Wheelchair Accessible Rome: A Complete Travel Guide for 2025
Like many millennial girls, my first glimpse of Rome came through Lizzie McGuire tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain while Paolo serenaded her in broken English. I dreamed of visiting ever since, but as a wheelchair user, I wondered if those picture-perfect moments were actually possible.
Then came Cory. When I learned that Cory Lee (a travel influencer who also has SMA) was taking his annual group trip to Italy, I immediately texted my family. Within 48 hours, everyone was on board for the adventure. I've followed Cory for a while, but this was my first chance to join one of his trips, so I was excited we could finally travel together! In a country often thought to be inaccessible due to its ancient architecture and legendary cobblestones, knowing that Cory partners with Wheel the World to handle transportation, lodging, and tours made all the difference in turning this dream into reality.
Getting There
Flying out of Indiana always means connections. Whenever we fly, we only choose Southwest or Delta because they are the best at taking care of our chairs. We chose Delta with an Atlanta layover before the eight-hour overnight flight to Rome. Delta genuinely treated our wheelchairs with care and provided seamless assistance at every airport.
Pro tip: Always take off parts of your chair that can easily break (if possible). I always take my headrest and joystick on the plane with me. I also recommend putting bright colored tape on the brakes so they can easily be found. Always buckle the seat belt so it doesn’t get run over and if you have something you can’t take off, try to protect it the best you can and alert the airport staff where to be careful!
Where We Stayed: Hotel Quirinale
We landed around 7 a.m. and got into our accessible van for the 45-minute drive to Hotel Quirinale in downtown Rome. Despite being 150 years old, this hotel surprised me with its spacious accessible room. Even with two wheelchairs and a rollaway bed, we had plenty of space for activities!
One of the coolest things was that the front door was a revolving door that we couldn't fit through, but they adapted it in a way so one door swung close. It was like a magic trick! See the video below:
The Good: The room and the bathroom were massive. There was no question about if we’d fit! There was a roll-in shower that featured dual glass doors and surprisingly excellent water pressure. Breakfast was also included and they had a lot of seating options with plenty of room. We had a group dinner here the first night!
The Not-So-Good: The shower seat was smaller than I'd prefer, and the toilet seat had an uncomfortably large opening that I fell through more times than you want to know. There's also a one-person lift connecting the lobby to the elevator, which works fine but requires patience. It’s to be expected though for older buildings!
Day 1: Iconic Rome Highlights
We met our Roman tour guide, Marco, where he packed in the classics on our first day. I'm happy to report that most of Rome's famous sites are more accessible than their ancient origins might suggest.
Spanish Steps
While you can't climb up those famous steps (obviously), the plaza below is completely flat and perfect for photos. Fun fact: despite being called the Spanish Steps, they were actually funded by a French diplomat and built by Italian architects—they're only named for the Spanish Embassy that sits in the piazza below! Our tour guide also told us about the Column of the Immaculate Conception (pictured below). This massive marble column features a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary to commemorate the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Each December, the Pope traditionally places white roses at its base while Rome's fire chief uses a ladder truck to place flowers on the Virgin's arm. Our tour guide mentioned that Romans consider the flowers a sign of good fortune for the city. Earlier this year, a storm blew off the flowers—something locals later saw as an ominous sign before Pope Francis's death in April.
Pantheon
Our guide took us through a side ramp next to the main tourist entrance, and once inside, the space is completely flat with smooth marble floors. The Pantheon has stood for nearly 1,900 years and its dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Sitting beneath it is absolutely breathtaking.
Trevi Fountain
The fountain is as stunning as every photo promises, but accessibility is limited. Wheelchair users get a brief window at the front of the line for photos, but you can’t get close to the actual water because steps surround the whole thing. I was kind of bummed I couldn’t get closer to throw in a coin, but I did attempt from the side. Unfortunately it didn’t go far enough so some random person picked it up off the ground, but I’m still counting it. Hopefully they at least threw it in for me. We got there mid-morning and they had stanchions up to keep it orderly. That definitely can’t be said for all times of the day (keep reading)!
Piazza Navona
This expansive square was hands-down the most accessible and enjoyable stop of our highlights tour. The entire plaza is flat (well, “cobblestone flat”), allowing you to get up close to all three fountains for incredible photos. We grabbed lunch here at one of the many restaurants with outdoor seating. I ordered amatriciana (think bacon pasta with a rich tomato sauce) for lunch and I think it might have been my favorite dish in Rome!
Pro Tip: While I wouldn’t say to skip the Trevi fountain, you can get similar type photos here with the beautiful sculptures and perfect water.
