Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome, Italy
Catacombs of Rome
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Photo: Dnalor 01, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket
- ≈ €10–12, guided tour only
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Usually with a lunch break, 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Tour
- 30–40 minutes, groups by language
- Closing days
- St Callixtus Wed, St Sebastian Sun, Domitilla Tue
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Inside
- Cool, ≈ 15 °C; photos usually not allowed
- Location
- Appian Way (bus 118) and Via Salaria (Priscilla)
Key facts
2nd–5th centurieswhen Romans used the catacombs for burial
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English Wikipedia≈ 40known catacombs around Rome
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English Wikipedia≈ 20 kmof galleries in the Catacombs of St Callixtus, on several levels
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English WikipediaCrypt of the Popesseveral 3rd-century bishops of Rome rest in St Callixtus
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English Wikipedia3rd centuryPriscilla holds one of the earliest images of the Madonna and Child
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English WikipediaTufasoft volcanic rock, easy to dig, that hardens in air
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English WikipediaWhich catacombs to visit
Several Christian catacombs are open, each with its own character. St Callixtus on the Appian Way is the largest and best known, with about 20 km of galleries, the Crypt of the Popes and the crypt of St Cecilia. St Sebastian, a short walk away, has a basilica above and pilgrims' graffiti below. Domitilla is one of the biggest, with an underground 4th-century basilica. Priscilla, on Via Salaria in the north, is famous for a 3rd-century fresco of the Madonna and Child. Sant'Agnese on Via Nomentana pairs with the mausoleum of Santa Costanza.
Short on time? Choose St Callixtus for scale or Priscilla for the frescoes.
What are the catacombs?
Roman law banned burial inside the walls, so cemeteries lined the roads. From the 2nd century Christians and Jews began digging long galleries with burial niches into soft tufa — the catacombs. Level was dug beneath level, and some stretch for many kilometres.
They weren't secret hideouts, as is often thought, but cemeteries and places of remembrance, where families came for memorial services and painted the walls — fish, anchors, doves, the Good Shepherd and Bible scenes, among the earliest Christian images anywhere. Burials stopped in the 5th century and many catacombs were forgotten until the 16th–19th centuries.
Tickets and guided tours
Visits are guided only, in groups by language, lasting 30–40 minutes. You descend 10–20 metres and follow narrow lit passages, peering into painted burial chambers. It's about 15 °C all year and damp. Photos are usually banned, and you mustn't stray from the group — the galleries are a labyrinth.
Tickets cost about €10–12, sold on site or on each catacomb's own website. Hours usually include a lunch break, and each catacomb closes on a different day — St Callixtus on Wednesdays, St Sebastian on Sundays, for example. Check before you go.
How to get to the catacombs
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Santa Maria Maggiore is about 7 min away on foot.
- Domus Aurea is about 9 min away on foot.
- San Pietro in Vincoli is about 7 min away on foot.
More tips
- Bus 118 from Circo Massimo or Piramide metro to St Callixtus and St Sebastian on the Appian Way.
- Bus 218 from Piazza San Giovanni to Domitilla and St Callixtus.
- For Priscilla, buses 63, 83, 92 and 310 to Via Salaria / Piazza Crati.
- Many Appian Way tours include one catacomb.
Best time to go
Mornings are best, with tours from 9:00 and smaller groups. In summer the catacombs are a cool refuge from the heat. Combine with a walk along the Appian Way: St Sebastian is 10 minutes from St Callixtus on foot, with the Circus of Maxentius and Caecilia Metella beyond.
Are the catacombs worth it?
Yes, if early Christian history interests you or you simply want to see Rome's strange underground world — the ancient frescoes and endless galleries are unforgettable. Allow 2–2.5 hours for one catacomb including travel.
Before you go
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Ancient Rome: compare and choose
Ancient sites in Rome rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Pantheon | 82 | 30 min | ≈ €5 | 32 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colosseum | 73 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 12 min walk |
| Roman Forum | 63 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 19 min walk |
| Circus Maximus | 63 | 30 min | Free | 24 min walk |
| Trajan's Column | 60 | 15 min | Free | 20 min walk |
| Capitoline Hill | 58 | 30 min | Free | 22 min walk |
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 2.8 km |
| Arch of Constantine | 57 | 15 min | Free | 14 min walk |
| Palatine Hill | 54 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 20 min walk |
| Mausoleum of Augustus | 53 | 45 min | ≈ €5, booking | 39 min walk |
| Largo di Torre Argentina | 53 | 30 min | Free from street; walkways ≈ €5 | 31 min walk |
| Pyramid of Cestius | 52 | 20 min | Free | 43 min walk |
| Appian Way | 49 | 3 h | Free | 6.5 km |
| Domus Aurea | 49 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26 | 7 min walk |
| Mouth of Truth | 49 | 20 min | Donation ≈ €2 | 27 min walk |
| Catacombs of Romeyou are here | 48 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €10–12 with guide | — |
| Baths of Caracalla | 48 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €8 | 28 min walk |
| Ara Pacis | 47 | 1 h | ≈ €13–15 | 40 min walk |
| Theatre of Marcellus | 47 | 20 min | Free | 27 min walk |
| Vatican Museums | 44 | 3 h | ≈ €25 | 3.9 km |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 22 min walk |
| Baths of Diocletian | 42 | 1 h | Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12 | 16 min walk |
| Basilica of San Clemente | 39 | 1 h | Upper free; excavations ≈ €10–12 | 10 min walk |
| Imperial Fora | 38 | 1 h | Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15 | 18 min walk |
| Testaccio | 38 | 2 h | Free | 2.8 km |
| Palazzo Massimo | 34 | 2 h | ≈ €10–12 combined ticket | 14 min walk |
| Ostia Antica | 31 | 3 h | ≈ €12–18 | 23.4 km |
| Hadrian's Villa | 29 | 3 h | ≈ €12–15 | 23.5 km |
Southern Rome in a day
The Baths of Caracalla in the morning, then along the Appian Way to the catacombs and the Tomb of Caecilia Metella.
- Baths of Caracalla1 h 15 min · ≈ €8
- 94 min walk from the previous stopAppian Way3 h · Free
- 113 min walk from the previous stopCatacombs of Romeyou are here1 h 30 min · ≈ €10–12 with guide
3 places · about 9 h 12 min with walks · 207 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Guided only — check tour times in your language.
- Each catacomb has a different closing day.
- It's 15 °C inside — bring a jumper.
- Bus 118 reaches two catacombs.
Questions
How much do the catacombs cost?
About €10–12 including the compulsory guide.
Which catacombs in Rome are best?
St Callixtus for size, Priscilla for its 3rd-century Madonna fresco; St Sebastian and Domitilla are also excellent.
How do I get to the catacombs?
Bus 118 from Circo Massimo metro to St Callixtus and St Sebastian on the Appian Way.
Can you visit without a guide?
No, only on a guided tour.
How long is a catacomb tour?
30–40 minutes underground.
Can you take photos?
Usually not.
Where are the Catacombs of Priscilla?
On Via Salaria in northern Rome, by Villa Ada.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology
- Official sites of the catacombs of St Callixtus, St Sebastian, Domitilla and Priscilla
- English Wikipedia, Catacombs of Rome
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