Discover 26 of the Most Beautiful Streets in Rome

Rome, the Eternal City, is famous for its ancient history, stunning architecture, and of course its delicious food! Beyond the iconic landmarks like the Colosseum and Vatican City, lie some of the most beautiful streets in Rome.

From cobblestone alleys lined with colourful buildings to grand boulevards adorned with impressive fountains and sculptures, these enchanting Roma streets offer a glimpse into the city’s timeless charm. The streets of Rome Italy are made for strolling in search of hidden gems, Rome’s streets promise to leave you awe-inspired at every turn.

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Most Beautiful Streets in Rome

Many travellers ask “What is the most beautiful street in Rome?” And, I tried, really tried to pick a favourite, but couldn’t do it. So, here are 11 of my favourites.

1. Via dei Coronari

Via Dei Coronari, centrally located near Piazza Navona, is a picturesque and peaceful street frozen in time. It offers a charming array of antique dealers, boutiques, and gelaterias to explore.

Historically, this street was a pilgrimage route to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City during the Renaissance. CNN has recognized it as one of the world’s most beautiful streets. And, when I first saw it, I too thought it was the prettiest street in Rome.

📍Nearby sites: Tiber River, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona

2. Via del Governo Vecchio

Via del Governo Vecchio, located near Piazza Navona, is a shopper’s delight filled with vintage shops, wine bars, and coffee shops that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Its historical significance is evident in its name, meaning “old government,” as well as the many 15th and 16th-century buildings that line the picturesque cobblestone street.

Don’t miss the smallest house in Rome at No. 66 or the beautifully restored palace at No. 104 adorned with portraits of famous lawyers. Enjoy the Italian gelato, antiques, and charming pubs as you stroll through this enchanting street.

📍Nearby sites: Piazza Navona

3. Via del Banchi Vecchi

Via dei Banchi Vecchi is a picturesque street in Rome, situated parallel to the bustling Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. One of its notable features is its serene atmosphere.

What you’ll find on this charming street are a few cafes, a wine bar, an antique shop, and quaint boutiques.

📍Nearby sites: Tiber River, Castel Sant’Angelo

4. Via del Pellegrino

Via del Pellegrino is a pretty cobbled stone street named after pilgrims who travelled through it. It runs parallel with the busy Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. There’s a surprising amount to see.

There are many galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, as well as some interesting details. An ancient fresco at the corner of Vicolo del Bollo, a Madonna with a baby on the corner of Via Larga, a quaint courtyard and some glass arches above the doorways of shops. Take your time on this street, as the details are incredible.

📍Nearby sites: Piazza Navona

5. Via Giulia

Via Giulia, designed by Pope Julius II in the 16th century, is a prestigious street in Rome’s historic city center, lined with accommodations, shops, and restaurants. The street runs almost a kilometre, connecting the Jewish ghetto neighbourhood with Castel Sant’Angelo.

Its most notable feature is the Arco Farnese, a distinctive ivy-covered arch designed by Michelangelo as part of an unfinished plan to connect Palazzo Farnese to Villa Farnese across the Tiber River.

📍Nearby sites: Trastevere and Jewish neighbourhoods, Campo di Fiori

6. Via dei Cappellari

Via dei Cappellari is a charming street that runs off the lively Campo di Fiori. One of its most distinctive features is its narrowness.

The tall buildings cast a dark shadow and you almost feel like it’s a private back alleyway. Stroll here after you visit the bustling market at Campo di Fiori.

📍Nearby sites: Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona

7. Lungotevere

Lungotevere in Italian means the Tiber waterfront, and it references the boulevard that runs along both sides of the Tiber River. One of the most scenic walks you can take in Rome is along the Tiber River.

It starts in Vatican City, where it’s called Lungotevere Tor di Nona and as the Tiber River snakes through the city, it changes its name to reflect what’s nearby, like Lungotevere Aventine.

I think this is one of the best streets to walk in Rome on the weekend. Locals come out in droves to go for a stroll, ride a bike or go for a run while offering stunning views of the river and the city skyline. It is also a great place to watch the sunset.

📍Nearby sites: Tiber River

8. Via della Reginella

Via Della Reginella is a beautiful, old street in the Jewish area of Rome. In the 16th century, Pope Paul IV designated all Jews in Rome to the ghetto.

It connects the main street of Via del Portico di Ottavia with Piazza Mattei with a few local artisan shops to pop into. Via del Portico di Ottavia is the main hub of the Jewish Quarter with cafes and restaurants lining the streets.

📍Nearby sites: Jewish Ghetto Quarter

9. Via di Ripetta

Via di Ripetta is considered one of the most incredible streets in Rome. It begins at the iconic Piazza del Popolo and forms a triangle loop- turning from Via di Ripetta to Passiggiata di Ripetta running along the Tiber River.

