Rome Underground: Catacombs Tour, Aqueducts and Appian Way

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Rome, Italy

Trending

Booked 5+ times in 12 hours.

3 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· Carla_T ·

Mar 2026

This was a fabulous well organized tour. Our tour guide, Chiara, was friendly, informative and extremely organized. The tour was approximately 3 hours long and well divided between the aqueducts, catacombs and the Appian way. Transport between the sites was comfortable and high end. I highly recommend this tour. Not to be missed!

· Mark_M ·

Apr 2026

Great experience. Right on time. Listening devices worked perfectly. Julio was an outstanding guide. Very knowledgeable and kept the group’s attention well. Great tour!

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Overview

Immerse yourself in Roman history and learn information you’d unlikely encounter on your own on this small-group tour of Rome’s underground. Discover the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and learn about its history. Then, visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day), home to stunning frescoes and thousands of centuries-old bones. Learn about early Christianity from your guide while meandering the endless darkened tunnels.

Perfect for travelers who want to delve deeper into Roman history
Learn about the Mythraic, a secret religion remains a mystery to many
Explore the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day)
A small group size means more attention from your guide

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Unlike many Appian Way tours, this offers air-conditioned transportation so you can beat the summer heat.

What's Included

Local English-speaking guide
Expertly guided walking tour
Entry to the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day)
Transportation (Minibus with air conditioning)
Group of 18 people or fewer

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Piramide
00154 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets in front of the Piramide metro station, located across from Piazzale Ostiense.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Travel back in time as you explore the historic Appian Way, one of the earliest roads built by the Romans. With centuries-old paving stones beneath your feet, follow the path once used by legions, merchants, and travelers.

Along the way, discover ancient tombs and ruins that tell the story of Rome’s expansion. Pause to admire the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, an imposing circular tomb dating back to the 1st century BCE. Learn about the powerful family that built this monument and how it has endured through time. Then, stand in awe beneath the remains of Rome’s ancient aqueducts. These towering structures once supplied fresh water to the ancient city, demonstrating the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.

Finally, it's time to experience the eerie and fascinating Catacombs of San Sebastiano in a crowd-free setting as the last visitors of the day. Venture into underground tunnels lined with ancient frescoes and early Christian burial sites, gaining insight into Rome’s hidden past.

Enjoy a hassle-free experience with private, air-conditioned transport between sites and a guide to bring history to life. Step beyond the city center and uncover Rome’s lesser-known wonders on this immersive tour.

Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Parco degli Acquedotti - Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Catacombe San Sebastiano

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Rome

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.

Due to the tight nature of the catacombs, those with claustrophobia may want to consider another tour.
This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
Please note, the tour visits the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day).
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 1,095 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Highly recommend

Jason_P, Apr 2026

Our tour guide truly loves his job and we could tell. This wasn't just an information download but a full experience. We loved it.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Jason, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your guide’s passion made the tour such an engaging and memorable experience. It’s fantastic that the tour felt immersive rather than just informational — that’s exactly what we hope for our guests. We hope to welcome you back to Rome soon for more unforgettable experiences! Samantha. Walks & Devour Feedback Team

Fun tour!

Alex_H, Apr 2026

Great tour and even greater guide, Flavia. Very knowledgeable and pleasant, was always happy to answer questions

Kiara was a delight as a...

Derek_S, Apr 2026

Kiara was a delight as a tour guide. Our family loved all the stops on this tour and it wasn't too scary for our 7-year-old son, which was a possible concern. We would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Derek, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Kiara made your Rome Underground tour so enjoyable and that the stops were engaging for the whole family. It’s great to know your 7-year-old felt comfortable too — making the experience fun and accessible for all ages is always a priority. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your family on another Walks & Devour tour soon! All the best, Samantha. Walks & Devour Feedback Team

Good Learning experience

Gabbi_H, Apr 2026

One of the highlights of our trip! We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the aqueducts, catecombs, and Appian way. It was a nice break from the walking tours we had done in previous days as there is a fair amount of bus travel between locations.

Great experience. Right...

Mark_M, Apr 2026

Great experience. Right on time. Listening devices worked perfectly. Julio was an outstanding guide. Very knowledgeable and kept the group’s attention well. Great tour!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Mark, Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Rome Underground tour and that Julio’s knowledge and engaging style made the visit memorable. It’s also great to know that the tour ran smoothly and the listening devices worked perfectly. We hope to see you again on another adventure in Rome soon! All the best, Samantha. Walks & Devour Feedback Team

We enjoyed seeing the...

Vaun, Mar 2026

We enjoyed seeing the aqueducts up close getting an impression of the size and extent. The catacombs were really interesting to learn about and to see. Its just amazing to see and experience these ancient treasures.

This was a fabulous well...

Carla_T, Mar 2026

I was about 5 minutes...

