Roman Catacombs Guided Tour with Transfers

When booking, the pictures of the Capuchin Crypt suggest that the tour includes a visit to the crypt. However, this is only an additional option. Our tour was supposed to last three hours. At 3:30 p.m., we were first shown a film lasting almost 30 minutes that had nothing to do with the catacombs. After a 10-minute walk, we arrived at a bus that took us to the catacombs. The lady who gave the tour apparently didn't have any more time, because the tour was over after just 25 minutes. Then we had to wait another 30 minutes for the transfer back.

I liked what I saw, but I feel that there were a couple of things that weren't fully explained when I purchased the package. I arrived at nine o'clock as instructed, but the tour actually started later and they made me watch a video which, although entertaining, could have been shown closer to the start time. They told me that the bus would pick us up at the door of the premises, but in the end we had to walk about 10 minutes to where it was parked. Then we got on a bus where they told us a little about what we were seeing, but it was hard to hear because they didn't have a microphone and you couldn't hear anything on the cobbled streets. When we arrived at the catacombs, the girl from the agency left us with the tour guide there. I found her very informative; she knew a lot, although she made a rather unfortunate comment about Renaissance paintings and how the change to white skin looked "better." They picked us up and took us back to where we had taken the bus. From there, you had the option of taking the tourist bus, which was free for three hours, to get to the other part of the tour, which was the Capuchins. The Capuchins close for about three hours at noon, which they don't tell you, and you have to kill time from around 12:00, when they drop you off in the city, until 3:00, when you can continue the other part of the tour. There was a mother with her son who had to get back to the plane and couldn't finish the tour because of this. This tour was with a guide, without anyone else, which surprised me since the girl at the agency had told me that someone would accompany you while you visited... I feel like I could have done both things on my own and it would have cost me a fraction of the money, since the guided tour of the catacombs is free!

It was a good tour, with the transport guide brilliant as well. Well worth it.

Excellent organization, super friendly guide!

So much to like about this tour. The guide, the expérience. Only thing: it could have been longer. Loved being down in the catacombs!