Rome Catacombs & Capuchin Crypts Group Tour with Transfers
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Rome, Italy
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Centrally located near Barberini Station, the Capuchin Crypts are one of Rome’s most popular religious sights, while the Roman Catacombs are just outside the city. With this tour, visit both ancient burial sites and the Mouth of Truth in just a few hours without stressing about transportation. Travel with a fun tour guide who gives historical context to some of Rome’s most unusual attractions.
- Check off multiple spread out sites in one convenient tour
- Choose from various departure times to suit your schedule
- Visit Pope Hadrian I’s Crypt in Santa Maria in Cosmedin
- Travel in a luxury vehicle with air-conditioning—a must in summer
What's Included
- Expert, English-speaking guide
- Timed entry & audio guide tour of the Capuchin Crypts (not included on Express Tour: Catacombs Only)
- Guided tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, St. Sebastian, or Domitilla
- Drive past the ancient Appian Way
- Views of the Aurelian Walls
- Private, round-trip transportation from central Rome
- Hotel pick up / drop off
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Fontana del TritoneP.za Barberini, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Please Arrive 10 Minutes Early. Piazza Barberini - in front of the Fontana del Tritone. A representative will be there holding a sign with ''The Tour Guy'' on it.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Piazza Barberini
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Museum and Crypt of Capuchins Friars
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Catacombe di San Callisto
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Piazza Barberini
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Due to traffic regulations all children must be seated. Car seats available upon request. Must be requested at least 72 hours in advance.
- Depending on the opening days of the Catacombs, the Catacombs visited can vary
- Due to the religious origin of the sites visited, all participants must cover shoulders and knees, failure to comply will result in refusal of entry.
- We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 23 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 878 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Peter_F, Jul 2026
Be aware Viator have no rep or guide.
It will be 'the tour guy,' or similar.
Don't make my mistake. Waiting for them stood next to a tour guy guide who never spoke once!.
Anonymous, Jul 2026
Very interesting less seen Ancient Rome sites. Definitely both are worth a visit. Do it early in day due to number of stairs in San Sebastián catacombs
Lori_P, Jul 2026
Very interesting tour. Learned a lot at both sites. Arvin was an excellent, knowledgeable and funny tour guide. We highly recommend this tour. Advice... If it's hot in Rome, book this tour in the afternoon for some relief from the heat!
Susan_G, Jul 2026
I enjoyed this tour, but sometimes it was hard to understand the guide speaking through the headset when we road from the crypt to the catacombs. She was very friendly, and gave some interesting background info. The guide at the catacombs was very easy to hear and understand. He was fantastic! This was a great tour for someone traveling on their own. I did this by myself and I was fine. There wasn't any need to chat with anyone.
OlgaYerofyeyev, Jul 2026
It was wonderful. Frederica was great, give a lot of tips and history. Spoke about traditions. Caring about her group like a mom. Was one of the best tour in Rome
Vincent_S, Jul 2026
Mateo was incredibly knowledgeable. Very impressive tour, top-notch, transportation and information.
Ron_R, Jul 2026
Jumped the time forward the left without us. I notified them that I would be late with the new time and they only responded to say they were leaving without us. The only refund they offered was 60% store credit with they're website. But I will never be using the Tour Guy again. Avoid at all costs. There's too many other options.
Krista_L, Jul 2026
Fantastic tour. Sites like these, and the understanding of the history to the areas around them, cam be confusing. Our guide walked through all the details to help really unlock the history.
falconeville, Jul 2026
This was a very interesting tour. Our guide, I forget her name, was super friendly, In addition to the tour she gave us lot of other information/advice regarding Rome while we were there.
Thomas_G, Jul 2026
The catacomb tour was a great opportunity to see the connection of early Christians on how they lived their faith. Our guide was super knowledgeable and shared many insights about early Christians and the tombs. The tour portion of the Crypts was also interest if not a little macabre! The included van ride transportation was a welcome break from the heat too! Thank you!
