Underground · ROME CAVE TOURS

Under Rome: the 15 Best Catacomb & Underground Tours

44 tours  ·  from $14 a head

The catacombs on the Appian Way, the crypts in the centre and the level beneath the Colosseum floor. The 15 below are compared on entry rules, how much walking is involved and whether transfers are worth paying for.

Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour - Entering the Colosseum from the arena floor
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Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

1.Colosseum: Underground and Ancient Rome Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 12,691 reviews · 3 hours · from $160Our pick

Spend three hours with a licensed guide exploring the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Colosseum. You will walk onto the arena floor, enter the restricted underground chambers, and see the ground and upper levels. Guides such as Carmelo, Teddy, Maya, and Enza have earned praise for clear explanations, humor, and helpful answers.

“Mitra was amazing! Loved the tour. Strongly recommend to get this tour and ask for her. She is very knowledgeable also based on her background. Studied art history and has a PhD. The three hours are worth spending on this tour. You also skip the lines and see everything you need to.”

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Rome: Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers - Starting at Piazza Barberini
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Rome: Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers

2.Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6,456 reviews · 2.5 - 3.5 hours · from $60

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Piazza Barberini to Rome’s Capuchin Crypt, an early Christian catacomb, and San Martino ai Monti. You’ll use an audio guide at the crypt, hear lively commentary from guides such as Emiliano, Andrea, Maria, or Cat, and see bones, frescoes, mosaics, and ancient Roman foundations.

“The tour was great. Our guide, Maria, was amazing. Very informative, super nice and she made the whole experience wonderful. Our driver was great. Definitely would do this tour again.”

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Expert Guided Tour of Colosseum Arena OR Underground, and Forum - Entering the Colosseum through the Arena or Underground
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Expert Guided Tour of Colosseum Arena OR Underground, and Forum

3.Expert Guided Tour of Colosseum Arena OR Underground, and Forum

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,041 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $107

Join an English-speaking guide for about three hours through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Choose restricted access to either the Arena floor or Underground chambers. Guides such as Gabriel, Rosy, Bogdan, and Francesca bring the ruins to life with visuals, stories, and clear audio headsets. Expect security checks, stairs, and plenty of walking.

“Bogdan is an incredible and charismatic expert of history. He painted an extraordinary and panoramic context of this historical site. Excellent experience, highly recommend!”

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The Original Roman Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers - Riding out to the Domitilla Catacombs
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The Original Roman Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers

4.The Original Roman Crypts and Catacombs Tour with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,896 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

Spend about three and a half hours exploring Rome’s eerie underground side. Walk from Piazza Barberini to the Capuchin Crypt, ride by air-conditioned coach to the Domitilla Catacombs, then visit San Martino ai Monti. Guides such as Andrea, Alain, Paula, and Heather have been praised for clear storytelling. Expect narrow tunnels, stairs, no photography, and covered knees and shoulders.

“This was a very enjoyable tour! Our guide, Frederica (Lola), was so lovely and knowledgeable. She was genuinely excited to share her city with us and gave us so much history of the things we saw. The group was a little large, even with two guides.”

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Rome: Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour - What the 1.5-hour guided visit covers
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Rome: Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour

5.Colosseum Underground Small Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,844 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $105

Join an English-speaking guide such as Paola, Sofian, or Daniella for a 1.5-hour Colosseum tour limited to eight people. Visit the restricted underground, arena floor, and main monument, then use your included tickets to explore Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum independently.

“Daniella was a fantastic and very knowledgeable guide- we’ve done the colosseum before but this was such an interesting perspective and so nice for there to be only 8 people in the group.”

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Rome: St. Peter's Basilica, Dome Climb, and Underground Tour - Meeting at Piazza della Città Leonina
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Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Dome Climb, and Underground Tour

6.St. Peter’s Basilica, Dome Climb, and Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,404 reviews · 1.5 - 2.5 hours · from $38

Join a 1.5 to 2.5 hour guided visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Grottoes, and the Dome. Guides such as Claudio, Federico, Olga, and Sofia are praised for clear storytelling and lively history lessons. Choose the Dome option for the climb and broad views over Rome. Security lines may still take time.

