Free Visitors’ Guide to Castel Sant’Angelo (St Angelo Castle), Rome. How to get tickets, facts and information about the history of the castle, what makes it special + essential tips for your visit by a local.
Castel Sant’Angelo is an imposing castle located on the banks of the River Tiber, in Rome and one of the most unique and beautiful sights in Rome.
The building is the ancient tomb of Emperor Hadrian (II Century AD) but over time it became a Papal Fortress, until it became the museum that we see now.
This peculiar history that roots Castel Sant’Angelo into Imperial and Papal Rome makes it one of the most quintessentially Roman sites you can visit and makes it a unique vantage point to learn and understand the story of the city.
St Angelo Castle is a remarkable site but, oddly, a bit of a Rome hidden gem too.
You may think a big castle complete with turret and cannons is hard to miss and indeed, all it takes to get a glimpse of it is to walk along the river Tiber.
However, this seems to be very much the case when it comes to Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome’s castle which still receives a fraction of the visitors of other sites, probably since long past closures kept it out of the most classic tours of Rome.
however, Castel Sant’Angelo is unique, beautiful and worth seeing. I am from Rome and have visited many times: each has showed me something new and intriguing and every time the views from the top have taken my breath away.
I highly recommend you visit St Angelo Castle in Rome: In this guide, I show you the best way to do so, how to get tickets and I share fun facts about the castle to help you enjoy your visit without tour.
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What is special about Castel Sant’Angelo: a brief history
Castel Sant’Angelo has a very peculiar history that makes it one of the most unique buildings in Rome.
The castle was originally not a castle at all by rather the tomb of Emperor Hadrian, who died in 138 AD.
Its official name is ‘Mole Adriana’ or ‘Mausoleo di Adriano’ (Hadrian’s mausoleum, Hadrian’s burial place) and while the shape of the building has changed significantly over time, it is still possible to observe many elements of the original structure, such as the monumental entrance and the internal staircase that brings to the funeral chamber.
In 271 Emperor Aurelianus included the mausoleum into the new walls around Rome (the Aurelian Walls, named after him) and effectively included the building into part of the fortifications to protect the city.
In the VI century AD, under Pope Gregory I Magnus, the castle was at the centre of an important event: during an outbreak of plague that devastated the city, the people of Rome saw Archangel Micheal appearing a the top of the castle.
The Archangel was seen holding a sword and putting it back in its case, a gesture that was interpreted as symbolising the imminent end of the plague which, indeed, soon afterwards came to an end.
This event gave the castle the name it still currently holds.
During the Middle Ages, the castle changed hands several times, with dominant Roman families such as the Orsini and operated as a defensive structure and a prison.
During the Renaissance, in the XV century, the castle became the residency of Popes and acquires new beautiful and palatial parts such as the apartments, terraces, Loggia and more. Famous architects such as Leon Battista Alberti took part of the decoration and restructuring of the castle.
Between the XVI and XVIII century, the castle worked both as residency and fortress and was used as a military deposit and ammunition storage area.
In the XIX century the castle became the base of the Borbonic Army: when they left, they took all precious materials, furniture and artwork and left the castle in a state of devastation.
Archaeological work only started in 1822. Nowadays, Castel Sant’Angelo is a prized and well kept museum.
Because of this consistent use and metamorphoses, Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the most interesting places to visit in Rome to learn about the history of the city.
From its top, you can also enjoy one of the best views of Rome: the panorama from the top terrace is breathtaking!
Where is St Angelo Castle: Map + How to get there
Castel Sant’Angelo is on the banks of the river Tiber, close to the Vatican and St Peter, to which is connected by the so-called ‘passetto’ (more about it later!).
Its official address is Lungotevere Castello and the bridge that leads to its door is called Ponte Sant’Angelo.
You can reach Castel Sant’Angelo:
On foot: The castle is a short walk from Piazza Navona (about 10 mins) and Piazza San Pietro (about 5 minutes).
By bus: the best buses to get to Castel Sant’Angelo are;
- 62, 23, 271, 982, 280 (stop: Piazza Pia)
- 40 (Piazza Pia, bus terminus)
- 34 (stop: via di Porta Castello)
- 49, 87, 926, 990 (Piazza Cavour-via Crescenzio)
- 64, 46 (stop: Santo Spirito)
The closest metro stations to Castel Sant’Angelo are Lepanto and Ottaviano.
