Our story
The Italy we'd show
our own friends
Show Me Italy is a team of Roman locals, licensed guides and behind-the-scenes fixers. We skip the queues, the scripts and the tourist menus — and show you Italy the way the people who live here actually experience it.
Born in Rome, raised on its streets
We started where every great Roman story starts — in the streets of the Eternal City. Our home base is on Via dei Serpenti 114, in the heart of Rome, a short walk from the Colosseum, and it's where every one of our experiences begins life: argued over, tested, tasted and re-tested until it feels like a day out with a friend who happens to know everything.
From the arena floor of the Colosseum and the quiet corners of the Vatican to the ruins of Pompeii, the canals of Venice and the coves of the Amalfi Coast, we only guide in places we know by heart. Our guides don't recite dates — they tell stories, answer the questions you didn't know you had, and point you to the espresso bar they actually go to.
That's why so many of our reviews mention a guide by name. It's the thing we're proudest of, and the standard we hold every new tour to.
What makes a Show Me Italy tour different
Authentic, never generic
Every tour is curated by local experts who live and breathe La Dolce Vita. We build the experiences we’d plan for our own friends — then we run them ourselves.
Unmatched local knowledge
The side door with no queue, the trattoria with no sign, the story your guidebook skipped. Knowing Italy this well is the whole job — and we take it personally.
Quality you can count on
Every experience meets rigorous quality and safety standards, with licensed guides and trusted partners — so you can book knowing you’ve chosen the best of Italy.
Personal support, always
Need to move a date, ask about a dress code or add a last-minute guest? Real people answer — before, during and after your tour.
Every tour, every time
- Licensed local guides who call Italy home
- Small groups — real conversations, not a sea of lanyards
- Skip-the-line entry wherever it exists
- Instant confirmation and free cancellation on most tours
- Private tours tailored around your dates, pace and interests
Rated by our guests
The people who make it
Meet the locals behind every tour
Licensed guides, art historians, archaeology nerds and serious food lovers — people who've spent their lives here and can't wait to show you why they stayed.
Kristina
Mary
Darnia
Della
Zac
Tiziano
- He loves Argumi (Citrus Fruits) 🍊🍋🍋🟩
Marco
- Licensed archaeologist with 12 years at the Colosseum
- Can point out gladiator graffiti most guides walk past
- Grew up ten minutes from the Roman Forum
Giulia
- Art history degree from La Sapienza
- Knows the quietest hour of the Sistine Chapel
- Makes everyone stop at her favourite Raphael
Elena
- Born and raised in Trastevere
- Judges every carbonara she meets — professionally
- Her nonna’s trattoria is stop three on the food tour
Francesco
- Neapolitan through and through
- Certified pizzaiolo before he was a guide
- Has walked Pompeii more than a thousand times
Sofia
- Fifth-generation Venetian
- Learned glassblowing on Murano as a teenager
- Knows which bacaro has the best cicchetti at 6pm
Alessandro
- Archaeology researcher turned storyteller
- Climbed Vesuvius in every season
- Collects 79 AD facts the way others collect stamps
Places we know by heart
Travelers' Choice, year after year
Awarded to experiences that consistently earn outstanding reviews from travellers worldwide.
Traveler's Choice2018
Traveler's Choice2019
Traveler's Choice2020
Traveler's Choice2021
Traveler's Choice2022
Traveler's Choice2023
Traveler's Choice2024
Traveler's Choice2025
Traveler's Choice2026Traveler's Choice2018Traveler's Choice2019Traveler's Choice2020Traveler's Choice2021Traveler's Choice2022Traveler's Choice2023Traveler's Choice2024Traveler's Choice2025Traveler's Choice2026Traveler's Choice2018Traveler's Choice2019Traveler's Choice2020Traveler's Choice2021Traveler's Choice2022Traveler's Choice2023Traveler's Choice2024Traveler's Choice2025Traveler's Choice2026Don't just take it from us
Pulled straight from Google, Tripadvisor, Viator and GetYourGuide — unfiltered.
“Walking onto the arena floor was unreal”
Our guide made ancient Rome feel alive. Walking through the Gladiator’s Gate onto the arena floor was the single best moment of our whole trip to Italy.
Sarah M.
United States · Colosseum Arena Floor Tour – Walk Through the Gladiator’s Gate
“The underground is a must”
A completely different experience down in the hypogeum. Our guide knew everything and the small group meant our kids could ask endless questions.
James & Priya
United Kingdom
“Best day of our trip”
Positano from the water is unforgettable. The skipper found coves you could never reach by land, and the limoncello didn’t hurt either.
Anke R.
Germany
“Came hungry, left family”
Every stop felt like being welcomed into someone’s home. The pasta course alone justified the flight to Rome.
Daniel K.
Australia
“Flawless from booking to goodbye”
We booked three tours with Show Me Italy across Rome and Naples. Every guide was punctual, every ticket worked, every dinner recommendation was gold.
Lucia B.
Spain
“Great guides, busy season”
Vatican tour was excellent — our guide timed the Sistine Chapel perfectly to catch it at its quietest. Book the earliest slot you can in summer.
Tom H.
Canada
Second time in Rome but first time actually understanding what I was looking at. The Forum section was fantastic.
Emily W.
United States
The Naples street food walk was pure magic — our guide’s family has lived there for generations and it shows in every story.
Sophie L.
France
Andiamo!
Come see it
our way
Browse our most-loved experiences, or tell us your dates and a local will help you plan the rest.
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