🗺️ How to get to the Spanish Steps and what is forbidden on the steps

Crowds of tourists head to the Spanish Steps for one shot. 135 steps connect Piazza di Spagna with the Trinità dei Monti church on the Pincian Hill. But you can't sit on them: since 2019, it's been fined (as of 2026, Rome monument rules).

The site is free and open around the clock, no ticket office or reservation needed. It's best to come before 9:00 or after 18:00, see the Barcaccia Fountain at the bottom, and climb up to the church at the top.

Below, everything in order: why the staircase is called Spanish, how it was built, what to do in Piazza di Spagna and the surrounding area, when to come, and how much time to allow for a visit. At the end you'll find tickets, opening hours, and a route from the metro.

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Why the staircase is called Spanish

💡 In short:

Best time: early morning or late evening.
Church hours and rules: 09/2026, verified on the official Trinità dei Monti website.

Spanish Steps in Rome with a church at the top

The staircase got its name not from the country, but from an embassy. At the foot of the Pincian Hill, the residence of the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See stood for centuries, and at the top rose the French church of Trinità dei Monti. The square between them the Romans called Spanish, Piazza di Spagna, after the embassy.

That's how symbols of two rival powers ended up on one square: a French church above and a Spanish mission below. The papal court supported the idea of connecting the church and the square with a single ascent. The dispute between Paris and Madrid delayed construction for almost a hundred years.

The official name of the steps, Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti, recalls the church at the top. In everyday use, you'll more often hear the simple name tied to the square.

Construction history: from concept to 1725

Spanish Steps with the Church of Trinità dei Monti and an obelisk

The money for the steps was bequeathed by the French diplomat Étienne Gouffier. By his will, a large sum went to Rome on the condition of connecting the Spanish square and the French church with a single ascent. The project was chosen through an architects' competition, won by the young Roman Francesco de Sanctis.

Cardinal Mazarin wanted to crown the staircase with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV. The pope and the Spanish side opposed it, and the dispute stalled the work again. Construction began only in 1723.

The slope was constantly eroded by downpours. Before laying the first steps, workers had to reinforce the ground.

The staircase received a wide three-tiered flight, two narrow side branches, and a viewing terrace with a balustrade at the top. It was built from travertine, a stone between limestone and marble. There are exactly 135 steps, and some of them are wider than the rest: that's how the architect broke up the monotony of the climb. The central flight leads you straight to the viewing terrace.

The parapets were decorated with the coats of arms of the pope and the French crown. The completed staircase was opened in 1725.

Barcaccia Fountain

Fountain of the Old Boat in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome

At the foot of the steps stands the Fontana della Barcaccia: a stone boat, half submerged in water. The fountain was installed in 1626-1629, designed by Pietro Bernini, father of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (as of 09/2026, Turismo Roma).

The shape recalls the Tiber floods that inundated central Rome. According to legend, after one flood a barge with wine barrels was washed onto the square, and it suggested the image of a half-sunken vessel.

On the sides you can see bees and a sun, the coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII Barberini, who commissioned the fountain (as of 09/2026, Sovrintendenza Roma). The water comes from the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct and is safe to drink. You can also fill up from the street fountains nearby.

Piazza di Spagna and its surroundings

Piazza di Spagna serves as the city's living room. People meet here, take photos, and relax by the water. The square got its name from the Palazzo di Spagna, the palace of the Spanish ambassador: it has stood here for centuries, and its status remains special to this day.

Via Condotti, a street of boutiques that leads to Via del Corso, starts from the square. For relaxed shopping, pick a weekday before noon: the storefronts are uncrowded and the salespeople are not in a hurry.

In the right corner, at number 26, hides Keats-Shelley House. It is a small museum of the British Romantics and the place where the poet John Keats died. His bedroom is preserved as a museum room, and entry is by ticket only.

At the top, Trinità dei Monti awaits you. Entry is free, and the schedule is as follows: Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday from 10:15 to 19:45, Wednesday from 12:00, Sunday from 9:00 (as of 09/2026, the church's official website). Tourists are not allowed inside during services.

