A Rome ghost tour walks the old center after dark, from Campo de’ Fiori to Castel Sant’Angelo, with stories of executions, poisoners and restless spirits. Two small-group walks lead Viator. Rome’s Dark Side is rated 4.9 across 132 reviews, from about $29. The Original, with dowsing rods for ghost hunting, is rated 4.7 across 696 reviews, from about $33.
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The verdict
Rome’s Dark Side is our pick for most travelers. It has the higher rating, the lower price and the longer walk, two hours instead of ninety minutes. The supplier promises storytelling with no costumes and no ghost-hunting gimmicks, and reviewers praise the guides by name. One reviewer notes it is “Not too spooky but very insightful”, so expect dark history more than scares.
The Original suits travelers who want a bit of play. Your guide hands out dowsing rods to search for ghosts, and it has five times as many reviews. It is also the only one of the two listed as wheelchair accessible. On the other hand, its rating is lower, and a small share of reviewers gave it one or two stars.
Both start at 8 p.m., keep groups to 15 people and offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Both walks cross the same corner of Rome, between Campo de’ Fiori, Via Giulia and Castel Sant’Angelo. Pick the Dark Side for storytelling and the Original for the ghost hunt. For every dark site in Italy, from bone chapels to catacombs, read our guide to dark tourism in Italy.
Which one is for you?
Take the Dark Side tour if
- You want the higher rating: 4.9 from 132 reviews.
- You want the lower price, from about $29.
- You prefer storytelling to gimmicks.
- Two hours on foot is fine for you.
Take the Original if
- You want the most-reviewed option: 696 ratings.
- You like the idea of hunting ghosts with dowsing rods.
- You need a wheelchair-accessible tour.
- Ninety minutes is enough for you.
What each price covers
Rome’s Dark Side, from about $29
Included: a two-hour guided walk with a professional storyteller guide, in a group of up to 15.
Not included: food and drinks (the tour stops where you can buy both), and transport to the start or from the end.
The Original, from about $33
Included: a guided walk in a group of up to 15, dowsing rods, and your guide’s name and number before the tour.
Not included: food, drinks and gratuities.
Where each one starts
- Rome’s Dark Side: at the statue in the middle of Campo de’ Fiori, ending by Castel Sant’Angelo.
- The Original: at the end of Ponte Sant’Angelo, in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, ending in Campo de’ Fiori.
Side by side
| Rome’s Dark Side | The Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 132 | 4.7 from 696 |
| Five-star reviews | 124 (94%) | 571 (82%) |
| Price | from about $29 | from about $33 |
| Length | 2 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Start time | 8:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
| Group size | Up to 15 | Up to 15 |
| Ghost hunting | No, storytelling only | Yes, with dowsing rods |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | Yes, as listed |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On Rome’s Dark Side
A fun insight into the dark side of Roman history. Our guide Alethia was excellent. Great stories and well told.
Andrew_M, September 2026, via Viator
The tour ends at a beautifully scenic view.
Emily_G, April 2026, via Viator
On the Original
The dousing rods were interesting.
Benjamin_C, November 2025, via Viator
She was so theatrical and funny when telling the legends which made it more entertaining.
Luke_W, October 2025, via Viator
Both are reviewed mostly with five stars: 94% of the Dark Side ratings and 82% of the Original’s. Three stars or lower make up about 2% of the reviews on the first and about 7% on the second.
More of Rome after dark
If you would rather see Rome at night on wheels, or with dinner, compare the Rome night tour. For the city’s true-crime history, from Caesar to the twentieth century, see the Rome crime tour. Underground, the Appian Way and catacombs tour visits the early Christian burial galleries.
For planning, read our guides to ghost tours in Italy, the catacombs of Rome and 3 days in Rome.
Questions travelers ask
Which Rome ghost tour should I book?
For most travelers, Rome’s Dark Side, rated 4.9 from 132 reviews on Viator, from about $29 (checked September 2026). For a ghost hunt with dowsing rods, the Original, rated 4.7 from 696 reviews, from about $33.
What time do Rome ghost tours start?
Both walks compared here start at 8 p.m. The Original asks you to check in 15 minutes before.
Are Rome ghost tours scary?
Not really. Both are built on history: executions, murders and legends. Some reviewers say the Dark Side is more insightful than spooky.
Are Rome ghost tours suitable for wheelchair users?
The Original is listed as wheelchair accessible. The Dark Side is listed as not wheelchair accessible, and one reviewer mentions a lot of walking on cobblestones.
Can I cancel a Rome ghost tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the Dark Side for the best-rated storytelling; book the Original for a playful ghost hunt with more reviews behind it.
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 447142P1 and 62570P22), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.