Rome EBike Tour: Appian Way, Catacombs & Roman Aqueducts
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rome, Italy
- 4 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Venture outside Rome’s historic center to take in ancient sights that many tourists miss, all on this electric-assist bike tour along the Ancient Appian Way. See ruins like the Aurelian Walls, Circus of Maxentius, and Roman aqueducts, all the while cycling with ease through the countryside. Choose between two different-length tours to suit your schedule. The longer tour includes a guided visit to the 2nd-century catacombs.
- Get in-depth insights into ancient Rome from your guide
- Cover more ground on an e-bike without getting too tried
- Upgrade to include a visit to the San Callisto or San Sebastiano catacombs
- Enjoy the personal attention and relaxed pace of a small-group tour with a 10-person limit on participants
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Ride out of Rome's busy center and off the beaten track.
What's Included
- Top Quality CANNONDALE E-Bike (with anti-puncture tires and comfortable saddle)
- Helmet (mandatory)
- Professional guide
- Guided visit of the Catacombs of San Callisto or San Sebastiano (ONLY IN THE 6-HOUR TOUR)
- Handlebar bag
- Water (biodegradable bottle)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- LunchThis tour doesn't include any food or drinks; however, the route offers a few possibilities to purchase some food or drinks (which can be consumed during a suitable break).
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Via Labicana, 49, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
You can easily reach us using the A-line subway, getting off at Metro MANZONI (our shop is a 10-minute walk from there); or using the B-line subway, getting off at Metro COLOSSEUM (our shop is a 10/15-minute walk from there).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Your electric, pedal-assisted bike tour starts at a central Rome location, where you meet your guide and ride out of the city center to the Appian Way. Dating back to 312 BC, the Ancient Appian Way was constructed to connect Rome to Southern Italy and became one of the most important thoroughfares in the Roman Republic.
When you arrive at the start of the ancient road, you can relax and enjoy the scenery while riding on your electric-assist bike—allowing you to cover a lot of ground with minimal effort while you enjoy the fresh air of the Roman countryside.
Follow your guide past ancient sites like the Thermal Baths of Caracalla, the Aurelian Walls, and the Park of the Aqueducts.
Admire rural Italy, and hear stories from your guide about the centuries-old ruins. During the longer tour option, enjoy a guided tour of the catacombs and learn about ancient Roman burial traditions as you delve inside the subterranean tunnels.
Your tour concludes when you return to central Rome.
When you arrive at the start of the ancient road, you can relax and enjoy the scenery while riding on your electric-assist bike—allowing you to cover a lot of ground with minimal effort while you enjoy the fresh air of the Roman countryside.
Follow your guide past ancient sites like the Thermal Baths of Caracalla, the Aurelian Walls, and the Park of the Aqueducts.
Admire rural Italy, and hear stories from your guide about the centuries-old ruins. During the longer tour option, enjoy a guided tour of the catacombs and learn about ancient Roman burial traditions as you delve inside the subterranean tunnels.
Your tour concludes when you return to central Rome.
1
Porta San Sebastiano
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Catacombe di San Callisto
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Circus of Maxentius
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella e Castrum Caetani - Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Villa dei Quintili e Santa Maria Nova - Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Parco degli Acquedotti - Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Terme di Caracalla
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Parco Della Caffarella (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please note that approximately 40% of the route of this tour takes place in the city. We ride carefully chosen city streets, but some traffic is unavoidable to connect the Ancient Appian Way Park to the Aqueducts Park. In the remaining 60% of the route (riding in the parks) we encounter no traffic.
- You will cover an area of approximately 17 miles (27km), 60% of which takes place off-road. The difficulty level of this tour is intermediate (difficult with a child seat or child extension mounted on the bicycle).
- Child policy: (1) Infants under 1 year are not allowed to participate for safety reasons. (2) Infants aged 1-4 years travelling on a child seat (with load capacity of up to 49 lbs or 22 kg) come on the tour free of charge. (3) For children aged 5-8 years a child extension (child streamliner) is provided. (4) Children aged 9 and above can autonomously ride on an appropriately sized E-bikes.
- Minimum of 4 participants applies (total number of participants on tour). There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is 3 or less passengers on the tour. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative for your tour or full refund.
- On Wednesdays, the route includes a deviation, so the tour may last half an hour longer (4.5 hours in place of 4 hours and 6,5 hours in place of 6 hours). The tour may be half an hour longer long also in the period January 14th - February 11th 2026
- On Easter Sunday (April 5th, 2026), the Catacombs are closed (therefore, the 6-hour tour will not be running)
- This tour doesn't include any food or drinks; however, the route offers a few possibilities to purchase some food or drinks (which can be consumed during a suitable break).
