We are interested in seeing the Catacombs but are wondering how difficult it is to get there without a guided tour. Their website indicates a couple of different buses but I would like something a little easier. Does anyone know how much a taxi would cost? Does the metro go out that far?

Damama,

What city and country are the catacombs in that you are speaking of?

damama is heading to Rome...

Damama,

I know there is a bus that leaves Piazza San Giovanni in Laterno for the Catacombs which is not a problem really. It takes about 15 minutes or so to get there. I'd imagine a taxi would take the same amount of time. The metro does not go out that far.

One thing to add, if you do decide on a taxi (sorry, I don't know how much that would cost) there are taxis waiting at the catacombs which will take you back, so you don't have to worry about being stranded there. It is kind of out in the country and there is not much else around. The catacombs are really cool, I would not miss them. I have been to San Callisto and San Sebastian catacombs and both are excellent.

Damama - You might want to do the Archeobus hop-on/ hop-off tour.
Here are some links:

http://www.romeguide.it/archeobus_ing.htm

http://www.romecity.it/Archeobus.htm

http://www.parcoappiaantica.org/en/default.asp

http://www.archeoroma.com/archeobus.htm

Hope this helps ...

Steve

thanks everyone. Sorry I wasn't clear where I wanted to go. I thought I was already in the Rome thread. I will check out those links.

A taxi would certainly be easiest, unless you don't mind waiting for a bus. The catacombs are in a residential/business area outside the old city walls where the Pyramide is. Our taxi fare was 10 euros, but of course this would depend on your starting point. You have to be guided through the catacombs for obvious reasons, and when you get there you simply wait for the next tour in your language of choice. Our tour took less than an hour, and I guess you could view more catacombs if you wanted, but we thought one tour gave us the picture . . . it was a very worthwhile excursion.

Once you're out in that area, I highly recommend taking a walk down the Via Appia and visiting the Circus of Maxentius, which will give you a good idea of what the Circus Maximus (now completely buried) would have looked like. A bit further on, you can walk on the same paving stones the Roman legions walked on, with numerous old family tombs on both sides of the road.

You may want to see the Cappuchin Crypts in a church on Piazza Barberini in Rome. They were closed when we were there last spring so did not see them but are probably worth a visit.

metro does not go to catacombs.metro does not get you even as far as the bus terminus.to get to terminus(small affair) you have to walk through an arched wall, bus should be opposite a St. John Lateran's church in front of you.

your next hurdel will be deciding when to get off. i remember asking all thge passengers around me, who were all tourists themselves headed for st calisto.no one had a clue where we were! ask the driver to let you off at st calistos to be safe.

I HAVE A ROME BUS ROUTE MAP IN FRONT OF ME, IF I READ IT CORRECTLY BUS NUMBER 118 ORIGINATES AT PIRAMIDE AND GOES OUT VIA PORTA SAN SABASTIANO AND VIA APPIA ANTICA PAST SAN CALISTOS. IT GOES FURTHER SO YOU WILL NEED TO TELL THE DRIVER WHERE YOU ARE GOING OR AT LEAST HAVE A MAP SO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND WHEN TO GET OFF.