We stayed in the Pantheon neighborhood. Getting to the top of the Spanish Steps was something we were eager to do yet we were not looking forward to the climb. But check out how we got there by happy accident: we took a taxi to visit Borghese Gallery and after touring it and walking through the Borghese gardens, we asked our mobile phone GPS to take us to the Spanish Steps on foot. Totally expecting to end up at the bottom of the steps, GPS guided us to THE TOP, just below the Trinità dei Monti! We took a few steps up to see the cathedral and then a million steps down the Spanish Steps ... mission accomplished and super easy.
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1584 posts
My wife and I did the same thing a few years ago only we used an old fashioned paper map to find our way from the Borghese Museum to the top of the Spanish Steps.
Posted by
Colorado
471 posts
After my wandering through Rome, I asked for a Christmas compass. Geeeze, we were so lost that we did 26,000+ steps that day. I'm definitely bringing my compass next time.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6484 posts
I think there's an elevator in the subway station, before the turnstiles so it's free! ;-)
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15778 posts
You can also avoid the steps by walking up Via Sistina, as we discovered quite by accident.
BTW, those steps are deadly slippery when wet!!!!
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2181 posts
And there is no rail for going down in the middle. When we went summer 2019 people were still sitting on the steps, so using the side railings was impossible. Last I heard they were not allowing g people to sit, but that was the only time during my trip with a bum knee that I was truly scared.