Piazza Navona in a one-day route
Piazza Navona is a public square with no ticket. Its long, narrow shape follows the outline of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, which the city's tourism portal dates to 86 AD. That explains why it is long and narrow instead of a classic square.
For the fountains, Sant'Agnese and the lanes around the square in detail, see our separate Piazza Navona guide.
For a one-day plan this is a short stop. You can see the three fountains and the church facade in a walk from one end to the other. This site is independent and is not run by the city. The details below follow the city's tourism portal where noted.
The three fountains
One in the middle, one at each end.
The Fountain of the Four Rivers
The central fountain is by Bernini.
The Moro and Neptune fountains
The other two main fountains, the Moro and the Nettuno, stand at the two ends of the square. Walk the length of the piazza and you pass all three.
Sant'Agnese in Agone and Palazzo Pamphilj
The church of Sant'Agnese in Agone stands on the side of the square, and Palazzo Pamphilj is next to it.
Guided walks that include Piazza Navona
Walking tours of central Rome that pass Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, with live prices and availability.
The stadium under the square
The remains of the ancient stadium lie below today's street level. Visiting them is a separate experience from walking on the square. A stadium ticket is not the way into the public piazza, and the piazza does not require one.
If the ruins interest you, treat them as an optional extra with their own opening hours and price. Current opening hours and prices for the underground area can change, so check them before you plan around a visit. For a one-day route, most visitors stay above ground.
How long to stay and when to go
A planning estimate, not an official figure.
A short stop: 20 to 30 minutes
That covers a walk along the square, a close look at the central fountain and a photo of the church facade. Add a cafe break if you want to sit.
Day or evening
The square itself needs no ticket, so you can fit it before dinner or after the Pantheon. Inside spaces such as churches have their own hours, and you should not assume they are open late.
Works and events
Roadworks and seasonal events such as Christmas markets change from year to year, so check the city's events pages for your dates.
Getting there and moving on
The walking times are pure walking from a route planner, without stops.
- From the Spanish Steps: 1.7 km, about 20 minutes.
- To Santa Maria in Trastevere: 1.3 km, about 15 minutes.
- From the Pantheon: the two sit close together in the historic center.
The whole walk on the route from the Colosseum to Trastevere adds up to roughly 71 minutes of pure walking: 21 minutes from the Colosseum to the Pantheon, 7 to the Trevi Fountain, 8 to the Spanish Steps, 20 to Piazza Navona and 15 to Trastevere. That does not include any visits, so the route only works in a day if you limit the time at each stop.
Hop-on-hop-off buses are not a reliable way in. One operator lists the Chiesa Nuova stop near the square as suspended because of roadworks, so check its service notices before you count on a bus stop here.
Across the river
If you want to extend the day toward the Vatican, give it a separate block of time. A good starting point is the guide to Castel Sant'Angelo, and for the basilica itself see St. Peter's Basilica. The route in this guide goes the other way, over the Tiber to Trastevere.
Trastevere guide →More stops on the route
The pages for the places before and after the square.
Piazza Navona: frequently asked questions
Is Piazza Navona free?
Yes. It is a public square with no ticket.
Why is Piazza Navona that shape?
It follows the outline of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, which the city's tourism portal dates to 86 AD.
How many fountains are there?
Three main fountains: Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in the middle, and the Moro and the Nettuno at the ends.
Can I visit the ancient stadium?
The remains lie below street level and are a separate visit. A stadium ticket is not needed for the square, and the square is not the way in.
How long should I plan?
About 20 to 30 minutes for a walk along the square and a look at the fountains. That is a planning estimate.
How far is it from the Spanish Steps?
1.7 km, about 20 minutes on foot, according to a route planner.