This post is a guide to visiting the Spanish Steps, one of Rome's most famous and visited sights.
We explain why this location is popular, when best to come, how to plan your visit, and we list some nearby attractions you may want to visit. Let's get climbing.
As local tour guides, we sometimes take for granted that we have so many iconic landmarks like the Spanish Steps.
This is understandable since we bring people here on our walking tours every day.
In addition to our experiences as tour guides, we wrote this guide after consulting with members of our Rome Travel Tips Facebook Group.
Our group consists of locals, like our tour guides, expats, regular visitors, as well as newbies to Rome.
You don't need to become a member to search for and read the posts, comments, and suggestions.
Check out our group once you are finished reading this post.
Named after the nearby Spanish Embassy, the Spanish Steps have been in Rome since 1723.
They connect the Piazza di Spagna at the bottom with the Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top.
Located on the eastern side of the old city center, there are a lot of interesting places to see in the area.
There are a total of 135 steps to climb, but if you aren’t sure whether or not you can make it, consider taking the lift which is right next to the metro station.
The Spanish Steps are typically used as a meeting place where people will relax and take a break, including for many local walking tours.
Two famous poets John Keats and Lord Byron used to live at Spanish Steps.
TIP: Our free, GPS-led audio tour starts from here and visits other landmarks like Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.
The first thing to note about this attraction is that you can visit pretty much any time of the day.
These stairs are accessible from morning till night, so you won’t necessarily have to worry about hours in the same way you would with other historic sites in Rome.
That being said, there are times when crowds begin to dissipate or have yet to form and it is much easier to climb the Spanish Steps.
According to some visitors, the best time to visit is in the morning before tourists flock to the area.
If you want to make your trip during this time, consider heading out between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. for the most privacy.
Alternatively, you can also make an attempt to catch the lunchtime lull.
Between 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., tourists and locals alike tend to head into nearby restaurants and cafes to get a bite to eat.
According to some sources, the Spanish Steps are often much less crowded during these times.
Finally, the last recommendation from past visitors is to come when the sun sets, between 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
According to some reviews, this is the point at which many tourists are either planning a night out on the town or heading back to the hotels.
For specific information on when the sun will set, click here.
There are several evening walks of Rome's city center that start from the Spanish Steps.
This photo of Domus Nova Bethlem is courtesy of TripAdvisor
You can expect even larger crowds than usual during the spring.
This is the time of year when the Spanish Steps are adorned with thousands of azaleas, giving the historic site a beautiful splash of color.
Click here for more details and additional ideas for things to do in this city during the spring.
WHERE ARE THE SPANISH STEPS?
The Spanish Steps are located in Rome's center just south of the Villa Borghese, the city's massive park.
The Spanish Steps are easily accessible from pretty much anywhere in the city center. Most visitors will probably be able to walk here quite easily.
In addition to a nearby bus stop, you will also find the Spagna metro stop right next to this location.
Both the public buses and the metro trains stop at the top of the steps in front of Trinità dei Monti.
For more information about these options, make sure to read our post on using the Rome metro system.
Alternatively, there are also nearby stops from hop-on-hop-off bus tours which will take you very close to this landmark.
If you’re already planning on using one of these services, you won’t have to worry about buying metro tickets.
For more details on this option, read our post about Rome bus tours.
Additional Tips
If you’re planning to visit the Spanish Steps, there are a few tips that you may want to keep in mind.
Take a Break
Even if 138 steps seem a bit daunting, it shouldn’t be too difficult to climb to the top of this popular site.
There are several levels that will allow you to take a break while climbing and enjoy the view.
Consider a Walking Tour
Several popular walking tours in Rome start or end at the Spanish Steps, including our free, GPS-led audio tour of Rome.
If you’re interested in learning more about the historic sites nearby, consider taking one of the many tours detailed on our Rome City Center post.
Do Some Shopping
Although you can expect much higher prices than usual, there are a lot of shops in the area with a variety of different goods.
Even if you don’t feel like spending any money, there’s definitely room for some window shopping in the area.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Although the Spanish Steps often draw pretty large crowds all by themselves, a lot of people visit this location because it is so close to several other historic sites.
Here are a few attractions you may want to visit while in the area.
This is a museum dedicated to famous authors English Poet John Keats and P.B. Shelley who actually walked on the nearby Spanish Steps.
Piazza di Spagna
This plaza is also located at the foot of the steps, and it is a popular meeting place for people who plan on climbing up to the next plaza through the staircase.
Visitors who want to get a picture of the Spanish Steps from below should consider taking their photo here.
There is also a fountain at the center of this plaza which we will discuss in further detail below.
Villa di Medici
Located just a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, Villa di Medici is one of the most historic sites in all of Rome.
In addition to wonderful gardens and an extensive library, this academy also hosts special exhibitions throughout the year.
Guided tours are available at least a few times per day from Tuesday - Sunday in French, Italian and English.
The Borghese Gallery
Although it’s a bit further away, this gallery is one of the more popular destinations in Rome.
If you feel like walking, you should expect a 25-30-minute trip from the Spanish Steps to the Borghese Gallery.
Discount passes such as the Roma Pass include admission to this museum in addition to a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
If you plan on using a tour bus to reach the Spanish Steps, this could be a good way to save money.
Fontana della Barcaccia
This is perhaps the biggest and most impressive fountain in the area.
Located right in the middle of Piazza di Spagna, the Fontana della Barcaccia was constructed in the 17th century by famous Baroque designer Pietro Bernini.
This structure is designed to look like a half-sunken ship with water overflowing on the sides into a basin.
The Column of the Immaculate Conception
Travelers will likely spot this interesting structure just south of the Piazza di Spagna.
The top of this column is adorned with a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary stomping on a serpent.
Surrounding the column are statues of Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and King David.
During the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, pontiffs will come and place bouquets of flowers at the base of this column.
Piazza della Trinità dei Monti
You’ll find this plaza at the top of the steps, right in front of the Trinità dei Monti church.
This plaza includes an obelisk known as Obelisco Sallustiano which should be fully visible from the bottom.
Visitors may want to consider taking a break to enjoy the view from the top of the Spanish steps above. Alternatively, you’ll also find the metro stops nearby.
Obelisco Sallustiano
This is one of thirteen ancient obelisks located in Rome. Each one was crafted by ancient Romans and based on the design of ancient Egyptian obelisks.
Erected in 1789, this structure was named after a garden known as Horti Sallustiani.
Fontana del Bottino
Located just one block north of the Obelisco Sallustiano, this small fountain should make for an interesting visit.
The Fontana del Bottino was made from an ancient sarcophagus and it includes one central figure with two additional figures on either end.
A total of three jets of water pour from the sarcophagus to a small pool of water below.
Fontana di Trinità dei Monti
Roughly one block north of the Fontana del Bottino, this fountain is yet another great place to visit while you’re in the area.
Named after the nearby church, this fountain is found at the entrance of Villa Medici.
The structure is unique for its cup shape and the cannonball which adorns the center of the fountain.
The Vatican
If you’re up for the trek, you might want to consider heading to the Vatican after your trip to the Spanish Steps.
Admission to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is included with more than one Roman tourist pass.
These attraction bundles usually include a hop-on-hop-off bus tour as well, making it even easier to get here.
Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers.
Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
