12 Ancient Roman Roads You Can Walk Today

All roads lead to Rome, or so the saying goes. But did you know that the Romans built over 250,000 miles of roads across their vast empire? These pathways were the arteries that carried the lifeblood of one of history’s greatest civilizations.

What’s truly remarkable is that many of these 2,000-year-old Roman roads in Europe remain walkable today. You’re literally following in the footsteps of Roman legions, merchants, and emperors who shaped the course of European history.

Table of Contents

Roman Roads at a Glance

Road Name	Countries	Length	Best Travel Mode	Highlights
Via Augusta	Spain	1,500 km	Car/Bus/Walking sections	Mediterranean coast, Tarragona, Roman ruins
Via Claudia Augusta	Germany/Austria/Italy	500 km	Cycling/Car	Alpine crossing, medieval towns, Augsburg
Fosse Way	England	320 km	Car/Walking sections	Cotswolds, Bath, Roman towns
Via Julia Augusta	France/Italy	280 km	Car/Walking sections	French Riviera, Liguria, coastal views
Ermine Street	England	320 km	Car/Walking sections	London
Via Appia Antica	Italy	563 km	Car/Walking sections	Rome, Catacombs
Hadrian’s Wall Path	England	135 km	Car/Cycling/Walking	Cumbria
Via Francigena	England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican	1,900 km	Train/Bus/Cycling/Walking	Religious pilgrimage
Via Domitia	Italy, France	600 km	Car/Train/Walking	South of France
Via Salaria	Italy	240 km	Car/Walking	Adriatic
Watling Street	England	740 km	Car/Walking	London, Kent
Via Egnatia	Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey	1,120 km	Car/Walking	Byzantine heritage

1. Via Augusta: Mediterranean Spain

Approximately 1,500 km (930 mi) long, the Via Augusta was constructed to connect Spain with Italy, spanning from the southwestern coastal city of Gades (Cádiz) to the Pyrenees Mountains, following inland valleys parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast. This road was the longest in Hispania.

Start Point: Cádiz (ancient Gades)
End Point: La Jonquera/Coll de Panissars (French border)
Major Stops: Córdoba, Jaén, Valencia, Sagunto, Tarragona, Barcelona
Best Preserved Sections: Catalonia (Tarragona to Barcelona)
UNESCO Status: Arc de Berà (Tarragona) is protected

Built during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD), the Via Augusta served as the backbone of Roman Hispania. Via Augusta (also known as Via Herculea or Via Exterior) was a Roman road crossing all of Hispania Province, from Cádiz in the southern tip of current Spain, to the Coll de Panissars, where it crossed the Pyrenees close to the Mediterranean Sea, and joined the Via Domitia.

The road facilitated military conquest and control and served as a trade route to transport silver, olive oil, and wine.

Via Augusta Itinerary

Taking the path of Via Augusta, one can get the fullest overview of the Mediterranean Spain. Starting at Cádiz, not far from Gibraltar, the southernmost point, moving up to the Northern border, passing along the key seaside cities — Barcelona and Valencia

The recommended duration is 2 weeks, but certain walking sections might be skipped, trimming down the itinerary to 10 days. Check out the Via Augusta itinerary here.

2. Via Claudia Augusta: Trans-Alpine Route

The Via Claudia Augusta is an ancient Roman road, linking the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia (encompassing parts of modern Eastern Switzerland, Northern Italy, Western Austria, Southern Germany, and all of Liechtenstein) across the Alps. This trans-Alpine route remains one of Europe’s most scenic journeys.

Start Point: Donauwörth or Augsburg, Germany
End Points: Venice (Altinum)
Highest Points: Reschen Pass (1,504m) and Fernpass (1,209m)
Countries: Germany, Austria, Italy (Switzerland briefly)
Modern Status: Popular cycling route with excellent infrastructure

Following the footsteps of Roman legionnaires, the Via Claudia Augusta offers cyclists an unforgettable journey across the Alps, connecting Germany’s Bavarian region to northern Italy. This historic route, first developed into a proper road by Emperor Claudius in 46-47 AD, began as a crucial military and trade connection.

