An Appian Way tour solves a problem the road creates: the sights are spread over many kilometres, and the best of them, the catacombs, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the aqueducts park, are hard to join up on foot. I compared ten guided Appian Way tours, from $50 to $86. Every one is a guide-led outing, and none of them is a plain ticket. If you want to understand which ticket opens which site, my guide to Appian Way tickets covers the whole picture.
Tour
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Rating
Length
Free cancellation
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Appian Way, Catacombs & Aqueducts Top Bike/EBike Tour
Walking the Via Appia Antica alone is free, and the park’s own site says more than 16 km of the road can always be walked, per the Appia Antica regional park. What an Appian Way tour adds is a way to cover the distance. By e-bike, minibus or golf cart you reach the catacombs, the Circus of Maxentius, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Park of the Aqueducts in one half day. The guide adds the reading: who the tombs belonged to and why the stones are laid as they are.
The road is also old enough to need that reading. Wikipedia dates its first section to 312 BC, when the censor Appius Claudius Caecus began it as a military road, per the Appian Way entry. The ruins along it are mostly funerary, so without a guide they can look like piles of brick.
Appian Way Tour by E-Bike With Catacombs Option
Four of the ten tours are e-bike rides that leave from near the Colosseum and offer the catacombs as a longer version. They are the ones I would look at first.
TopBike Rental and Tours is the most reviewed Appian Way tour: $66, about 4 hours, 4.9 stars from 1,990 reviews. It meets at the shop on Via Labicana 49 and runs in six languages. The stops are the Aurelian Walls, the Appian Way, the Circus of Maxentius, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the Villa dei Quintili and the aqueducts park. The guided catacombs visit is only in the 6-hour version, so at 4 hours you ride past them.
TopBike Rental & Tours
Appian Way, Catacombs, & Roman Aqueducts E-bike Tour
★4.9 (1,990 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The most-reviewed Appian Way tour: 1,990 reviews at 4.9, six languages, but the catacombs are in the 6-hour version only.
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
TopTours is the cheapest of the ten at $50, with 4.9 from 189 reviews. It uses the same Via Labicana 49 shop and the same kind of route, but you can choose a mountain bike or an e-mountain bike, and the guided catacombs visit again belongs to the 6-hour tour. A family with children aged 17, 13 and 8 called it perfect, and the youngest rode attached to a parent’s bike.
TopTours
Appian Way, Catacombs & Aqueducts Top Bike/EBike Tour
★4.9 (189 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The lowest price at $50: bike or e-bike, 4.9 from 189 reviews, six languages. Catacombs only in the 6-hour tour.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Quality Mountain Bike or E-Mountain Bike (with anti-puncture tires and comfortable saddles)
✓ Guide
✓ Guided visit of the Catacombs (only in the 6-hour tour)
✓ Helmet (mandatory)
✓ Bottle of water
Meeting point: Our shop in Via Labicana 49 (5-minute walk from the Colosseum). Via Labicana, 49, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Roma STARBIKE sells two rides. The 4-hour park tour costs $55 and the 5-hour version with catacombs and lunch also starts at $55 on its listing, so check the option price on the day. Both leave from Via dei SS. Quattro 58, next to the Colosseo metro station. They are the only listings that mention child seats for up to 25 kg and a trailer bike for children aged 6 to 10. One reviewer found the lunch “quite basic”, a small portion of vegetarian pasta, while another advised paying a little more for the catacombs and the lunch stop.
Roma STARBIKE
Appian Way Aqueducts Bike Tour (Catacombs & Lunch upgrade)
★4.9 (848 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The family pick: child seats and a trailer bike on offer, 4.9 from 848 reviews. The catacombs and lunch need the 5-hour option.
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
Three more e-bike tours suit you if you want less time in the saddle or a more personal group.
ESBIKE costs $71 for 3.5 hours and has 4.9 from 1,872 reviews. The guide meets you outside the departure point on Via Marco Aurelio 30a. The listing offers entry to the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and a food tasting, but only in the options that name them. Reviewers praise the full-suspension CUBE bikes, and one said the sunset along the aqueducts stayed with them.