- Are the tours safe? The answer is: Absolutely! The tours follow carefully planned routes which have limited access to traffic, and some have no traffic at all, meaning you are able to enjoy your ride around the city in total relaxation and safety and you won't have to worry about traffic
- We require that all customers wear a helmet on the tour (provided for free).
- Our bike equipment carries a weight limitation of 300 lbs (136 kg)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jillian_P
I cannot recommend this tour enough. It was a fantastic way to see and experience Rome differently. It was the highlight of Rome for my two teenage boys. The bikes were top quality and our guide Bita was fantastic. We really enjoyed the ride through Appian Way and Aqueduct park with so much history.
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,906 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Michael_N, Jul 2026
Very cool way to see a different part of Rome. Easy ride, covered a lot a places and the guide was great. Highly recommend.
Tricia_B, Jul 2026
This bike tour was GREAT! It was so fun to be out in the countryside of Rome rather than just in the city center. We saw the old aqueduct and the old Appian Way road, which was cool, the catacombs tour was excellent, and it was just a fun experience. We learned a saw a lot!!! Now, a little disclaimer: this is not for the faint of heart. It’s a long bike ride and a long day, in the heat. (Although the breeze on our faces was great.) It’s a great value for your money, but I wasn’t aware of how many miles we would ride. Thankfully they were E bikes. But a disclaimer about that too: those E bikes can have a little bit of power for people who don’t know how to ride them, so just be careful! Not saying don’t do it, just be aware. I had a little minor accident, but our tour guide was there with Band-Aids and wound spray. Our guide was Icaru- great guy, fun and kind and knowledgeable 😊
Thomas_B, Jul 2026
Such a great tour off the beaten path from Rome. Loved hearing more about parts of Roman history that you may not hear on the typical Rome tours. It was nice and quaint. Not overrun with Tourists
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed exploring a quieter side of Rome and discovering stories and history beyond the usual tourist highlights. It means a lot to hear you appreciated the more authentic experience, and we hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
Moira_Z, Jul 2026
This was a very fun tour. You get to see a lot of different parts of Rome and riding the Appian Way and in the aqueduct park was very special. Our guide Zac did a great job with stops and keeping us all safe while riding.
Dr_A, Jul 2026
It was so interesting, the Catacombs, the countryside, navigating the streets of Rome on a bike, it was some of everything!
Jessica_C, Jun 2026
I think it’s helpful to know these guys are a bike shop that runs tours, not a tour group that has a bike option. Having basic mountain biking experience is helpful taking this tour. Biking on cobbles and appian way takes some bike navigation skills. Riding with traffic on the cobblestone also takes some caution. There is limited biking on paved surfaces so it’s not an easy ride though of course the powered bike helps. The downhills are long and you can pick up a lot of speed so if you’re not used to it, it can seem dangerous because there’s a lot a navigating around blind curves and corners. I would say our guide Rob was somewhat cavalier. He was generally polite but I don’t think he kept us together very well and didn’t give much support to the riders or clear instructions on what terrain we would be biking and what hazards to look out for. He is Iranian and knowing we were from the US made joking comment(?) about the Strait of Hormuz which I found very off-putting. Coming from the US and never ridden an e-bike before, I expected more instruction on how the bike operated and what the different modes of the e-bike were for. Also what are the rules of the road in Italy - may be there really aren’t any but generally who has the right away? Again, not clear. If you have and neck or back issues the bumpiness of the Appian Way is not for you. If you’re not a confident bike rider, I wouldn’t recommend this tour. I wouldn’t recommend Rob as a guide as well.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Jessica,
First of all, thank you for providing, for the benefit of future guests, a detailed account of what some participants may experience as the more challenging aspects of the Appian Way Tour.
Indeed, some of the potential difficulties you mentioned are why we rate this itinerary "intermediate", particularly given that 60% of the tour takes place on off-road terrain (dirt paths, cobbles and light gravel). This makes the tour most suitable for confident cyclists, or cyclists who have a little more than just basic biking skills. While we make every effort to smooth out the itinerary (by selecting the lighter off-road paths and using front-suspension Cannondale E-Mountain Bikes, for example), it is important to recognize the "physical" limitations of the route. For a similar reason, we agree that this tour may not be suitable for all guests, and that those with certain health conditions should carefully evaluate their suitability for this itinerary.