Passiggiata is a term used in Italian that means to take a stroll. By the name alone, you know this is a picturesque street made for strolling.

📍Nearby sites: Tiber River, Piazza del Popolo

10. & 11. Via del Moro &  Via della Pelliccia

Two charming streets that intersect – Via del Moro and Via della Pelliccia – offer a quintessential Roman experience. They are ancient, gritty, and graffiti yet there’s beauty in them. Bars, cafes and restaurants line these streets in the popular Trastevere neighbourhood.

Explore Via del Moro and see the oldest signboard in Rome at Caffè del Moro. Also, don’t miss the preserved medieval houses on Via Della Pelliccia, including the Pio Sodalizio Dei Piceni’s fourteenth-century residence.

📍Nearby sites: Trastevere restaurants and neighbourhood, Tiber River

Famous Streets in Rome

12. Via Appia Antica

Via Appia Antica, built in 312 BC, was Imperial Rome’s primary military and economic thoroughfare, stretching to Brindisi in Puglia. Strolling or cycling along the cobbled road lined with greenery, ancient ruins, and monuments is an atmospheric experience.

The popular saying ‘all roads lead to Rome’ was about this famous road in Rome! It was once the main street in Rome.

Explore the catacombs of San Sebastiano, San Callisto, Santa Domitilla, and the historic tomb of Cecilia Metella for a glimpse into Rome’s rich history. Spend a day enjoying the peaceful rural charm of this ancient road.

📍 Unfortunately this is the only street that lies outside the city centre of Rome

13. Via di Santa Sabina

The charming via di Santa Sabina runs along the top of Aventine Hill, one of seven hills Rome was built on. This street is famous for featuring its secret keyhole in Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Looking through the keyhole of the main entrance offers a perfect perspective of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, making for a delightful surprise.

There’s a certain peacefulness when you walk along this street. A bit more greenery, fewer people, and less noise, especially on an early morning walk as I did.

📍Nearby sites: Circus Maximus, famous Rome garden of Giardino Degli Aranci (Orange Garden), Sant’Alessio Church and courtyard

14. Via dei Fori Imperiali

Via dei Fori Imperiali is a long, straight road that runs through the heart of Rome, connecting Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum.

The most famous street in Rome was built by Benito Mussolini in the 1930s to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Fascist March on Rome. As the name suggests, the road passes by several of Rome’s most famous Imperial forums, including the Forum of Trajan, the Forum of Augustus, and the Forum of Caesar.

The road is also flanked by several ancient Roman ruins, including the Arch of Constantine and the Temple of Venus and Rome.

📍Nearby sites: Altar of the Fatherland, Colosseum

15. Via Panisperna

Via Panisperna sure is one Instagrammable street! Known as one of the prettiest streets in Rome in the trendy Monti neighbourhood it connects Trajan’s Market to Santa Maria Maggiore.

The steep sloping street boasts ivy-clad buildings filled with shops and restaurants offering views of the Basilica.

📍Nearby sites: Colosseum, Pinacoteca Gallery and Museum

16. Via Margutta

Via Margutta, also known as the ‘Artist’s Street’, is a picturesque and narrow street tucked behind Piazza di Spagna, home to famous residents such as Pablo Picasso and Federico Fellini.

Originally housing stables and workshops, it became famous after the premiere of the Roman Holiday. Today, it is an exclusive neighbourhood with art galleries, luxury shops, and restaurants, still home to wealthier Romans.

📍Nearby sites: Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, Spanish Steps

17. Via della Conciliazione

Via della Conciliazione is a famous street located in Vatican City, connecting St. Peter’s Square to the Tiber River. The street was constructed between 1936 and 1950 and was designed to create a grand approach to St. Peter’s Basilica. And, grand it is!

Interestingly, the construction of the street involved the demolition of a large portion of the medieval neighbourhood known as the Borgo, which had stood in the area for centuries. Today, there are only a few streets left of the Borgo neighbourhood.

📍Nearby sites: Vatican City, Castel Sant’Angelo, Borgo Pio a noteworthy street lined with restaurants

18. Via Piccolomini

Via Piccolomini is a hidden gem! It’s known for the optical illusion it creates causing a unique perspective of St. Peter’s dome in Vatican City. As you approach the dome from the street, it appears to move further away, creating a fascinating mystery that draws in visitors to see it with their own eyes.

This illusion is created by the surrounding buildings that frame the dome in a particular way, gradually revealing more space and creating a sense of distance. Despite the explanation, the experience of this illusion remains a must-do in Rome.

📍Nearby sites: Villa Pamphilj, Vatican City

Best Streets in Rome

19. Via del Corso

Via del Corso is a vibrant and bustling street stretching about 1.5 km from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. It’s known for its wide boulevards and straight path, which are rare in the city’s winding historical streets.