Rebecca_H, Jul 2026
Experience was great! Our tour guide was incredibly informative. But absolutely make sure you bring good footwear. I rolled my ankle a few days before the tour, and by the end I was aching.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review! We're glad you enjoyed your experience and found your guide informative. We appreciate your helpful tip about wearing comfortable footwear—the Catacombs involve unique underground spaces and walking conditions, so being prepared makes all the difference. We hope to welcome you back on another Rome adventure soon!
Patrick_L, Jul 2026
What a great time I truly loved it it was nice to see what happened in the old times with the gladiators and the dangerous animal they had
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you Patrick! Glad you loved diving into history. Tell your friends about The Tour Guy and travel with us again soon!
Stacie_F, Jul 2026
More walking than I expected. The catacombs are narrow. So if you are large in belly or height you might find some challenges. Lots of stairs.
Guides all were fantastic. Knowledgeable and great!! At one point I felt like I was Indiana Jones!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Stacie, thank you for sharing your experience. Exploring historical catacombs can definitely involve steep stairs and tighter spaces, so we appreciate your advice for future travelers. Please reach out to support@thetourguy.com so we can look into your booking details and get this resolved for you. We have shared your feedback with our Rome Operations Manager to ensure our tour descriptions highlight these physical demands perfectly. We hope to welcome you on another comfortable journey soon.
Eric_L, Jul 2026
It was a cool tour. We got to visit the catacombs and crypts as described. The guide was nice and knowledgeable, but it was mainly transportation between two other tours (which were included in the price) with some extra info while driving between the two. Still a good time and seeing the crypts were interesting. Definitely worth the price.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello Eric! Thank you for the review. We are glad you had a good time seeing the crypts and found the journey worth the price. Providing comfortable transport with an expert guide to connect these historic underground sites is exactly what we aim for, and we hope to welcome you on another unique tour soon!
Donna_L, Jul 2026
It was an amazing experience to see and enjoy, I had a great time. Found out things I didn't know about which was great, our tour guide was exceptional. Saw a museum, crept and the catacombs outside the Roman walls which was incredible to see! It was really worth it and I recommend you do this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review, Donna!
We are thrilled to hear you had a great time discovering things you did not know before and that your guide was exceptional. Exploring the museum, crypt, and the ancient catacombs outside the Roman walls really is an incredible journey. Please tell your friends and family about the fun you had with The Tour Guy so they can experience it too!
Tasha_P, Jun 2026
Very interesting! Both activities were great and set up well. The guides were fairly patient with us (Ubers took forever and traffic was BAD). Neat to learn that history.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words, Tasha!
We are glad both activities were set up well and that the catacombs helped you cool down after dealing with that tough Roman traffic. Seamlessly coordinating these unique underground sites with our private transfers is exactly how we ensure a smooth day. We would love to have you back for another tour soon, so please tell your family and friends to look up The Tour Guy when they visit Italy!
Michael_C, Jun 2026
I would highly recommend this tour both from the Capuchin Crypts tour as well as the Catacombs. The time spent at both sights is plenty to explore. The guided tour portion at the Catacombs was informative and educational to learn about the historical usage of such burial practices. I would recommend this tour and Sylvia as the guide!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the high recommendation, Michael!
We are glad you enjoyed the ideal pace of our Rome Catacombs and Capuchin Crypts tour, and it is wonderful to hear that Sylvia made the historical burial practices so educational. Having comfortable transfers between these unique underground sites really elevates the whole experience. We would love to have you join us again soon, and we hope you will pass the word along to your family and friends about booking their next vacation with The Tour Guy!
Mari_E, Jun 2026
Arvin was an amazing guide. He was knowledgeable and made sure we had all the information about the sites we visited. Both the crypts and catacombs were very interesting. Would definitely recommend
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the perfect 10/10 review, Mari!
