Rome: Golf Cart Tour Catacombs & Appian Way Small Group

Summary

Electric golf cart ride Rome catacombs Appian Way small group

You’ll hop into an electric golf cart with a small group, ride from central Rome past ancient walls and baths, walk on centuries-old stones along the Appian Way, and descend into eerie Roman catacombs with your local guide. There’s bottled water included and plenty of stories along the way—expect surprises both above and below ground.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to start my Roman adventure squeezed into a golf cart with strangers, but that’s exactly what happened near the Pantheon. Our guide—Marco, who seemed to know every shortcut and every pothole in Rome—handed out headsets and off we went. The city felt different from this low-to-the-ground view; you could actually smell the pine trees as we zipped past the Baths of Caracalla, and someone behind me kept laughing every time we hit a bump (pretty sure it was Anna from Manchester). Circus Maximus opened up on our right—just this huge sweep of grass and ruins—and Marco pointed out where chariots used to race. I tried to picture it but mostly just noticed how quiet it was compared to the chaos around Termini.

Driving along the Appian Way felt like cheating time. The stones underfoot were so worn down you could almost feel the centuries. We stopped to walk a bit—my shoes made that hollow sound against the old pavestones—and Marco told us about Cecilia Metella’s mausoleum (I still can’t pronounce her name right). Then came the catacombs. I’m not usually claustrophobic but descending into those tunnels gave me goosebumps. It was cool and damp, smelled faintly of earth and candle wax, and our local guide down there had this calm voice that made even the creepiest stories kind of comforting. Thirty minutes underground went by fast; when we came back up, sunlight felt sharper somehow.

I nearly missed seeing Rome’s pyramid because I was distracted by some local kids kicking a football nearby—Marco joked that even Romans forget about it sometimes. The tour only lasted about two and a half hours but packed in so much: ancient walls, hidden corners, bits of history I’d never heard before. If you’re looking for a day trip from central Rome that doesn’t feel like every other tour (and includes pickup in a golf cart), this is it. I still think about that strange hush in the catacombs when everything above ground is so loud.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Golf Cart Tour: Catacombs and Appian Way

• Meet guide near Pantheon
• Hop on electric golf cart
• View Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill
• Drive around Baths of Caracalla
• Exit Rome via St. Sebastian door
• Drive along Via di Appia Antica
• 30-minute guided Catacombs tour
• Drive past Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
• Walk on Appia Antica pavestones
• Drive along Aurelian Walls
• See ancient Pyramid of Rome

Top questions

How long does the golf cart tour in Rome last?

The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours from start to finish.

Is entry to the Catacombs included in this tour?

Yes, entrance ticket and a 30-35 minute guided Catacombs tour are included.

Where does the tour start in Rome?

The meeting point is at an office near the Pantheon and Largo Argentina in central Rome.

Is this golf cart tour suitable for children?

Children aged 2-12 are welcome; car seats or boosters are provided if notified in advance.

Are wheelchairs accommodated on this Rome tour?

Yes, both transportation options and vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

What sites will I see on this small group tour?

You’ll see Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, Appian Way, Aurelian Walls, Catacombs of St. Sebastian, Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, and an ancient pyramid.

How many people are on each golf cart?

Each electric golf cart has 7 seats; tours run with up to 14 participants split between two carts if needed.

Is bottled water provided during the tour?

Yes, bottled water is included for all participants.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup at a central Rome office near Pantheon by electric golf cart with space for seven per vehicle (and up to two carts traveling together), bottled water for everyone onboard, headsets so you can hear your English-speaking local guide clearly even while driving or walking around sites like Circus Maximus or along Via Appia Antica; plus entrance tickets with a guided visit underground at the Roman Catacombs—all wrapped up in about two and a half hours before returning to where you started.