An Overview of Rome and Your Mobility

Mobility Considerations for Rome: An Overview

Rome is one of the top tourist destinations in the world in terms of sheer number of visitors. This post is an overview of what to expect when visiting Rome in terms of mobility. It will hopefully give you a good idea of what is required of you physically to enjoy this city. If you want more information about any section below, you are in luck! Detailed posts are available and linked in this post. To learn how our Location Guide posts are organized, read this post first.

(Last updated June 2025)

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2025 is a Jubilee year as declared by the late Pope. The official Jubilee website contains this calendar to help you know what is happening while you are in Rome or to plan what to work around.

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I have been to each city that I cover. I have stayed 3 nights or longer in each location. I primarily use public transportation. I update each Location Guide yearly. I do not use AI to write any of my posts. Links I share are not sponsored links unless clearly stated and are to official government or official city tourist office websites. Do you notice something out of date? Send an email to contact@haveagewilltravel.com and I will correct it!

Terrain

Rome is the capitol of Italy and the most populated city in the country. The main sights tourists visit are in the city center within the Aurelian walls. You will not find sky scrapers here and there are very few modern buildings in this zone. Instead, you will be surrounded by layers of centuries from the ground up. Read more in our post about Rome’s Terrain and your Mobility.

Roads

There are no truly pedestrian streets as there are in some other major European cities. Larger streets will have sidewalks of varying widths. Smaller streets will require you to share the road with scooters and cars. Some of these streets can get quite narrow with both pedestrian and a car trying to get through. Often, you will need to step towards the wall of a building to let a vehicle go by.

Cobblestones

You will frequently encounter cobblestone roads. Some roads will be asphalt while some cobblestone lanes have been smoothed down. Smaller, less popular streets, can have varying heights of cobblestones. Watch out for loose cobbles! You will certainly feel them shift under your feet.

Hills

Rome is a city of seven hills but the center of Rome is fairly flat. The two hills you will certainly encounter are Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill. The Palatine Hill is next to the Forum and includes palaces from the height of ancient Rome. Capitoline Hill houses the Capitoline Museum and wonderful bird’s eye views of the Forum with the Colosseum in the distance.

People Taking Photos in front of Colosseum

Mobility Requirements for the Top Three Sites

Based on number of visitors a year, Rome’s top three sites are the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Pantheon. Here is a brief introduction to each in terms of mobility requirements. Visit the post: Mobility Requirements for Rome’s Top 3 Sites for more detail.

Colosseum

The Colosseum is the most visited site in Rome – it is crowded! Snagging tickets for the first or last slots of the day can help cut down on crowds. The ground floor of the Colosseum is paved and accessible. There are no stairs at the entrances and there are accessible bathrooms. There is an elevator from the ground level to the first level. If you get tickets for the Underground tour or an Attico visit, you will have to maneuver stairs. The underground and upper levels of the Colosseum are not accessible for wheelchair users.

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are the least accessible of the top three sites in terms of wheelchair accessibility and mobility demands. Their website provides a PDF map of what areas of the museums are wheelchair accessible. If not using a wheelchair, expect to walk 2-3 miles just inside the museums alone. The Sistine Chapel is accessible and provides seating around the perimeter, that is if a spot is open!

Pantheon

The Pantheon is fully accessible! There is one small step to reach the portico level but there is also a ramp to use instead to the left facing the Pantheon entrance. Once inside, the Pantheon is level and the ground is smooth marble. The site is also relatively small meaning it will require a short amount of standing.

Transportation Options

Here is a brief overview below. Learn more in our Transportation and Mobility Requirements post for Rome.

Getting to/from the Airport

The Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino (FCO) airport is about 20 miles from the center of Rome. You can take a taxi, bus or train to and from.

Getting to/from Termini – Rome’s Main Train Station

Rome’s main train station is large. Both main metro lines go through it and many of the country’s fast trains stop here. Some people like to stay near Termini but other popular lodging areas will require you to take the metro, a bus or taxi in between your lodging and Termini.

Getting Around Rome

Within the center of Rome, sights are rather spread out. The metro gets you close to some sights though buses will get you closer. Taxis will be your best option to save some steps, especially if the cobblestones are getting to you. You will need to find a taxi rank or have your hotel or restaurant call you a taxi as you can not hail one as it drives by.