We are so glad to hear that Arvin was an amazing guide and shared so much great knowledge about the fascinating history of the crypts and catacombs. Combining these two distinct underground sites with seamless transfers makes for a truly memorable day in Rome. We would love to host you on another one of our tours soon, so please spread the word to your friends and family about traveling with The Tour Guy!
Bsufranski, Jun 2026
We visited the catacombs with an excellent guide and the crypt. The catacombs were very interesting.
Due to known events, traffic in Rome was horrendous and since we did not follow the itinerary we spent over 2 hours traveling first to the catacombs and then to the crypt and only about 35 minutes in each site.
Had they followed the itinerary and started with the crypt, we would have avoided the traffic. In addition, one guide accompanied us in 3 vans but we could not hear her through the headset since she was in a different van.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi There,
thank you for your feedback and for your kind words about our excellent guide and how interesting you found the catacombs. We are glad you enjoyed the sites themselves, but we are truly sorry that the heavy Rome traffic impacted your time at each location. Our local team sometimes shifts the itinerary order dynamically to react to real-time road closures or specific entry slot adjustments at the venues, though we completely understand your frustration with how the travel time added up. Regarding the vans, our guides typically utilize transit time to share introductory context, and we apologize that the headset range fell short between the vehicles. I have brought these specific logistical and audio details to our Rome Operations Manager so we can refine our transit coordination. We hope to welcome you back in the future for a much smoother journey through the Eternal City.
RoseMarie_C, Jun 2026
We found the catacomb part to be top-notch! The museum of the church was a good beginning, although a couple of people in my group thought the display of artwork with bones was a little gruesome. The rest of us thought it was a little strange yet interesting, but history is what it is!
The meeting place was excellent/super easy-to-find (as opposed to the tour we signed up for the day before at the Colosseum, in which the gps directions sent by the Tour Guy were WAY off; we finally found the guide way across the street w/ our tickets but missed the tour due to horrible 'meeting 'place). I am aware that the Tour Guy was the subcontractor for this catacombs & crypt tour, but the guidance to find our tour guide was like night and day!
Again, this Catacombs & crypt tour was great, inlcuding the transportation between venues!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi RoseMarie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your review. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience on the tour, enjoyed the unique history of the catacombs and crypts, and found the transportation smooth throughout. Clear meeting instructions make all the difference for a stress free start to the day, so it is wonderful to know our directions hit the mark for you. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on another adventure in Rome soon.
Melina_R, Jun 2026
The tour is great BUT the tour operator may not be clearly holding a sign or flag. I watched and waited for 20 mins before meeting time near the meeting spot and didn’t see the tour guide indicate she was waiting. I had to ask a local who said they had already left and gone to start the tour at the crypt without me. It was unnecessarily stressful when I was there very early. Please just hold up a sign!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Melina, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. I am so sorry for the stress and frustration you experienced at the start of your tour. Arriving early and still missing the initial departure is certainly not the smooth experience we want for our guests. Clear visibility is crucial, and I will be passing your note directly to our operations team so our guides make sure their signs and flags are held high and easy to spot. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope the rest of your time in Rome was enjoyable.
Maria_G, Jun 2026
Frederica our guide was very informative and shared amazing information which made our experience a day that we would never forget.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Maria,
Thanks for the amazing review!
We're so glad to hear that Federica made your day unforgettable. She loves sharing the history of the catacombs and crypts, and it's awesome that her insights added so much value to your experience.
Thanks for choosing to explore Rome with us!
William_O, Jun 2026
Radio sets don't work when it's more than one car so missed a lot on transfers other than that it was quite good
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi William,
Thanks for the honest feedback.
I’m really sorry about the radio headsets cutting out during the transfers. They are supposed to keep everyone connected between the sites, so it's frustrating that you missed out on some of the commentary because of the distance between the vehicles. We’ll have our team look into the range on these sets to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I'm glad that despite the tech issues, you still found the tour of the Catacombs and Capuchin Crypts to be quite good. Thanks for letting us know what happened so we can get it sorted!
