The Catacombs of Callixtus were the official cemetery of the Church of Rome in the 3rd century AD, and today, they are the most important Roman Catacombs.
St Callixtus Catacombs on the Appian Way is the final resting place of half a million Christians, including 16 Popes.
The underground burial place gets its name from St. Callixtus, who was requested to administer the cemetery by Pope Zephyrinus at the beginning of the 3rd century AD.
The Catacombs consist of a complex labyrinth of tunnels and passageways containing various burial chambers known as loculi (niches) and cubicula (small rooms).
The walls of these chambers are adorned with intricate frescoes and inscriptions that offer insights into early Christian beliefs, practices, and artwork.
This article covers everything you must know before buying tickets to the Catacombs of Callixtus.
Top Callixtus Catacombs Tickets
# Guided tour of Callixtus Catacombs
# Guided tour of Callixtus Catacombs + shuttle
# Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
Table of contents
Things to know before booking tickets
You can book tickets to the Catacombs of Callixtus online or at the attraction.
If you arrive at the venue to buy tickets, you must line up at the counter. During peak times, these lines can get long, and you will waste your time.
Online tickets for the Callixtus Catacombs are usually cheaper than those sold at the venue.
You also get your preferred time slot when you book online and in advance.
Online tickets also help you avoid last-minute disappointments when tickets get sold out.
To book tickets, visit the ticket booking page and select your preferred date, time, and number of tickets.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets in your email. You don’t need to take any printouts.
You can exchange your e-voucher on your smartphone at the ticket counter when you visit the attraction.
Tickets for Catacombs of Callixtus
There are many ways to experience San Calisto Catacombs in Rome.
You can book the standard guided tour and reach the attraction yourself or opt for a tour of the catacombs with a shuttle.
Visitors who want to know the region better opt for the Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer.
Guided tour of Callixtus Catacombs
This is the cheapest way to explore San Calisto Catacombs in Rome.
The guide takes you through the immense underground cemetery excavated by the Christians of Rome from the 3rd to the 5th century AD and narrates stories of the tragic persecution of Christians.
While booking these tickets, you must select a time of arrival.
Cost of tickets
For visitors over 17 years old, the standard guided tour costs € 14.
Children aged seven to 16 will receive a €3 discount and pay €11 for the tour.
Infants up to six years old can take the tour for free.
Adult (17+ years): €14
Youth (7 to 16 years): €11
Infant (up to 6 years): Free
Guided tour of Callixtus Catacombs + shuttle
This tour starts at 9.30 am, 10.30 am, and 1.45 pm – from the Touristation’s office at Piazza Venezia.
After seeing your tickets, the staff will direct you to the van that takes you to the catacombs and bring you back after the tour.
This tour includes the shuttle, a guided tour of the Roman Catacombs, and a free 25-minute Ancient Rome multimedia video.
This tour is available in English, German, Italian, and French.
Cost of tickets
The catacombs tour with a shuttle cost €48 for all visitors above 16 years old.
Children aged six to 15 will receive a €10 discount and pay €38 for the tour.
Infants up to five years old can take the tour for free.
Adult (16+ years): €48
Youth (6 to 15 years): €38
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
This 3-hour tour lets you uncover what lies below the surface and discover three of Rome’s most significant archeological sites: the Capuchin Crypts, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, and the Appian Way.
Enjoy the convenience of skip-the-line access and air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour.
To begin your tour, visit the Capuchin Crypt, where your guide will tell you about the amazing history of the people thought to be the Capuchin Friars.
Before entering the vast subterranean catacombs, visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and take in the cemeteries from the main floor.
On your way back to Rome, stop by the spectacular Aurelian Wall and walk down the Appian Way, a major artery during the Roman Empire’s reign.
The tour is available at 10 am and 2.45 pm.
Cost of tickets
The Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt guided tour with transfer costs €70 for all visitors above 18 years old.
Children aged seven to 17 will receive a €8 discount and pay €62 for the tour.
Infants up to six years old can get entry at €30.