“Our tour guide was Federico. He was excellent, very friendly, knowledgeable and charismatic. The tour flew by in his company and we couldn’t recommend him highly enough.”

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Rome: Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour - Meeting your guide near Colosseo Metro Station
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Rome: Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour

7.Colosseum Underground, Arena & Forum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,272 reviews · from $157

You’ll enter the Colosseum’s underground chambers and Arena, then explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a live Spanish-speaking guide. Guides such as Francesca, Donatella, Gabriel, and Gabriele have been praised for clear storytelling, humor, and a steady pace. Expect moderate walking, stairs, and no stroller or wheelchair access.

“Very informative tour with an absolute talented guide. Janina just knew everything, combined with a good sense of humour. We highly appreciated that we started the tour two hours earlier than originally planned, to avoid the long queue! Well done!”

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Rome: Catacombs of St. Callixtus Entry Ticket & Guided Tour - Meeting your guide at the Appian Way
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Rome: Catacombs of St. Callixtus Entry Ticket & Guided Tour

8.Catacombs of St. Callixtus Entry Ticket & Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,037 reviews · 30 min · from $16Best value

Visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus beneath Rome’s Appian Way on a 30-minute guided tour. You’ll see the Crypt of the Popes, the Crypt of St. Cecilia, ancient frescoes, and the Sacraments area while learning about Rome’s early Christian communities. Guides speak English, Italian, French, or German.

“It was incredibly informative and reverent to be a part of.”

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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour - Choosing between arena-only and underground access
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Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

9.Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,590 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $74

Meet The Ultimate Italy team near the Roman Forum, then visit the Colosseum arena and, with the underground option, its dungeon level where gladiators, animals, and slaves once waited. Guides such as Carmelo, Soloman, and Teddy bring the ruins to life. Headsets help you follow the commentary, while Palatine Hill adds sweeping views of ancient Rome.

“The underground tour is a must do! To see how the colosseum was actually used the engineering used to perform is out of this world”

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Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes - Starting in Bernini’s vast square
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Tour of St Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes

10.Tour of St Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,382 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $58

Start in St. Peter’s Square with Bernini’s optical tricks, then tour the basilica, grottoes, and dome. Your guide explains the Pietà, Bernini’s canopy, and the tomb of St. Peter. The dome climb reaches 136 meters and includes sweeping views of Rome. Expect headsets, security lines, and more than 300 steps.

“This was a great experience, much more than I expected. The tour guide, Valentin, was amazing. He was pleasant in voice and attitude (that is, he was funny and able to be easily understood on the devices), brings his previous work background at the Vatican to this job, and really brought the tour - or tours - to life. The catacombs were wonderful to visit, the basilica tour covered all the main points, and the dome climb was a challenge but spectacular in views both with the basilica on high and higher outside next to the cupola of the dome itself. If you want the three main parts of the…”

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Rome: Guided Roman Catacombs Tour with Transfers - Starting at Via Francesco Giambullari 4
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Rome: Guided Roman Catacombs Tour with Transfers

11.Guided Roman Catacombs Tour with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,830 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $65

Travel from central Rome to the Domitilla Catacombs in a small group, then walk through four underground levels and the 4th-century Basilica of Nereus and Achilleus. Guides such as Francesca, Mario, and Samuele explain early Christian burial customs, frescoes, persecutions, and the shift from pagan Rome to Christianity.

“Our tour guide was very educated and had a factual understanding of the historical tombs, the person or persons that passed and the context along with the times in which they lived. I was inspired and informed Thank you”

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Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Transfer - Starting at Piazza Ara Coeli and Touristation
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Rome: Catacombs Guided Tour with Transfer

12.Catacombs Guided Tour with Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,808 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $54

Start at Piazza Ara Coeli, ride a panoramic bus past Rome’s sights, then spend about an hour below ground among ancient Christian tombs. A live guide leads the catacomb visit in several languages. You can add the Trevi District Underground or Capuchin Crypt, but these require separate transfers and careful timing.