Regarding your overall experience of the ride, we're sorry to hear that you felt you didn't receive enough support from the guide during the tour and that you felt the group wasn't kept together. Our goal is always a seamless experience that lets you freely enjoy the beauty of the Appian Way Park without ever thinking about the "mechanics" of the tour: how the bike works or who has the right of way — and we apologize if we fell short of this objective. We have addressed this with the guide to ensure close adherence to all our policies related to safety and the perception thereof (including safety and bike briefings and a tight control of the group during the tour).
We also apologize if one of your guides' comments made you uncomfortable. We spoke with him on this too, and he explained that his intention with the joke was never to make anyone uncomfortable, but rather to break the ice. In any case, we can see how such a comment can have a different impact than intended, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention.
Thank you again for your review. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back so you can enjoy the experience we strive to give all our guests.
With my best regards,
Akram
TopBike Rental & Tours
Paht_J, Jun 2026
Amazing, the best experience. I’ve been on a lot of tours but this one is the most fun and interactive.
Lauren_B, Jun 2026
This is a great activity for groups or families especially if you have older kids or teenagers who are active and want to get out of the hustle and bustle of the crowded city while still seeing the sights of Ancient Rome! Our guide, Alejandro, was great a patient with a couple of us who were a little slower than the rest of our family! My teenagers loved it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Lauren,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted that your family enjoyed exploring Ancient Rome away from the crowds, and that everyone — teenagers included — had such a great time. Alejandro will be thrilled to hear your kind words about his patience and care for the group. We'd love to welcome you all back to TopBike on your next visit to Rome!
Warm regards,
Ali
Lauren_S, Jun 2026
My family of four, including a 13 and 10 year old, took the four hour e-bike tour. Our guide, Tommaso, did a great job of helping our group navigate Rome, both in the city and outer areas. We loved the route, which was both beautiful and a bit exciting. Tommaso was very helpful and informative, leading us through the city, along the Appian Way and through the aqueducts and parks. This was favorite tour in Rome and such an incredible way to see parts that wouldn’t be possible on foot. We would highly recommend and would definitely do again if ever in Rome.
Salley_W, Jun 2026
Great tour, lovely to be seeing the countryside along the way. Maria was such a friendly and very knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend for a family day out
Adena_A, Jun 2026
I traveled to Rome in April on a group bus tour. We visited the Appian Way and catacombs one morning, all slowly shuffling out of the bus and walking a short distance up the road as the tour guide droned, and I noticed people zipping by us on e-bikes off into the distance and said to myself, “I want to do that!” I split from the group the next day and took this tour and it was the highlight of my trip to Rome. The weather was beautiful, and the ride along part of the Appian Way and through the countryside was spectacular—I couldn’t stop smiling. Our guide was great, and made sure the slowpokes in the back (me) kept up with the group. Some of the narrow/bumpy parts of the path were a bit challenging, but I’m 67 and I made it all the way. Highly recommend, this was a day I won’t forget.
Kyle_W, Jun 2026
You will see things around Rome you won’t see on other tours. The guide did great and the bikes were top notch equipment.
Carol_L, Jun 2026
Our guide, Tommaso, was wonderful and super helpful. He looked out for the group and made sure we were safe and together. He also provided much information on Rome‘s history. This was one of the most enjoyable tours we have ever done in Italy!
Renee_S, Jun 2026
such a fantastic experience to go through the countryside and see the aqueducts! We love this much more than the tours through the city
Darrel_T, Jun 2026
Excellent combination of history, scenery and exercise on this six hour trip. Icaro was a great guide and it was a very enjoyable day (even with 90 degree temps!). It was safe and the e-bikes make it pleasant for those less inclined to vigorous bike rides.
Amber_M, Jun 2026
Unique way to explore outside of Rome! Seeing the Aquaduct and catacombs am amazing experience! The E bikes were super fun even when we were playing Frogger through the streets of Rome :-)
Lee_G, Jun 2026
Rossella did an amazing job guiding us through the itinerary. She was helpful, polite and professional. The tour was not overly strenuous, allowing us to stop every few miles to rest and ask questions and refill water bottles. We covered about 17 miles in 4 hours and it was an incredible journey. The 60/40 country/city breakdown was exactly as advertised and offered a mix of terrain. I was worried about riding for four hours on uneven Roman cobblestones but my concerns were misplaced as much if the ride is along smooth paths. The bikes were well-maintained and comfortable. I rode with my ten-year-old son, and the entire experience was pleasant and enjoyable. If you are worried about navigating Rome’s notoriously busy streets, put those concerns aside. The group was small and manageable (a guide and six riders) and the drivers we encountered were respectful and waited patiently for us to cross and gave us a wide berth. Book this tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so pleased to hear that Rossella provided such attentive guidance and that both you and your son had an enjoyable ride. It's wonderful that the route, bikes, and pace exceeded your expectations and helped you discover a different side of Rome. We hope to see you again on a future tour!
