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It may not be your first thought when visiting Rome. But cycling the Appian way is a fantastic way to spend some time out of the city and is has some amazing sights along the way including some of the best catacombs in the area. So let us show you how to get there, where to hire your bikes and tell you about a few things you’ll experience along the way.
To cycle the Appian Way we needed to hire bikes and we chose Eco Bikes who are located just south of the city centre. You can reach them easily by Bus or on foot depending on where in Rome you’re coming from.
Road bikes cost approx €3,00/hr up to €15,00 ( 5 hours or more). They also provide mountain bikes at €5,00/hr up to €20, 00 and assisted electric bikes (1,60 cm up) at €6,00/h up to €30,00. They are open from 9:30 am until sunset everyday, except for the 25 of December and the first of January.
Bike rental is always available and you can rent your bike until one hour before closing time. Price includes locks, helmets (mandatory for children however available for everybody) and they provide a free map giving all the information about the route.
The Bike Rental is located at the beginning of the Appian Way Regional Park The nearest subway is Circo Massimo (B line). Get off from the subway, take the 118 bus and get off at Appia Antica/Domine Quo Vadis. You can also take the 218 from Porta San Giovanni (A line) by getting off at the same bus stop.
You could also take: line 30 express, 130 (holidays), 160, 671, 714 and 715. Get off at the bus stop Cristoforo Colombo/Bavastro or Cristoforo Colombo/Circonvallazione Ostiense. Then walk the path of Circonvallazione Ardeatina for 10 minutes. If you’re driving then you can park at 50, Via Appia Antica near the bike shop from Monday to Sunday (until 6 pm). There is other parking nearby but you may have to pay.
Our experience of cycling the Appian Way was brilliant. It was a wonderful afternoon and there were a few little cafe’s dotted along the route so you could grab a drink or something to eat. Do check check the timings of these as some closed for a few hrs in the afternoon and then reopen early evening. There are also loads of open grassy areas where you can have a picnic. Plan to spend the day as there’s loads to see and do.
The road surface can be a little rough in places where the cobbles have not been preserved as well as other areas. Sometimes the cobbles were a bit slippy and you are advised not to ride on the cobbles but on the dirt track at the sides. It can be a bit tricky in places but all in all pretty straight forward. Our hired bikes coped really well. Definitely suitable for children as its practically flat.
Circus and Villa of Massenzio & Mausoleum of Romolo – A set of ruins on a grassy plane area with some walls still intact so you can clearly see it would have been an impressive site in its day. Villa Capo di Dove – This is quite a well preserved villa with mosaics and rooms clearly defined. Gorgeous to walk around. The Catacombs – There’s something quite addictive about going underground to the tombs of the dead and the catacombs here deliver on history and vastness. They’re a must ! (there is a small charge for the catacombs on the Appian Way)
If you want an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Rome city centre then visit the Appian Way. It is virtually untouristed and even if you don’t have it all to yourself it will be a very relaxing experience. Travelling in the footsteps of actual romans seeing what they saw along the way is amazing.
We have always tended to use Booking.com having said that if your on a tight budget another good site to try as a comparison is Hostelworld, If your looking to compare different sites you can do that on Hotellook, we tend to look on here first to make sure we are getting the best deal.
You can book your visits as you go at the entrance to your chosen attraction or site. Or you could use the following links to book in advance or just to find out what your choices are in the area. GetYourGuide and Tiqets are our go to choices you could try Viator to see how they compare.
For a full list check out our resources page. Don’t forget always shop around to find the best deal for you. What works for us should be good for you but it’s always reassuring to check.
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