“Alessandro was a fantastic guide! Not only do you see the catacombs but you also have the chance to pass by several historic sites on the transport to and from.”

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Rome EBike Tour: Appian Way, Catacombs & Roman Aqueducts - Riding the Appian Way, Rome’s Queen of Roads
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Rome EBike Tour: Appian Way, Catacombs & Roman Aqueducts

13.Rome EBike Tour: Appian Way, Catacombs & Roman Aqueducts

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,766 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $102Top rated

Ride a Cannondale e-bike from central Rome to the Appian Way, Roman aqueducts, ancient ruins, and countryside. Choose four or six hours, with the longer tour including a guided catacomb visit. Guides such as Cas, Carmen, Fabio, and Nami are praised for clear directions and strong historical storytelling.

“I highly recomemend this tour. The day was perfect experiencing the Rome countryside and the Catacombs. The EBikes worked brilliantly and I felt safe at all times. Our tour guide Carmen was excellent providing clear directions about where we were going and tellling us all about the history at each stop. From the start to the end, this was the perfect tour.”

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Rome: Trevi Fountain and Underground Guided Tour - The Trevi Fountain stop, about 20 minutes
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Rome: Trevi Fountain and Underground Guided Tour

14.Trevi Fountain and Underground Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,664 reviews · 40 min · from $41

Start beside Trevi Fountain with a guide such as Mario or Francesca, then head 9 meters underground to Vicus Caprarius. You’ll see a functioning 2,000-year-old aqueduct, Roman ruins, and an imperial Domus. The tour is brief, lively, and available in six languages, but the excavation is near the fountain, not directly beneath its basin.

“The guide was absolutely brilliant, he made the experience even better….. would have like to go to the front of the fountain, but understand that could be hard to organise with the amount of people there.”

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Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer - Inside the five Bone Chapels
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Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer

15.Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,606 reviews · 2.5 - 3.5 hours · from $41

Meet near Piazza Barberini, visit the bone-decorated Capuchin Crypt, then ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Rome’s underground catacombs. Guides such as Monica, Fiona, Davide, and Federica bring the history to life. Expect covered shoulders and knees, no photography, and some walking in dim, narrow passages.

“It was a great experience. Monika our guide was exceptional and explained everything in great detail. She was very nice and made the experience great for us and others. Thank You so much.”

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New in Rome Cave Tours

★ 5.0Hidden Gems & Rome Catacomb Semi Private Tour by golf cartFrom $108114 reviews
★ 4.5Private Tour of Catacombs and Ancient Appian Way (hotel pick up)From $190120 reviews
★ 5.0Private Guided Tour of Colosseum Underground OR Arena and ForumFrom $446111 reviews
★ 4.5Ancient Rome and Colosseum Private Tour with Underground Chambers and ArenaFrom $423184 reviews
★ 4.5Rome Catacombs & Capuchin Crypts VIP Group Tour with TransfersFrom $13652 reviews
★ 5.0Rome Catacomb & Appian Way Small-Group Tour by Golf CartFrom $107681 reviews
★ 4.6Catacombs of St. Sebastian Entry Ticket & Guided TourFrom $16669 reviews
★ 4.5Appian Way & Catacomb Sunset E-bike Tour with AperitifFrom $89682 reviews
★ 4.5Catacombs Tour with Transfer – Optional Capuchin Crypt or TreviFrom $54694 reviews
★ 4.6St. Peter’s Basilica, Dome, and Vatican Grottoes TourFrom $35692 reviews
★ 4.9Appian Way Aqueducts Bike Tour (UPG Catacombs & Lunch)From $81692 reviews
★ 4.5Vatican: St. Peter’s Basilica, Square, Grottoes Guided TourFrom $23735 reviews
★ 4.6Appian Way E-Bike Tour Catacombs, Aqueducts & PicnicFrom $89727 reviews
★ 5.0Appian Way, Catacombs and Aqueducts Park Tour with Top E-BikeFrom $102735 reviews
★ 4.5St. Peter’s Basilica and Papal Grottoes Guided TourFrom $41762 reviews

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