Junghwan_M, Mar 2026

I was about 5 minutes late due to heavy traffic, so I let them know in advance. Unfortunately, they had already left, so we couldn’t join the tour. I wish they had shown a bit more flexibility.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience and I’m sorry to hear you weren’t able to join the tour. We completely understand how frustrating delays like traffic can be, especially when you’d let us know in advance. However, our tours do need to depart on time to ensure a smooth experience for the rest of the group. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time so our team can assist with any issues ahead of departure. For security reasons, guides can’t be contacted once the tour has started and they turn off their devices to focus on delivering the experience without disruption. Unfortunately, this means tours can’t be joined once underway. That said, we do want all our guests to have the experience they’ve booked, which is why we offer a rescheduling option. If you’d still like to take the tour, please do get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help arrange this for you. We appreciate your feedback and hope to assist you further. Samantha. Walks & Devour Feedback Team

Really nice to get out of...

Robert_B, Mar 2026

Really nice to get out of the city and see the Via Appia and the aqueduct. Lots of interesting Roman Facts.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Robert, Thank you for your review! We’re so glad you enjoyed getting out of the city to explore the Via Appia and the aqueduct. It’s wonderful that you found the Roman history and facts interesting—there’s so much fascinating history to discover. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! Warm Regards, Sarah Walks & Devour Team

Great Tour!

Emma_K, Mar 2026

Frederick was amazing! He was so knowledgeable and was able to really bring the stories to life. It is a quick tour but worth it for a short time period.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for the 5-star review, Abbie! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience in Florence with Ivana. It is fantastic to know that her approach to the history of the city and the art pieces made the tour so engaging for you. We take great pride in our guides' ability to provide that deep, comprehensive context while keeping the experience enjoyable, and I’m so happy that Ivana hit that mark. I will be sure to share your kind words and recommendation with her—she will be delighted to hear that you had such a great time! Kind Regards, Gerard

Aqueducts, Roman road and Catacombs tour

Joel_D, Mar 2026

Very interesting historically. I wish we had a bit more time at the aqueducts. We were hurried along so we could make it to the catacombs. We were late leaving at beginning of tour because of some no shows. Annamarie, our guide, knew her history and loves Rome! We enjoyed learning from her. We loved walking along the Appian Way. Her explanations of that were wonderful. We were fascinated about the catacombs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hear the local guide there on the headsets. She kept cutting in and out so we missed most of her explanations-hence only 4 instead of 5 stars.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi Joel, Thank you again for sharing your thoughtful feedback. We’re so glad you enjoyed Annamarie’s knowledge and passion for Rome, as well as your time along the Appian Way and in the catacombs. We’re very sorry to hear about the headset issues during the catacombs portion. That’s certainly not the experience we aim to provide. May we ask if this was reported to your guide on the day? They’re always happy to troubleshoot or replace equipment when possible. We’d also appreciate the opportunity to investigate this further. Could you please email us at feedback@walks.org with your booking details? Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps us refine our tours. We hope to hear from you soon. Samantha. Walks & Devour Feedback Team

Rome - Catacombs

Georgina_C, Feb 2026

Booked the trip through Viator but was a guided trip with 'Walks'. Meeting instructions were clear and our guide Andreas was knowledgeable and passionate about the information herein shared with us. Definitely worth a visit.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for the 5-star review, Georgina! We are thrilled to hear that your experience exploring the underground history of Rome was definitely worth the visit. It is wonderful to know that our meeting instructions were clear and that Andreas made such a positive impression. We take great pride in our guides' passion and deep knowledge, and I will be sure to pass your kind words along to him. Kind Regards, Gerard

Amazing

Christina_B, Feb 2026

Interesting tour and excellent tour guide (Andre?). The stop to walk on the Appia Way was less interesting

The guides make an excellent adventure out of this, but this is for people in Rome for three or more days

David_B, Jan 2026

The guide at the catacombs did an excellent job and the other guy that took us to the aqueducts and Roman Roads, etc. also did an excellent job. The actual tour sites themselves are not incredibly interesting compared to what Rome has to offer which in my opinion is the absolute elite of historic travel cities in the world. If you’re in Rome for five or six days and the Roman period of history is your favorite. I would give this five stars but if you’re in Rome for two days or three days and you’re really trying to fit it into a larger adventure, there are just other parts of the Roman Colosseum and forum world that are a better use of your time as our Vatican City and probably even some of the other spots in town.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi David, Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and balanced review. We’re really glad to hear that both guides did an excellent job and helped turn the experience into a strong adventure. Your perspective on how this tour fits best into a longer stay in Rome is also very helpful and honest, and we appreciate you outlining that so clearly for future travelers. Rome truly does offer an incredible depth of history, and it’s great to hear you found value in the guiding even while weighing how to prioritize time in such a remarkable city. Thanks again for your feedback. Best regards, Gerard

My family did this tour...