The street was originally named Via Lata meaning Broad Way in English, due to its considerable width. This also is one of the best shopping streets in Rome chock-full of high-end boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, as well as, the impressive Baroque church of Santa Maria in Monesanto.

📍Nearby sites: Dora Pamphili Gallery, Trevi Fountain

20. Via Condotti

Via dei Condotti, from Piazza di Spagna to Via del Corso, is a posh and pricey shopping street in Rome, home to luxury fashion brands. This makes this one of the busiest streets in Rome.

Besides being the best street in Rome for shopping, the street offers a magnificent view of the Spanish Steps and the Church of Trinita Dei Monti. Additionally, Antico Caffè Greco is an iconic spot on this street, where Keats & Byron and others drank coffee at the marble tables of this richly-ornate 18th-century cafe.

📍Nearby sites: Piazza di Spagna, Spanish Steps

21. Via Veneto

Via Veneto, also known as “La Dolce Vita Street,” is not only a beautiful street of Rome but also a cultural landmark. It gained worldwide fame after Federico Fellini’s 1960 movie “La Dolce Vita,” which portrays Rome’s glamorous lifestyle.

Starting at Villa Borghese at the 5th century Porta Pinciana an ancient arched gate to the walled city it bends and curves to end at Piazza Barberini with the Triton Fountain.

What I love most about this street is it reminds me of Paris. Tall linden and chestnut trees line both sides and the buildings were inspired by Parisian architecture.

📍Nearby sites: Villa Borghese, Capuchin Crypt, Trevi Fountain, National Gallery of Ancient Art in Barberini Palace

22. Via delle Quattro Fontane (at Via del Quirinale)

At the intersection of the main streets in Rome called Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale are four fountains located on the corners. Each features a different river god from Greek mythology built in the 17th century.

The fountains were designed by the Baroque architect Pietro da Cortona and are considered to be one of the most important Baroque works in Rome. The fountain on the northwest corner depicts the river god, Arno, while the fountain on the southeast corner features the river god Tiber.

The fountain on the northeast corner represents the river god Juno’s source, and the fountain on the southwest corner features the river god Diana.

📍Nearby sites: National Gallery of Ancient Art in Barberini Palace, Quirinal Palace, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps

23. Via Urbana

Via Urbana is such a charming street in Rome’s trendy Monti district, featuring ivy-covered buildings that are only a few stories high, making it perfect for capturing great pictures (too bad I visited in early Spring).

What makes this one of the best streets is the restaurants like Aromaticus Monti and Urbana 47. It is also home to Basilica Santa Pudenziana which is said to be 1600 years old.

📍Nearby sites: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum

24. Via Sacra

Via Sacra, also known as the Sacred Way, is an ancient road located in the Roman Forum. This famous street in Rome goes way back to when the road was originally built in the 6th century BC and was used for religious processions, triumphal marches, and other important ceremonies.

It passes by some of the most important structures of the Roman Forum, including the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, the Arch of Titus, and the Basilica of Maxentius. The road ends at the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitoline Hill.

📍Nearby sites: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum

25. Via Nationale

Via Nazionale is a spacious street connecting Piazza della Repubblica to Piazza Venezia. It is one of the most famous roads in Rome. The street was created in the late 19th century as part of a major urban development project aimed to modernize and expand.

Both sides of the street are flanked by tall impressive buildings, adorned with elegant balconies. There is a slight angle to the street which allows you to catch a view of the buildings as they narrow and you have a view of the Altar of the Fatherland landmark.

📍Nearby sites: Altar of the Fatherland, Roma Termi

26. Via Dora

Via Dora is a hidden gem located in the Quartiere Coppedè neighbourhood, which is known for its unique and eclectic architecture.

This best-kept secret neighbourhood was designed by the architect Gino Coppedè in the early 20th century, and his style is a blend of Art Nouveau, Gothic, Baroque, and Medieval architecture.

One of the most striking features of the street is the archway that spans over the entrance, which is decorated with intricate stonework and statues and ends at the Fontane delle Rane (Frog Fountain).

📍 Nearby sites: Quartiere Coppede neighbourhood sites – Palazzo del Ragno,I Villini delle Fate

As a Holidaymaker

Which will be the street in Rome Italy that you want to visit the most? Will it be the charming alleyways of Trastevere or the grandeur of Via Condotti? Each of these streets in Rome Italy has its own unique charm and beauty.

Exploring these beautiful Rome streets can be one of the best ways to experience the city, and who knows what hidden gems you’ll discover along the way?

Next, to help with planning your trip to Rome check out my article where I answer the popular question from travellers “how many days in Rome is enough?” In it, I share the ultimate 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 day Rome itinerary.

To get access to all of my Rome articles, head to my Travel Guide for Italy page which includes important information about Italy as well as all of the other destinations I’ve been to in this amazing country.