The Catacombs of San Sebastiano, at Via Appia Antica 136, can be visited only on a guided tour of about 40–45 minutes, included in the €10 ticket (€12 online). They are open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:15–17:15, with last entry at 16:45. They close on Mondays and from 7 to 27 December 2026. Photos are not allowed underground.
Cover photo: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Under the Basilica of San Sebastiano, on the Appian Way just outside Rome’s walls, lies the place that gave all catacombs their name. We run private Appian Way tours with an optional visit to San Sebastiano, and this guide puts together the official prices, hours and rules with our practical tips.
Why are the Catacombs of San Sebastiano famous?
In Roman times this stretch of the Appian Way was called ad catacumbas, most likely after the old pozzolana quarries in the area, according to the catacombs’ official website. Christians turned the quarry into a cemetery, and over time the name passed to every early Christian underground cemetery.
- Its size. The galleries run for about 12 km on three levels, down to about 18 meters below ground.
- The Apostles Peter and Paul. In the 3rd century the site became a place of devotion to the two Apostles, the Memoria Apostolorum, and many scholars believe their remains were kept here for a time. In a room called the triclia, pilgrims scratched hundreds of prayers on the walls, such as “Paule et Petre petite pro Victore”: “Paul and Peter, pray for Victor”.
- The basilica above. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine had a large basilica built here in honor of the Apostles, with a rounded plan like a Roman circus. The name of St. Sebastian prevailed only later.
Who was Saint Sebastian?
Sebastian was a Roman soldier who died as a Christian martyr under Emperor Diocletian. According to tradition, he survived being shot with arrows, which is how artists show him, and was later put to death. His tomb in this catacomb drew pilgrims for centuries. Tradition also says that in 680 AD the Romans carried his relics in procession against the plague, and the epidemic ended. His feast day is 20 January.
How much are tickets, and do you need to book?
These are the prices on the official tickets page. The guided tour, led by the catacombs’ own staff, is always included.
| Ticket | At the ticket office | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Full price | €10 | €12 |
| Reduced: ages 7–16, students of archaeology, architecture or art history under 25, clergy | €7 | €9 |
| Free: children up to 6, visitors with a disability over 74% and a companion, licensed tour guides | Free | Free |
The online price includes a €2 booking fee. You can book in two ways on the official website:
- Free reservation, pay on site: choose the date, time and language of your tour, then pay at the ticket office. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, or your place may go to another visitor.
- Online ticket: pay in advance and show the voucher on your phone.
Without a reservation, you get in only if a tour in your language has space. Tickets are non-refundable. The official website is catacombe.org: other sites may charge more.
What are the opening hours and closing days?
- Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:15–17:15, with last entry at 16:45.
- Closed: every Monday, 25 December, 1 January and Easter Sunday (28 March 2027).
- Annual closure: from 7 to 27 December 2026. In December 2026 you can visit from 1 to 6 December, then again from Tuesday 29 December.
Tour times depend on reservations and language. Check the official visitor information before you go.
In Rome on a Monday, or during the December closure? San Callisto, a short walk away, opens on Mondays and closes on Wednesdays instead. Our guide to the catacombs of Rome compares all five catacombs open to visitors.
What will you see on the guided tour?
The visit follows a set route, which can change for safety or conservation reasons:
- The Christian galleries, lined with loculi, the wall niches where the dead were laid, and arched tombs called arcosolia. Families marked each tomb with a small object, such as a coin or a child’s toy.
- The crypt of St. Sebastian, rebuilt in the 17th century by Cardinal Scipione Borghese at the place where the martyr was buried.
- The Roman necropolis. In the deepest part, the Piazzola, three Roman mausoleums from the 2nd century AD survive with their original frescoes and stucco work. They are older than the Christian cemetery that later grew around them.
- The basilica, where the tour ends.
The guide also explains how the layers were built one on top of another: Roman tombs, Christian cemetery, Memoria Apostolorum and basilica.
What can you see in the Basilica of San Sebastiano?
The church dates mostly from 1608–1613, when Cardinal Scipione Borghese had it rebuilt by Flaminio Ponzio, with Guido Reni as artistic director. Inside, look for:
- The carved wooden ceiling of 1612, with the martyrdom of St. Sebastian in the center.
- The Chapel of St. Sebastian, with his relics under the altar and the marble statue of the saint pierced by arrows, carved by Giuseppe Giorgetti, a pupil of Bernini, to a design by Ciro Ferri.
- Bernini’s Salvator Mundi, a marble bust of Christ from 1679, described by the basilica as his last work.
- The Chapel of Relics, which according to tradition keeps an arrow from St. Sebastian’s martyrdom, part of the column he was tied to and the stone with Christ’s footprints from the “Quo Vadis?” story.
The basilica is also a parish church, so dress respectfully and keep quiet during Mass.
Can you take photos in the Catacombs of San Sebastiano?
No, not underground. The official visiting rules forbid photos and videos inside the catacomb, and the guide may ask anyone who breaks the rules to leave.
- Outside, you can photograph the basilica facade and the ancient road around it.
- In the basilica, which the rules do not mention, ask the staff before you take pictures, and never during Mass.
That is why the photos in this guide show the basilica, not the galleries. To see the painted mausoleums before you go, look at the official website.
How do you get to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano?
According to the official website:
- Bus 118 from the Colosseo or Circo Massimo stops (Metro B) and bus 660 from Arco di Travertino (Metro A) stop at “Basilica e Catacombe di San Sebastiano”, right outside the entrance.
