The Appian Way is not one site but a road with sites strung along it, which is why a map matters more here than at a museum. This page gives you an Appian Way map of the area, the official park map and the route I would follow from the city gate to the aqueducts. If you would rather ride it with a guide, my guide to tickets for the Appian Way compares ten tours with catacomb entry.
Appian Way Map: Stations, the Park Office and Sights
This Appian Way map shows the road with the nearest stations and the sights within reach, from Google Maps data.
Catacombs of Saint Sebastian · Nearby sight · about 14 min walk
Praetextatus Catacombs · Nearby sight · about 19 min walk
The regional park’s office is at Via Appia Antica 42, and Google Maps puts the Via Appia Antica point at number 200 further out along the road. From the park office the Colosseum is about 2.4 km away in a straight line, which I estimate at 40 minutes on foot (straight line times 1.3 at 4.8 km/h). Circo Massimo station is about 2 km away, a walk of 32 minutes on the same estimate, and Colosseo station is about 2.6 km, or 42 minutes. Those numbers show why almost nobody walks out from the centre.
My Appian Way opening hours guide covers the bus route that one tour listing gives and the Open-Meteo weather for planning the day.
The Official Appian Way Map
The Appian Antica regional park publishes its own maps on its smart info page. The main one is the official map (PDF) of the whole park, which is in Italian. The same page lists an English map of the Caffarella Valley and an English map of the aqueducts. The park covers about 4,580 hectares, so I would use the full Appian Way map to see the layout and the smaller ones for the walk you choose.
The same page says the park is always open and free, that most sites on the Appian Way are closed on Mondays and that the catacombs stay open on Mondays. It also recommends visiting by day, before sunset, because street lighting is limited.
The Route I Would Take Along the Appian Way
This is the order along the road, and what to see on the Appian Way map from the gate outward. The times are blank because the park publishes no walking times between the sites, and the tours differ widely in speed.
My route along the Appian Way
1Porta San SebastianoThe gate in the Aurelian Walls
2Domine Quo VadisA church on the second mile
3Catacombs of San CallistoClosed Wednesdays
4San SebastianoBasilica and catacombs
5Circus of MaxentiusFree, closed Mondays
6Tomb of Cecilia MetellaClosed Mondays
7Villa dei QuintiliFifth mile, closed Mondays
8Park of the AqueductsA short ride off the road
Porta San Sebastiano on the Appian Way Map
The route starts where the road leaves the city. Wikipedia describes Porta San Sebastiano as the gate of the Appia in the Aurelian Walls, and says the first 5 km out of Rome are busy with cars, buses and coaches. The park’s page says the first 1.5 km of the Appian Way is open to cars, and that the catacombs’ private road bypasses it to reach the car-free zone. Several bike tours in my comparison start here or meet near the walls and ride out together.
Domine Quo Vadis and the First Miles
On the second mile, Wikipedia lists the church of Domine Quo Vadis. It is a short stop before the road becomes quieter, and the cobblestones begin to matter. Reviewers on the e-bike tours describe the old paving as large, rough stones. The bike rental on the park page is at Via Appia Antica 60.
The Catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano
The catacombs are the best-known paid stops. The park’s page lists San Callisto and San Sebastiano at 10 euros for an adult, which includes a 30-minute guided visit, and says San Callisto is closed on Wednesdays. San Sebastiano is on the same stretch, at Via Appia Antica 136 per the tour listings, and my catacombs of Rome tickets page compares the tours that go in. Wikipedia lists both among the monuments of the first to fourth mile.
TopBike Rental & Tours
Appian Way, Catacombs, & Roman Aqueducts E-bike Tour
★4.9 (1,990 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The e-bike tour that goes from the Aurelian Walls through the catacombs to the aqueducts: $66, 4 hours, 4.9 from 1,990 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Cannondale quality e-mountain bike (with anti-puncture tires)
✓ Professional guide
✓ Helmet (use is mandatory)
✓ 5-liter handlebar bag
✓ Biodegradable bottle of water
✓ Guided visit of the Catacombs (only 6-hour tour)
Not included / not suitable
✕ Food and drinks
Meeting point: Our shop in Via Labicana 49 (a few minutes’ walk from the Colosseum). Via Labicana, 49, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
The Circus of Maxentius and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella
Further out, the Circus of Maxentius and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella stand within sight of each other. The park’s page says the Villa of Maxentius is free and closed on Mondays, and lists the Tomb of Cecilia Metella as closed on Mondays too. The three Coopculture sites, which include Cecilia Metella, the Villa dei Quintili and Capo di Bove, use the La Mia Appia Card, which the page gives as free for under 18s, 8 euros for one entrance to each of the three sites and 15 euros for a year. Check the official page for the current price.
