Colosseum and Trevi Fountain itinerary: a detailed travel guide about how to see Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum on the same day, how to get between the two, what to see in the area and great gelato stop you’ll love.
The Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are two of the most famous attractions in Rome and appear on all the Rome must see list, and with good reason!
Both Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are unique in their own genre, they are jaw-droopingly beautiful and since they were built with a gap of almost 1700 years from one another (!), they are also fantastic examples of the variety of aesthetic and attractions Rome has to offer. They truly are unmissable!
Visiting the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in a day is easy: the two attractions are not far from one another and you can even walk between the two with ease.
However, I believe there is merit in giving you an itinerary and I encourage you to read this, as I believe it will add pleasure and significance to you walk in this area.
My name is Marta and I am from Rome. I was born here over 4 decades ago and I adore Rome.
I know the first impression of it is chaotic and messy but I also know that once you see beyond its superficial appearance, it is a city with endless charm, stories and personality, a city you can spend a lifetime in and never finish seeing, a city that is a place and a philosophy: if you let her, Rome will never have you bored and will forever challenge new ways of thinking!
For Rome to cast its spell however, you need a bit of guidance and to have a human telling you its secrets.
In Rome, what is between landmarks is as important as the landmarks themselves and no AI itinerary telling you how to get from A to B can convey even a fraction of what the city has to offer.
I am your human! And while I am not able to join you in this walk in person, this post is my way of virtually coming with you and point out what I believe is worth seeing in this area, giving you the background you need to enjoy it at most.
Need to know!
You can follow this itinerary in either direction. The Trevi Fountain tends to be at is quietest very early in the morning. If you do not intend on visiting the Colosseum inside, this all area is at its best before 9am, before the crowds come in.
There are several other ways to get between these two stops. I recommend this one as a right balance between efficiency and beauty.
If you have kids, you may like to get for them my printable scavenger hunts for Rome. They include one for this area (colosseum to Piazza Venezia; Pantheon to Trevi) which can help them have fun by ticking off what they see. I have included easy things for them to spot and fact cards to help them understand what they see in a relaxed and fun way.
Colosseum – Trevi Fountain Distance
The distance between Colosseum and Trevi Fountain is about 1.6Km on foot. This means that if you walk, you can expect to get from one to the other is about 20-25 minutes, depending on your speed, if you take the most direct route.
Colosseum to Trevi Fountain walking itinerary map
How to get from Colosseum to Trevi Fountain (or back)
You can get from the Colosseum to Trevi:
On foot – recommended. If you can walk, this is a lovely walk that will get you to see beautiful parts of Rome and learn about the city in a way you may not get with more traditional itineraries
By taxi – about 15 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis can bring you close to the Trevi Fountain but not right in front as the piazza is closed to cars. Also, they need to take a longer route than if you were walking so they re usually not much faster. They are however a good option if walking is not possible. I recommend you read here >> my guide to getting a taxi in Rome to know what to expect and how to go about it.
By bus – part of the route Colosseum to Trevi Fountain can be covered by bus. Buses 51, 85, 87, 118 can save about 3/4 of the walk and leave you about 5 minutes walk from the fountain. I recommend you read here >> my guide to using buses in Rome
By metro – this is not really an option as it gets you to take a very long detour and doesn’t save you much walking, if any. However, you can technically take the metro from Colosseo to Termini and then change to go from Termini to Barberini. This can be handy if you need to stop in Termini on the way or get back to your accommodation in the area.
My Colosseum and Trevi Fountain itinerary on foot
Start at the Colosseum
For the sake of this itinerary, I am going to presume you have already visited the Colosseum and are just looking to walk from here to the Fountain.
If you need any help with the Colosseum, please remember I can help! Check the following links to get:
Check out the Arch of Constantine
Just outside the Colosseum there is a colossal arch that is worth paying attention to: the Arch of Constantine.
The arch is one of the several triumphal arches in Rome and dates to the IV century AD. It was built to celebrate the war victories of Constantine the I, the pivotal figure who turned the Roman Empire from Pagan to Christian, ending centuries of prosecutions.
The arch has a curiosity: the medallions on it depict several imperial figures, all with the same facial traits as Constantine. This was by choice: the emperor wanted to show that while an innovator, he was also very much part of the lineage of previous emperors and, therefore, a legitimate rules.
Walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali to Piazza Venezia
The Colosseum now is connected to Piazza Venezia and the city center by a large road called Via dei Fori Imperiali (The street of the Imperial Fora)
The road was built is Fascists time, so it is very much not an ancient road, and it is a large and scenic road offering incredible views over the Roman Forum and the Imperial Fora.
As you walk, you will see the Roman Forum to the left and, on your right, the Fora of several of the emperors, namely Augustus Nerva and Trajan, each with a (modern) statue of the relevant emperor at the front.
Top tip! If you want to stop for gelato as you walk, go to Flor on Via Cavour, very much on your way and delicious!
Things I recommend you specifically notice here:
The Fantastic church of Santi Cosma e Damiano, free to enter (on your left, as you walk down) and absolutely stunning. It also has a view over the so called Temple of Romulus in the Forum, fantastic for ancient history lovers (it is not a scenic view, but fantastic if you are interested in those times and their art)
The so called ‘Trajan Markets’ , which are not really markets but a fantastic remain that tells us how Rome developed also in medieval times – if you can, I recommend you come back here one day to visit them inside.
