RunCity

Rome on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Rome's best-known sights, including Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Trajan's Column and more. It is about 8.5 km on foot, roughly 3 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Rome leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 8.5 kmDistance
  • 3 hoursWalking
  • about 73 minRunning
Play Rome in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Rome
Photo: Diliff · CC BY 3.0

This walk crosses the historic centre of Rome from the Spanish Steps to Trastevere, and almost all of it is on foot-friendly streets. You start at the top of the steps by the Trinità dei Monti church, drop down to the Trevi Fountain, and reach the ancient city at Trajan's Column and the white Vittoriano on Piazza Venezia. Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio sits just above, and from its back terrace you look straight over the Roman Forum on your way to the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum.

The second half turns back through the old quarter: the Pantheon, the oval Piazza Navona and, across the Tiber, Castel Sant'Angelo at the end of the bridge of angels. The bonus stop is the square in front of Santa Maria in Trastevere, a good place to end with dinner. Go early in the morning for the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, which fill up by late morning, and carry water: Rome's free nasoni fountains are everywhere along the way.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Spanish Steps

    Spanish Steps Photo

    The long staircase climbing to the twin-towered church.

    Photo: Arnaud 25 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Trevi Fountain

    Trevi Fountain Photo

    The fountain's central figure and rushing water.

    Photo: NikonZ7II · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Trajan's Column

    Trajan's Column

    The carved spiral column among the forum ruins.

    Photo: Livioandronico2013 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Vittoriano (Altare della Patria)

    Vittoriano (Altare della Patria) Photo

    The white marble monument from Piazza Venezia.

    Photo: Max_Ryazanov · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Piazza del Campidoglio

    Piazza del Campidoglio

    Michelangelo's square at the top of the ramp.

    Photo: Kameister · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Arch of Constantine

    Arch of Constantine

    The triumphal arch between the Colosseum and the Forum.

    Photo: NikonZ7II (Paris Orlando) · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Colosseum

    Colosseum Photo

    The curved outer wall from the piazza in front.

    Photo: FeaturedPics · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Pantheon

    Pantheon Photo

    The columned porch and the dome behind it.

    Photo: NikonZ7II · CC BY-SA 4.0

  9. Piazza Navona

    Piazza Navona

    The oval square with its three fountains.

    Photo: NikonZ7II · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Castel Sant'Angelo

    Castel Sant'Angelo

    The round fortress at the end of the angel bridge.

    Photo: Livioandronico2013 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  11. Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere

    Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere Bonus

    The lively square in front of the golden-mosaic church.

    Photo: NateBergin · CC BY 4.0

Play Rome in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Rome on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 8.5 km, roughly 3 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Rome is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Rome?

    Open Rome in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Rome leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Spanish Steps and finishing at Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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