Visiting the Trevi Fountain in Rome

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There’s something incredibly odd about standing at the foot of a monument you’ve only ever seen in history books at school and university, or seen in part in movies. It feels a little surreal. Though I have to say, while we were visiting the Trevi Fountain, the crowds definitely made it seem more tangible and ✨there✨.

When we rolled into Rome on the Contiki bus, after spending the morning in Florence, we jumped off the coach and wandered into the heart of Rome, walking down the Spanish Steps, up the road, around the corner … and our eyes hit the Trevi Fountain.

The Trevi Fountain is this huge (like huge) fountain (surprise surprise) and is one of the most famous spots in Rome. It’s big, dramatic, and packed with history. The fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi in the 1700s, and is in the Baroque style. It was completed by a man named Giuseppe Pannini in 1762 and now millions of tourists flock to the fountain every single year to get a glimpse and toss a coin in.

The Trevi Fountain coin toss meaning is three-fold. If you toss one coin in, the legend says you’ll visit Rome again. Two coins mean you’ll find love. And three coins mean you’ll be married. Or something along those lines – there seem to be a few different ideas out there. Either way, toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder.

I didn’t toss any in … but I would really love to go back to Rome one day! Leave it up to fate and the bank account, I guess!

I mentioned rounding the corner just earlier, and that was exactly was it was like. We approached the Trevi Fountain from the back, so it was just suddenly there as we curved around the right hand side (if looking at it).

There were a lot of people, which was to be expected late afternoon, but we managed to get some good photos of it. We also grabbed a gelato from a nearby shop. Obviously. When in Rome.

I do wish we had a little longer to linger there, but it was still incredibly impressive. I hadn’t realise that it was so built up around it/there were so many buildings right there. When you see photographs of the Trevi Fountain you just see the fountain itself, and so rarely see in front of it, where they people would stand, or even to the left and right.

While it was a quick stop at the Trevi Foundtain in Rome, I’m still very glad I got to experience it.

Some tips for visiting the Trevi Fountain

Visit early in the morning or late in the evening: Avoid the midday rush if you can! Especially in the summer.
Watch out for pickpockets: This goes for everywhere in Europe, but especially in Rome. Be extra vigilant. Pickpocketers like crowds.
Have cons ready so you’re not rummaging for them: For the iconic toss over your left shoulder!
Be respectful of others there: It’ll be hard to not get in other people’s photos when there are hundreds of people there, but just be mindful.
Don’t climb in the fountain: Hopefully, this is a given, but there’s a hefty fine if you do!

Movies featuring the Trevi Fountain

And just for fun, here are some of the movies that feature the Trevi Fountain!

La Dolce Vita (1960): Arguably the most iconic Trevi Fountain scene in film history! Anita Ekberg wades into the fountain in an elegant black dress, calling Marcello Mastroianni to join her.
Roman Holiday (1953): Starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Features a charming scene where they explore Rome, including a stop at the Trevi Fountain.
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954): Named after the famous coin-throwing tradition. A romantic drama about three women in Rome looking for love. It was popularised the song Three Coins in the Fountain, which won an Academy Award.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003): A fun, nostalgic teen movie where Lizzie (Hilary Duff) explores Rome. Features a scene at the Trevi Fountain, where they do a coin toss. We actually watch this movie on the bus as we were driving to Rome, just for fun. Such a great throwback!
Angels & Demons (2009): Based on Dan Brown’s novel starring Tom Hanks. The Trevi Fountain makes an appearance, just to prove they’re in Rome.
To Rome with Love (2012): A Woody Allen film with interwoven stories set in Rome. The Trevi Fountain is part of the film’s beautiful Roman backdrop.

FAQs about visiting the Trevi Fountain

When is the best time to visit the Trevi Fountain?

Early morning (before 8 AM) or late at night for fewer crowds. If you’re visiting in the summer then it’s stinkin’ hot, too! There are a few gelato shops nearby, though, so you can always grab one and then check out the fountain to stay cool!

Is the Trevi Fountain free to visit?

Yes, it’s completely free at the moment (early 2025), however the council in Rome is looking at putting a small fee on it for tourists. Just double check before you go!

Can you go inside the fountain?

No, stepping into the fountain is illegal (and look, it’s rude, too). And Rome loves it’s guards and security, so you’ll be caught and get a big fine. Just stay outta it, friend.

Where does all the money from the Trevi Fountain go?

There’s around €1.5 million thrown into the Trevi Fountain every single year. That’s a lot of money! But all of that is donated to a charity that helps the poor in Rome.

How do I get to the Trevi Fountain?

If you’re coming from the Barberini Metro Station, it’s not far from there, and it’s also not too far from the Pantheon and Spanish Steps. The Trevi Fountain to Colosseum is about a 2o-minute walk, so it’s not that close.

So is the Trevi Fountain worth visiting?

In my opinion, yes. If you’re in Rome anyway, absolutely. I would love to go back, as I mentioned, and check into it again. it’s so incredibly detailed that you could spend a whole hour there and not notice everything.

If you have a movie or TV show that you love that features the Trevi Fountain, that’s another great reason to visit it. I love being able to see spots where movies and series were filmed, and there are quite the number that feature the fountain, that’s for sure!

If you’ve been to the Trevi Fountain, I’d love to hear what your experience was like! Drop it in the comments!