A catacombs of Rome map is less obvious than it sounds, because the catacombs are not one site. They are separate cemeteries, run by separate organisations, and the ones you can enter lie several kilometres from the Colosseum. This page puts them on a map, then walks you through the order I would visit the Appian Way group and what each one shows inside. If you want to choose a ticket first, my guide to tickets for the catacombs of Rome compares nine.
Catacombs of Rome Map: Where the Four Sit
The map below shows San Callisto with the other catacombs, the metro stations and the sights of central Rome, from Google Maps data.
On the catacombs of Rome map the three Appian Way sites sit close together. San Callisto is the reference point. Domitilla is about 427 m away in a straight line, which I make about a 7-minute walk, and San Sebastiano is about 541 m away, about 9 minutes. Those times are my estimates, from straight-line distance multiplied by 1.3 at 4.8 km/h. Priscilla is on the other side of the city, about 7.9 km from San Callisto in a straight line, so it is a separate trip.
The nearest metro stations in my data are 3 to 4 km away, so you need a bus or a taxi. San Callisto’s own directions give three ways: Metro A to San Giovanni and then bus 218 to Fosse Ardeatine, Metro B to Colosseo or Circo Massimo and then bus 118 to the Catacombe di San Callisto stop, or Metro A to Arco di Travertino and bus 660 to Appia Pignatelli, per the official site. It places the entrance at Via Appia Antica 110, between the Church of Quo Vadis and the Basilica of Saint Sebastian.
I did not find an official map covering all the catacombs of Rome, and I will not link a third-party plan I cannot verify. What each site does publish is its own route, which is the nearest thing to an official catacombs of Rome map, and the San Callisto one is the most detailed, which is why I use it below.
The Route I Would Take Along the Appian Way
On the catacombs of Rome map, I would do three on one morning and afternoon, in the order the opening hours allow, and keep Priscilla for another day. San Callisto opens 9:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:30 per Google Maps, San Sebastiano is open 9:15 to 17:15 per its official site, and Domitilla is open 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. That makes San Callisto the morning visit, San Sebastiano the midday one, because it does not close for lunch, and Domitilla the afternoon one. The times below are the durations the GetYourGuide listings give for each guided visit.
My route along the Appian Wayabout 1 h 40 min inside
1San CallistoCrypt of the Popes and Crypt of Saint Cecilia30 min
2San SebastianoMausolea and the crypt of the saint40 min
3DomitillaUnderground basilica of Nereus and Achilleus30 min
The catacombs of Rome map also shows why this works: the three visits add up to a short time underground, and the rest of the day is walking between them. Each visit is a booked slot with a guide, so reserve all three before you go. The opening hours of each are in my catacombs of Rome opening hours guide.
What to See Inside Each Catacomb
With the catacombs of Rome map in mind, here is what each stop shows. ### San Callisto
The official site calls San Callisto one of the largest and most important underground cemeteries in Rome, the official cemetery of the Church of Rome in the 3rd century. Around half a million Christians were buried here, among them many martyrs and 16 popes. Its own route runs through five areas.
The Crypt of the Popes is the heart. The site calls it the little Vatican, the burial place of nine popes, and says you can still see the original Greek inscriptions of five of them: Pontianus, Antherus, Fabian, Lucius and Eutichian. The Crypt of Saint Cecilia holds a statue that is a copy of Stefano Maderno’s work of 1599, and the walls keep paintings of the saint. The cubicles of the Sacraments are five small family chambers, with early 3rd-century frescoes of Baptism and the Eucharist and the prophet Jonah. The guide may also take in the area of Pope Miltiades and the Crypt of Saint Gaius and Saint Eusebius, both named on the official route.
OPERA ROMANA PELLEGRINAGGI
Catacombs of St. Callixtus Entry Ticket & Guided Tour
★4.6 (3,781 reviews)
30 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: The one I would start with: San Callisto at $16, 4.6 from 3,781 reviews, a 30-minute guided visit.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Catacombs of Saint Callixtus entry ticket
✓ Guided tour
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Food and drinks
Meeting point: Please go directly to the ticket office of the catacomb and show your reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled tour.
To get to the meeting point from Termini Station, take Metro A (direction Anagnina) to San Giovanni then bus 218 (direction Ardeatina) to the stop Fosse Ardeatine. You will find the entrance to the Catacombs in front of you.
Alternatively, you can take Metro B (direction Laurentina) to Colosseo or Circo Massimo (bus stop: Terme Caracalla/Porta Capena), then bus 118 (direction Appia/Villa dei Quintili) to the stop Catacombe di San Callisto. Via Appia Antica, 110/126, 00179 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: Italian, German, French
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Martin Pacifique (Fr) was a wonderful guide, being very knowledgeable and a priest himself. Definitely recommend, although if you're looking to see piles of bones go for another destination like Capucin chapel” – GetYourGuide review
San Sebastiano is on the same road, at number 136. Wikipedia says the underground cemetery was known from the 3rd century as in memoria apostolorum, because the relics of the apostles Peter and Paul were there for a time, and that the area was once pozzolan mines above the level of the basilica. Three mausolea from the second half of the 2nd century stand in the open area, and the restored Crypt of Saint Sebastian has a bust of the saint attributed to Bernini, per Wikipedia. The basilica above it holds the saint’s relics in a chapel.
