Rome Underground: Catacombs Tour, Aqueducts and Appian Way
Recommended by 96% of travelers
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Rome, Italy
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Immerse yourself in Roman history and learn information you’d unlikely encounter on your own on this tour of Rome’s underground. Discover the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and learn about its history. 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.
- Learn about the Mythraic, a secret religion that's a mystery to many
- Go beyond the guidebooks with live insights from your guide
- Guarantee your entry with prebooked tickets
- Get a break from the heat and stay cool underground
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
- Entry to the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day)
- Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
- Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella (exterior)
- Ancient Roman Aqueducts
- Private, air-conditioned transport
- If option selected: Colosseum Entrance Ticket (€18)
- Small groups of 18 people or fewer
- Expert Catacombs tour guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Piramide00154 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 points
This activity ends in a different location. See details below:
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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.
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.
1
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Parco degli Acquedotti - Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Catacombe San Sebastiano
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
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).
- If Catacombs with Colosseum option is selected: The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and match the names on their ID. The Colosseum requires all guests (including children) to present government ID at the time of entry. Therefore any guest that does not submit their name in advance of the tour, or who does not bring their ID to the meeting point, will be refused participation without refund. Name corrections are possible up to 7 days before the visit. After this, changes may not be possible.
- Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests.
- 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
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,460 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Shannon_K, Aug 2026
This was a highly informative, jam packed tour with so much excellent historical information on Rome. Easy to find the group at the subway station and from there we set out to the catacombs. Would recommend to anyone looking for a tour that's a little off the beaten path.
Gabriela_F, Aug 2026
Highly recommended! I was concerned when I booked due to the length of the tour and the summer heat but everything went very smoothly from the comfortable minivan with AC to the very kind and experienced guide, Ana Maria who knew how to pace the group to meet everyones needs and expectations. I would book that again with no hesitation!! Thank you!
Devarshi_B, Aug 2026
Our tour guide was amazing at making the history come to life. It was nice to get out of the heat into the catacombs when it's 100 degrees out.
Sandra_G, Jul 2026
Federico was our tour guide and he was passionate, knowledgeable, and engaging. I planned this tour last minute and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The tour takes you outside the city and away from the crowds. We learned quite a bit of history along the way and were able to imagine how Rome looked with his descriptions coupled with images he provided. We moved around in a bus with AC, so we were grateful for that. The catacombs were fascinating and a nice relief from the heat above. I reached out to the company with a question and they were prompt with their response. Totally worth it and highly recommend!
Meghan_M, Jul 2026
Antonella was fantastic!! She was funny, engaging, and informative. She even had my 4 boys interested and participating in the tour. She kept the tour flowing the whole time and the air conditioning in the bus was spectacular on one of the record high temp days (101°)!
We will definitely book again
Megan_P, Jul 2026
We had a great time on the catacombs tour. John Paul did a fantastic job sharing relevant history and information while also keeping the tour fun for everyone. The sights were incredible and the driver for the bus was great as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to explore some history off the beaten path.
long_w, Jul 2026
Very knowledgeable tour guide. Aquaducts nice to visit and it's free since it's a park, but not underground. Appian Way nice start with Spartacus and Roman General significance to power. Catacombs no skeletons. For solo adventurer, trip not worth the value,
LaraLeigh_B, Jul 2026
Cool experience to see the beginnings of Christian cemeteries and the Roman water system. Catacombs are 65F year-round.
Brittany_S, Jul 2026
Mattias was a great guide! Touring the aqueducts, the Catacombs, and the Appian Way were a great addition to our Rome trip and took us out of the hustle and bustle of the rest of Rome. Mattias provided many details and plenty of time to enjoy each site. The vehicle was comfortable and the ride smooth. Well worth it!!
Robert_U, Jul 2026
Saw a lot of historical landmarks that I would not have seen or known about on this tour. San Sebastián Catacombs were very cool. Guide there was awesome as well. Learned a lot about Roman history. So much history for centuries! Brain melting…
Earl_D, Jul 2026
Enjoyed tour except the catacombs. They merged us and another group to go under ground. Too many people so the last 15 of us did not get into room when she talked we were still down the tunnel. Couldn’t hear her !!
