Appian Way & Catacombs Golf Cart Tour Rome: 3 hours

Golf cart through 2,000 years on the Appian Way, no walking required

A three-hour guided golf cart tour of Rome's Appian Way archaeological park covers the Catacombs of St. Callixtus or St. Sebastiano, the Circus of Maxentius, and the Villa of the Quintilii. You ride through one of the world's largest protected archaeological zones (4,580 hectares) stopping to explore burial sites, churches and tombs that line the ancient road where Spartacus was defeated. A guide in English narrates the history at each stop. Mineral water is provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Catacombs of RomeEntry included1h
2. Villa of the Quintilii10m

Explore Appian Way and Catacombs

• Visit Domine Quo Vadis Church
• Tour Catacombs of S. Callisto or S. Sebastiano
• Enter Circus of Maxentius
• See Tomb of Cecilia Metalla and Caetani castle
• Visit S. Nicola Church nearby
• View private villa of Marcus Aurelius' preceptor
• Explore Villa of the Quintilii exterior
• Learn about burial sites along Regina Viarum
• Drive back along Ancient Appian Way

The experience

The tour starts at the Domine Quo Vadis Church, where according to tradition Saint Peter encountered the risen Christ while fleeing Rome. From there the golf cart carries you along the Appian Way itself, the Regina Viarum, stopping at sites most Rome visitors never reach because they lie 3 km beyond the Colosseum in a protected zone far from the city center. The Catacombs of St. Callixtus, or St. Sebastiano, depending on availability: are part of your ticket. These underground galleries stretch about 12 miles across four levels, more than twenty meters deep, and once held the burials of 16 popes and tens of martyrs. A guide leads you through the passages and explains the layout and history.

The Circus of Maxentius comes next, the second-largest Roman circus ever built and the best preserved in the Rome area. It was the set for Ben Hur and likely never hosted actual games. On the hill above it stands the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the biggest burial monument on the Appian Way, and across the road the S. Nicola Church, a rare example of Cistercian gothic style. The route also passes the Villa of the Quintilii, a sprawling residential complex that once belonged to brothers killed by Emperor Commodus. You see these sites from the cart or from viewpoints the guide stops at. Entrance fees to the tomb and villa are not included and not required to understand what you're looking at.

The golf cart handles the distance. You cover ground without the fatigue of walking the full length of the Appian Way. The tour runs three hours total and ends where it began. Bring comfortable clothes and sunscreen. The route is mostly outdoors on the ancient road itself.

What’s included

• Guided tour in English.
• entrance to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus or St. Sebastiano.
• mineral water per person.
• golf cart transport along the Appian Way.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day except Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 and 14:00, from € 105 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 7 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Monday and WednesdayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 7 · max 5 per booking2 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.1 with pickup ›

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by EcoBike S.r.l. - Centro Servizi Appia Antica

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the Appian Way's major sites without the walking or the logistics of getting there by public transport from central Rome. The golf cart lets you cover 4,580 hectares of archaeological park in three hours and still spend time at each stop. It suits anyone who prefers to ride rather than hike, or who has limited time in the city.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What are the Catacombs of St. Callixtus like to walk through?

The Catacombs of St. Callixtus are a network of underground galleries stretching about 12 miles across four levels, descending more than twenty meters below ground. You walk through passages where tens of martyrs and 16 popes were buried, with a guide explaining the layout and the history of early Christian burial practices in Rome.

Is the Circus of Maxentius still standing, or just ruins?

The Circus of Maxentius is the best-preserved circus in the Rome area and the second-largest Roman circus ever built. It remains largely intact, though it likely never hosted actual games. The only recorded events were its inaugural ones, held as a funeral ceremony for the emperor's young son in AD 309.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

Most of the tour happens from the golf cart, which carries you along the Appian Way and between stops. At each site, you step out to look around and listen to the guide's explanation, but you are not walking long distances. The cart handles the travel between attractions.

Why are there so many burial sites and catacombs along the Appian Way?

Roman law forbade burials inside the city walls, so the Appian Way and other roads leading out of Rome became lined with tombs, catacombs, churches and mausoleums. The tour guide explains this pattern and the reasons different burial practices developed along the Regina Viarum over more than 2,000 years.