The Villa dei Quintili on the Appian Way Map
The Villa dei Quintili sits on the fifth mile, and Wikipedia says it includes a nymphaeum, a theatre and baths. It is the furthest stop on most walking routes and a useful turning point. Several bike tours in my comparison list it, together with the tomb and the circus.
The Park of the Aqueducts
The aqueducts are not on the road itself. The park’s page says they have no ticketed entrances, that the structures are viewed from outside and that a main entrance is at 221 via Lemonia, reached by Metro line A to Giulio Agricola. Several tours add them as the last stop, and the minibus tour in my comparison does the same without the saddle.
Walks of Italy
Catacombs Appian Way & Aqueducts Tour with Transport
★4.7 (1,136 reviews)
195 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: The minibus option with transport out to the road: $61, 195 minutes, 4.7 from 1,136 reviews, with the catacombs and the aqueducts park.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entry to the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day)
✓ The Appian Way
✓ The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella (exterior)
✓ The Roman aqueducts
✓ Private air-conditioned minibus from central Rome
✓ Small group of 18 guests maximum
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Tips
Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets in front of the Piramide metro station, located across from Piazzale Ostiense. 00154 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Languages: English
Duration: 195 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Alex was fantastic. Knew his stuff and guided us thru.” – GetYourGuide review
How to Use the Appian Way Map on Foot, by Bike or on a Tour
The Appian Way map looks small, but the distances are not. The regional park’s site says more than 16 km of the road can always be walked, and Wikipedia says about 16 km can be followed on foot from near the Baths of Caracalla. On foot you will reach the catacombs and perhaps the tomb in a morning. By bike you can add the Villa dei Quintili and the aqueducts, which is why the bike tours in my comparison run 3.5 to 5 hours. The golf cart tour covers the road in 2.5 hours, and the minibus tour takes 195 minutes with the transport included.
Whichever you choose, mark the closing days from the official Appian Way map page before you set out: Monday for most sites, Wednesday for San Callisto.
Getting Around the Appian Way
The Appian Way map is easier to follow with a plan for the surface. Wear flat shoes, bring water and travel before sunset. The park’s page does not mention a car-free Sunday rule, so I do not rely on one. If you want a guided loop, the Starbike tour in my comparison goes from Porta San Sebastiano through the San Callisto catacombs to the Caffarella park and the aqueducts.
Roma STARBIKE
Appian Way Aqueducts Bike Tour (Catacombs & Lunch upgrade)
★4.9 (848 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A loop from Porta San Sebastiano via the catacombs and Caffarella Park to the aqueducts, with a lunch upgrade: $55, 4 hours, 4.9 from 848 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ High-quality e-bike
✓ Helmet
✓ Mobile phone holder
✓ Tour guide
✓ Child seats (holds up to 25 kg)
✓ Trailer bike for children aged 6-10 (140cm or 4'5'' ft)
Meeting point: 0,03 mi from the "Colosseo" Metro station (Line B) - Next to the Carrefour Supermarket Via dei SS. Quattro, 58, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: English, Italian, French, German
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Paolo was a Great Guide and dealt with several challenges with our group on E-bikes. Great activity for an active Family like ours!” – GetYourGuide review
Before you choose, my Appian Way tours page compares each guided option side by side, and my Appian Way tickets page explains which one includes the catacombs. The home page lists the other attractions I cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Appian Way map?+
Yes. The Appian Antica regional park publishes a full park map as a PDF on its website, in Italian, plus separate maps for the Caffarella Valley and the aqueducts in English. I link the full map as the official map in the section above.
What is there to see along the Appian Way?+
On the stretch near Rome the main stops are the Porta San Sebastiano gate, the catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano, the Circus of Maxentius, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa dei Quintili. The aqueducts park lies a little off the road, and most tours add it.
How far is the Appian Way from the Colosseum?+
The park office at Via Appia Antica 42 is about 2.4 km from the Colosseum in a straight line, roughly 40 minutes on foot by my estimate. The Via Appia Antica point at number 200 on Google Maps is further out. Most visitors take a bus, a taxi or a guided tour.
Is the Appian Way free to visit?+
Walking the road is free, and the park's site says it is always open. Entry to the catacombs and some sites is paid: the park's page lists 10 euros for an adult at San Callisto and San Sebastiano, with a 30-minute guided visit, and a card for the three Coopculture sites.
Which sites on the Appian Way close on Mondays?+
Most of them. The park's page says most sites on the Appian Way are closed on Mondays, while the catacombs remain open. It lists the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the Villa of Maxentius, the Villa dei Quintili and Capo di Bove as closed on Mondays. San Callisto is closed on Wednesdays.
Can you cycle the Appian Way?+
Yes. The park's page lists a bike rental on Via Appia Antica 60 and says the road is walkable and rideable, with the first 1.5 km open to cars. Seven of the ten guided tours I compared use e-bikes, and reviewers warn about the cobblestones.
