Looking for that unique experience on your second trip to Rome? Well, the Rome Catacombs are a perfect activity that many visitors miss and even fewer know what lies within their tunnels. Guided tours make it simple to get there and show you another side of ancient Rome. Here are the best Rome Catacombs tours and why, so you can choose what’s best for you.
Pro Tip: It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post. Also, check out our guide to Rome for more planning resources, our top Rome Catacombs tours for a memorable trip, and how to visit the Rome Catacombs at night.
Should You Take a Tour of the Rome Catacombs?
Absolutely! Tours make the transportation easy and help you know what you’re actually seeing as you wander in the dim lighting. You’ll hear the fascinating stories of how the Rome Catacombs came to be without all the misconceptions and see all the best areas only the experts know about.
It’s not an easy place to explore fully on your own because you’ll miss out on a lot of the historical context needed to really appreciate this eerie subterranean world. An expert guide will bring the Catacombs to life (pun intended)!
You should also know that the Rome Catacombs are located outside the city and spread across various sites. Save the hassle of figuring out where to go, by leaving the details to us. Not to mention many of the catacombs close throughout the week, which can make for a frustrating experience if you don’t know ahead of time.
But don’t take our word for how much easier and better a catacombs tour is. Read for yourself what some of our happy customers had to say:
Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Rome Catacombs tour is worth it.
The 5 Most Popular Rome Catacombs Tours
The complex of dark tunnels that crisscross beneath Rome tell another side of Rome’s history. You’ve probably already visited the Colosseum and Roman Forum to discover what life was like back then, but taking a tour of the Rome Catacombs brings you full circle to discover how they dealt with death at this time.
As funerary customs changed and burial of the dead was prohibited within the city walls, the Rome Catacombs played an important role. Your guide will share stories about the important people laid to rest here and the skilled workers who dug and maintained the tunnels.
You’ll see beautiful Christian art and discover a sacred place of martyrs, relics, and pilgrimage. Ready to head beyond the Aurelian Walls on the Appian Way to explore another side of ancient Rome? Here are our best Rome Catacomb tours:
- Rome Catacombs Tour With Capuchin Crypts
- After Hours Rome Catacombs Night Tour with Capuchin Crypts
- Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum Arena Floor and Catacombs Tours
- History of Christianity Tour with Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Catacombs
- Catacombs Private Tour in Rome
1. Rome Catacombs Tour with Capuchin Crypts
Have you ever seen a room decorated with elaborate bone art? This tour starts with a visit to the Capuchin Crypts where your guide will share the interesting history behind the creepy yet surprisingly beautiful decorations made with the skeletal remains of around 3,700 friars. This isn’t something you’ll soon forget!
Then, it’s on to the Appian Way and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Seeing the Rome Catacombs is easy when you have your own driver. Sit back and enjoy the changing landscape as you head out of the city.
You’ll descend into the dark otherworld of the Catacombs, where a fascinating part of Rome’s history awaits you. From the final resting places of prominent martyrs and pontiffs to colorful ancient art, there’s more to these dark tunnels than meets the eye and your guide will shed light on it all.
The Rome Catacombs tour with Capuchin Crypts is ideal for anyone looking for a hassle-free way to explore a bit further than most and experience the darker side of Rome’s history with an expert local guide.
Highlights:
- 3-hour tour
- Roundtrip transportation included
- Tour of the Capuchin Crypts
- Tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus
- Visit the ancient Appian Way
Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Rome Catacombs.
2. After Hours Rome Catacombs Night Tour with Capuchin Crypts
If heading down into the dark catacombs during the day is not creepy enough for you, our VIP night tour will be. You’ll begin with an after-hours visit to the Capuchin Crypts to see the intricate designs made from human bones. Keep an eye out for those bone chandeliers!
Your driver will transport you to the Catacombs of Priscilla, where your guide will unlock the gates and lead you into the ancient depths. There will be no daytime crowds to keep you company as you explore the Queen of Catacombs—a site that served as a burial space almost 2,000 years ago.
But that’s not all that took place there. Your guide will share the history of the catacombs as a Christian place of worship and show you biblical artistic inscriptions. If you’re up for a unique experience and want more exclusive access to the Priscilla Catacombs, this night tour is for you.
Highlights:
- 2.5-hour tour
- Private transportation included
- After-hours tour of the Capuchin Crypts
- VIP access to the Priscilla Catacombs
Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Rome Catacombs tour is worth it.
3. Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum Arena Floor and Catacombs Tours
Want to see more for less money? Our combo tours do just that, and this one lets you explore more of ancient Rome in a day. Join your guide for a visit to the Capuchin Crypts and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus where they’ll show you a side of Rome few visitors see.
This tour also gets you special access to the Colosseum’s reconstructed Arena Floor. If you’ve ever wanted to get a feel for what it must have been like to be a gladiator, you’ll love being able to step out onto the Arena Floor! Not everybody gets to do this and you’ll have a pretty awesome view of the Colosseum Underground while you’re there.
With a guided walk through the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, you’ll end your day having traced the steps of emperors, gladiators, the Roman elite, and the common folk of Ancient Rome. These monuments come alive with the storytelling and expertise of a guide!
Highlights:
- 8-hour combo tour
- Roundtrip transportation to the Catacombs
- Tour of the Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs of St. Callixtus
- Skip-the-line Colosseum tour with Arena Floor access
- Tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Rome Catacombs tour is worth it.
4. History of Christianity Tour with Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Catacombs
In this combo tour, you get more bang for your buck by combining the Rome Catacombs with a tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
This is perfect for art lovers and anyone interested in the history of Christianity. Your guide will show you crypts where important popes and martyrs were laid to rest, as well as ancient Christian art in the Rome Catacombs.
You’ll also get to skip the line at the Vatican on this tour, which you’ll be glad for once you see the queue. Your guide will make sure you don’t miss any of the Vatican’s must-see works of art. They’ll tell you the stories behind art by Raphael, Michelangelo, and others. You’ll be shocked by the scandals that took place in the Borgia Apartments!
After your guided tour through the history of the Christian faith and religious art, you’ll end your day in awe. First by the exquisite beauty of the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Then, by the majesty of St. Peter’s Basilica—the heart of the Catholic Christian faith today.
Highlights:
- 8-hour combo tour
- Roundtrip transportation to the Catacombs and Appian Way
- Tour of the Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs of St. Callixtus
- Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican
- Guided tour of Vatican Museums
- Entry to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica
Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Rome Catacombs.
5. Catacombs Private Tour in Rome
Would you prefer to see the Catacombs in a private setting where you can tailor your experience a bit more? Our private Catacombs tour is for you. It’s a more intimate experience with door-to-door transport service. Just tell your guide if there’s anything specific you’d like to spend more time seeing and they’ll do their best to accommodate you!
Your first stop will be the Capuchin Crypts, also known as the “bone church”. You’ll quickly see why. Your guide will show you around the eery underground space divided into a number of chapels with some pretty creepy names like the Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones.
Then, you’ll hop in your private transport and head out to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Along the way, enjoy the scenery and keep an eye out for the Aurelian Walls. There’ll be more time for your own questions as you explore one of the lesser visited of Rome’s top ancient sites.
After a stop on the Appian Way, your driver will drop you back at your accommodation. There’s no better way to see the Rome Catacombs!
Highlights:
- 3-hour private tour
- Private transportation included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Tour of the Capuchin Crypts
- Tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus
- Visit the ancient Appian Way
Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Rome Catacombs.
Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Rome Catacombs.
Where To Stay in Rome
Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.
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