Adult (18+ years): €70
Child (7 to 17 years): €62
Infant (up to 6 years): €30
If money isn’t an issue, but you would prefer some customization check out the private tour of the Catacombs and Appian Way.
Catacombs + Capuchin Crypt + Roman Aqueducts
This trip is a complete tour of the city’s countryside. It includes three attractions – the labyrinthine Roman Catacombs, the Capuchin Crypt, locally known as the ‘Bone Chapel,’ and the Roman Aqueducts.
You move between these attractions in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Your English-speaking guide will be with you throughout the 3 hours and 25 minutes of the tour.
Cost of tickets
Adult (15+ years): €74
Child (2 to 14 years): €69
Infant (up to 1 year): Free
Here are a few more exciting tours we recommend:
| Catacombs tour | Rating | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Bike Tour of Appian Way | 4.9/5 | €79 |
| Capuchin Crypts entry tickets | 4.7/5 | €38 |
| Private tour of crypts of Domitilla | 4.9/5 | €55 |
Frequently asked questions about tickets
Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome.
Entry to the attraction is free for children aged six years and younger, disabled persons (>74%) and their carers, students from the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, Salesian brothers of Don Bosco and sisters of Mary, Help of Christians, professors/ teachers/ catechists accompanying groups of minors (one free ticket for every 15 paying visitors), licensed tour guides with proof of eligibility, and researchers who, certifying the object of their research, make a specific request to the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology. Callixtus Catacombs allows two complimentary admissions for groups of at least 35 persons paying the standard admission fee.
Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the attraction gives preference to groups with reservations over walk-in visitors without reservation. Additionally, popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.
Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. You can show the voucher on your mobile at the ticket office, and you’ll be directed to your guide.
When you book the attraction’s tickets, you must select a preferred time of visit. Keeping security check in mind, you must arrive at least 10 minutes ahead your visit time.
Entry to the attraction at an alternative slot is not possible if you miss your scheduled slot.
The attraction offers discounted admission to children aged between seven and 16 years, school groups from Elementary through High School, students of Archaeology, Architecture, Art History, and Cultural Studies up to 25 years of age, and Priests, Religious, Seminarians, and Novices upon presentation of proof of eligibility.
Yes, the attraction offers student discount to students of Archaeology, Architecture, Art History and Cultural Studies, up to 25 years of age with proof of eligibility.
The attraction does not offer a military discount on its admission tickets.
Yes, the Rome City Pass is a cost-effective option to explore over 40 top Rome attractions and enjoy local tours (including a guided tour of the Catacombs of Callixtus), optional public transport, and a 48-hour hop-on hop-off Rome sightseeing bus tour. The card also allows you to explore the city at your own pace and customize your pass with 2- to 5-day options.
This attraction of Rome has a flexible cancellation policy. You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.
The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.
The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.
Following are the guidelines visitors need to follow:
-Visitors are required to keep the admission ticket for the entire visit.
-Wheelchairs are not permitted in the catacombs due to the monument’s architectural barriers.
-Do not visit the catacombs if you are claustrophobic.
-Touching and/or damaging the exhibits is forbidden.
-Removing any object and/or material from the catacombs is forbidden.
-Taking pictures and/or videos inside the catacombs is forbidden.
-Smoking is forbidden inside the catacombs.
Guided tours are recommended to explore the catacombs, as self-guided tours aren’t allowed. Guided tours provide valuable insights into the history and significance of the site.
Opening hours
From Thursday to Tuesday, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus opens at 9 am and closes at noon.
After a 2-hour break, the Catacombs re-open at 2 pm and close for the day at 5 pm.
The final guided tour in the morning begins at noon, and the last guided tour in the afternoon starts at 5 pm.
The tourist attraction along the Appian Way remains closed on Wednesday.
The Catacombs also remain closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, and Christmas.
How long does the tour take
The guided tours at the Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome take around 40 minutes to complete.
The catacombs can only be visited in groups of at least two persons, accompanied by guides.
