Rome’s Top Three Sites – What Level of Mobility is Required?

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Rome’s most visited sites are the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Pantheon. Below, we will discuss the mobility requirements for Rome’s top three sites. My hope is this will help you decide which are right for you to visit and to help plan the pace of your trip based on how much effort each site will take to visit.

(Last Updated April 2025)

Colosseum

Let’s discuss mobility requirements to visit Rome’s most visited site: the Colosseum. It will be crowded and you will need to be able to start and stop walking quickly and easily. Booking a ticket for the first or last slots of the day will be less busy than the middle of the day. For reference, I visited on a Tuesday in January at 10:30am. It was shoulder-to-shoulder people throughout the two main floors.

Entrance and Exit

The entrances and exits of the Colosseum are accessible with no steps to enter. There are separate lines for those using wheelchairs, guided tours, and depending on what type of ticket you purchased (more on that below). You will enter on the east side near the Forum and exit on the south side. The area surrounding the Colosseum is covered in smoothed cobblestones with minimal gapping.

Inside the Site

The flooring is mostly concrete and stones – a respite from the cobbles! Once you are walking the route of the colosseum, there is some rougher small stone and brick type flooring. There is occasionally some marbled flooring running across.

“Disabled Access”: This is the terminology used within the Colosseum. There is a “disabled route” marked on the first and second floors for wheelchair users. Per the Colosseum’s website, you will need to show proof of your disability to use this access. If you booked one of their accessible tours, you will also need to show a document proving your disability. There is an elevator to use between the first and second floors and accessible bathrooms.

If not using a wheelchair, you will need to climb stairs between the first and second levels which is the equivalent of two flights of stairs. There are railings on both sides. You need to be able to manage with just one railing or railing and a cane.

Underground and Attico visits are also offered and are not a part of the general Colosseum ticket. They are difficult to get due to fewer numbers of tickets but that means you will not have as many people on those levels of the Colosseum with you. Neither are accessible for wheelchair users or those using walkers. The Underground level includes groupings of stairs along the route. The Attico visit does allow you to take an elevator up but there are additional stairs and steps that are uneven and are more challenging than the stairs between the first and second floors. It is important to note that the Underground visit is a guided tour while the Attico is not.

Getting to the Colosseum

Metro: The Colosseo Metro station on Line B is across the street from the Colosseum. There is no elevator at this station but there is a stair lift.

Bus: Several bus lines drop you off right next to the Colosseum: Lines 51, 75, 85, 87, 117, 118. The hop on/hop off type buses will drop you off closer to the Forum than the Colosseum.

Taxi: Taxis can drop you off near the Colosseo metro station. Note: There is ongoing construction around the Colosseum due to the new metro route, Line C. This may change where taxis are picking up/dropping off.

Useful Links:

Official Colosseum Website

Official Colosseum Website to Purchase Tickets

Vatican

Update 4/24/25: Check both the St. Peter’s official website and the Vatican Museums website for up-to-date openings and closings. 2025 is also 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.

Which site will require the most physical mobility out of you out of Rome’s top three sites? It’s the Vatican Museums, hands down. This is due to distance you need to cover and the fact that there are no alternatives to stairs in some wings. I walked about 4 miles just inside the Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel, a must see for most visiting the museums, is at the opposite end of the museums from the entrance. When adding in walking from the metro, going to St. Peter’s, etc., it can make for a high mileage day.

Note: If you have decided seeing the Vatican Museums is a must see for you and you know it will be very physically demanding, I have some recommendations. First, PLAN! Try to sandwich your Vatican Museums day in between two days where you will not be on your feet as much. Before your visit, research what areas of the museums or specific artwork you want to see. Plan a route based on what is most important to you. Even if you plan a route, it is not easy finding your way in the museum. Twice I had to ask employees how to get to a certain room. Lastly, you may want to take a taxi to/from to save some of your energy.

Entrance and Exit

There are accessible entry and exits of the Vatican Museums. You line up in front of the museum for your designated time slot and are expected to wait there until your entry time arrives. Once inside, the lobby offers places to sit and rest. Elevators and escalators take you up to the main level to start your visit.

Inside the Vatican Museums

There are ample benches and other seating in the entrance and exit areas and in the pinecone courtyard. Otherwise, benches are scattered throughout the museums and can be hard to find, especially if the museum is crowded. There is a cafeteria towards the end of the visit where you can refuel and rest.

The flooring of the Vatican Museums is different types and colors of marble. If you do not think you can walk these distances, renting a wheelchair from the Vatican (no cost) is an option. Even though I visited in January, it was was very crowded by 10am. Consider that your view from a wheelchair may be obstructed and it may be hard to get around your fellow tourists. There are stairs to get to certain wings and rooms of the museum. There is not always an elevator option. If you cannot manage stairs, there will be areas you will not be able to access.

The Vatican also provides a recommended route that is stair/step-free. The Vatican does offer a guided tour called “Vatican Gardens without barriers” but they clearly state that their official Vatican Museums tours are not accessible for wheelchair users. If using an outside guide or joining a group tour, you will need to notify them that you or someone in your group will be using a wheelchair or is unable to climb stairs. They should be able to accommodate if you are doing a private tour but will likely not with a group tour.

Getting to the Vatican Museums

Metro: Line A Ottaviano station is a 0.3 mile walk. The Cipro station, also on Line A, is slightly further away but requires climbing a long flight of stairs.

Bus: Bus route 49 drops you in front of the Vatican Museums. Routes 32, 81, 982, 492 and 990 drop you within a quarter of a mile.

Taxi: Taxis can drop you off in front of the museum. Make sure you clarify they drop you at the Vatican Museums and not near St. Peter’s Basilica.

Useful Links:

Official Vatican Museum Website for Tickets

The Official Vatican Museum Website Accessibility Page

Official Vatican Museum Map: Note, this is a PDF.

Official Vatican Museum Accessible Route Map: Note, this is a PDF.

Pantheon

Now that we have discussed how difficult the Vatican can be in terms of mobility, the Pantheon is the most accessible of the three (and the smallest).

Entrance and Exit

The Pantheon has one step up to the portico level from the piazza. There is also a ramp on the left which is close to where you can buy tickets and also to get in line to go inside. The piazza in front has cobblestone flooring but the Pantheon’s portico features marble flooring. There are no additional steps to get through the main doors nor once inside.

Inside the Site

The interior of the Pantheon is not large. This is a quick visit in comparison to the Vatican or even the Colosseum. You will likely be able to pair this with another site r two in the same day. The interior is completely flat and level.