Walking in a new city is my favorite thing to do, and if you are here, reading this article, chances are you love it too.
Good news! Rome is a big city, and it’s also a gorgeous one to explore. Because there are so many attractions scattered throughout it, walking is going to be the best way to really see it and get a feel for it.
However, because the historic center of Rome alone is over 14km², you are likely not going to walk all the time, and to all the attractions.
That’s completely fine, and it also makes sense if you want to save time, and energy, and also keep your feet in good shape.
You can do like we did, take a bus from your accommodation to a more central spot, or to the first destination on your itinerary for the day, and then walk the rest of the day. Then, you can take the bus back home in the evening.
This, however, means you might miss many beautiful walks in Rome because you are taking the bus instead.
Fear not, I am here to tell you which walks you shouldn’t miss, at least in my opinion.
So join me as I share with you the best walks in Rome I took with my husband during our week in Rome, this past April.
Table of Contents
Walk 1: Via Dei Fori Imperiali (Daytime)
Starting point: Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Ending point: Colosseum
Duration: 20 minutes
Key Attractions:
As you walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali after leaving behind the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and the Altar of the Fatherland, you’ll get to take a peek at all the historic ruins, many of which are really imposing and well preserved.
Be prepared to take a walk of a lifetime. This was so beautiful I plan to do it again at sunset the next time I visit.
The other attractions include:
Trajan Column
Mercati di Traiano
Augusto Forum
Roman Forum
The entry to Palatine Hill
Colosseum
Where to Eat:
We took this walk in the afternoon, after having a second breakfast at Antico Forno di Piazza di Trevi. It’s a great spot to have the famous maritozzo or croissant, but they also have lunch options. And it’s just 15-minute away from the starting point of this walk.
For a detailed review of that breakfast experience, including the waiting time, read my Rome Breakfast article.
Walk 2: Ponte del Risorgimento to Piazza Navona (Daytime)
Starting point: Della Vittoria (our neighborhood near Prati) or Piazza del Popolo
Ending point: Piazza Navona
Duration: 45 minutes
If you are not staying in Della Vittoria, you likely have no need to walk in the area or visit Ponte del Risorgimento. I do suggest you take the time to walk near a bridge along Lungotevere, even better if it’s not one of the most central bridges. You’ll get a different perspective of the river without too many buildings surrounding it.
For those staying closer to the center of Rome (even though Prati is in the center, and we were only at the edge of that), you can start the walk from Piazza del Popolo and walk to Piazza Navona.
Key Attractions
Even if you start at Piazza del Popolo, you’ll still get to enjoy both iconic squares in Rome – Piazza del Popolo as well as Porta del Popolo, and later Piazza Navona, plus my favorite area, Ponte Cavour and Lungotevere Marzio. Before those, you’ll also pass by the stunning Bulgari Hotel.
This is definitely an area I could see myself staying in next time I am in Rome.
Where to Eat:
If you too are staying in the Della Vittoria neighborhood, near Prati, I have some great breakfast and dinner recommendations in these Rome Breakfast and Pizza in Rome articles.
If on the other hand, you’d like a breakfast closer to your destination, I suggest a savory one at l’Antica Salumeria near Pantheon, which is just 4 minutes away from the ending point of this walk.
PS: the next walk goes hand in hand with this one, so consider combining them like we did.
Walk 3: Piazza Navona To Piazza di Spagna (Day & Night)
Starting point: Piazza Navona
Ending Point: Piazza di Spagna
Duration: 17 minutes
As I hinted above we did walk 3 right after walk 2. We stopped to admire Piazza Navona and then proceeded to our breakfast spot near the Spanish Steps.
Can you guess which cafe we went to? Let me just say it’s the most expensive one in Rome, and we didn’t know it! Read all about it here.
Attractions
Other than the beautiful and renowned Spanish Steps and the Belvedere di Trinità dei Monti, you’ll also get to walk through Via dei Condotti, which is famous for its beautiful designer shops and that expensive cafe I mentioned earlier.
Where to Eat:
You can eat at the same cafe we did, Antico Caffe Greco, or you can try Gianfornaio. Both are great options in different ways.
If you get the chance to take this walk at night, make sure to stop for a Tiramisu at Pompi. But is this the Best Tiramisu in Rome? Read that article to find out.
I loved the walk equally in the morning, especially since it was a Sunday and the streets were not so full. But I equally loved it at night with all the street lights on and the illumination coming from the gorgeous shops.
