After a wonderful first day exploring central Rome, we wanted our second day to feel completely different. We only had four days in the city, so I did not want to spend hours travelling somewhere far away. Instead, we planned an Appian Way day trip from Rome, combining ancient history, countryside and a little exercise.
The Via Appia Antica was first constructed in 312 BC and became known as the Regina Viarum, or Queen of Roads. Once an important route connecting Rome with southern Italy, the wider Via Appia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024.
Today, one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the road is by bike. You can cycle between Roman ruins, churches, catacombs and stretches of countryside that feel surprisingly removed from the centre of Rome.
Prefer to explore with a guide? You can browse a selection of Appian Way cycling tours here.
Planning an Appian Way Day Trip from Rome
The Appian Way works particularly well if you want a break from Rome’s museums, churches and busy historic centre. Although it remains within Rome, it feels much more like a countryside day trip.
Allow at least half a day if you plan to rent a bike and visit one attraction. You could easily spend most of the day here if you continue further along the road or visit one of the catacombs.
Sunday is still one of the best days to visit. Traffic is diverted from part of the Appian Way on Sundays and public holidays, while the long section beyond the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella is restricted to public traffic throughout the week.
Getting to the Appian Way from Central Rome
When we visited, we were staying close to Termini station. We took the metro to Colosseo and then continued towards the Appian Way on Bus 118.
The official park guidance still recommends Bus 118 for reaching the historic section of the road. Get off around Appia Antica/Domine Quo Vadis, close to the visitor services centre at Via Appia Antica 58/60. As Rome’s routes and service patterns can change, check the official ATAC app on the morning of your visit.
The journey initially seemed complicated when I researched it. Information online was inconsistent and often out of date. In reality, it was much easier once we stopped trying to plan every small detail and simply made our way there.
Renting a Bike on the Appian Way
The easiest place to begin is the Centro Servizi Appia Antica, the main visitor services centre at Via Appia Antica 58/60.
The centre provides park information, maps, bike and e-bike rental, and guided walking or cycling tours. It is normally open throughout the year from 9:30am until sunset, apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Booking a bike in advance is sensible during busy periods.
We rented bikes and helmets here before collecting a map of the route. The map was particularly useful because there are numerous ruins and historic sites spread along the road, many of which would otherwise be easy to miss.
A mountain bike is likely to be more comfortable than a standard city bike because the surface changes frequently. An e-bike would also make sense if you want to travel further or spend less energy negotiating the uneven ground.
Cycling the Appian Way
Cycling allows you to cover much more of the Appian Way than you could on foot while still taking in the landscape around you. We could ride between the different sites, stop whenever something caught our attention and then continue along the road.
There is plenty to see, including:
- The Church of Domine Quo Vadis
- The Catacombs of San Callisto
- The Catacombs of San Sebastiano
- The Circus and Villa of Maxentius
- The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
- The Capo di Bove archaeological complex
- Villa dei Quintili
The surface varies considerably. Some sections are paved, others follow dirt tracks, and parts retain their large ancient basalt stones. These original stones are atmospheric but extremely bumpy. The park advises cyclists to walk their bikes across some stretches of ancient paving or use the dirt paths running alongside the road.
We quickly learnt not to force the bikes over the largest stones. Apart from making for an uncomfortable ride, it felt like a good way to damage either the bike or ourselves. Whenever the terrain became difficult, we moved onto the side path or walked for a short distance.
The first portion of the Appian Way is not completely free from traffic. The park currently recommends using the private road through the Catacombs of San Callisto or travelling through the Caffarella Valley to reach the quieter, traffic-restricted section near the Circus of Maxentius. Ask the bike rental centre to mark the safest route on your map before setting off.
Visiting the Catacombs
Several of Rome’s most important early Christian catacombs are situated in or near the Appian Way Regional Park. San Callisto and San Sebastiano lie directly along the route, while the Catacombs of Domitilla are nearby on Via delle Sette Chiese.
We visited the Catacombs of San Callisto, also known as the Catacombs of St Callixtus. The complex originated around the middle of the second century and developed into an enormous network of underground galleries. Numerous martyrs and 16 popes were buried here, including several within an area known as the Crypt of the Popes.
Visits take place as guided tours, taking you through narrow underground passages and burial chambers. It provides a fascinating contrast to the bright, open landscape above ground.
The different catacombs close on different days and sometimes for seasonal breaks, so check their official websites before deciding which one to visit.
Is the Appian Way Worth Visiting?
The Appian Way remains one of my favourite Rome day trips. It is affordable, historically fascinating and completely different from a conventional day of sightseeing in the city centre.
Cycling also made the experience feel like an adventure rather than simply another collection of monuments. One moment we were riding beneath pine trees and the next we were stopping beside a Roman tomb or descending into an ancient catacomb.
For anyone spending several days in Rome, an Appian Way day trip offers the perfect opportunity to escape the crowds, enjoy some fresh air and experience a quieter side of the city.
Would you explore the Appian Way by bike, or would you prefer to walk the ancient road?
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