What to wear to the Catacombs of San Callisto

The catacombs publish no dress code. Their eighteen-point rules cover temperature, steps, claustrophobia, photography, pets, food and bulky items, and say nothing at all about clothing. Shoulders-and-knees coverage is widely reported by third parties, and one tour operator selling this catacomb does impose its own rule in its listing terms. So: dress as you would for a church, check your operator’s terms before you book, and bring a layer. It is about 16°C underground with high humidity, on ground that is uneven and ancient.

Catacombs’ own dress codeNone published

One operator’s own ruleShoulders and knees

TemperatureAbout 16°C

HumidityHigh

Steps50 down, 50 back up

Not allowed inStrollers, bulky items

Ready to go underground?Every tour here ends up on the same staff-led walk. Pick the one whose journey you want.

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What the rules actually say

I went through the catacombs’ own rules line by line. Eighteen points. They cover the temperature, the fifty irregular steps, the absence of a lift and of anywhere to sit, claustrophobia, wheelchair access, photography, smoking, food and drink, pets, touching anything, and strollers and bulky items. Not one of them mentions clothing. The catacombs publish no clothing rule, and I am not going to invent one on their behalf.

That is not an invitation to dress for the beach. It is a working cemetery of the Church of Rome, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco since 1930, and the reasonable thing is to dress as you would for a church you were visiting out of interest rather than obligation.

Where the dress code does come from

From the operator, not the catacombs. The three-hour Appian Way walking tour sold here, from €68 at the time of writing, states its own rule in its listing terms: no shorts or sleeveless tops allowed for either men or women, and for ladies, shoulders must be covered and skirts or trousers must be below knee-level. That is that operator’s condition on its own booking, in its own words, and it is worth reading before you turn up in July. The other listings on this site do not publish one, which is not the same as promising there is none — check the terms of whatever you book. All six are set out on the all-tours page.

Bring a layer, even in August

It is about 16°C down there with high humidity. Two of the listings sold here say approximately 15°C; the catacombs’ own rules say about 16, and that is the number I use. Either way, the damp makes it feel cooler than the figure, and you go from full Roman sunshine to that in the time it takes to walk down fifty steps. Mency, who visited on 5 September 2026, wrote: “i did not expect that the catacombs would be really cold.” Irene, visiting in late July 2023, found the catacombs a cool refuge on an extremely hot day. Both are the same fact from opposite directions. A light jacket or a long-sleeved layer in your bag covers it, and it comes straight off again at the top of the stairs.

Shoes matter more than tops

Fifty irregular steps down, fifty back up, no handrail worth relying on in your planning, no lift, and nowhere to sit at any point on the route. The floor is old and uneven. Closed shoes with a bit of grip are the single most useful thing you can put on. If your day continues along the Appia — and I think it should — the ancient basalt paving starts at the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and it is genuinely rough walking. If you are riding the e-bike day, you also need to be able to ride a bike and to be under the 120 kg rider weight limit. The tours that go out onto the road.

Insider tip

Strollers and bulky items are not allowed in, and there is no lift. If you are travelling with a baby, plan on carrying, and read what the route involves before you commit to a slot.

Check the Appian Way tour

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, on all six tours listed here — book now, decide later.

Appian Way

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dress code for the Catacombs of San Callisto?

The catacombs publish none. Their eighteen-point rules cover temperature, steps, photography, pets, food and bulky items and say nothing about clothing. Shoulders-and-knees coverage is widely reported by third parties, and one operator selling this catacomb imposes it as a condition of its own booking. Dress as you would for a church and check your operator’s terms. The six listings.

How cold are the catacombs in Rome?

About 16°C with high humidity, all year, according to the catacombs’ own rules. Two operator listings say approximately 15°C. The damp makes it feel cooler than the number, so carry a light layer even in August — one reviewer was caught out by the cold on a September visit. The visit, in order.

What shoes should I wear?

Closed shoes with grip. There are fifty irregular steps down and fifty back up, no lift, nowhere to sit, and an uneven floor. If you are walking the Appian Way afterwards the ancient basalt paving begins at the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and is rough going. The tours that walk or ride that stretch.