OPERA ROMANA PELLEGRINAGGI
Catacombs of St. Sebastian Entry Ticket & Guided Tour
★4.5 (739 reviews)
40 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: San Sebastiano at $16, 4.5 from 739 reviews, a 40-minute guided visit with the longest slot of the Appian Way three.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entrance ticket
✓ Guided tour in the chosen language
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point: Please go directly to the ticket office of the catacomb and show your reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled tour. Via Appia Antica, 136, 00179 Roma RM, Italy
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Well worth seeing. Reasonably priced. Only a short walk from the more visited San Calisto catacombs and definitely worth doing also when you are in the area. The preserved pagan tombs were a real highlight for me on the Rome trip.” – GetYourGuide review
Domitilla is on Via delle Sette Chiese, about 0.9 km from San Sebastiano. Wikipedia says its galleries spread over 17 km on four levels and that it is the only catacomb in Rome with an underground basilica. That basilica is dedicated to the saints Nereus and Achilleus, and the Italian official site adds that it is semi-underground and dedicated also to Saint Petronilla, daughter of Saint Peter, per catacombedomitilla.it. Wikipedia lists the frescoes of the Virgin and Child, Jonah and the Good Shepherd among the images in the cubicles.
OPERA ROMANA PELLEGRINAGGI
Catacombs of Domitilla Entry Ticket & Guided Tour
★4.6 (168 reviews)
30 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: Domitilla at $16, 4.6 from 168 reviews, a 30-minute guided visit with the underground basilica.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Tour guide
✓ Entrance fees
Meeting point: PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE TICKET OFFICE OF THE CATACOMB AND SHOW YOUR RESERVATION AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TOUR. Via delle Sette Chiese, 282, 00147 Roma RM, Italy
Languages: English, Italian
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our tour guide Andrea was amazing and very friendly, real professional passionate about history and art. Couldn’t have wished for someone better! Totally recommend!” – GetYourGuide review
Priscilla lies on Via Salaria. Its official site says a visit lasts about 45 minutes, is accompanied by a member of staff and holds groups to 25 people. Wikipedia names a Greek Chapel as the notable area, with 3rd-century frescoes that include the Fractio Panis, and says the modern entrance is through a monastery cloister. On the catacombs of Rome map it stands alone, so I would give it a separate half day, or combine it with the centre, since it is far from the others. My page on Catacombs of Rome tours compares each guided option, including Priscilla’s.
Getting Around Inside the Catacombs: Rules and Conditions
You visit with a guide on a booked slot, per the official sites, so the catacombs of Rome map you need is the one above, not one in your hand and no route to choose. The listings mention uneven underground surfaces, and San Sebastiano says the temperature is 17 to 18 degrees Celsius, while Priscilla says about 13, so bring a layer. The Priscilla listing says photography and video are not permitted. Wikipedia notes that only five catacombs are open to the public in Rome at present: San Sebastiano, San Callisto, Priscilla, Domitilla and Sant’Agnese.
I could not confirm lifts or step-free routes for any of the four, and the official sites I read do not describe them, so ask the catacomb before you book if you need them.
Once you have the catacombs of Rome map clear, and are ready to choose, compare every option in my guide to catacombs of Rome tickets. The home page lists the other attractions I cover.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the catacombs of Rome on a map?+
Three of the four I compare sit on or near the Appian Way, south-east of the centre: San Callisto at Via Appia Antica 110, San Sebastiano at number 136 and Domitilla on Via delle Sette Chiese 282. Priscilla is on Via Salaria 430, north of the centre and about 8 km from that group by my straight-line estimate.
Is there an official map of the catacombs of Rome?+
I found no single official map or floor plan, because each catacomb is run by its own order and has its own website. San Callisto's site does show its route by area, from the Crypt of the Popes to the Crypt of Saint Cecilia, and gives directions from the metro.
Can you visit more than one catacomb in a day?+
Yes, if you stay on the Appian Way. San Callisto and San Sebastiano are about 9 minutes apart on foot by my estimate, and Domitilla is about 7 minutes from San Callisto. Each visit is a guided slot of 30 to 45 minutes in the listings, so the walking and the booked times are what limit you.
Can you walk through the catacombs on your own?+
No. Priscilla's site says the catacombs can only be visited with a member of staff, and San Callisto requires online reservations. The visit follows a guide through the galleries, so you cannot choose your own route.
Which catacomb is best to see first?+
For a first visit I would pick San Callisto. It is the most reviewed of the four on GetYourGuide, at 4.6 from 3,781 reviews, and the official site calls it one of the largest and most important underground cemeteries in Rome, with the Crypt of the Popes at its heart.
