Appian Way e-bike tour Rome: Ancient sites and aqueducts

Ride the Appian Way on an e-bike and stand among the ruins of imperial Rome

An e-bike tour of Rome's Appian Way and Aqueduct Park, led by a guide in English or Italian, that crosses the ancient Via Appia Antica through green space and past monuments, tombs, and the remains of six Roman aqueducts. The 4-hour version covers the Appian Way and aqueducts. The 5-hour option adds entry to the Catacombs of San Callisto and lunch or an aperitif at a restaurant in the park. E-bikes, helmets and a guide are included. The route is smooth and suitable for riders with moderate fitness who can ride a bike well.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Appian Way and Aurelian Walls15m
2. Rome Termini50m · entry included
3. Baths of Caracalla15m

Explore Appian Way and Aqueducts

• Start at Porta di San Sebastiano
• Ride along Via Appia Antica
• Visit Baths of Caracalla remains
• Explore Caffarella Park
• See the spring of Nymph Egeria
• Visit Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
• Stop at Circus of Maxentius
• Tour Parco degli Acquedotti aqueducts
• Resume e-bike tour through aqueduct park
• Optional visit to Catacombs of San Callisto
• Optional lunch or aperitif at Aqueduct Park restaurant

The experience

The tour starts at Porta di San Sebastiano, the southern gate built into the Aurelian Walls around 275 AD, which marks the beginning of the Via Appia Antica. From there you ride a top-notch e-bike on a smooth surface through the Parco dell'Appia Antica, a green corridor that cuts through Rome's center and holds the remains of the ancient world: imperial mansions, statues, tombs and the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, a 1st-century pagan tomb that still stands as the best-preserved monument on the road. The guide walks you through the history: the Via Appia, known to Romans as Regina Viarum (the queen of roads), was built in the 4th century BC by the censor Appius Claudius and extended over centuries until it reached Brindisi, Rome's most important southern port.

The Parco degli Acquedotti is where the route reveals the engineering that kept Rome alive. Six ancient Roman aqueducts converge here, and you ride past their remains, some still in operation, to understand how water moved through the city. You'll also pass the Circus of Maxentius, where the spina (the central barrier) once held the Agonale obelisk, now in Piazza Navona, and the Baths of Caracalla, which for a century were the largest public baths ever built and still retain most of their structure. The Caffarella Park, part of the larger Appia Antica Regional Park, is one of Europe's largest green areas and holds hidden remains of ancient buildings among its paths and groves.

If you choose the 5-hour option, you'll stop at the Catacombs of San Callisto, the largest underground cemetery in Rome with corridors stretching about 20 kilometers. This sacred place, dating to the second century BC, holds the remains of more than 50 martyrs, 16 popes and half a million Christians. After the catacombs, you'll have lunch at a restaurant in the Parco degli Acquedotti in the morning tour, or an aperitif in the afternoon version. The 4-hour tour skips the catacombs and the meal. A live guide in English or Italian leads both versions. You'll need to know how to ride a bike well, and the e-bikes handle riders up to 120 kg (265 pounds). Child seats are available for children under 25 kg. Children aged 6–10 can ride if they are under 4'5" tall and will use a trailer bike instead of an individual e-bike.

What’s included

• The tour includes a high-quality e-bike, helmet, mobile phone holder and handlebar holder.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• child seats for children under 25 kg and specialized infant seats. The 5-hour option adds guided entry to the Catacombs of San Callisto and lunch at a restaurant in the Parco degli Acquedotti (morning tour) or an aperitif (afternoon tour).

Options for this experience

2 options

Appian Way and Aqueducts onlyGuide in English or Italian · 09:30, 12:30 and 14:00Lasts 4 hours: Appian Way and Aqueducts by eBike

Appia, Catacombs, plus lunch or aperitifGuide in English or Italian · 09:00 and 13:00Runs 5 hours: lunch or aperitif, with Aqueducts and Catacombs by eBike

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Roma STARBIKE - 0,03 mi from the "Colosseo" Metro station (Line B) - Next to the Carrefour Supermarket”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Roma STARBIKE

Is this one for you?Choose the 4-hour tour if you want to cover the Appian Way and the aqueducts without stopping for a meal, keeping the pace steady through the ancient sites. The 5-hour option suits you if you want to descend into the Catacombs of San Callisto and have time to sit down for lunch or an aperitif, turning the ride into a full half-day immersion in Roman history and engineering.

Traveler reviews

4.85★★★★★★★★★★

1,172 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,060

4 ★73

3 ★19

2 ★12

1 ★8

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Appian Way and why does it matter?

The Via Appia Antica, built in the 4th century BC by the censor Appius Claudius, was known to Romans as Regina Viarum, the queen of roads, and is considered the greatest civil engineering work of the ancient world. It originally ran from Rome to Capua and was later extended to Brindisi, Rome's most important southern port, facilitating the flow of troops and trade for centuries.

What happens at the Catacombs of San Callisto?

The Catacombs of San Callisto, included only in the 5-hour tour, are the largest underground cemetery in Rome with corridors stretching about 20 kilometers. Dating to the second century BC, they hold the remains of more than 50 martyrs, 16 popes and half a million Christians, making it a sacred place and the official funerary complex of the Church of Rome.

Is lunch included, and what if I take the afternoon tour?

Lunch is included only in the 5-hour morning tour, served at a restaurant in the Parco degli Acquedotti. The 5-hour afternoon tour includes an aperitif instead. The 4-hour version of either tour does not include a meal.

What's included with the e-bike rental?

The tour includes a high-quality e-bike, helmet, mobile phone holder and handlebar holder. Child seats (up to 25 kg) and specialized infant seats are available. You must know how to ride a bike well, and the maximum weight limit is 120 kg (265 pounds).

How long does each tour take?

The Appian Way and Aqueducts tour takes four hours. Adding the Catacombs of San Callisto and lunch or an aperitif extends it to five hours.