CONSTANCE_P, Jun 2026
Make sure you are on time. They will leave without you. Young man who is greeter will not give you entrance tickets if you miss transportation. Will not let you meet group at site. Look for different provider. This company kept changing meeting times.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Constance,
thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you missed the departure for your tour, as it is never our goal for travelers to miss out on the experience. We always aim for precision with our schedules to respect the time of all booked guests and to ensure we do not miss our strict, pre-booked entry slots at these sacred historic sites. Our local greeter was following our standard protocol, as our group tickets require entry together with the guide and cannot be distributed individually for independent access. Our Rome Operations Team only adjusts meeting times when absolutely necessary due to sudden site schedule changes or local events, and we always communicate these updates immediately.
We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a seamless journey in the future.
Marc_N, Jun 2026
So it's important to be clear that this tour is in 3 section: 1) The crypt, 2) The catacombs, and 3) travel. Due to restrictions at the 2 locations, the tour guide actually only gives you information during the travel portion (to/from each location). And I should be clear, she is very good at that part, with lots of history, references, context, and background. For example, she pointed out the first Roman milestone as we came back from the catacombs, as well as several relics from pre-imperial Rome, which was very cool. So you will enjoy her part of the tour.
The crypt is also very interesting. It's important to understand that it's in 2 parts: a standard museum (small) (with a recorded audio guide) of the Capuchin friars, and then the crypt - the place with the bones. We felt that the guide did a good job explaining about the friars, and the crypt itself was definitely a sight to see.
Then, we have the catacombs. Again, the tour guide does not give this tour- an employee of the catacombs does. And this is where I can't complain too much, because our tour was primarily disturbed by a small child who kept talking over the guide, making it very hard to hear any of the information. With that said, the guide talked quietly normally, did not pause, adjust or otherwise account for the interference, and then moved quickly between locations in the catacombs. This meant we basically ran through the underground area we were trying to see, and got very little out of it. It certainly was interesting and would have been worth it with more time and explanation, but it didn't work out that way. That all said, our main guide made the point that this was the only Christian catacombs with pagan crypts in them, which was very cool - I wasn't expecting to see a thousand -year-old mural of Medusa!
Overall, very interesting tour, definitely worth doing, with a great guide, but would be improved by coordinating/coaching the catacombs guide to give folks more time and ensure they hear the information.
Kenneth_S, Jun 2026
It was a totally fascinating, "other-worldly" - and a little frightening - experience on every level. Truly unforgettable. Here is what I wrote on Facebook:
REMARKABLE REMAINS:
‘That which you are, we once were; that which we are you shall be.’ – Quote displayed at the entrance to the Capuchin Crypt
The Capuchin Crypt beneath Rome’s church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is not for the faint of heart. It’s quite shocking at first and I’ll admit that I was very uncomfortable as I entered. But my perspective changed (just a little) when I realized it is a sincere, albeit disturbing, symbol of the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the need to prepare our souls for the hereafter.
“Macabre.” “Horrifying.” “Striking.” “Grotesque.” “Fascinating.”
These adjectives and more have been used by such literary luminaries as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Mark Twain when describing this place. The Capuchins themselves regard it as a source of peace and joy, a reminder to focus on eternity, not earthly life.
All seem accurate.
The church where the crypt is located was built in the early 1600s. It is the headquarters of the Capuchin Order of Friars, an offshoot of the Franciscans. When they first moved into the church in the 1630s, they brought the remains of hundreds of their fellow friars and buried them under the church. From there, until 1870, nearly 4,000 friars and destitute Romans who had nowhere to be buried, were laid to rest in the crypt.
It has six small chapels with skeletal decorations that represent the transient nature of human life: Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Tibias and Femurs, Crypt of the Pelvis, Crypt of the Skeletons of Children, Chapel of the Mass, and Crypt of the Resurrection.