If you are new to the city, you may find our guide to public transportation in
Rome handy
Castel Sant’Angelo Opening hours and closures
St Angelo Castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00am to 19.30 (7.30pm) – last access is at 18.30 (6.30 pm)
The castle is closed on Mondays, on Christmas Day 25 December and 1st January.
Need to know: special events may affect opening hours. Always check the castles’ website direct to pick the best access time on your selected day.
At the time of writing, tickets are 16 Euro (full fare), 2 Euro for EU citizens between 18 and 25 years of age, Free for Kids under 18. You can find here >>> official prices for Castel Sant’Angelo Tickets
How to get tickets for Castel Sant’Angelo
The best ways to get tickets to Castel Sant’Angelo are:
From the official castle ticket concession Gebart – these tickets are the cheapest as you buy direct from the attraction and dated: you choose a date for you visit and you can access the castle once, at any time, on your chosen day.
Usually, you do not need to buy tickets in advance if visiting during the week, but it is advisable to get them for weekend visits when the number of visitors is higher. Tickets are non changeable and non refundable.
Good to know: with the unprecedented level of tourism expected in Rome in 2025 (Jubilee Year), I recommend you secure tickets in advance as the castle is likely to get many visitors due also to its Papal history.
Another reliable ticket provider for St Angelo Castle is Tiqets:
St Angelo Castle Tickets by Tiqets – you can use code MAMALOVESITALY to get a 5% discount (on all the Tiqets catalogue!). I use Tiqets extensively as I find their app really easy to use and they have good in app discount on subsequent purchases, so I have all my tickets in one place.
St Angelo Castle: guided or self guided?
Castel Sant’Angelo is easy to visit without a guide. The castle has good info panels and it is visually very impressive, meaning you do not need to know all the ins and outs about it to enjoy it.
A tours will of course add depth to your knowledge and I would recommend a live guide for those who have a specific interest in the building or want the chance to ask specific questions to an expert guide.
if this is your, the tours I can recommend are>
Rome Castel Sant’Angelo Tour with fast track access: 2h group tour of the castle with live guide
You can also opt for a self guided approach by getting an audioguide: you can purchase it here >>> Castel Sant’Angelo entry ticket + Augioguide from Tiqets
Best things to see in Castel Sant’Angelo: highlights for visitors
The visit to Castel Sant’Angelo follows a preordained itinerary that makes it easy and interesting.
Several info panels dot your way and this makes it easy to learn the history of the castle and make sure you do not miss anything – all the information on this page that do not link to an external site came for what we learned when visiting the castle itself.
Out of the many interesting parts of the castles, I believe the most interesting are the following:
The bastions
The bastions of Castel Sant’Angelo have been built in several stages and are now form the main path visitors follow to see the castle.
There are steps to reach them but they are easy to negotiate and the walkaways are flat.
The view is breathtaking and, if you are traveling with kids, they will be delighted to discover the castle has some impressive cannons and cannonballs dating back to the 1600s.
They are on the bastione San Marco, which looks towards the Vatican City and above ‘il Passetto’.
The other bastions are called Bastione San Luca and Bastione San Giovanni: this last one is of particular interest as it used to be the fortress armory.
The bastions, with the cannons and views, are one of the reasons why I recommend families to visit the castle: it truly is one of the best places to visit in Rome with kids!
Hadrian’s Mausoleum Cylinder
From the bastion of San Marco it is easy to admire the incredible cylindrical structure of the original Mausoleum.
The mausoleum has a quadrangular base 86mt large and had, on top, the cylinder we still see today.
The top would have been decorated by a garden, not dissimilar in style to that of the Mausoleum of Augustus, on the other side of the river.
The angel
Castel Sant’Angelo takes its name from Archangel Micheal, said to have appeared at the top of the castle to announce the end of the plague.
Its statue is best seen from the top terrace but you catch glimpses of it from many locations in the castle: don’t forget to look up!
Il passetto
Il passetto di Borgo (or simply ‘il passetto’) is the stretch of walls connecting the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo.
It is still visible from the outside and what makes it interesting is that, inside, it hides a secret: a long corridor that allowed the Popes to go from the Vatican to the safety of the fortress in case of attack.
The entrance to the passage is visible from inside the castle and it has occasional openings in summer, in the evening.
At the time of writing the passetto is closed: I will update this article with opening news should information about reopening and booking come available.