The steps today: restoration, azaleas, and rules

Panorama of Rome with church domes and the Victor Emmanuel II Monument

The film "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn made the steps a symbol of Rome. Everyone tries to recreate the ice cream scene on the steps.

By the early 2010s, the travertine had darkened, and the steps had loosened and cracked. The restoration was paid for by the jewelry house Bulgari: it invested 1.5 million euros, and the work took almost a year (as of 09/2026, Reuters). The steps reopened in September 2016, and they have been watched over more strictly ever since.

Every spring, the steps are decorated with azaleas. In 2026, a composition of hundreds of pink and white bushes was assembled on April 16, and it lasts about a month (as of 2026, Through Eternity Tours).

In summer, street musicians play on the steps, tourists take photos by the fountain, and in winter the square is decorated for the Christmas holidays.

Tickets, hours, and how to get there

There is no separate ticket for the Spanish Steps. They are open around the clock and free of charge; there are no ticket offices or turnstiles here.

The closest metro station is Spagna on line A. From the exit to the steps is less than two minutes on foot (according to the map). Buses to stops on Via del Corso and near Piazza Barberini will also work; from there it is a 5-10 minute walk (according to the map).

The visiting rules are simple: you cannot sit, lie down, eat, or leave suitcases on the steps (as of 2026, city rules). The fine reaches several hundred euros, and city services issue it regularly.

Set aside half an hour for the steps, the fountain, and the square. Add another hour for the church and the Keats museum. If you want to see the center with a guide, check out Rome tours on GetYourGuide.

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The spanish steps in rome on the map

The steps are located in Piazza di Spagna in the northern part of the historic center. The map shows how close Via del Corso and Piazza del Popolo are from here. Build a route from your hotel or from Spagna station.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Where do the Spanish Steps lead?

The steps rise from Piazza di Spagna to the church of Trinità dei Monti on the Pincian Hill. It is a grand ascent between the French church at the top and the former Spanish embassy at the bottom. Behind the church begins the Pincian Hill with a park and a view of the city. The climb takes a few minutes at a relaxed pace.

How many steps are there on the Spanish Steps?

There are 135 travertine steps, and they are not of uniform width. The wide central flight is framed by two narrow side branches.

Can you sit on the Spanish Steps?

No. Since 2019, there has been a ban on sitting, lying down, and eating on the steps, as well as on bulky luggage (as of 2026, rules for visiting the steps). Violators are fined up to several hundred euros. The steps are considered a passageway, so you cannot sit down even for a minute.

How much does it cost to enter the Spanish Steps?

Entry is free. The church of Trinità dei Monti at the top also admits visitors without a ticket. You will only need money at the Keats-Shelley House museum at number 26: entry there is by ticket, and check prices and hours on site.

How to get to the Spanish Steps?

The easiest way is by metro line A to Spagna station: from the exit to the steps it is less than two minutes on foot (according to the map). By bus, stops on Via del Corso and near Piazza Barberini will work. From Termini station the ride takes a few stops, no transfer needed.

What to see in Piazza di Spagna?

In the square itself stands the Barcaccia Fountain, shaped like a half-sunken boat. Nearby begins Via Condotti with its boutiques, and at number 26 the Keats-Shelley House museum is open. At the top, the church of Trinità dei Monti awaits you with a panorama of the rooftops.

In short: what to book

If you are visiting Rome for the first time, start your day at the Spanish Steps early in the morning: no groups and no lines.

If you want to see the city from above, climb up to Trinità dei Monti and continue your walk to the Pincio Hill.

If you are planning to shop, walk along Via Condotti to Via del Corso.

If you are interested in literature, stop by the Keats-Shelley House at number 26.

If you are looking for accommodation in the center, book a hotel in Rome on Trip.com.

Spanish Steps in Rome: 135 steps, rules and Piazza di Spagna