Please sign in to post.

Do I need a tour to see Appian Way & Catacombs and Ostia Antica

Hello,
I am traveling this summer with my family of four including two teenagers. We have booked tours of the Colosseum/Forum and the Vatican/Sistine Chapel.. I would like to know if it is necessary to book a tour to see Ostia Antica and the Appian Way & Catacombs. I have read of several catacombs and everyone has differing opinions of what they like best. Any more thoughts?

We have 4.5 days/5 nights in Rome not including travel time.

What is the best way to see the Pantheon? Audio guide or tour guide? Thank you, Carol

Posted by
308 posts

I was looking forward on our last trip to walking the Appian Way. We took a bus, but when we got off we could never really find it. Or at least the peaceful path that I had read about. Plus it just so happened that the catacombs were closed that day. A disappointment for sure. I don't know of any particular tour but I think it might be a good idea to book one.
As for the Pantheon, Rick Steves has an excellent podcast audio tour of this fantastic building. I believe you could download it off this website for free. And there's always his guidebook. Go early, or go late. Dont go in the afternoon. The place is swamped! It is magical at night.

No help on Ostia Antica. We will be going there ourselves next month for the first time.

Buon viaggo!!!

Posted by
1175 posts

Follow Rick's notes in his book on how to get to Ostia Antica. It was easy and we totally enjoyed our day. We did it on our own, but one thing we noticed. We had planned to hit a market or store for a picnic, but did not see any place when we arrived. Take your own before you go - the grass and trees there make a lovely relaxing stop.

Posted by
1637 posts

When we went to Italy we went to Ostia Antica in the morning using Rick Steves' directions. In the afternoon, on the way back to Rome, we did a Catacomb tour and walked a small part of the Appian Way. Did it on our own and saw no reason to pay for a tour.

Posted by
5318 posts

Ostia Antica can easily be done on your own using public transportation. Just go early in the morning to avoid the heat of the afternoon. We did it without any guide other than the info in the RS book. The Pantheon can also be done on your own. We've been several time and just read up on the history before the trip and used the RS guide for details.

Posted by
16842 posts

We did the Appia Antica on our own but, I will admit, with quite a bit of prep research with the park's website and other net resources beforehand. Had a long but AWESOME day: there's SO much to see along the "Regina Viarum"!!!

As far as I know, Rome's catacombs can only be explored with a tour. We did the catacombs of San Sebastiano on our way along the Appia, and enjoyed the interesting archeological aspects. That one had pre-Christian Roman mausoleums which were originally part of an above-ground cemetery, and a dining room for memorial banquets: a custom borrowed by both early Christians and pagan Romans from the ancient Greeks. That said, some of the narrative was a little heavy on some dubious religious claims (sorry, I'm a skeptic). No matter, though, as there was enough solid history to have been glad we did it.

You can't sign up advance: we just put our name on the list for an English tour when we got there. As I recall, we didn't have a long wait. Bring a flashlight!

http://www.parcoappiaantica.it

http://www.catacombe.org/uk_index.html

Posted by
362 posts

If you have teens in the group, they might also enjoy the Capuchin Crypt. It's not the same as the catacombs, but it seems to hold an appeal to a lot of people in that age range.

(I'm not a teen, but I also found it very interesting.)

Posted by
1018 posts

Ostia Antica has everything Pomeii has except the history. However, Ostia possesses two amenities conspicuously missing from Pompeii: 1. Shade, and 2. A sea breeze. You can reach it from Roma using the train.

The two catacombs we've liked most we San Sebastiono and San Calixito, both on Via Appia. They are both reachable by public buses.

The cappuccin grotto near Piazza Barbarini is insterestingly weird. The chambers are lined with human bones in ornate designs.

Buon viaggio,

Posted by
15799 posts

I used Rick's free audio tour of Ostia Antica. Be sure to download and print out the map.

Posted by
47 posts

Thank you so much everyone. Your advice is truly helpful. I am feeling more confident now in planning our time in Rome. Carol

Posted by
23700 posts

... book a tour to see Ostia Antica and the Appian Way & Catacombs. I have read of several catacombs....

Ostia Antica is just a big park with semi-restored buildings, etc., so it is easy to wonder around. Guide tours may be available but we did not see any offered when we were there. If you have a booklet with descriptions, OA probably works best as a self-guided tour.

Appian Way is just a road. It is best to go on Sunday when the traffic on the road is severely limited otherwise it is a zoo traffic wise any other day of the week. There are two catacombs on the Appian Way. One is closed on Sunday and the other is closed on Monday. You can only tour the catacombs with a guided group. Just show up and go with the next group.

The Pantheon is just a single, one room building with a hole in the roof. An audio guide and 20 minutes will cover it. It will be super crowded.