Walk 4: Trastevere (Afternoon)
Starting point: Trastevere Station (bus, tram, and train station)
Ending point: Ponte Sisto bridge
Duration: 40 minutes
I have a full article dedicated to our time in Trastevere and the Best Foodie Spots. Click through to read that.
There you’ll find food recommendations but also full-on reviews. I also share pictures and beautiful corners in Trastevere.
While I suggest taking the walk through Trastevere in the morning or afternoon, you’ll want to come back a couple of times to have dinner here.
Walk 5: Via della Conciliazione Leading to St. Peter’s Basilica (Daytime)
Starting point: Castel Sant’Angelo
Ending point: St. Peter’s Square
Duration: 15 minutes
If you are coming to Rome, I am sure you’ll visit Vatican City, even if just to admire St. Peter’s Square and Basilica from outside.
Well, when you do I suggest you come from Castel Sant’Angelo and walk through Via della Conciliazione. It’s really a spectacular street, and the views are breathtaking both ways.
On one side you have the Basilica of San Pietro with the Vatican at the back, and on the other side, you have the view of that street.
Don’t limit yourself to Via della Conciliazione though. You must also take a peek at the side streets and any parallel roads. Look at how gorgeous this one is. I stumbled across it by pure coincidence, as you do when you are exploring a big city.
Attractions:
As I mentioned, this road leads you to St. Peter’s Basilica, the square, and the Obelisk. You can also walk through the colonnade area surrounding the square and reach Piazza del Risorgimento from there. Once you arrive there, you’ll spot the Vatican city walls, and walk along them towards the Vatican Museums.
You’ll find a narrow passage divided into two, the left side for those without a ticket and the right side for those who have a booking. Proceed on the right side even if you don’t have a ticket until the end of the line. That way you’ll get to see the entrance and the exit to the Vatican Museums.
Where to Eat:
I suggest picking a restaurant or more casual eatery in Via Borgo Pio. That was the street I showed you earlier in the picture with the two ladies walking. Keep in mind we didn’t eat in this area, as there was no time between the visit to Castel Sant’Angelo and the Vatican Museums. However, by looking at Google Maps, I can see that many spots on that street have high ratings.
My top picks would be these:
- Borgo & Friends
- Papo Borgo
- Mordi Sandwichhouse
- Caffetteria di Borgo
- L’Arena del Gelato
Walking In Rome Quick FAQ
Before I go, let me answer some common questions about the topic of walking in Rome. I hope my answers help you plan better, and also worry less.
What is the most walkable area in Rome?
All of Rome, especially the historic center is walkable. The streets surrounding the river and the outer neighborhoods are large, and new, and have beautiful buildings lined along them.
Even the cobbled streets in the oldest parts of the center, like around Fontana di Trevi and the Pantheon, are easy to navigate. Just watch your steps, and wear comfortable shoes.
If you are asking this question because you want to know which area is best to stay to walk everywhere in Rome, read this article about Rome Neighborhoods & Where To Stay.
Is Rome good for walking?
Yes, if you love walking, you will enjoy this city. There are plenty of walks to do, and each one gives you a new perspective on this very important city.
Can I walk around Rome in a day?
No, you can’t see Rome in a day. Even 6 days was not enough for me to see all of Rome’s historic center and all the neighborhoods, and we walked a lot and saw a lot.
However, if you are thinking of taking a day trip, I have an article with One Day In Rome Itinerary. I suggest you read that and use the itinerary. It’s free!
Can you walk to all the sites in Rome?
If you are staying in a very central area, which I’d call the heart of Rome, then you could walk to the main sites listed on Google when you type “Rome attractions”. That includes all the big ones like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, etc.
However, there are many more neighborhoods and museums worth visiting that might require you to take a bus, but that’s very easy and affordable in Rome.
Is it safe to walk through Rome at night?
We felt perfectly safe walking in very central areas of Rome at night. Those included the area around Piazza di Spagna, the old part of Trastevere, the streets behind the Pantheon, Prati, and Della Vittoria – which was the neighborhood we were staying in.
However, keep in mind we didn’t stay out very late; by 10 pm we were usually back in our apartment.
In my Rome Best Neighborhoods article, I share the best areas to stay in Rome, and the areas to avoid, especially at night.
Read These Next
If you found this article useful (I am so happy!) there are many more like this one, all about Rome. You can browse all of them under the Lazio category, or pick one from the ones I selected for you below:
Best View Of Rome – Is it Janiculum Hill?
Enjoy Rome,
Alessia.
