Rome: Catacombs & Santa Maria Maggiore Night Tour

Underground Rome at night: catacombs, a 4th-century mausoleum, and rooftop views after dark

You're driven to the Catacombs of Saint Agnes for an after-hours underground walk through 4th-century burial chambers and the Mausoleum of Constantia, then transferred to Santa Maria Maggiore for a private night tour that includes the upper Loggia and roof terraces overlooking Rome's skyline. Skip-the-line access, private chauffeur, and groups capped at six people mean you move at your own pace without crowds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night tour of catacombs and basilica

• Transfer to Saint Agnes complex
• Explore Mausoleum of Constantia
• Guided visit to Catacombs of St Agnes
• Transfer to Santa Maria Maggiore
• Tour Santa Maria Maggiore basilica

The experience

You arrive at Piazza della Repubblica in the evening, and the city is already shifting into a different rhythm. A private chauffeur meets you there and drives a small group, no more than six people, north to the Catacombs of Saint Agnes. The underground chambers open up beneath the street, and you're walking through the burial tunnels where early Christians were laid to rest, the walls still marked with names and symbols carved into stone. Your guide moves through the passages with a flashlight, pointing out the niches and the way light falls on the carved crosses. No photos are allowed down here, which somehow makes you pay closer attention to what's actually in front of you instead of through a screen.

Above the catacombs sits the Mausoleum of Constantia, a 4th-century rotunda built for the daughter of Emperor Constantine. It's a small, perfect circle of a building. The kind of space that makes you understand how Romans thought about proportion and light. The basilica of Saint Agnes itself is closed for restoration until at least mid-2026, but the mausoleum and the underground chambers are still there, and they're the real draw anyway. After you've spent time in the quiet of those spaces, the chauffeur drives you back into central Rome, toward the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Santa Maria Maggiore at night is a different building than it is during the day. The golden mosaics catch the light in a way that feels almost deliberate, like someone turned them on just for you. You tour the main church first, then climb to the upper Loggia (a balcony that overlooks the piazza below), and then up again to the roof terraces. From up there, Rome spreads out in all directions, the domes and rooflines lit softly, the city quiet enough that you can actually hear it breathing. Children under seven aren't permitted on the terraces for safety reasons, which means the group stays small and the pace stays unhurried. You're back at your starting point by the end of the evening, having seen two of Rome's oldest Christian sites and one of its most important basilicas, all without waiting in a single daytime queue.

What’s included

Your evening includes private chauffeur transport from Piazza della Repubblica to all sites, skip-the-line entry to the Catacombs of Saint Agnes and the Mausoleum of Constantia, an after-hours guided tour of Santa Maria Maggiore with access to the upper Loggia and roof terraces, and a return transfer to your starting point. The group size is capped at six people.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Tour OptionUp to 15 people · Guide in English · Available from 1 Mar 2027Tour for a private group

Semi-Private Tour OptionUp to 6 people · Guide in English · 17:00Small group, maximum of 6 people

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

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 17:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (7 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by LivTours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Rome's oldest Christian sites and one of its most important basilicas without daytime crowds or the logistics of getting between them: the private chauffeur and after-hours access are what make both possible in a single evening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's included in the Rome catacombs night tour?

After-hours access to the Catacombs of Saint Agnes, the Mausoleum of Constantia, and Santa Maria Maggiore; skip-the-line tickets to all sites; a private chauffeur; and access to the upper Loggia and roof terraces of the basilica.

Can I take photos in the catacombs?

No, photography is not permitted in the Catacombs of Saint Agnes.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are capped at a maximum of six people, guaranteed.

Is the Basilica of Saint Agnes open?

The interior of Saint Agnes Basilica is closed for restoration until at least July 2026. The Catacombs below and the Mausoleum of Constantia remain open and are included in the tour.

What's the dress code?

Shoulders and knees must be covered. No tank tops or short dresses are permitted to enter places of worship.

What if the catacombs require a larger group?

In rare cases, operational regulations may require visitors to join a larger official catacombs guide for the underground section. Your private guide remains with you to provide commentary whenever permitted.