It was a chilling, fascinating and sobering experience. As we walked past and peered into the dimly lit spaces casting shadows here and there and containing grinning skulls and bones arranged into all kinds of artistic configurations, you could have heard a pin drop. Our small tour group of 18 seemed to collectively hold its breath.
I was relieved when we exited into a brightly-lit gift shop on our way out.
Signing the guest book, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from a famous song by The Eagles: “You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave.” It was bizarre that it popped into my head, but I guess it was my brain’s way of lightening the mood just a bit.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Kenneth,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and beautifully written review. I am so glad that our tour left such an unforgettable impression on you.
The Capuchin Crypt is certainly a powerful place that can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but you captured its true essence perfectly. It really is less about the macabre and more about a profound, reflective reminder of our shared human journey. Your description of the group collectively holding its breath truly brings the atmosphere of the chapels to life.
I love that you found a bit of humor with The Eagles quote to lighten the mood at the end. Thank you again for joining us and for sharing your experience so eloquently.
Britney_H, Jun 2026
Had a fun time on this tour. With traffic it was about a 35-49 minute ride outside of the city to the catacombs. We didn’t have gift shop time because we were late due to traffic but that’s no one’s fault. The tour itself was informative, respectful, and just really cool. The museum portion after was my favorite part, the bone exhibit was breathtaking. Can’t recommend this tour enough
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Britney,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. I am so glad to hear you had such a fun and informative time exploring the catacombs and that the bone exhibit in the crypt museum left such an impression on you.
Rome traffic can definitely be unpredictable, so thank you for your understanding regarding the drive and the missed gift shop time. We always aim to keep things moving smoothly so you do not miss a moment of the actual history, and it sounds like our team kept everything respectful and engaging for you.
We really appreciate your recommendation and hope you had a wonderful rest of your vacation in Rome.
Ellen_D, Jun 2026
Not worth the expense or time! Out of the 4 guided tours that we took in Rome (3) and in Pompeii (1), this was by far our least favorite. Visting the crypt was a waste of time and while the catacomb tour was interesting, the assigned English-language guide we received was very difficult to understand (for all 4 members of our party, who speak various languages, among them English native speakers and not). The guide provided by the tour company was also rather listless and uninterested and I can't say that she added anything to the tour. Moreover, the instructions received at the meeting point about what we would be doing very confusing and not clear to everyone.
Just imagine meeting somewhere in a townsquare, then walking a few minutes to the actual crypt museum, receiving very quickly spoken unclear instructions by a noisy road there, which basically came down to what we will use a different audio guide in the museum, listen to their instrutions but we should go to the end of the crypt and then work our way backwards, which were the exact opposite instructions as the museum audio guide gave. Maybe a better instruction would have been to watch time and move towards the crypt with at least 15 minutes to spare, so that we get a 25 minute introduction to the order and the museum and the crypt, and then move to the crypt. All in all, however, we could have skipped the crypt visit and we should have just arranged our own transportation to the catacombs or booked only a catacomb visit. That would be my recommendation for anyone else.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I am so sorry to hear that this tour did not live up to your expectations, especially compared to your other experiences in Italy, and that you found the meeting point instructions and guide difficult to understand.
I want to clarify that the Capuchin Crypts do not permit physical live guides to lead tours inside. Because of the nature and rules of the site, it is always conducted via an audio guide, which we do note on our booking page. That said, the instructions given by our staff should always be crystal clear, and I appreciate your feedback on how we can better manage the timing and directions for the museum portion.
I will also be addressing your comments regarding the catacomb guide with our team to ensure our standard of quality is maintained. We truly value your insights as they help us improve, and we wish you the best with the rest of your travels.
Michael_S, Jun 2026
Ecxellent, informative guide. Museums were awesome.
Highly recommend. The history was amazing. Transport was cool and clean.
Eric_J, Jun 2026
This was a very interesting tour. The idea that 30,000 people were entombed in the catacombs was so crazy.
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