Can you walk on the Appian way in Rome?

We did find the Appian Way, but it didn't seem safe to walk.

Yes you can walk it and also bike it. Cars are also allowed but only on a small stretch near the city, then they are not allowed anymore.

The part you may want to walk is from the Catacombs and further south. That portion is kept intact and is not accessible to cars.

The old Appian Way is now called VIA APPIA ANTICA, in case you want to see it on GoogleMaps

We did find the Appian Way, but it didn't seem safe to walk.

We walked a loooong stretch of it. The further out you go (and the earlier in the morning) the more it feels like you're out in the country. Our hop-on point was out at Casal Rotondo, and we walked our way back into central Rome, exploring monuments, a catacomb, the remains of a private circus and other interesting things along the way. I'm trying to remember at what point the road got busy with vehicular traffic but maybe not until the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. There is a bypass road at that point (Catacombe di S. Calliso) that parallels a busy section of the Appia and allows for a much less trafficked walk from there to the Church of Quo Vadis. From there to Porta San Sebastiano is where the pedestrian walkway along the side of the busy road became pretty narrow. We did fine but had to pay attention!

"Safe" is a relative term for two hikers who've braved worse than a busy Italian road! Oh, and we did it during the week. :O) Hands down, in 3 trips to Rome it was my favorite day.

Additionally, this is thread from last year that might be helpful (I am the former 'Kathy" in that discussion.)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/appian-way-advice#reply_2493371

Youtuber ROZIER ROMA. has a couple of videos on it

Kate, thanks for the link to the longer thread, very interesting. I've walked / biked further out on the Via Appia decades ago, but not done it in any structured way coming from the center of town, so your info was very useful.

I had originally planned to bike the Appian Way but my husband suggested we walk, glad we walked it, it is way to bumpy.
It was a lovely day and a lovely walk, not busy, we were there on a Sunday. Imagine Roman soldiers centuries ago marching on the very path. We caught a bus at the end back to our lodging. Worth the effort!

Instead of walking, how about a horse ride? This is beginner safe. An acquaintance told me about the stable. She doesn’t ride at home anymore and her companion had never rode. I did an easy walk ride because my back’s bad. It’s a great way to see the statuary without traffic. Don’t miss the homemade lunch. It was excellent
You will need to take a taxi out to the Appian Way.
http://www.ridingancientrome.it/our-riding-tours/

We just got back from Rome two weeks ago. On the last day (Thursday) we walked from Trastevere to just past the Arco di Druso at the Aurelian wall. Busy, yes, (one way) but if you can't handle being close to traffic then you may not want to walk past the Baths of Caracalla.

BTW, there WERE cars continuing well past Porta San Sebastiano...

Glad you enjoyed your walk! I might say that the Via Appia really starts (or starts as a designated park, anyway) where you left off: At Porta San Sebastiano. As above, IMHO the better sections begin at the church of Quo Vadis to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano (on Ingresso Catacombe di S. Callisto and NOT Via Appia Antica), onward past Circo di Massenzio, Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and further.

As people live all along the ancient road, it's never completely free of vehicular traffic; there just isn't much of it the further out you go.

Ive walked a section of the Appian Way from the Quo Vadis Church, and it is narrow and treacherous with traffic. What I didn't know is that there is an alternate foot path through meadow that runs parallel to the Antica Appian Way that will take you to the Catacombs too. Pick up on the footpath across the Quo Vadis Church.

janlynnweb, I don't know as I'd call it a footpath but as mentioned above, the preferable alternate to the Appia between Quo Vadis and San Sebastiano catacombs is Ingresso Catacombe di S. Callisto: clearly marked on maps.