The 20-minute roll back to our hotel took us over Rome's infamous cobblestones, which are a wheelchair users worst enemy, but they can be done. I was expecting the absolute worst so it was better than I expected at least!
That evening, Jordan and I ventured out for a walk and and stumbled upon the Colosseum illuminated on a quiet side street—pure magic that no tour guide could have planned. Some of my favorite memories are just from walking around the streets of Rome to see what you find! Peep the Colosseum popping out behind Jordan's head!
My Favorite Gelato in Rome
On our way back, we stopped at The Gelatist right by our hotel. Their stracciatella was really good—creamy vanilla with chocolate chips. The shop had a step at the entrance, so mom and dad went in to get it for me. Not ideal, but the gelato was worth it.
Day 2: Vatican Wonders
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Our private tour allowed us to bypass the heat-soaked tourist lines entirely. At check-in, they request proof of disability so I presented both a doctor's note and handicap placard. Either one works, so bring what you have.
Inside, the museum halls are vast and beautiful. While there are a few elevators tucked around corners, having a guide who knows their locations is invaluable. The Sistine Chapel entrance presented the biggest challenge: a steep staircase with a stair lift that has strict weight limits and questionable reliability. Fortunately, we all made it down safely to marvel at Michelangelo's ceiling masterpiece up close.
From there, we rolled through a Holy Door into St. Peter's Basilica during Jubilee Year. The Holy Door is only opened during Jubilee Years, which occur every 25 years, and the doors had just been ceremonially opened by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve 2024. The grandeur of St. Peter's is unlike anything else—it's built over the tomb of Peter the Apostle and is the largest church in the world. Walking through the Holy Door is meant to symbolize God's mercy reaching out to mankind's frailty, and whether you're religious or not, there's something undeniably powerful about entering through those bronze doors.
Be sure to bring clothes that will cover your shoulders and knees. A lightweight scarf or cardigan works perfectly and won't weigh you down.
Pro Tip:It’s quite a bit of cobblestone to get into the basilica, but once you are inside it’s smooth marble. They even have small ramps to get through the door.
Day 3: Colosseum & Roman Forum
The Colosseum exceeded every expectation. Not only does it have an elevator (seriously!), but we rode it to the upper levels for sweeping views of the arena floor. This nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater was built in just eight years using over 100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone, and it could hold up to 80,000 spectators. The fact that they built elevators into a structure from 80 AD is mind-blowing—it's still the largest amphitheater ever built.
The Roman Forum proved beautiful but challenging, with uneven cobblestones that create a shaky ride. Still totally doable with patience—just take it slow and enjoy the fact that you're rolling where Caesar once walked. The Forum was the center of ancient Roman life for over 500 years, hosting everything from political speeches to gladiatorial contests before the Colosseum was built.
After cooling off at the hotel, we hit the Mercato Centrale at Termini Station for lunch. It has more than 20 artisanal food stalls (I couldn’t pass up this cream-filled pastry). It's a little bit hidden, we didn't know about it until Cory told us they ate there. The train stations in Italy are decivingly large! Be sure to also check out the basement for shopping!
Cory found us a place to have a rooftop dinner overlooking Rome called La Terrazza. The uphill journey was steep and challenging (it was probably the bumpiest walk of the trip and most of it was spent in the road rather than on sidewalks), but the destination made it all worthwhile. Jordan and I shared Rome's famous cacio e pepe, a simple dish with just three ingredients: pasta, pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper.
On our last night in Rome, I wanted to see the Trevi Fountain one more time. We got there right as the lights turned on, but this time we had to embrace the crowded chaos. There were no waiting lines at this time of day so we just kind of pushed ourselves to the front of the gate and sat for a while before making our way back.
Key Takeaways for Future Travelers
What Works:
- Rome's major attractions are surprisingly accessible with proper planning
- Cobblestones are bumpy but manageable. Don't let them scare you away
- Private tours and accessible transportation services make a huge difference
- Romans are generally helpful when you need assistance
- Nearly every restaurant has outdoor seating, so accessibility issues with entrances are rarely a problem
What to Prepare For:
- Some locations require patience and timing for optimal access
- Make sure you have the converters needed for your wheelchair charger
- Pack layers for dress codes at religious sites
- Accept that some experiences might be different but no less meaningful
Bottom Line: Rome is a place everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Trust me, the cobblestones are worth it!
Planning your own accessible Rome adventure? I'd love to hear about your experiences or answer questions about specific sites. Drop me a message or reach out on social media!
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