Walks in Rome: 5 Half-Day Walking Routes

Rome is best seen on foot: distances are short, cobbles are plentiful and the sights follow one another. Here are five half-day walks, each with a thread to follow, free stops and a starting point reachable by public transport. Durations are approximate and include breaks. Hours and prices as noted in October 2026.

Choosing your walk

Walk	Start	Duration	Distance	Difficulty
1. From the Ghetto to Tiber Island	Piazza Mattei	3 h	3 km	Easy
2. The Janiculum from Trastevere	Piazza Trilussa	3 h	4 km	Uphill
3. Circus Maximus and Aventine	Circo Massimo metro	3 h	4 km	Hills
4. The Coppedè district	Piazza Buenos Aires	2 h	2 km	Easy
5. The Appian Way	Appia Antica	4 h	6 km	Flat, cobbles

1. From the Ghetto to Tiber Island

Start at Piazza Mattei and its Turtle Fountain. Walk down Via del Portico d'Ottavia, through the Jewish Ghetto (see our Ghetto guide), past the Theatre of Marcellus, then cross the Ponte Fabricio to reach Tiber Island. Come back through Trastevere. Ideal in the morning, when the lanes are quiet.

2. The Janiculum from Trastevere

From Piazza Trilussa, climb Via Garibaldi to the Paola Fountain, then to the church of San Pietro in Montorio and its Tempietto. Finish at the terrace of the Janiculum, at sunset or at noon for the cannon shot. Walk back down the steps to Trastevere. Note: the climb is steep, so wear stable shoes.

3. Circus Maximus and Aventine

From Circo Massimo metro, cross the esplanade of the Circus Maximus, where chariots once raced. Then climb the Aventine by Clivo di Rocca Savella to the Orange Garden, then to the keyhole on Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Walk down towards the Mouth of Truth. The light is beautiful in the late afternoon.

4. The Coppedè district

To the north, near Piazza Buenos Aires, the Coppedè district was designed by Gino Coppedè in the 1910s-1920s: whimsical facades mixing Art Nouveau, Baroque and medieval, with the Fountain of the Frogs in the centre. Allow 1 hour on site, free, 24 hours a day.

5. The Appian Way

Take the bus to the entrance of the Appia Antica park, then walk on the ancient paving between the tombs. On Sundays the road is closed to traffic. Bring water, a hat and flat shoes. You can visit a catacomb on the way: see the page on the catacombs.