Rome Travel Forum

I was wanting to know how I can get to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or of Domitilla with a rather large group of students. We do not have a coach/touring car so it would have to be via public transport.

Does anyone know if there is a good bus or train connection with either of these 'venues' ?

Thanks

Dahidh

I took a train to the catacombs. It was an easy train ride but a long walk to get to the catacombs. You might want to check with your hotel to see if they can arrange a tour for you. Especially if you have a large group it would be best to call ahead to the catacombs to see if they can accomodate all in your group at once.

Well, you don't say where you are starting from, so that limits the answer.

The 118 bus runs right outside the Catacombs of San Sebastian. The 218 runs close to the Catacombs of S. Domitilla. The Catacombs of S. Callisto are between the 2 bus routes. All three of these are fairly close to each other.

The 118 bus route originates next to the Piramide Metro station. The 218 route originates near St. John Lateran.

You can use www.atac.roma.it (see English flag on upper right) to do route planning from your point origin.

There is also the Archeobus, which is a hop-on/hop-off bus that takes you out to these catacombs, among other places along the Appian Way. However, this goes to a lot of other places, so is not the most direct. See http://www.romaturismo.it/v2/romatiaccoglie/en/tourtematici.html

However, I don't know what 'a rather large group of students' means. The Archeobus has only 16 seats, which you are unlikely to get all of at one time in any case. The city buses are certainly larger, but you still may find your group scattered.

And, yes, you could take the Metro to some place sort of nearby (along the Via Tuscolana), but it is indeed a long walk with no sidewalks in some places...on some roads near S. Sebastian, there are walls practically right up to the street - not so good for a large group of students spilling out into the roadway.

So tells us how many students and adults you actually have and where you are starting from...

Bill

The ordinary bus is the best way by far, but beware: each time I have visited I have seen similar groups waiting for buses. You might not all fit on the first bus which arrives, if there's another group waiting.

Catacombs info here:

http://www.catacombe.roma.it/

The Archaeobuses are big now (ordinary open-top tour-bus size) so you might find that's ok too (though more expensive).

Info here:

http://www.trambusopen.com/index.cfm?Id=archeo