Hadrian’s mausoleum
Inside the castle, it is still possible to see the area of Hadrian’s mausoleum, when the ashed of the Antonini’s emperors were kept.
This section of the building is very impressive and used to be decorated with marble slabs, now lost.
While they are not currently visible, it is still possible to guess their existence from the holes in the wall that used to house the metal grips holding the marble in place.
The courtyard and the Pope’s apartments
The Pope apartment and connecting areas and courtyard date mostly to the Renaissance time, when many artists contributed to the creation of beautiful and elaborately decorated spaces.
Among the many, we can recall interventions by Leon Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellino and Umberto di San Gallo il Vecchio.
Not to be missed is Sala di Apollo, with fantastic frescoes with classical themes in ‘grottesche’ style.
Armoury, Sala Paolina, Giretto and Grande Loggia
As you keep going, you’ll get acquainted with the role of the castle as a prison as you’ll see the parlatotio (where prisoners were made to confess), the cells for those awaiting trials.
Passing via the Armoury you the get to Sala Paolina (room) famous for its beautiful frescoes, bedrooms, library and treasury.
The outer areas of this part of the castle, ‘Il Giretto’ and ‘la grande’ loggia are two of the best areas in the whole of the castle for views.
They are corridors overlooking the city below and they are stunning as they frame the view with beautiful columns and arches, a photographer’s dream!
The top terrace
The jewel in the crown in Castel Sant’Angelo is the top terrace.
If you see nothing else here, make sure you climb all the way to the top of the castle because as the view is special: in front you, the whole of Rome opens up and you can not just spot most of its most beautiful and iconic sites but also incredible details of St Peter’s basilica and dome pretty much at your feet!
After you have filled your eyes with views over the city, turn around and also take notice of the statue towering above you: it is Archangel Michael sheathing his sword to signal the end of the plague that decimated Rome in the V century.
This list of things to see may seem overwhelming (yet it is not exhaustive) but visiting Castel Sant’Angelo is remarkably simple.
The tourist itinerary is well marked and all you need to do is to follow the signs – they will lead you to all the areas of the castle open to the public.
Additional tips for visiting Castel Sant’Angelo (dress code, accessibility etc)
Despite its history as Papal residence, Castel Sant’Angelo is a historical site, not a religious one, and no particular dress code is necessary.
I do however recommend to wear comfortable shoes when visiting: some of the steps and passageways in the castle can be a little slippery so runners or anyway good walking shoes are handy to have (walking sandals are ok too).
You can find my recommended walking shoes for Rome here.
The castle has high areas such as the bastions and can therefore be tricky for people with a fear of heights.
Due to the nature of the site, only parts of it are accessible by wheelchairs and strollers. The accessible areas are the Chapel of the Condemned (on the ground floor), the bastions and parapet walk on level 1 (by elevator), The Loggia of Julius II and the Armoury on level 2 by lift, and then the Courtyard of the Angel, Room of Apollo and the Courtyard of Alexander VI by ramp.
The accessible toilet is on the ground floor.
Top Tip! Try visit just before sunset!
If you are in Rome in the summer, I highly recommend planning a visit to castell Sant’Angelo just before sunset. Seeing the sun setting over Rome is magical!
Looking for a special place to propose in Rome? Castel Sant’Angelo has a stunning cafe and restaurant right at the top, one of the most romantic spots in Rome!
Visiting Castel Sant’Angelo with kids
Castel Sant’Angelo is a fantastic Rome attraction to visit with kids of primary school age and up and a real treat especially if in Rome with tweens.
The castle has the feel of a fortress, with turrets, bastion walks, bridges and cannons and it is full of stories and legends that are guaranteed to pique their interest.
For the best experience for kids, I recommend you opt for a guided tour such as this one, which will compensate for the otherwise dry description of the place offered by the info panels.
I believe Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the best things to do in Rome with kids of school age!
Visiting Castel Sant’Angelo with toddlers is not easy.
Only some areas of the castle are accessible, Castel Sant’Angelo is not suitable for strollers and prams and the highest areas of the castle require a lot of attention – this is not a place where you can leave a toddler to run on their own and there is little for them to play with.
If visiting Castel Sant’Angelo with a baby or toddler, I recommend you bring a carrier.
Find here >>> All my tips to visit Castel Sant’Angelo with kids and the best things to see
I hope you enjoyed this essential visitors’ guide to castle Sant’Angelo and it inspired you to explore it + gave you essential background information to enjoy your time visiting. Safe travels!