10 Best Wheelchair Accessible Things To Do In Rome, Italy - Updated 2024

Pallavi
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 6 min read

Rome is one of the most popular historic cities in the world with 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Despite its cobbled streets and ancient monuments, Rome is an accessible city with many wheelchair-friendly activities to offer. Take a tour of the majestic Colosseum that is made possible via ramps and elevators. The Vatican Museums are also accessible and even offer complimentary wheelchairs. It is also easy to navigate the popular Roman squares such as Piazza del Popolo and Piazza della Rotonda to feel the vibe and energy of the city. When in Rome, do not forget to dine on mouthwatering pasta, and maybe even enroll in a short pasta-making course. Do not let a wheelchair deter you from exploring the world. Continue scrolling to find the best wheelchair accessible things to do in Rome, Italy.

Why Trust Trip101?


Over 50,000 articles reviewed and published by our experienced team

Over 50 years of combined experience researching, writing and reviewing travel articles

Over 40,000 hours spent on research and fact-checking from credible sources (last year’s data)

Optimizing content from data-driven insights collected directly from users on our platform

Focus on authentic and up-to-date information by collaborating with local guides, global travelers and other industry experts

Long-standing partnerships with credible brands like Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, GetYourGuide, Viator, RVShare and more

Full disclosure on any partnerships or sponsored content

Trip101’s team of writers, editors, and content managers oversees the publication of all travel content, including destination guides, accommodation recommendations, and travel tips. They have extensive experience in the travel industry and no content, written or visual, gets published without a review. Many of our team’s work has also been featured in Travel+Leisure, National Today, The Indian Express, The Telegraph (India), Robb Report, The Adventure Handbook, Tripoto, Korea Tourism Organization, and Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Some of them are also members of professional organizations like the Society of American Travel Writers and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance.

Each member of the team follows Trip101's methodology and strict editorial guidelines to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and relevance.

1. Learn the art of making pasta and tiramisu from scratch at a family-run restaurant

wheelchair accessible things to do in rome | learn the art of making pasta and tiramisu from scratch at a family-run restaurant

Learn the art of making pasta and tiramisu from scratch in the country that popularized both of these delectable dishes. The tour begins at a designated meeting point from where you are accompanied by a guide to the family-run restaurant conducting the class. The class is approximately four hours long and attendees are offered wine, prosecco, or water to sip as they learn.

Perhaps the best part is that after the class, students get to enjoy the fruits of their labor with a three-course meal that includes pasta and fresh tiramisu.

Visited this place?

2. Enjoy a sunset food and wine tour where you try local specialities

wheelchair accessible things to do in rome | enjoy a sunset food and wine tour where you try local specialities

Savor delicious local favorites as you go on a culinary journey in the beautiful Trastevere neighborhood. The four-hour tour begins in Trapizzino, where visitors will create their own unique creations to try accompanied by a glass of wine. After this, the tour moves to an award-winning salumeria or delicatessen. Taste a variety of Italian cheese paired perfectly with DOCG Chianti wine. This is followed by a main course of fresh pasta and pizza along with wine at a popular local restaurant.

End your tour on a sweet note with a final stop at a gelateria where you can learn how to spot authentic gelato. It is sure to come in handy as you continue on your Italian holiday.

Visited this place?

3. Take a private guided tour of the magnificent art works at Borghese Gallery

wheelchair accessible things to do in rome | take a private guided tour of the magnificent art works at borghese gallery

Gain special insight and learn some juicy secrets when you book this private tour of the Borghese Gallery. A guided tour really helps to interpret as well as appreciate the works of master artists such as Raphael and Rubens.

The tours are conducted with a maximum group size of 15, allowing participants to interact with the English-speaking guide. This is one of the most popular sites in the city, and the tour not only allows visitors to pre-book their tickets but also to skip the entrance queue. After visiting the gallery, visitors must take a tour of the expansive Villa Borghese Gardens, the third largest in the city.

Visited this place?

4. Experience the Vatican with an informed guide with a private seat at the Papal Audience

wheelchair accessible things to do in rome | experience the vatican with an informed guide with a private seat at the papal audience

This tour is your chance to gain in-depth knowledge about the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the popes. These tours are exclusively conducted on Wednesdays when the Pope holds his weekly Papal Audience in St. Peters Square. The tour ends with the Papal Audience where there is a special section allocated for wheelchair users and others with disabilities. During the winter months, the weekly event takes indoors in the Hall of Pope Paul VI.

This four-hour tour is open to both Catholics and non-Catholics and allows everyone a chance to be in the presence of the Pope and to be individually blessed by him if you are fortunate. Some of the English and Italian language tours may be conducted in two languages simultaneously.