Blake_S, Jul 2026
This was my favorite tour we did! It is pretty light in the walking so it was a great way to end our trip. A large portion of the trip was in their very nice air conditioned bus which was great after doing so much walking in the heat. Our guide Paris was phenomenal and our guide at the Catacombs was too. Sad this was the last day of our trip because I would have liked to try more Walks Devour Tours but I will next time we travel.
Emily_S, Jul 2026
Nice tour that starts with the catacombs, which isn't crowded at all like other sites. Also it is nice and cool down there so a great escape from the heat. Our guide Magdalena (Maddie) was very nice and super knowledgeable. We did temporarily lose our grandma on the tour of the coliseum, but she was found!
Brigette_K, Jul 2026
John Paul is an excellent communicator who is clearly very passionate about the history of his beautiful city Roma. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour with him, learned quite a bit, and would highly recommend it to anyone who has a curiosity of ancient history in Rome.
Louis_P, Jul 2026
Great experience doing catacombs appian way and aqueduct on one tour. Our guide was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Monty_L, Jul 2026
This experience was ok, but the amount of time driving vs the amount of time actually seeing the sights was heavy on the driving.
Rachel_R, Jul 2026
Incredible blend of unforgettable experiences! Our tour guide was kind and knowledgeable. After some poor tour guides on our trip, she was a much needed break and got us excited to continue with our tours!
Ezra_S, Jul 2026
This was well worth it Paris did a great job explaining all and every question we had
She was very nice, helpful and kind
Ralph_C, Jul 2026
Great tour. Julius was outstanding and very knowledgeable! The catacombs were very interesting and the bus ride was pleasant.
Anne_B, Jun 2026
You'll learn a lot about the ancient Romans and how they build the aqueducts and catacombs. Wear comfortable shoes as you'll be walking outdoors in a park-like area as well as through catacombs that are unevenly paved.
Sandra_G, Jun 2026
This was such a unique tour, Taking you to places you might not realize you need to see! Our guide Paris was amazing! A definite must do
Brigitte_C, Jun 2026
I had a great time, Julia was lovely and made a great guide. She knows a lot about the history of the area and was able to answer all of our questions. I loved the catacombs, walking (a small part of!) the Appian Way, and the aqueducts. We were able to avoid a lot of the Roman heat and still have a wonderful time. However, I will agree with another reviewer that this listing needs to be updated as the photos are not accurate. We weren't allowed to take photos in the catacombs and some of the photos on this listing were definitely not of places on the tour. It's still a really nice way to go off the beaten path a little bit and the air-conditioned van was a plus.
Barbara_A, Jun 2026
Our tour of the catacombs, aqueduct and Apian Way was an amazing experience. Chiara was so informative and knowledgeable. She shared interesting anecdotes that were not only informative, but also entertaining. Chiara really made the tour special and one we will always remember.
Keryn_H, Jun 2026
Interesting, informative and good for history buffs who want something different to add on to the classic tours in Rome
Kurt_F, Jun 2026
This is an ideal tour to take if you really wanna see everything in Rome during your trip.
You have your major sites downtown and this was further into the country.
We had a superb pair of tour guides, one for the remnants of the aquaduct and Appian Way and another for inside the Catacomb.
They knew EVERYTHING and made it engaging.
Seeing the catacombs is certainly the highlight, that was some Indiana Jones stuff being in there and getting a glimpse of Rome that felt almost prehistoric.
Tyler_S, Jun 2026
Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and very fun to interact with. Even my nine year old son was entertained by his explanation of the physics of the aqueducts.
Rosalie_M, Jun 2026
This was such a great experience! So glad we were able to see these historical sites. Ite a must while in Rome!
Janell_P, Jun 2026
This tour was fantastic! It was the highlight of our trip to Rome!! AnnaMaria was fun, and super knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Rome. We learned so much from her. You absolutely do not want to miss this tour!
gabbysexton, Jun 2026
JP was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable of the area
Gave us good tips for the area as well Willis we were very grateful for
Diane_L, Jun 2026
Fantastic tour! Our guide was delightful, well-informed, and able to answer all our random questions. So interesting to see the history and learn more about early Roman culture. Highly recommend!
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