Since self-guided tours are not allowed, all visitors leave the underground burial site in 40-45 minutes.
What to expect
Also known as the Catacombs of San Callisto, these are the most sacred and important Roman Catacombs.
Local guides take all visitors around the underground burial; self-guided tours aren’t allowed.
Visitors can book only the guided tour or opt for the guided tour with a shuttle from Rome.
These tours provide historical context, information about the catacombs’ significance, and details about the early Christian burials and artwork.
Visitors learn about the catacombs’ rituals, burial customs, and early Christian practices. It’s a chance to understand the religious significance of these underground burial sites.
The catacombs contain a maze of narrow underground tunnels, passages, chambers, and crypts.
Expect dimly lit corridors and rooms, so comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing are recommended.
What to wear to San Calisto Catacombs
San Calisto Catacomb is considered a holy place and site of worship.
Visitors must dress up appropriately – no shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed for either men or women.
Ladies must cover their shoulders. If you plan to wear a skirt or trousers, please ensure they are below knee level.
Rome has around 60 Catacombs, five of which are most popular with tourists. Learn everything about the Catacombs of Rome.
What to see at Catacombs
The Catacombs have an exciting history – from their origin to their decline and rediscovery in the modern era.
With so much to see, they are a great way to understand the life and times of the Christians living in Rome.
Crypt of the Popes
The Popes’ crypt is the cemetery’s most important and revered crypt.
It is also known as the ‘The Little Vatican’ because it was the official burial place of nine popes of Rome’s 3rd century Church.
Crypt of St.Cecilia
In the adjoining crypt is the tomb of St.Cecilia, the patron saint of music.
She belonged to a Roman royal family and was martyred in the 3rd century.
Her remains were in the crypt for at least five centuries, but in 821, they were sent to Trastevere to be preserved in the Basilica dedicated to her.
Visitors can see a statue of St. Cecilia, a copy of the celebrated work sculptured by Stefano Maderno in 1599.
Cubicles of the sacraments
The five small chambers are commonly known as the cubicles of the Sacraments and are famous for their frescoes.
Visitors love these frescoes dated to the third century.
Pope Melziades’ area
Through an open passage in the back wall of Cubicle A1, visitors can enter the area of St. Miltiades, where he is buried.
This space assumes significance because, during his pontificate, Emperor Constantine the Great issued the Edict of Milan, giving Christianity legal status within Rome.
How to reach
The Catacombs of St. Callixtus are between the Church of Quo Vadis and the Basilica of Saint Sebastian.
Address: Via Appia Antica, 110/126, 00179 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions
It is best to get to these Roman Catacombs by public transport or the vehicle offered by your tour operator.
There are many ways to get to Callixtus from Roma Termini, the central railway station of Rome.
By Metro A Line
You can board Metro A (towards Anagnina) from Termini station and get down at San Giovanni (in Laterano).
From just outside San Giovanni station, board bus number 218 (towards Ardeatina) and get off at the Fosse Ardeatine stop.
The catacombs are a quick walk from the bus stop.
You can also board the Metro A train (towards Anagnina) and get off at Arco di Travertino station.
From Arco di Travertino, take bus number 660 and get off at the Appia Pignatelli/Appia Antica bus stop.
From the stop, the attraction is less than 300 meters (950 feet).
By Metro B Line
Visitors can board Metro B (towards Laurentina) from Termini station and get down at either Colosseo station or Circo Massimo station.
Then, board bus number 118 (towards Appia/Villa Dei Quintili) and get down at Catacombe di San Callisto’s entrance.
By Bus
If you want to avoid the subway, you can board bus number 714 and get off at the Navigatori bus stop.
If you stick to the Via delle Sette Chiese, you will reach San Calisto Catacombs after a 1 km (.6 mile) walk.
If that was too much to plan, book a tour to the Catacombs of St Callixtus and let someone else worry about the transport.
By Car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
There are enough parking garages around the attraction.
Sources
# Catacombesancallisto.it
# Renatoprosciutto.com
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
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