Visited this place?

Rome Tour Guide

Jamie

Jamie

A historian and fearless leader, James studied classics at Leeds University in England and has been a tour guide in Rome for more than 13 years. James has a passion for ancient history, concentrating in the late Roman Republic. If you have a spark of interest in anything Roman, James is the best source of information. A dual citizen of Great Britain and Italy, James was born and raised in Rome ... Read more

Tours by Jamie

5. Learn the illustrious history of the Roman Empire at the famed Pantheon

learn the illustrious history of the roman empire at the famed pantheon

Located within the historic center of Rome, the Pantheon - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is a must-see attraction in the Italian capital. This 45-minute tour not only includes the history of the impressive structure but the guide also divulges some of the more uncommon facts. Learn how the building was made, and how over time it came to be the chosen spot for Italian greats to be buried.

Admire the Pantheon’s many architectural feats such as its stunning dome with an oculus, which to this day is the largest unsupported dome in the world. Since the Pantheon is a church, visitors are requested to dress appropriately and avoid wearing shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts. You do need to remember to bring along your passport or an ID card for entry.

Visited this place?

6. Get a chance to experience Vivaldi at the Caravita Church

get a chance to experience vivaldi at the caravita church

Experience Vivaldi’s extraordinary composition, The Four Seasons come to life under the expertise of Elvin Dhimitri, the first violinist of Opera e Lirica. This 90-minute concert takes place in the exquisite 17th-century Caravita Church. Admire the beautiful frescos and artwork as the music transports you through the seasonal turns of the year.

Disabled visitors and children under the age of seven can attend the concert for free. Eight seats are set aside at the church for the same. This tour only includes the cost of the ticket and does not include a guide.

Visited this place?

7. Book a unique private tour of the Capuchin Crypts

book a unique private tour of the capuchin crypts

The city of Rome is filled with attractions, and this tour takes you below ground under the wheelchair-accessible Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. This interesting, unique tour is restricted to a maximum of 10 participants and comes with the benefit of skipping the queues. The hour-long tour begins at the Capuchin Museum where the guide will give a brief description and the history of the place before proceeding toward the crypts.

The tour provides an interesting insight into this small sect within the Roman Catholic Church. Since the tour takes place within the premises of a church, it is requested that clothing cover the shoulders and knees.

Visited this place?

8. Tour the Colosseum with a history expert

tour the colosseum with a history expert

When you are visiting an attraction as iconic as the Colosseum, you know you are in for a long wait time. However, if you book this tour, you can easily skip the lines and enter directly not just this Roman marvel but also the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. This three-hour tour is designed specifically for a private guided experience of some of the most important sites within the historic center of Rome.

The tour is conducted by a Roman history expert who will regale you with stories, triumphs, and battles of the mighty Romans. It is recommended that participants wear comfortable shoes for this tour.

Visited this place?

9. Experience the Piazza Navona and interact with the locals

Piazza Navona 1
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Myrabella used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Piazza Navona is a large and historic public square in Rome, renowned for its Baroque architecture which includes Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. This pedestrian-only square is flat making it easy for wheelchair travelers to navigate and spend time at the monuments.

The piazza is open to locals and visitors round the clock and is a great way to get a feel of the city. Visitors can practice their Italian with the locals and maybe even get excellent off-beat recommendations. When you get hungry, break for a delicious plate of pasta or some chilled gelato to beat the heat.

Piazza Navona

Address: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Piazza Navona

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

10. Marvel at the animal world at Bioparco di Roma

marvel at the animal world at bioparco di roma

If you are in Rome with young children, they will likely get bored with the historic attractions no matter how important they are. Mix it up and spend a day at this zoological garden which includes endangered animals. The park houses 200 species of animals from five continents and provides children an opportunity to be face-to-face with animals they might only have seen in books.

The park is over 100 years old and located within the premises of Villa Borghese. While this booking does not come with a private tour guide, it does allow the participants to skip the line and spend more time with the beautiful creatures of the animal kingdom.

Visited this place?

Rome is a bucket-list destination that is welcoming to all

Rome is one of the few cities with multiple iconic, cultural, and historical monuments wherever you turn. The city has also worked hard to make these important sites accessible by including ramps and elevators so no one has to miss out on experiencing this magnificent destination. Ensure to include these best wheelchair-accessible things to do in Rome, Italy during your holiday.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Raised in Bangkok and now living in India, Pallavi loves planning and going on road trips around the country. She believes they are the best way to understand a region!

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Register Here
0 Comments
Explore Rome
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.
rome beach resorts

7 Best Beach Resorts Near Rome, Italy - Updated 2024