Rome: Appian Way, Aqueducts & Catacombs (Small Group or Private)
Description
Just about 3km from the Colosseum, there is a place you absolutely must visit! Do you want to discover it safely, away from the city traffic? Cycle with us along the Via Appia Antica starting directly from the section closed to car traffic and unleash your desire for adventure! This itinerary combines the present of the golden fields of the Roman countryside still frequented by local shepherds, with the glorious past of the Monumental Tombs and ruins of ancient Rome that stand on the sides of the road. Every km traveled is a dive into history, which brings you ever closer to the peace and tranquility of the Parco degli Acquedotti. Here the arches of the imposing aqueducts tell of the cutting-edge engineering feats of the ancient Romans. In the shade of centuries-old trees, enjoy the stories told by your guide, the enchanting landscape will do the rest. The visit to the Catacombs is an unmissable stop that adds a touch of mystery to this bike adventure. Book now and start the journey!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Here, your guide will welcome you and will lead you on foot to the rental point
Cycle along the oldest road in Rome: via Appia Antica
Cycle through the wonderful Appia Antica park, passing Roman ruins and other beauties
Visit the Aqueducts Park, the ancient arches of the aqueduct draw a breathtaking landscape
An excursion to Tor Fiscale Park is an unforgettable experience for those who want to discover the secrets of ancient Rome and immerse themselves in the tranquility of the Roman countryside.
A corner of the Roman countryside just a stone's throw from the city centre.
We will discover San Callisto or San Sebastiano Catacombs. Here you will have about 45 minutes of guided tour inside
The e-bike adventure ends here
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Min. Participants: 4 guests required. Alternative date or full refund offered if the minimum is not met.
- Max Group Size: Limited to 8 guests per guide for personalization. Flexibility is maintained (may run with fewer guests or include 1-2 extras to keep bookings together).
- Route: 90% of this route follows the ancient Roman paving (basolato) of the Appian Way, where public car traffic is prohibited (resident access only). Only two brief road crossings are needed to navigate between the Appia Antica Regional Park, Aqueduct Park, Tor Fiscale, and Caffarella Parks.
- Itinerary Changes: The operator may substitute itinerary highlights (e.g., for public events or safety reasons) to ensure group security.
- Riding Experience: A basic-medium cycling level is mandatory.
- Guide's Discretion: A pre-departure test is conducted. The guide may deny participation (no refund) if a guest is unsuitable due to lack of ability or health concerns.
- Infants: Infants (up to 20kg/44 lbs) ride free in a provided child seat
- Children: Children (under 139cm/4ft 7in) must use a bike extension (tag-along/trailer)
- E-Bike Age: Minimum age to operate an E-Bike is 12 years old
Reviews(135)
We loved this experience! We learned and rode the bike at our own pace. Renato was very helpful and patient. He taught us so much and we had a terrific time
Best day in Rome !!! We loved every minute of it , it was a nice break from the city . Must do ! Really great experience
This is an absolutely great tour. Ours was led by Renato. There were six people in our group. Renato was an absolute star because our group was like herding cats. (Specifically, I refer to my own group of four.) We first went to the catacombs. On the way, my best friend inadvertently did something so that his pedal assist E bike quit "assisting". My friend was bringing up the rear, and when we noticed that my friend was no longer there, Renato biked back a ways and got him going again. My wife and I had been to these catacombs before, but our friends had not. Although we had been there in 2023, the catacombs staff had changed some things around and the catacombs tour was even better than the first time we visited. We then left for the ancient aqueducts. As the group was leaving, I decided to be the last to get water after messing around and not getting it when everyone else did. I told my wife that I would catch up. Unfortunately, there were multiple trails along the way, and I managed to pick the wrong one each time. I finally caught up to the group which had stop for me. (Interestingly, I had asked a man sitting on a bench at the intersection of the trails which way my group had gone. He pointed in the wrong direction. I learned that it may not be in your best interests to listen to random people sitting on a bench.) After I rejoined the group, one of the individuals in my group of four became ill due to a reaction to some medication that she had taken that morning. Renato was very kind and took us to a location where she and her husband (the friend who had managed to make his E bike quit "assisting") were able to take an Uber back to where we were staying. We then continued on the aqueducts. They were incredible to view. (We have fortunate to have traveled extensively in Europe and Greece and my wife and I were amazed by these specific aqueducts.) We finished up by following along the Appian Way back to the location where we had started. (If you have never seen the Appian Way, you will discover why it is such an engineering marvel.) We had a great time and we could not have asked for a better, or more patient, guide as we had in Renato.
We did the tour today and it was a complete success. We loved it. I would recommend it to everyone visiting Rome, as it is an unforgettable experience. Special mention to our guide Matteo. His mastery of history makes you mentally transport to the era he is explaining and want to know more. I also highly value his closeness and kindness. Totally recommendable, both the experience and the guide.