ESBIKE TOURS & EXPERIENCES
Appian Way & Park of the Aqueducts E-Bike Tour
★4.9 (1,872 reviews)
3.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The best-rated mid-length ride: 3.5 hours, 4.9 from 1,872 reviews, with catacombs and a food stop as options.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Double-suspension CUBE PRO 120 electric bike
✓ Entry tickets to the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus (included in option with catacombs)
✓ Multilingual guide
✓ Food tasting of local products for lunch or aperitivo (included in option with food)
Meeting point: Your guide will greet you right outside the departure point. Via Marco Aurelio, 30a, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish
Duration: 3.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Phenomenal ride! 10/10. Guide was very friendly and relax.” – GetYourGuide review
Bicycle Roma costs $81 and is the only e-bike tour that lists a catacombs entrance in its included items, at San Callisto or San Sebastiano. It starts at Via Appia Antica 136, in front of the catacombs entrance, rather than in the centre. Guests reach it by bus 118 from near the Colosseum or Circo Massimo, per the listing. Reviewers mention groups as small as two or three people, and one rider who was alone was shown the caves instead.
Bicycle Roma
Appian Way, Aqueducts, & Catacombs E-Bike Guided Tour
★4.9 (110 reviews)
3.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The one that starts on the road itself: $81 with catacombs entry, 3.5 hours, 4.9 from 110 reviews, in four languages.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ High-Quality E-Bike Rental (Pedal Assisted).
✓ Expert Local Guide.
✓ Entrance Ticket at the San Callisto or San Sebastiano Catacombs
✓ Visit at Aqueducts Park
✓ Safety Helmet
✓ Poncho (in case of rain)
Not included / not suitable
✕ Accident Insurance (Optional, available for an extra cost of €5 per person).
✕ Food and beverages.
✕ Entrance fees to any museums or monuments not explicitly listed in the "What's Included" section.
Meeting point: To reach us by public transport: Near the Colosseum or Circo Massimo metro, take bus 118 towards Villa dei Quintili, and get off at the Basilica di San Sebastiano stop. In front of Catacombs entrance (next to the drinking fountain), your guide will welcome you and will lead you on foot to the rental point. Via Appia Antica, 136, 00179 Roma RM, Italia
Languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French
Duration: 3.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our tour guide, Michele, gave us an incredible ride through the historical Roman countryside and an unforgettable experience that we will always cherish.” – GetYourGuide review
TopBike’s second listing, the guided e-bike ride at $61, is the shorter option from the same shop. It scores 4.9 from 238 reviews, and one reviewer rode in a group of just four. The included list names no catacombs entry.
TopBike Rental & Tours
Appian Way & Roman Aqueducts Guided E-Bike Tour
★4.9 (238 reviews)
4 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The shorter TopBike ride: $61, 4 hours, 4.9 from 238 reviews, with no catacomb entry listed.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Cannondale E-Bike with anti-puncture tires and comfortable saddle
✓ Professional guide
✓ Helmet (mandatory)
✓ Handlebar bag
✓ Biodegradable bottle of water
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Tips (optional)
Meeting point: Our shop in via Labicana 49 (a 5-minute walk from the Colosseum). Via Labicana, 49, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Appian Way Tour Without Cycling: Minibus and Golf Cart
Three tours move you by vehicle, which matters if you do not trust yourself on cobblestones.
Walks of Italy runs a 195-minute tour for $61 in a private air-conditioned minibus from the Piramide metro station. The group is limited to 18 and the guide speaks English. Entry to the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla is included, depending on the day, and the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella is seen from outside. One reviewer called it a different side of Rome.
Walks of Italy
Catacombs Appian Way & Aqueducts Tour with Transport
★4.7 (1,136 reviews)
195 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: The no-cycling minibus pick: $61, catacombs entry, 18 guests at most, 4.7 from 1,136 reviews.
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
Enjoy Rome is $76 for 3 hours, in English, and goes to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Transport, entry, booking fees and headsets are included, and you meet at the bus stop on Via Cavour 224, 25 minutes early. The one complaint I read was that the vans are hard to see out of. Everything else was praise for the guide.
Enjoy Rome
Catacomb of St. Callixtus and Appian Way Guided Tour
★4.6 (606 reviews)
3 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A catacomb-focused minibus tour: $76, 3 hours, 4.6 from 606 reviews. Reviewers say the vans are hard to see out of.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Transport from and to the meeting point
✓ 3-hour guided tour
✓ Guided tour to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus
✓ Entrance and booking fees
✓ Headsets
Not included / not suitable
✕ Lunch
✕ Pick up from hotels
Meeting point: The meeting point is at the bus stop at Via Cavour 224. The nearest metro station is Cavour (line B).