Emperor Claudius expanded an earlier military track into a proper Roman road to connect Germanic provinces with Mediterranean trade, facilitate troop movements across the Alps, and enable the transportation of wine and luxury goods northward.

Via Claudia Augusta Itinerary

Even though the road spans 3 countries: Germany, Austria, and Italy, it’s achievable to complete it in a span of 7-10 days. The route is best done by a combination of car and bicycle, allowing one to fully contemplate the well-preserved Roman sites in Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol.

3. Fosse Way: England’s Straightest Roman Road

One of the straightest of straight Roman roads across England, the Fosse Way runs from Exeter in Devon in the south to Lincoln in the northeast. Stretching from Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) in the southwest to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) in the northeast, the Fosse Way spanned nearly 200 miles and represents Roman engineering precision at its finest.

Length: 320 km (200 miles)
Start: Exeter, Devon
End: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Major Cities: Bath, Cirencester, Leicester
Modern Roads: A46, A433, A429 follow much of the route
Walking Sections: Excellent preserved stretches in the Cotswolds

Built around 47 AD following the Roman invasion under Emperor Claudius, the Fosse Way initially served as a military frontier. The word “Fosse” comes from the Latin fossa, meaning ditch, as it is believed the road may have originally been flanked by defensive ditches.

Fosse Way itinerary

The best way to explore the Fosse Way is by a combination of driving and walking; this relatively short route can be done in under 1 week. The road from Exeter to Lincoln is remarkably straight, and the experience is quintessentially English — a countryside on ancient foundations.

4. Via Julia Augusta: French Riviera to Italian Riviera

La Via Julia Augusta, constructed in the first century BC, is a Roman road that runs from current-day Piacenza, Italy to Arles, France. The coastal section from Nice to the Italian border offers spectacular Mediterranean scenery combined with Roman heritage.

Coastal Section: Nice to Ventimiglia (50 km)
Full Length: Piacenza to Arles (280 km)
Best Preserved: Monaco to Menton stretch
Highlights: Roman trophy, coastal views, medieval villages
Modern Status: Scenic driving route, walking paths

Roman roads are always named after their founder. Julia for Jullii, Julius Caesar’s family (Emperor Augustus was his adoptive son), and Augusta for Augustus. Via Julia Augusta was built to connect Rome with its Gallic provinces.

Via Julia Augusta Itinerary

The route combines some of Europe’s most spectacular coastal scenery with exceptional Roman remains, from the Italian Riviera through Monaco and the French Riviera to the Roman treasures of Provence.

5. Ermine Street: London to Lincoln and York

Ermine Street is a major Roman road in England that ran from London (Londinium) to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) and York (Eboracum), built within the first three decades after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 CE. This ancient highway represents one of the most important Roman engineering achievements in Britain.

Start Point: Bishopsgate, London (Londinium)
End Points: Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) and York (Eboracum)
Length: 320 km (200 miles) to Lincoln, extending to York
Major Stops: Royston, Godmanchester, Stamford, Newark
Modern Roads: A1 follows much of the route
Best Preserved: Sections near Stamford in Lincolnshire and south of Ware in Hertfordshire

Built by the IX Legion as part of their advance northwards in the AD40s and 50s, Ermine Street served as Rome’s primary route into northern Britain. The road enabled rapid military deployment during the conquest of Britain and later became crucial for civilian administration and trade.

Ermine Street Itinerary

Ermine Street is best down by car. The starting point is the Bishopsgate Area of London; the whole route can be completed in under a week. It runs through 4 counties and crosses 5 major rivers.Modern travelers experience the same landscape Roman legions marched through, visiting preserved road sections near Stamford and Ware, exploring Roman towns like Godmanchester and Lincoln.