Muchísimas gracias por este comentario tan maravilloso! Nos alegra enormemente saber que la experiencia fue irrepetible. Matteo tiene un talento único para hacer que la historia cobre vida y transportaros en el tiempo con sus explicaciones, siempre con esa cercanía y amabilidad que lo caracterizan. ¡Será un placer transmitirle tus palabras! Esperamos volver a veros en vuestra próxima visita a Roma. ¡Buen viaje! 🚲🏛️🇪🇸✨
This tour was so awesome! It was great to get outside of the center of Rome and explore these amazing sites! Our tour guide Ricardo was lovely- explained everything very well and kept us safe . Would highly recommend it!
Thank you so much! We are thrilled you loved getting outside the busy city center to explore these amazing sites. Riccardo is indeed lovely and always makes sure everyone feels safe and well-informed. We truly appreciate your high recommendation! See you next time! 🚲🌿🏛️✨
Alessio was a great tour guide! He was very knowledgeable of all the sites and friendly. He was also very flexible with tour depending on your level and time constraints. Overall a great e bike tour of the Appian way and of course the aquaducts.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! 🚲 We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great e-bike tour. Adapting the route to match our guests' riding levels and time constraints is something we always prioritize, as we want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the experience to the fullest. It was a pleasure sharing the history of the Appian Way and the majestic Aqueducts with you! Thank you for riding with us, and you are always welcome back for another custom adventure with Bicycle Roma! — Alessio
Our family did a private tour with Alessandro on the Appia Antica (Appian Way). We had a great time!! Alessandro was informative and rode at a great pace for our family. He stopped in shaded areas to give us information and stopped in areas where we could refill our water (we went in June so it was hot). He was very engaging and even took many family pictures for us. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone coming to Rome! It was one of our top highlights!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and for sharing your family's experience! 🚲✨ June in Rome can certainly be warm, and we are thrilled to hear that Alessandro took such great care of you all by pacing the ride perfectly, choosing shaded stops, and guiding you to our local water fountains to stay refreshed. Our guides love going the extra mile—whether it’s bringing the history of the Appian Way to life or snapping the perfect family photos to make sure you take home great memories. Knowing that this was one of the top highlights of your trip to Rome means the world to us! Thank you for your high recommendation, and your family will always be welcome back for another memorable ride with Bicycle Roma!
Alex was great; she is a very warm and genuine person. This experience was definitely unique and not your everyday run-of-the-mill tour. Riding through the aqueduct park was very memorable, and riding along a road that was built 300 years before Christ in the late afternoon on a beautiful day is something our family will always remember.
Thank you so much for this beautiful and evocative review! 🌟 We are deeply touched to hear that riding along the Appian Way—a road built over two millennia ago—in the late afternoon light created a memory your family will cherish forever. That is exactly the kind of unique, non-commercial experience we strive to create. Alex will be absolutely thrilled by your warm words; she truly loves sharing her passion for Rome's history in a genuine and personal way. Riding through the Aqueduct Park on a beautiful day with loved ones is pure magic. Thank you for choosing Bicycle Roma, and we hope to welcome your family back for another unforgettable journey through time! 🚲🌅✨
Perfect day! Kindness and friendliness! Also great availability and skill in solving our technical problems! Fast and cheerful: thank you DORAIMON! We will recommend it to everyone… and then he provided the right bikes suitable for everyone! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this wonderful and fun review! 🌟 The comparison to Doraimon😂 really made our day: we always do our absolute best to pull the perfect solution out of our magic pocket for any technical issue, ensuring everyone gets the right bike tailored to them! Hearing that your day was absolutely perfect, filled with smiles, kindness, and great support, is our biggest reward. Thank you so much for recommending us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another stress-free ride with Bicycle Roma! 🚲✨🔮
We scheduled this thinking it was fairly convenient for a post-colliseum activity. It turned out to be a highlight of the trip for me and my two sons. We requested to forego the catacomb tour so that we could explore more of the countryside. It was a fantastic afternoon. Our guide was great. The eBikes were an easy way to cover 30-40 kilometers. I would highly recommend.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! 🌟 We are thrilled that what started as a convenient post-Colosseum activity turned out to be a major highlight for you and your sons! At Bicycle Roma, we always love customizing our routes to fit our guests' preferences, and tailoring the ride to explore more of our beautiful countryside was a fantastic choice. Hearing that our E-bikes made covering 30-40 kilometers feel like an easy, smooth afternoon is exactly what we aim for. Thank you for highly recommending us, and we hope to welcome you and your boys back for another great adventure! 🚲🌿✨