The Trajan Column – the Trajan column (click for a full guide) is a celebratory column with something unique. If you look at its body, you will notice elaborate carvings that spiral up as if they were carved on a ribbon. The carvings are not just decoration, they actually tell the story of the war campaign of Trajan and his army, as if it was a film, recounting the events in a visual way. This is why archaeologists call it ‘the first film in history’!
Piazza Venezia and the Vittoriano
Piazza Venezia is one of the most important piazzas in Rome and itself a place you could spend a good couple of hours exploring, it has so much to offer.
At present, the piazza is all dug up due to the construction of a new metro station so it may not look like much but if you have time, I recommend you visit several monuments all opening up on it:
The Vittoriano, the tall, white neoclassical building with horses on top, towering above it. Vittoriano is the Altar to the Fatherland, symbol of Italy as a united nation, and the place where the unknown soldier rests. The monument is open to the public and you can climb to the second terrace for free, to get sweeping views of the forum up to the Colosseum and also the city below you. You can read here >>> my guide to the Vittoriano
The Capitoline Hill – the Capitoline Hill is one of the seven hills of Rome and one of the most significant both for the important role it had in ancient Roman times and for the fact that during the Renaissance Michelangelo turned it into one of the most beautiful piazzas in Rome!
To reach the piazza you need to climb up a set of steps but, if you can, you will be rewarded in several ways: Piazza del Campidoglio itself is beautiful; you can here visit the Capitoline Museums (they take a few hours); the church of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli is wonderful and worth seeing (free); the view over the Roman Forum from here is breathtaking!
You can read here >>> my guide to the Capitoline Hill
Top tip! If you want to climb up here, to your right you will find a sign for restrooms and a cafe. The cafe has lovely views, so while it is a bit pricey, it is a fantastic place for a quick stop and a photo!
Via del Corso
From Piazza Venezia departs a busy, long road flanked with shops, churches, cafes and more. Via del Corso is one of the most important streets of Rome, the ancient main artery into the city and while now it may not look like much, with all the people and the traffic, it is a significant one to at least notice.
You are only going to walk it for a short while and, on this small stretch, I recommend you seek out:
Galleria Doria – an absolutely stunning museum with fantastic paintings (including Caravaggio). Even if you decide not to visit the museum, do peek into the Gallery’s inner yard as it is beautiful! It also has a wonderful upscale cafe for a coffee or a drink.
Fontana del Facchino – On your lefts, on a small road called Via Lata, there is a seemingly uninteresting yet funny fountain, the Fountain of the Porter (La Fontana del Facchino).
This small fountain has a story that tells you a lot about Rome and its spirit. This is how it goes! Fontana del Facchino is one of the so called talking statues of Rome: these statues didn’t talk with their voice yet had an important role during Papal rule over Rome as they were used to express anonymous discontent against the system. At night, when no one could see, people would pin pamphlets of satyrical verses against the current governments onto these statues, as if the statues themselves exposed an opinion. This is why the statues were considered ‘talking ones’!
Good to know: Fontana del Facchino is a great starting point for my Rome city center walking itinerary, which also brings you to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. This could be another wonderful walking itinerary after your Colosseum to Trevi Fountain adventure!
Piazza Colonna
A few meters ahead, again on your left, you find a piazza with a tall column in the center: Piazza Colonna. The piazza is significant on a few accounts but mainly:
Piazza Colonna is one of the seats of the Italian Government: Palazzo Chigi (Council of Ministries)
In the center of the Piazza you have a column dating back to Emperor Marcus Aurelius: if you recall Trajan’s column mentioned above, this is very similar and is the second examples of a column that tells a story in Rome, inspired of course by the first one!
Galleria Alberto Sordi Gallery
As you cross the road, to your right, you will now find yourself in a covered passage called Galleria Alberto Sordi: this is a a beautiful architectural, covered space with several shops and cafes. Walking across it will be a beautiful short-cut to the Trevi Fountain, now very close!
Alternative! If you can take a couple more minutes of walking and you like architechtrure, head to your right and seek out Galleria Sciarra: a wonderful inner yard with fabulous decor!
Trevi Fountain
Now you have arrived! Trevi Fountain is only a minute ahead of you from Galleria Albero Sordi and you will easily find it thanks to several signs on the streets, the always significant number of people walking in that direction and by following the noise of the water cascading down!
The Fountain is always busy but wonderful and I recommend you read my free guide to the Trevi Fountain to get some fun and interesting fact about it.
From here, you have options! You can:
Stop for a bite in one of the many restaurants in the Trevi area. While most are touristy, I have some great spots to recommend, find them here >> Trevi Fountain area restaurant guide
Explore the Trevi Fountain area (click to get my free guide to it)
Head back to Fontana del Facchino to explore the Pantheon area instead, following my city center itinerary
Have a drink on the Renascente Terrace, one of the many pleasant terraces in Rome
Cross the road and head towards the Spanish Steps, only a short walk from here
I hope you enjoyed this itinerary and it showed you and taught you something new about Rome. Safe travels!