The Passetto di Borgo

What is the secret of Castel Sant'Angelo?

The Passetto di Borgo: a fortified corridor of about 800 metres, on top of the walls, leading from the castle to the Vatican Palaces. For centuries, it was the popes’ escape route.

According to CoopCulture, which manages the visits, the Passetto is attributed to Pope Nicholas III in 1277; other sources propose different dates and commissioners. It runs above the walls of Borgo, the district between the castle and St Peter’s, and was restored in 2018.

The secret was not the corridor, which everyone in Rome could see. It was the possibility of crossing the district without going down to street level, from the top of the walls to the fortress.

Did the popes live in Castel Sant'Angelo?

They used it as a residence and as a refuge. Its golden age was under Paul III Farnese (1534 - 1549); in times of danger, the popes arrived from the Vatican along the Passetto.

The keys to the castle passed to Pope Urban V in 1367, and since then the building has been a papal fortress. Paul III made it a true residence, with the frescoed apartments you still visit today, Sala Paolina first and foremost. The route through the rooms is in the guide to what to see.

The famous escapes are two. In 1494 Alexander VI reached the castle along the Passetto. In 1527, during the Sack of Rome, it was used by Clement VII while the Landsknechts of Charles V entered the city.

How do you visit Passetto di Borgo?

Only with a guided or silent accompanied tour. Book on the Musei Italiani platform, via its app or with CoopCulture, and arrive 15 minutes early.

You cannot enter the Passetto on your own. The museum organises guided tours and silent accompanied visits on fixed days and times, and booking is via the official channels. The daytime tour meets at the castle ticket office at Lungotevere Castello 50; the accessible route starts from the Torre del Mascherino instead.

The daytime guided tour lasts one hour, in Italian and English, and includes the Bastione di San Marco, one of the castle's bastions. The silent visit lasts 30 minutes. In both, the fee includes entry to the castle, which you visit afterwards.

One rule with no exceptions: the first Sunday of the month the Passetto is not open, even if the castle is open and free.

How much does a Passetto di Borgo visit cost in 2026?

From €14 to €30 per adult, depending on the option. The daytime guided tour with the castle costs €30, €14 for ages 18 to 25, and is free under 18.

These are the 2026 prices published by CoopCulture. The most complete option is the daytime guided tour with castle entry; for this, EU tourist guides and those legally entitled to free entry pay €12. On the daytime silent tour, those legally entitled to free entry pay €6. On the accessible route, the companion of a visitor with a disability does not pay.

On which days and at what time can you visit Passetto?

In the morning from Friday to Sunday, between 9:00 and 13:00, and on Saturday evening from 19:00 to 23:00. The accessible route is on the second and fourth Sunday at 10:45 and 12:15.

The Passetto is not open from Monday to Thursday. The schedule is based on three slots: mornings from Friday to Sunday, Saturday evenings and the two Sundays a month for the accessible route. The first Sundays of the month, such as 1 November and 6 December 2026, are excluded.

Arrive 15 minutes early: CoopCulture requests this. The Saturday evening visit is the only way to walk it at night; the 2026 evenings are described in the article on the castle in the evening.

One hour with a guide on the Passetto and the Bastione di San Marco, starting from the castle ticket office, then explore the castle on your own with the audio guide app. Non-refundable.

★ 4.4 · 1 hour · from $38

Discover the Passetto di Borgo with the castle → Tour details

Is Passetto di Borgo accessible?

Yes, with the accessible route on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, which starts from the Torre del Mascherino in Piazza della Città Leonina. It does not enter the castle and skips the Bastione di San Marco.

The route is about 450 metres long and accommodates up to 20 people, with a maximum of 5 in wheelchairs. The corridor is about 83 - 85 cm wide and has two lifts. The times are 10:45 and 12:15; the ticket costs €14 full price and €12 for ages 18 to 25, and the companion of a visitor with a disability enters free.

The ordinary visit from the castle is another matter: according to the listing of one of the tours on GetYourGuide wheelchair access is limited and the visit is not suitable for those who suffer from claustrophobia. According to the reviews, there are few steps, and those who use a cane can follow it.

Which Passetto visits can you book on GetYourGuide?

Two: Passetto di Borgo with a guide and the castle, from $38, and Passetto with reserved entry, from $55, with a guide or the Vatican Museums as an option. Both are non-refundable.

Passetto di Borgo with a guide and the castle is the one-hour guided tour of the Passetto and the Bastione di San Marco, departing from the castle ticket office. It includes the Passetto ticket, the castle ticket and an audio guide on an app in 8 languages for the free visit afterwards; according to the listing, booking fees are also included. It has 142 reviews and a rating of 4.4.

Passetto with reserved entry is a Touristation package: reserved entry to the Passetto and the castle, a multimedia video on ancient Rome and, as options, the guided tour of the Passetto or the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel. The meeting point is in front of the castle entrance, with the staff under the orange umbrella. The listing explains that without the guided option there is an escort but no commentary: you do not enter the Passetto alone.

One thing applies to both: they are non-refundable. Book them when the date is certain. If you want to keep the free cancellation, the castle guided tours below offer it.

Reserved entry to Passetto di Borgo and the castle, with a guided tour of the Passetto or the Vatican Museums as an option and staff meet-up at the entrance. Non-refundable.

★ 4.1 · 1-3 hours · from $55

Discover the Passetto and the castle with reserved entry → Tour details

What to choose if Passetto is not available on your travel day?

A guided tour of the castle. From Tuesday to Thursday, and on the first Sunday of the month, it is the best way to see more than what the simple ticket shows.

The guided tour of Castel Sant'Angelo, from $65, with 1,885 reviews and a rating of 4.7, according to the listing passes through areas usually closed to the public: the Olearie, the historic prisons, the theatre of Clement VII. The meeting point is in front of the main entrance, with the «Loving Rome» flag.

The 2-hour guided tour, from $55, has the highest rating, 4.8 out of 154 reviews. Both have free cancellation up to 24 hours before. One detail to know: the listing of the shared or private tour specifies that the Passetto is not included.

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