Please remember to show up 25 minutes before the tour departure time. Via Cavour, 224, 00184 Roma RM, Italia
Languages: English
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“So lovely and our guide Catia was so understanding with our children and need for breaks. Mario was lovely as well!” – GetYourGuide review
Biga Tours is the most expensive at $86 for 2.5 hours, and it is the only electric golf cart tour. It meets at Via Monterone 19 and takes 14 guests or fewer, with headsets, water, and the catacombs entry and a guided visit. The route passes the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla and the Aurelian Walls around the Appian Way. Reviewers liked the guide and the driving.
Biga Tours
Appian Way Golf Cart Tour with Roman Catacombs Entry
★4.9 (700 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The least effort: an electric golf cart for up to 14 guests, catacombs included, $86, 4.9 from 700 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Driver-guide
✓ Transportation by electric golf cart
✓ Roman Catacombs entrance ticket
✓ Roman Catacombs guided tour
✓ 1 bottle of water per person
✓ Headsets to clearly hear your guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Tips
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Food and drinks
Meeting point: We meet inside our office (look for glass doors) on Via Monterone, 19. The road is shaped like an "L". We are located on the section next to "Via di Torre Argentina". Via Monterone, 19, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our guide was Phillipo - he made it a thoroughly enjoyable outing with his knowledge and ability to keep it at a level we could understand the historical importance. His driving of the cart was fantastic - we felt safe the whole time.” – GetYourGuide review
Mostly, yes. Across the review texts I read, praise goes to the guide first, then to the quiet of the park after central Rome. Complaints are practical: bumpy stones, a basic lunch, and busy traffic when leaving the centre. A reviewer on the Roma STARBIKE ride said the guide used back streets to keep away from cars.
“The Appian Way is bumpy in spots!”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
One more pattern: a reviewer on the ESBIKE listing says the San Callisto catacombs are closed on Wednesdays, so check which day your option runs.
Guided Appian Way Tour or Ticket Only?
There is no ticket-only product for the road itself, because the road has no gate. The ten tours are the cheapest bookable way to see it with the catacombs. The gap inside my set is $36, from $50 for TopTours to $86 for the golf cart. If you only want the catacombs, my page on catacombs of Rome tickets compares those.
Group size is stated on only two listings: Walks of Italy at 18 guests at most, and Biga Tours at 14 or fewer. I found no private option among the ten. Reviewers of Bicycle Roma and ESBIKE describe groups of two to six, but that is luck of the day, not a promise.
How I’d Choose an Appian Way Tour
Most reviewed Appian Way tour: TopBike at $66.
Cheapest Appian Way tour: TopTours at $50.
With kids: Roma STARBIKE at $55, for the child seats and trailer bike.
Catacombs in the price: Bicycle Roma at $81, or Biga Tours at $86.
No cycling: Walks of Italy at $61.
Long day with lunch: Roma STARBIKE at $55 for 5 hours.
Before you book, my Appian Way map shows where each stop sits on the road. When you are ready, the full list of tickets for the Appian Way is the next step, and the home page lists the other attractions I compare.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Appian Way tour worth it?+
I think so for most visitors. The road itself needs no ticket, but the catacombs are timed and the best stretches are far apart, so a tour solves the transport and the explaining at once. Prices in my comparison run from $50 to $86, and the top rated tours score 4.9 from hundreds of reviews.
How long is an Appian Way tour?+
From 2.5 hours on the golf cart tour to 5 hours on the Roma STARBIKE catacombs and lunch ride. Most e-bike tours run 3.5 to 4 hours. TopBike and TopTours also mention a 6-hour version that adds the guided catacombs visit.
Do Appian Way tours include the catacombs?+
Some do and some do not. The minibus tours, the golf cart tour and the Bicycle Roma ride list catacomb entry. On several bike tours it is an option: TopBike, TopTours and Roma STARBIKE include it only in their longer version. Read the included list before you pay.
Can I do an Appian Way tour by e-bike without cycling experience?+
Seven of the ten tours offer e-bikes, and reviewers with children aged 9 to 13 describe them as easy. Several still warn that the old road is bumpy cobblestone and gravel, so you should be comfortable on a bike. If you are not, the minibus or golf cart tour is the safer choice.
Which Appian Way tour has the best reviews?+
TopBike Rental and Tours has the biggest sample: 4.9 from 1,990 reviews at $66. ESBIKE (4.9 from 1,872), Roma STARBIKE (4.9 from 848) and Biga Tours (4.9 from 700) are close. Walks of Italy is the lowest of the larger ones at 4.7 from 1,136.
Can I just walk the Appian Way without a tour?+
Yes. The regional park says more than 16 km of the road can be walked at any time, and the walk costs nothing. A tour is for the catacomb entry, the aqueducts park that is far from the road's start, and the explanation.