- Bus 218 from San Giovanni (Metro A): get off at Fosse Ardeatine and walk 300 meters along Vicolo delle Sette Chiese.
Bus routes sometimes change, so check the ATAC app on the day. To plan the rest of the day nearby, see our guide to the Appian Way.
Is the visit suitable for everyone?
- Steps: many uneven steps down and back up (the rules mention 70, the ticket page about 100), with no lift and nowhere to sit. The visit is not accessible to wheelchair users, and not recommended for people with serious walking difficulties or claustrophobia.
- Temperature: about 16–17 °C all year, and humid. Bring a light layer, even in summer.
- Rules: dress as for a sacred place. No food, drinks, animals, luggage or earphones.
Should you visit on your own or with a tour?
| Option | Cost | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| On your own, by bus | €10 (€12 online) plus bus tickets | Travelers who only want the catacombs | Book a tour in your language |
| Appian Way by golf cart (ours) | €450 for 1–3 people, €150 per person from 4 | Families and short stays | 3 hours, Museum of the Walls included |
| Appian Way by Fiat 500 (ours) | €590 for 1–3 people, then from €240 per person | Couples, and photos on the road | Children from age 3 |
| Golf cart tour + catacombs (ours) | €590 for 1–3 people, €200 per person from 4 | The center and the Appian Way in one morning | 4 hours, up to 15 guests |
On our tours the catacomb visit is optional, at €12 per person. If you only want the catacombs, go on your own: it costs much less. A tour makes sense if you also want the Appian Way and the Roman walls without buses, or if your time is short.
See San Sebastiano with us
Our private golf cart tour of the Appian Way starts at 10:00 with pickup at your hotel, apartment or restaurant in the historic center (staying further out? we meet at our office, Via del Colosseo 11A). You ride along a stretch of the Appian Way, visit the Museum of the Walls (its walkway along the Aurelian Walls has been closed for works since June 15, 2026). With the optional ticket, you join the 11:30 guided visit of San Sebastiano. The tour lasts 3 hours and costs €450 for 1–3 guests, then €150 per person. The Appian Way tour by vintage Fiat 500 follows the same plan in an electric Fiat 500 or Fiat 850 cabrio: €590 for 1–3 guests, €295 per person for 4, then €240 per person.
The 4-hour golf cart tour with the catacombs starts at 9:30 and drives past Piazza Navona and the Circus Maximus to the Quo Vadis church and San Sebastiano: €590 for 1–3 guests, then €200 per person. The same route by vintage Fiat 500 costs €790 for 1–3 guests, €1,580 for 4, then €295 per person.
Good to know:
- The catacomb visit is optional: add the €12 ticket for each guest when you book. It is led by the catacombs’ own guides; our drivers are not licensed guides. Apart from the Museum of the Walls and the catacombs, you see the sights from the outside.
- The tours run only when San Sebastiano is open: Tuesday to Sunday, but not from 7 to 27 December 2026, on 25 December, 1 January or Easter Sunday. On weekends our driver changes the route.
- Rain: golf carts run with rain covers; in the rain, the Fiat 500 tours switch to golf carts, or we offer another date or time.
- Children and mobility: golf carts take children of any age, with child seats; on the Fiat 500, children must be at least 3. On a private golf cart tour, wheelchair users move onto a seat and the folded wheelchair travels on board, but the catacombs and the Museum of the Walls have stairs and no lift.
- Group size: up to 21 guests guaranteed on the 3-hour tours (larger groups on request, with plenty of notice) and up to 15 on the 4-hour tours.
- These bookings are non-refundable once we confirm them.
See all our golf cart tours in Rome and vintage Fiat 500 tours in Rome.
Explore it with us
Appian Way & Catacombs by Golf Cart3 hours, Museum of the Walls included · €450 for 1–3 guests, €150 pp from 4Book now
Appian Way & Catacombs by Fiat 5003 hours in a vintage electric cabrio · €590 for 1–3 guests, then from €240 ppBook now
Golf Cart Tour + Catacombs4 hours, from Piazza Navona to the Appian Way · €590 for 1–3 guests, €200 pp from 4Book now
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano?
A ticket costs €10 at the ticket office or €12 online, including a €2 booking fee, and the guided tour is always included. The reduced ticket, for ages 7 to 16 and a few other groups, costs €7 (€9 online), and children up to 6 enter free.
Can you visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano without a guide?
No. You can enter only with one of the catacombs’ own guides, on a tour of about 40–45 minutes in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish. Private guides cannot lead a visit underground unless the catacombs’ staff are present.
Can you take photos inside the Catacombs of San Sebastiano?
No. The official rules forbid photos and videos inside the catacomb. You can photograph the basilica facade and the Appian Way outside; inside the church, ask the staff first and never take pictures during Mass.
Are the Catacombs of San Sebastiano open on Mondays?
No, they close every Monday. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:15 to 17:15, with last entry at 16:45, and they also close on 25 December, 1 January, Easter Sunday and from 7 to 27 December 2026.
How long does a visit to San Sebastiano take?
The guided tour lasts about 40–45 minutes, and you should arrive at least 15 minutes before it starts. Allow extra time for the basilica, where the tour ends, and for the bus ride from the center.
How do you get to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano?
Take bus 118 from the Colosseo or Circo Massimo Metro B stops, or bus 660 from Arco di Travertino (Metro A): both stop right outside the entrance at Via Appia Antica 136. Bus 218 from San Giovanni stops at Fosse Ardeatine, about 300 meters away.
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