Tourist map of Rome: the areas to know and where to see what

Rome is a sprawling city, but almost everything travellers want to see fits in a circle about 4 km wide, on the banks of the Tiber. This guide serves as a mental map before you open a map app: it divides the city into eight areas, says what you can see in each, gives walking distances between the major sights and explains how to link the areas. Walking times are approximate, without stops or queues, and the prices of the sights are in their pages. To choose a neighbourhood to sleep in, see where to stay in Rome instead.

Rome at a glance

The Colosseum

The Tiber makes an S-shaped loop through the city. On the left bank (east side) are the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and Termini station; on the right bank (west side), the Vatican and Trastevere. The best-known sights are on the left bank, between the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps: from one to the other, allow about 40 minutes on foot.

The historic centre is not served by the metro: line A skirts it at Barberini, Spagna and Flaminio, and line B passes at the Colosseum. For the rest, you walk, or take a bus or tram. Our guide to getting around Rome details the tickets.

The eight areas to know

1. Ancient Rome: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine, Circus Maximus

This is the most visited area: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine and the Circus Maximus are 10-15 minutes on foot from one another. Metro station: Colosseo (line B). The Capitoline Hill and its museums are at the end of the Forum.

2. Baroque centre: Pantheon, Navona, Campo de' Fiori

The Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori are 5-10 minutes from one another, in a network of lanes. There is no metro: you arrive by bus or on foot from the Capitoline Hill (15 minutes). See the Pantheon and Navona neighbourhood guide and the one on Campo de' Fiori and via Giulia.

3. Trevi, Quirinal and the Spanish Steps

The Trevi Fountain is about 12 minutes on foot from the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps about ten minutes from Trevi. Barberini and Spagna stations (line A) serve the area. See Trevi and Quirinal and the Tridente.

4. Villa Borghese and north Rome

The Villa Borghese and the Borghese Gallery are north of the Spanish Steps, 15-20 minutes on foot via the Pincio. Piazza del Popolo is the gateway (Flaminio station). See also Flaminio and Parioli.

5. Vatican, Borgo and Prati

St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums are on the right bank. Ottaviano station serves the museums. From Castel Sant'Angelo to St Peter's Square it is about 15 minutes on foot along the via della Conciliazione, and Piazza Navona is 10 minutes from Ponte Sant'Angelo. See Prati and Borgo and Vatican Museums or St Peter's Basilica.

6. Trastevere, Janiculum and Monteverde

Trastevere, on the right bank opposite the centre, is reached on foot from Campo de' Fiori in 10 minutes via Ponte Sisto. The Janiculum overlooks the neighbourhood; see Monteverde and the Janiculum.

7. Termini, Esquiline and Monti

Termini station is the transport hub (metro A and B, trains, airport buses). The Monti and Esquiline neighbourhoods lie between the station and the Colosseum, about 15-20 minutes on foot from each. The Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Massimo are next to the station.

8. Aventine, Testaccio, Ostiense and the Appian Way

South of the Circus Maximus: the Aventine, Testaccio, Ostiense and Garbatella and, further out, the Appian Way. These areas are quieter and require the metro (line B) or a bus. EUR is even further south, at the end of line B.

Table of walking distances between major sights

From → To	Walking time
Colosseum → Roman Forum	5 min
Colosseum → Pantheon	30 min
Pantheon → Piazza Navona	5 min
Pantheon → Trevi Fountain	12 min
Trevi Fountain → Spanish Steps	10 min
Spanish Steps → Piazza del Popolo	10 min
Piazza Navona → Ponte Sant'Angelo	10 min
Ponte Sant'Angelo → St Peter's Square	15 min
Campo de' Fiori → Trastevere	10 min
Termini → Colosseum	25 min

Approximate times, without queues or climbs.

How to link the areas

On foot: the most suitable on the left bank, between the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi and the Spanish Steps. The cobblestones ("sampietrini") are uneven: wear good shoes.
Metro: lines A (Vatican, Barberini, Spagna, Flaminio, Termini) and B (Colosseum, Circo Massimo, Termini). For areas they do not serve, a bus or tram is needed.
Tram 8: links Largo Argentina to Trastevere.
Taxi: see the guide to taxis in Rome for fixed fares and traps.

Map-reading mistakes

Underestimating distances: on the map everything looks close, but 3 km on foot over cobblestones, in the sun, is tiring. Plan breaks.
Thinking the Vatican is in the centre: it is on the right bank, more than an hour on foot from the Colosseum.
Looking for the metro in the centre: there is none between the Pantheon and Navona.