A Rome crime tour follows the murders, conspiracies and executions that the city’s monuments rarely mention. Two walks lead Viator. The Criminal Tour of Rome, from Caesar’s assassination to modern cases, is rated 5.0 across 40 reviews, from about $67. The Ghosts and Crimes night walk is rated 4.8 across 68 reviews, from about $33.
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The verdict
The Criminal Tour of Rome is our pick for true-crime fans. It has a perfect rating, and it covers more ground in time: one reviewer lists stops from Caesar’s assassination to the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro in 1978. It visits Largo Argentina, the Portico d’Ottavia and Campo de’ Fiori, and ends back at the start.
The Ghosts and Crimes night walk costs half as much and starts later, at 8 p.m. It mixes crime with legends and hands out dowsing rods. One three-star reviewer said it is less a ghost tour than a “gory-who-was-killed at this spot tour”, which is exactly what a crime fan wants.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The Criminal Tour is the deeper history lesson; the night walk is the cheaper, lighter evening out. For ghost stories without the crime focus, compare the Rome ghost tour.
Which one is for you?
Take the Criminal Tour if
- You want the top rating: 5.0 from 40 reviews.
- You want modern crime as well as ancient.
- An early evening start suits you.
- You don’t mind a group of up to 20.
Take the night walk if
- You want the lower price, from about $33.
- You prefer a later start, at 8 p.m.
- You want ghosts and legends as well as crime.
- You need a wheelchair-accessible walk.
What each price covers
The Criminal Tour, from about $67
Included: the guided walk, with all fees and taxes.
Not included: the listing names no exclusions; food and drinks are not mentioned, so budget for them.
The Ghosts and Crimes night walk, from about $33
Included: dowsing rods, a storyteller guide in a group of up to 15, and your guide’s name and number before the tour.
Not included: food, drinks and gratuities.
Where each one starts
- Criminal Tour: at Piazza della Minerva 38, next to the Pantheon, at 6 p.m. It ends back at the same spot.
- Ghosts and Crimes: between Ponte Sant’Angelo and Castel Sant’Angelo, at 8 p.m. It ends in Campo de’ Fiori.
Side by side
| Criminal Tour | Ghosts and Crimes | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 from 40 | 4.8 from 68 |
| Five-star reviews | 39 (98%) | 61 (90%) |
| Price | from about $67 | from about $33 |
| Length | 2 to 3 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Start time | 6:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
| Group size | Up to 20 | Up to 15 |
| Focus | Crime history, ancient to modern | Crimes, ghosts and legends |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | Yes, as listed |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Criminal Tour
A terrific tour spanning the history of Rome, from Ceasar’s assassination to Aldo Moro’s kidnapping and assassination.
Linda_S, November 2025, via Viator
A lot of backstory on famous crimes in Rome.
Stacey_A, April 2023, via Viator
On the night walk
I would not say this is a ghost tour. More of a gory-who-was-killed at this spot tour. Very interesting, we had fun.
Kate_C, August 2025, via Viator
Would recommend to families of tweens and teens
Tracy_H, September 2024, via Viator
Both are reviewed almost entirely with five stars: 98% of the Criminal Tour ratings and 90% of the night walk’s. On the night walk, two of the 68 reviews gave three stars or lower.
More of Rome’s dark side
For ghost stories and legends, compare the Rome ghost tour. For an evening on wheels or with dinner, see the Rome night tour. Below ground, the Appian Way and catacombs tour visits the early Christian galleries.
For planning, read our guides to ghost tours in Italy, dark tourism in Italy and 3 days in Rome.
Questions travelers ask
Which Rome crime tour should I book?
For true-crime fans, the Criminal Tour of Rome, rated 5.0 from 40 reviews on Viator, from about $67 (checked September 2026). For a cheaper evening mixing crimes and legends, the Ghosts and Crimes night walk, rated 4.8 from 68 reviews, from about $33.
Where does the Rome crime tour start?
The Criminal Tour starts at Piazza della Minerva 38, near the Pantheon, at 6 p.m. The Ghosts and Crimes walk starts by Castel Sant’Angelo at 8 p.m.
Which crimes does the tour cover?
The Criminal Tour listing mentions the conspiracy against Julius Caesar and the places of public executions; reviewers also mention the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro in 1978.
Is a Rome crime tour suitable for teenagers?
One reviewer of the Ghosts and Crimes walk recommends it for families with tweens and teens. The stories are about real murders, so judge for your own children.
Can I cancel a Rome crime tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the Criminal Tour for the full story of Rome’s crimes; book the night walk for a cheaper, lighter evening.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, start times, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 44414P4 and 62570P30), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.