The Spanish Steps in Rome: Rules, Best Time and Photo Spots
The Spanish Steps are 135 travertine steps that climb from Piazza di Spagna to the church of Trinità dei Monti. They are free and open day and night. We photograph couples here most weeks, so here is what is worth knowing before you go: the rules, the best hour and where to stand for photos.
The short answer
| Where | Piazza di Spagna, central Rome. Metro line A, Spagna station |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no ticket, open 24 hours |
| Size | 135 steps, about 29 metres from the piazza to the church |
| Built | 1723–1725, designed by Francesco De Sanctis |
| Rules | No sitting, eating or drinking on the steps. Fines from €250 |
| Best time | Before 9am, or late in the evening |
In this guide
What are the Spanish Steps?
A monumental stairway built between 1723 and 1725 to link Piazza di Spagna, below, with the French church of Trinità dei Monti, above. The design is by Francesco De Sanctis, and the money came from a French diplomat, Étienne Gueffier, who left part of his fortune for the stairs when he died in 1660.
The name comes from the piazza, which is named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. In Italian the steps are the Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti.
Can you sit on the Spanish Steps?
No. Since July 2019 a Rome city regulation forbids sitting, eating and drinking on the steps, with fines of €250, and up to €400 for dirtying or damaging them. The steps were restored in 2016, with €1.5 million from Bulgari.
Walking up and down, standing on the landings and taking photos are all fine. The famous scene in Roman Holiday (1953), with Audrey Hepburn eating a gelato on the steps, would earn a fine today.
Are the Spanish Steps free?
Yes. The steps are a public stairway with no ticket and no gate, open at any hour. That makes them different from the Trevi Fountain, ten minutes away, where the area by the water now costs €2 during the day (Trevi Fountain tickets and hours).
What is at the top and the bottom
At the bottom is the Barcaccia, a fountain shaped like a half-sunken boat, made in 1627–1629 by Pietro Bernini, probably with his son Gian Lorenzo. Straight ahead runs Via Condotti, Rome’s best-known shopping street.
To the right of the steps, facing up, is the house where the poet John Keats died in 1821. It is now the Keats-Shelley House museum.
At the top stand the church of Trinità dei Monti and the Sallustiano obelisk. From there it is about a ten-minute walk along the hill to the Pincio terrace, one of the best views over Piazza del Popolo and a classic sunset spot.
Want photos of the two of you here? A Rome photographer plans the route around the crowds and directs you from the first minute. See flying dress photoshoots on the Spanish Steps
The best time to visit the Spanish Steps
Early morning. Before about 9am the steps are close to empty, and the light on the church is soft. This is when we start our photoshoots here.
Afternoon. From late morning the landings fill with visitors and stay busy until evening.
Spring. Pots of pink azaleas are set out on the steps from around mid-April, just before Rome’s birthday on 21 April, and stay until early May.
Photo spots on the Spanish Steps
The middle landing, facing up
The classic frame: the steps rising behind you and Trinità dei Monti at the top. It works best with a long dress or a flying train falling down the stairs.
The side balustrades under the orange palazzi
On the left-hand side, facing up, the stone balustrades sit against warm orange and ochre walls. It is quieter than the centre and good for close portraits.
The Barcaccia and Via Condotti
At street level, the fountain and the shop fronts of Via Condotti give a very different, city-chic look, and they work well at the end of a session.
Looking back from the top
From the church terrace you look down over the whole staircase to Via Condotti and the domes beyond. It is the best place for a wide frame of the steps with a small figure on them.
A photoshoot on the Spanish Steps
Our Spanish Steps sessions start early, before the landings fill. From here it is a ten-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain, so both fit comfortably into one hour. The steps are also our favourite place for flying dress photoshoots.
The Spanish Steps, before the crowds
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Spanish Steps: questions
How many Spanish Steps are there?
135, rising about 29 metres from Piazza di Spagna to Trinità dei Monti.
Do the Spanish Steps lead to the Trevi Fountain?
No, but they are close. The Trevi Fountain is about a ten-minute walk south of Piazza di Spagna, through the narrow streets around Via Due Macelli.
How long does it take to walk up the Spanish Steps?
Two or three minutes at an easy pace. Most people stop on the landings for the view, so allow a little more.
Why are they called the Spanish Steps?
After Piazza di Spagna at their foot, named for the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, which has stood on the square since the 17th century.
When do the azaleas bloom on the Spanish Steps?
The azaleas are put out from around mid-April and usually stay until early May.
Is it worth visiting the Spanish Steps?
Yes, especially early in the morning, when you can see the whole staircase without a crowd. Combine it with the Trevi Fountain and the Pincio terrace for a morning walk.
Facts checked on 27 September 2026. The sitting ban is part of Rome’s urban police regulation of 2019. Rules can change, so check again before you go.
