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The Spanish Steps - A Logistical Guide
Practical Information For The Visitor To Rome
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Spanish Steps
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The Spanish Steps are a set of steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top dominated by Trinità dei Monti Church.

The steps are at the eastern end of the old city centre. From the base there is a maze of very narrow lanes crammed full with designer shops waiting to be explored.
Although a major draw for visitors there is no particular wow factor as such, a place to congregate and hang out for a while.

The stairway itself is of 138 steps, if you cannot manage this there is a lift, part of the Metro complex - but like the Metro station itself it is quite seedy.

In May each year the steps are decorated with pink azaleas.

Spanish Steps Rome
Spanish Steps In May With Pink Azaleas
Barcaccia Fountain in Foreground
In an attempt to keep the area clean, the authorities have banned visitors from eating whilst sitting on the steps.

In the piazza, at the corner on the right as one begins to climb the steps, is the house where English poet John Keats lived and died in 1821. It is now a museum dedicated to his memory, full of memorabilia of the English Romantic generation.

Babington's Tea Room		 In the piazza at the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the 17th century Fountain of the Old Boat (Fontana della Barcaccia), spouting water as she sinks. This fountain, by Pietro Bernini, supposedly marks the place where a large barge came to rest when the River Tiber overflowed its banks.

To the left of the Steps, the classic Babington’s Tea Room, founded in 1896, offers an elegant interior, a wide selection of teas and pastries, and waiters in traditional English attire.
Places Around The Spanish Steps
At the foot of the Spanish Steps the area is of upmarket chic, with an endless supply of small boutique designer shops and a wide range of restaurants and bars.

After you have spent your time at the Spanish Steps, the classic tourist option is to head west for the Trevi Fountain and perhaps after that the Pantheon. The way is sporadically signposted, but a good map is recommended. This walk is so full of interest that getting lost in the maze of narrow streets and alleys is almost a bonus.

If you want to chill out and get some peace and quiet from crowds of the city, then the The Villa Borghese is on your doorstep. Its the largest public park in Rome. It features a lake, temples, fountains, statues and several museums.
From the top of the steps, follow the lane northwards for fine views down into the city below before coming to the Villa Borghese. Otherwise from the base of the Spanish Steps again go north to the impressive Piazza del Popolo where you can enter the park.

To the south of the Spanish Steps is the Via Veneto, one of the most expensive and famous streets in Rome. Many of the top hotels are around here. Famous for Federico Fellini's classic 1960 film La Dolce Vita mostly centred around the Via Veneto area, the area is very upmarket.
The Via Veneto winds uphill from Barberini Metro up to the Villa Borghese.
Getting to the Spanish Steps
By Metro take Linea A (red line) and exit at Spagna. The station is right next to the Spanish Steps.
Rome city buses are too big to negotiate the narrow streets around the Spanish Steps, plenty of buses go to Barberini or Piazza del Popolo / Flaminio about a 10 minute walk away.

The Spanish Steps are a short walk from the Trevi Fountain too.
There are a myriad of Rome hop on, hop off bus operators, all of which will not stop at the Spanish Steps itself as the buses are too large, but will stop within a 10 minute walk.

All the operators use very similar double deck open top buses.
Each passenger will get a disposable audio device for commentary along the way with a choice of at minimum 8 languages. Most buses have their first bus departing Termini at 08:30 or 09:00 with the last bus leaving at 18:00, finishing around 20:00.

Typical Rome Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus
Spanish Steps Hotel Accommodation
The area around the Spanish steps is one of the most upmarket and expensive districts to stay in Rome..
Many of the luxury hotel chains have their flagship Rome hotels in the Spanish Steps and Via Veneto area.
Its not all luxury and expensive hotels though, there is a surprising number of cheap bed and breakfast options, though these may be a 15 minute walk or so from the Spanish Steps themselves.
Hotels around the Spanish Steps
Rome Guided Sightseeing Tours
Title Main Places Visited Adult Comments
Vatican Museums & St Peter's Vatican Museums
St Peter's Basilica		 €52 Walking tour, no transfers
Not Wednesdays & Sundays
Vatican Museums Vatican Museums €58 Walking tour, transfers inc
Not Sundays
Vatican Museums (Private) Vatican Museums
St Peter's Basilica		 var Personal guide for your group. Not Sundays
St Peter's Basilica St Peter's Basilica €52 Walking tour, no transfers
Mon, Thur Fri
Audience with Pope St Peter's €36 Wednesday only
Classical Rome Morning Tour Trevi Fountain,
Pantheon, St Peter's		 €36 Walking coach/tour
transfers inc, Daily.
Ancient Rome Trevi, Pantheon, Colosseum, Forum €27 Walking tour, no transfers
Daily. Admissions not inc.
Colosseum & Roman Forum Colosseum, Forum
Palatine Hill		 €49 Walking tour.
Nno transfers inc. Daily
Colosseum/Rom Forum- Private Colosseum, Forum
Palatine Hill		 var Personal guide for your group. Daily
Become a Gladiator n/a var 2 hour lesson at gladiator school - Daily
Rome Segway Tour Colosseum, Forum
Circus Maximus + others		 €75 Segway personal transpor.
Daily - No children
Rome Catacombs Capuchin Crypt
Domitilla Catacombs		 €54 Walking tour, no transfers
Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun p.m.
Appian Way & Catacombs Santa Maria Maggiore
Appian Way, Catacombs 		€45 Daily tour by coach
Rome by Night (Coach) All main sights and more €41 Daily tour by coach
Rome by Night (Walking) Capitoline Hill, Trevi, Pantheon, Colosseum €27 Runs April to October
Daily @ 18:30, not Sundays