Mark_R, Jun 2026
Great tour with almost all of 6 hours riding the e-bike. You should have biking experience and good fitness, but not necessarily e-bike experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for joining us! Great to hear you enjoyed the e-bike tour and we appreciate your feedback.
Carol_W, May 2026
Favorite part of our visit to Rome. Tour guide Tomasso was fantastic. Bikes were in great shape. Lots of breaks to get a bit of history, take in the views, use the restrooms and even a little pizza. We would have missed so much if we tried this on our own. We did the 6 hour tour that included the catacombs. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour and that Tomasso helped make your experience so memorable. It’s great to hear the bikes, stops, history, views, and catacombs all came together for an unforgettable day in Rome. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to ride with you again! 🚴♂️😊
Joan_P, May 2026
This trip was on some dirt roads as well as paved areas. The bikes are easy to operate. The tour guide Adina was amazing. She kept our group together and was very knowledgeable about the history of Rome.
Len_T, May 2026
This was our favorite thing we did in Rome.
Anna was a great guide.Very knowledgeable.Good bicycles.
Response from Host, May 2026
Ciao Len,
we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and the company of Anna,
Hope to see you again soon in the future
Marlana_B, May 2026
Absolutely amazing experience! We've been in Italy 5 days now and this was our 4th tour....and the BEST! I think all ages will enjoy this experience. Our youngest is 10 years old and I would say that's definitely the youngest that should ride. The city riding is a little unnerving but our guide, Sina, made everything easy!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear this was the highlight of your Italy trip, and that the whole family — including your youngest — had such a great time.
We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Sina. It means a lot to the whole team!
We hope to see you again on your next adventure. Enjoy the rest of your time in Italy!
Falconer_A, May 2026
The guide Hemno was very professional and caring for those with less experience and he young trainee was also very good and kind.
Camille_M, May 2026
A highlight of our trip to Rome. Our family (with 3 teens) all left smiling. The e-bikes made it almost effortless. The scenery once we got to the parks was spectacular. Was a nice break from sightseeing the big attractions. Only drawback was the brief riding in traffic in the city- but we even got used to that and were more confident by the end. Highly recommend!!
Allan_L, May 2026
Cas, the guide was awesome and knowledgeable. The sites were amazing and totally worth the money. It was everything I hoped for.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Cas. He’ll be thrilled to know he helped make your experience so memorable!
Carlos_P, May 2026
Our guide Anna was really good. Great way to visit the via Apia, aquaducts and other attractions without the heavy tourist crowds. Beautiful countryside
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for the lovely review! We’re glad Anna helped you discover the beauty of the Via Appia and countryside away from the crowds. Hope to ride with you again soon!
Marco_A, May 2026
Great adventure on e-bikes that visit churches, aqueducts and parks. Shall look to try this tour again!
Malcolm_E, May 2026
It's a great way of seeing historic sights on the Appian Way - so much more than if I'd followed my original plan of walking along the route. Plus hearing from someone who knows his stuff!
I did the 6 hour ebike tour - not bad for someone who hadn't cycled for 20 years! I made it in one piece - always a bonus. Tour includes the catacombs - it goes on for miles. Geeking out on all the history, plus a welcome stop at a pizzeria recommended by our guide.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for sharing your experience! Great to hear you made it through the full tour in one piece and enjoyed both the history and the pizza stop. Well done for getting back into cycling after so long!
Christina_K, May 2026
Fantastic day. It’s wonderful to see a side of Rome outside the big sites in the big city. Our guide, Rens, was absolutely terrific. He was so knowledgeable, shared fun tidbits, always made sure we were safe along the trails and roads and was genuinely kind. We haven’t even had a chance to get our bikes out back home but the e-bikes really made the journey doable. We had never used e-bikes but the instructions were very clear and Rens always gave us reminders and tips to use them. The 6 hrs flew by and was a highlight of our Rome stay.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for such a thoughtful review! We’re so happy the tour was a highlight of your stay in Rome. Rens will be delighted to hear your kind words. We’re glad you enjoyed discovering a different side of the city and had a great first e-bike experience! 😊
Orlaith_R, May 2026
Sima was an excellent guide. We really enjoyed the tour. It was probably an hour too long for us with a few too many stops. The terrain was a little more difficult than expected. It was certainly our favourite excursion of the trip though. Nice to see a different aspect of Rome.
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Rome EBike Tour: Appian Way, Catacombs & Roman Aqueducts
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