The Appian Way, the ancient road south out of Rome, runs past the city’s early Christian catacombs and the arches of the Roman aqueducts, too far apart to see well on foot. On Viator, the two best-reviewed ways to cover it are a bike or e-bike tour, rated 4.9 across 1,929 reviews, from about $68, and a three-hour golf cart tour with the catacombs ticket included, rated 4.9 across 1,028 reviews, from about $115.
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The verdict
The bike tour is the more complete day: about 27 km (17 miles), 60% of it off-road in the Appian Way and Aqueducts parks, with a helmet, water and a bike or e-bike included. Read the options carefully: the catacomb visit is only on the six-hour version; the from-price is for the shorter tour.
The golf cart tour includes the catacombs entrance ticket in three hours and adds city sights on the way, from the Pyramid of Cestius and the Circus Maximus to the Bocca della Verità and the Theatre of Marcellus. No effort, no traffic to ride through, and 993 of 1,028 reviews are five stars.
Our pick: the e-bike tour, six-hour option, if you are reasonably fit and want the countryside of the Appian Way; the golf cart if you want the catacombs without physical effort, or you are traveling with older relatives.
The bike tour notes that about 40% of the route is on city streets, to link the Appian Way park with the Aqueducts park; the difficulty is rated intermediate. It also needs at least four participants to run and is not recommended for pregnant travelers.
Which one is for you?
Take the bike or e-bike tour if
- You are comfortable cycling 27 km, partly in traffic (the e-bike helps).
- You want the aqueducts and the Appian Way countryside, not only the catacombs.
- You choose the six-hour option, the only one with a catacomb visit.
- You have children aged 5 to 8: the listing offers child extensions.
Take the golf cart tour if
- You want the catacombs with the ticket included and no physical effort.
- Three hours fits your day better than four to six.
- You also want to pass central sights like the Circus Maximus.
- Children in your group are booked with their own seat, as the listing requires.
What each price covers
The bike or e-bike tour, from about $68
Included: a premium bike or e-bike, a mandatory helmet, a professional guide, a handlebar bag, water and, on the six-hour tour only, a guided visit of the Catacombs of San Callisto or San Sebastiano.
Not included: lunch, hotel pickup and gratuities. On Wednesdays the route adds a detour, so the tour runs about half an hour longer. The listing notes that the catacombs are closed on Easter Sunday (March 28, 2027), when the six-hour tour does not run.
The golf cart tour, from about $115
Included: the catacombs entrance ticket, bottled water and an audio guide system with headsets. The route includes the Appian Way, the Domine Quo Vadis church, the Catacombs and Basilica of San Sebastiano and the Circus of Maxentius.
Not included: gratuities and hotel pickup. Children under 150 cm (about 4 ft 11 in) need a child seat by Italian law, and a child must be booked with their own seat.
Where each one starts
- Bike tour: the TopBike shop at Via Labicana 49, a 10-minute walk from Manzoni metro (line A) or 10 to 15 minutes from Colosseo metro (line B).
- Golf cart tour: Via Urbana 40, in the Monti district.
Side by side
| Bike or e-bike | Golf cart | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 1,929 | 4.9 from 1,028 |
| Five-star reviews | 1,843 (96%) | 993 (97%) |
| Price | from about $68 (4-hour option) | from about $115 |
| Length | 4 or 6 hours | 3 hours |
| Group cap | 10 | 14 |
| Catacombs | Six-hour option only | Ticket included |
| Roman aqueducts | Yes | Not listed |
| Effort | Intermediate, 27 km | None, seated |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the bike or e-bike tour
Do not be afraid of the 6 hour number, it did not feel like it.
Cory_K, September 2026, via Viator
This tour is really fun, and a great way to get outside the city gates.
Marcy_A, August 2026, via Viator
On the golf cart tour
Fantastic tour of the catacombs, Appian way and city highlights.
Debra_S, September 2026, via Viator
Everything was very well organised and professional.
Karen_M, September 2026, via Viator
Both tours have almost nothing but top ratings. Reviewers of the bike tour stress that the long version does not feel long; reviewers of the golf cart tour praise the guides and the organization.
How the Appian Way fits a Rome trip
The Appian Way is the best half day to add once you have seen the center. Book the Colosseum tour and the Vatican Museums tour first. If you like the idea of Rome on wheels, compare with the city golf cart tour and the Rome e-bike tours.
For the full plan, see our best tours in Rome for first-timers, the best day trips from Rome and the Rome travel guide.
Questions travelers ask
Which Appian Way and catacombs tour should I book?
If you can ride a bike, book the bike or e-bike tour, rated 4.9 from 1,929 reviews on Viator, and choose the six-hour option to include the catacombs. If you want no effort, the golf cart tour includes the catacombs ticket in three hours, from about $115 (checked September 2026).
Are the catacombs included on the Appian Way bike tour?
Only on the six-hour option, which includes a guided visit of the Catacombs of San Callisto or San Sebastiano. The four-hour tour does not include them.
How hard is the Appian Way bike tour?
The listing rates it intermediate: about 27 km, 60% off-road, with about 40% on city streets with some traffic. An e-bike is available.
Can children join a catacombs tour?
Yes, with conditions. The bike tour has child seats and child extensions for younger children; on the golf cart tour, children under 150 cm need a child seat and must be booked with their own seat.
Can I cancel an Appian Way tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the bike or e-bike tour if you want the Appian Way countryside and the aqueducts; book the golf cart tour if you want the catacombs, seated, in three hours.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, options, route length, difficulty, child policies, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 5284APPIAN and 141019P5), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either tour.