide. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo and finish your tour visiting St. Peter's Basilica. Choose from several departures, or upgrade to a small-group tour.

Experience culture and art through the ages with a tour of Paris’ epic Louvre Museum (upgrade for a small-group or private experience). With reserved access tickets, you'll jump the queue and have more time to discover many of the museum's best-known collection highlights. As you go, your guide will share stories about the artworks, and will discuss the museum's long history.

Benefit of easy access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill during this tour of the sights in ancient Rome. With a guide, head into the Colosseum to walk in the footsteps of gladiators, emperors, and plebeians as tales of the brutal games ring in your ears. Stroll amid the ruins of the Roman Forum, then discover layers of Roman history on Palatine Hill.

Explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii on this small-group tour. Enjoy skip-the-line access to the ruins and discover what life was like before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Follow your archaeologist guide around the western part of the town and see important buildings and structures such as the Basilica, the Forum, the thermal baths, a brothel, some residential homes, and more.

See the Colosseum on a guided tour that gives you special access to enter the amphitheater on the arena, the same entrance that gladiators once used for their battles. Once inside, explore the ancient landmark with a guide, and then head outside to tour the archaeological area of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Select your preferred tour time when booking.

Step off the tourist trail and explore the Scottish capital’s hidden secrets on this underground walking tour in Edinburgh. Follow a guide from the South Bridge in Edinburgh Old Town down below street level, where a series of ancient vaults lie. As you explore the dark passageways, learn why the vaults were built, hear of the poor souls who sought refuge in the depths and discover a hidden witchcraft temple. Gain insight into city life during the 18th century, and learn of the deadly diseases which threatened Edinburgh’s inhabitants.

Enjoy the Tower of London and make the most of your entry ticket through this dark and infamous complex. View the remarkable Crown Jewels and visit the White Tower, Traitors’ Gate and Tower Green, where Anne Boleyn met her grisly end. Follow a Beefeater guard on a guided walk to learn insider stories about this remarkable, UNESCO-listed landmark.

Experience Berlin’s past and present on this half-day guided walking tour through the city's Mitte district. Visit landmarks from the city’s Prussian, Imperial, Nazi, Cold War and modern eras, offering insight into the evolution of this fascinating German capital. Stroll along the iconic Berlin Wall and follow Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate. Then check out the rebuilt Reichstag and the Holocaust Memorial and hear the amazing stories of Cold War Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie. Please note that we do not enter any buildings during the tour.

Explore the wine region of the Douro Valley on this immersive guided day excursion. Feast your senses on the Douro’s many magnificent wineries, restaurants, and viewpoints. More than that, visit two prime wineries where you are introduced to some of the region’s best varietals. Learn about the history of the wine heritage with the help of your guide and local winemakers. Of course, no trip to the Douro Valley would be complete without tasting a few world-class wines and a traditional Portuguese lunch.

Exploring Avila and Segovia—two of Spain’s oldest cities—from Madrid in a day can be tricky without a self-drive car. This full-day coach tour is the easy option, with the added bonus of a guide to chart the cities’ history, and included walking tours and entry fees. Check out Avila’s walls, Cathedral, and Basilica; and then continue to Segovia to take in its towering Roman aqueduct, Alcazar, and Cathedral.

Discover the best of Florence, learn all about the Medici family and their role in shaping the Renaissance, and see the city’s hidden corners, too—this immersive walking tour is designed to provide a wide-ranging introduction to the city. Meet your guide in central Florence, and set off on foot: you’ll see highlights like the Duomo, Giotto’s Campanile, and Palazzo Vecchio, and will learn the stories behind the sights.

Discover Amsterdam’s WWII history and follow in the footsteps of Anne Frank on this walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. See the Jewish Historical Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Auschwitz Monument; learn about events such as the February Strike and Winter of Hunger, and end the tour outside the Anne Frank House (entrance not included).

Experience the iconic Colosseum without wasting time at the entrance. Join our guided tour of ancient Rome, where you'll delve into the history of this amphitheater with an entertaining guide who shares stories of thrilling gladiator battles. Afterwards, explore the Palatine Hill to discover the origins of Rome before concluding your journey at the Roman Forum to witness its ancient ruins. For a more immersive experience, consider upgrading to a small-group or semi-private tour that grants access to the arena floor where gladiators fought for their life!

Especially in peak season, the lines at the Palace of Versailles can be hard to believe. Skip them—without waking up at the crack of dawn—on this eminently civilized guided tour with a round trip transportation from Paris. Your guide will show you the most magnificent of the 2,000 rooms, including the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s State Apartments, and the King’s Private Apartments, then introduce you to the magical 2,000-acre (800-hectare) gardens.

Entrance to the castle is included. Scotland’s second-most-popular tourist attraction as you learn about the bloody history including stories of the kings and queens who lived in this castle. There is evidence of a fort here for almost 3000 years, and it has been a royal castle since at least King David I’s reign in the 12th century. The Scottish monarchs continued to use it until 1633, and even saw the birth of King James VI within its walls. Your tour will begin on the esplanade of the castle as you hear your guide talking about the origins of the castle and its sieges. Once inside Edinburgh Castle, the guide will take you through the different parts of the fortress and tell you its fascinating history, including Scotland’s kings and queens. Inside the complex you will find three museums, two prisons, a canine cemetery, the Chapel of Saint Margaret, the National Monument to the fallen of Scotland, the Great Hall and a Royal Palace. (not accessible during the tour).

Combine two of Krakow’s most important historic sites on this full-day tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, including hotel pickup and lunch. Start with a moving tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex, and learn the harrowing truths of the largest Nazi concentration camp complex. After lunch, venture underground to explore the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka mine, one of the world’s oldest working salt mines.

Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts on a fully guided day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano with a group of up to 20 people. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.

Take a guided tour of the Colosseum, including skip-the-line admission, to get the most out of your visit. By exploring the amphitheater’s first and second tiers with an official Colosseum guide, who has a background in history, art, and archaeology, learn about the origins of this iconic Rome landmark. Hear stories about gladiator battles and Roman emperors, and marvel at the engineering of the ancient structure. Then visit Palatine Hill and the ruins of the Roman Forum.

Visit the Palace of Versailles with skip-the-line admission, and avoid standing in the entrance queue before touring this royal chateau. On this 90-minute tour, follow a knowledgeable guide around the palace to see the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors. Then head outside independently to explore the expansive gardens at your leisure (note: an additional fee for the garden is required on days when the fountain show or musical show take place).

Skip the line on your visit to one of Scotland's most popular attractions on this Edinburgh Castle walking tour. Walk up the Royal Mile toward to the castle with your guide while they share insight into the significance of the fortification in Scottish history and introduce you to some of the key characters associated with it. Once inside, explore the main buildings as your guide provides further details about such elements as the one o'clock gun, the Argyle Battery, and the castle dungeons. 

Take the stress out of waiting in long visitor lines by going on this Colosseum tour. Explore areas of the Colosseum not accessible to regular ticket holders, and see the underground level, the Arena,and the Roman Forum. Along the way, your tour will be brought to life with guide commentary through headsets. Options available for small group guided tours.

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Enjoy the stunning view on Piazza San Marco with your special access to St Marks' balcony, then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

The Catacombs of Rome are a popular attraction—bypass the long lines outside with this Roman Catacombs and Crypts Skip-the-Line Small-Group Tour. This tour also gives you skip-the-line access to Capuchin Crypt and Basilica San Nicola in Carcere, making it a great pick for travelers short on time. See Rome's mysterious side with a guide who knows the history well so you can get more out of your visit.