Julian_W, Jan 2026

My family did this tour with Sylvia at the end of December. She was a great guide and very knowledgeable!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that Sylvia made your tour enjoyable and that her knowledge enhanced your experience. It’s wonderful that your family had a great time! Kind Regards, Walks and devour feedback Team

Very interesting to walk...

Dorothy_S, Dec 2025

Very interesting to walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in all three settings. Guides made this fun and educational.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Dear Dorothy_S, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed walking in the footsteps of ancient Romans and found the tour both fun and educational. Kind regards, Gerard

Andre was an excellent...

Pamela_M, Nov 2025

Andre was an excellent guide. A bus took us to the places of interest where we got out and walked around while Andre talked with us about the history and significance of the site. We would not have done this on our own.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience, Pamela! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Rome Underground: Catacombs Tour, Aqueducts and Appian Way. Andre is a fantastic guide, and it’s wonderful to know his knowledge and storytelling made each stop meaningful. This tour covers places that are difficult to discover on your own, so we’re glad it added something special to your visit. Kind regards, Gerard

Appian Way & Aquaduct - Must do Tour

Kasienathan_B, Nov 2025

Excellent and Meticulous Narration by the Guide. Guide was so impressive with his keenness to show and explain everything, especially about the Appian Way & Aquaducts. One of the best guide.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the meticulous narration and enthusiasm of your guide, especially regarding the Appian Way and Aqueducts. It’s fantastic to know that his passion and knowledge made such a strong impression. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable tour soon! Kind Regards, Walks Feedback Team.

Good tour

Andrew_N, Nov 2025

Good tour with lots of information. Enjoyed walking on Appian way and seeing the aqueducts. Didn’t love the catacombs but that’s not the tours fault.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Hi Andrew, thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the Appian Way, aqueducts, and all the historical insights. Totally understand your thoughts on the catacombs — not everyone’s favorite, but we’re happy you enjoyed the rest of the tour. We hope to welcome you back for another Devour adventure soon! Warm regards, The Devour Tours Team

Catacombs tour

John_H, Oct 2025

Very good tour with lots of history! Highly recommend it to Rome visitors. Amazing what the Romans accomplished without computers!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your great review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour and the fascinating history of ancient Rome. It really is incredible what the Romans achieved with such ingenuity! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on another tour soon. Kind Regards Walks and Devour Feedback Team

Great tour/ great guide

Robert_H, Oct 2025

This was a great tour. Annamaria was a terrific guide- full of enthusiasm snd brimming with information. Great idea to combine 3 out of town activities into one tour. We highly recommend!

Nice Experience

Julia_W, Oct 2025

Nice experience with limited walking. Bus was clean and headsets were easy to use and clear. Tour guide didn’t give a lot of specifics so if you’re looking for an overview this is a great experience. Private guide for the catacombs was amazing and very knowledgeable! Would recommend as a nice afternoon to see the Apian way, aqueducts, and catacombs.

Excellent guide and...

JOHNM, Oct 2025

Excellent guide and intersting tour. I liked the aquaducts and learnt lots. Catacombs fsacinating. Minibus transfer was good and we had a good group.

Great tour!

Sandra_B, Oct 2025

It was a very good tour and the guide was very informative. A very special surprise was to see the last sculpture by the great Bernini of the Crist Bust.

Fabulous trip! Silvia was...

Cathy_R, Oct 2025

Fabulous trip! Silvia was very knowledgeable and able to answer any questions. Perfect trip for a first day in Rome when you are wiped out from flying. Would definitely recommend.

Viewed a lot of history...

Stephanie_R, Oct 2025

Viewed a lot of history but never felt rushed. Great guide. Francesca. Interesting catacombs, aqueducts, via Appia

Incredible tour

terrimc85, Oct 2025

Antonella was an incredible tour guide. She was very passionate about Roman history and we learned so much. Truly a wonderful tour!

Great your guide and interesting locations.

Mat_C, Oct 2025

Toured three different sites. A piece of the Apian road, a section of the Claudia Aqueduct, and the San Sebastián Catacombs. The tour started at the Piramid train station where we boarded a small bus to the tour sites. The tour guide was knowledgeable and kept us informed the whole time. Overall, great experience.

Great time

Homer_m, Sep 2025

Great time and valuable learning experience would recommend to anyboythT wants to take it guide was perfect and very informative and nice

Fun history of the catacombs and aqueducts

Rachel_M, Sep 2025

In my opinion, this tour is a great way to see a lot of different unique things in Rome. Our guide had a lot of fun facts for us about all three sites visited, and the bonus of getting to go to the catacombs as the last visitors of the day was a treat. If you are a fan of learning about both religious history and engineering of the Roman aqueduct system, this is a great tour! One recommendation is bring a bottle of water - you walk a good bit in the aqueduct park, and the catacombs are chilly but sometimes still feel stuffy. Overall super awesome experience.