6. Via Appia Antica (The Appian Way)

The Appian Way was begun in 312 BCE by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus and became the first and most famous of Rome’s great roads. Originally constructed to facilitate military campaigns in southern Italy, it evolved into a crucial commercial artery connecting Rome to the strategic port of Brindisi.

The main part of the Appian Way was started and finished in 312 BC. The road began as a leveled dirt road upon which small stones and mortar were laid. Gravel was laid upon this, which was finally topped with tightly fitting, interlocking stones to provide a flat surface.

Detail	Information
Length	350 miles (563 km) total; 7 miles accessible from Rome
Construction	Started 312 BCE by Censor Appius Claudius Caecus
Original Route	Rome to Brindisi (ancient Brundisium)
Best Preserved Section	Via Appia Antica from Rome to Castel Gandolfo
UNESCO Status	Part of larger Roman archaeological landscape

The road witnessed some of history’s most dramatic moments, including the crucifixion of 6,000 followers of Spartacus along its length in 71 BCE. Early Christians used it to flee persecution, and it became lined with elaborate tombs and monuments of wealthy Roman families.

Via Appia Antica Itinerary

The route begins at Porta San Sebastiano in Rome and extends southeast through the Alban Hills. The old Appian Way, close to Rome, is now a free tourist attraction. It was extensively restored for Rome’s Millennium and Great Jubilee celebrations. Along the route, you can visit the Catacombs of San Callisto and the Circus of Maxentius

7. Hadrian’s Wall Path

Emperor Hadrian ordered the wall to be built in AD 122, to form a fixed border dividing the Roman Empire from the unconquered Caledonia (Scotland) to the north. Unlike roads built for movement, this stone barrier was designed to control and defend.

Length: 84 miles (135 km) coast-to-coast
Construction: AD 122 under Emperor Hadrian
Original Route: Wallsend (Tyne & Wear) to Bowness-on-Solway (Cumbria)
Best Preserved Section: Steel Rigg to Housesteads (central section)
UNESCO Status: “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” World Heritage Site

The wall stood 20 feet high with fortlets every Roman mile, supported by major forts housing auxiliary troops from across the Empire. For nearly 300 years, soldiers from Germany, Spain, and the Balkans manned this remote frontier, creating a unique multicultural military society.

The wall’s abandonment around AD 410 marked the end of Roman Britain, but its massive stones were quarried for centuries to build local farms, churches, and field boundaries throughout Northumberland.

Hadrian’s Wall Path Itinerary

The path runs for 84 miles (135 km), from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast. It can easily be done on foot or by bicycle in under 1 week. It’s like the last stages of the Camino, but in the English countryside. The section from Chollerford to Birdoswald (most of which sits within Northumberland National Park) is often considered the highlight of the walk.

8. Via Francigena — Italy, France, Switzerland, England

The route traces the path taken by Sigeric the Serious, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who made this pilgrimage to Rome in the 10th century and documented his journey in a diary.

Total Length: 1,900 km (1,180 miles) Canterbury to Rome
Italian Section: 600 km from Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome
Historical Origin: Documented by Archbishop Sigeric the Serious, AD 990
Best Tourist Section: Tuscany: Lucca to Siena (160 km)
Council of Europe Status: Certified Cultural Route since 1994

Unlike Roman military roads built for conquest, the Via Francigena evolved organically as Europe’s primary north-south artery during the Middle Ages. Frankish kings, German emperors, and countless pilgrims followed this route to reach the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome.

The Canterbury-to-Rome Pilgrim Highway

The path connected Canterbury Cathedral to the Lateran Basilica in Rome, passing through 79 documented stopping points (mansiones) recorded in Sigeric’s manuscript. Medieval travelers could expect a 79-day journey on foot, with the route serving merchants, diplomats, and religious pilgrims for over five centuries.

Starting on the legendary white roads of Siena, the route traverses the iconic landscapes of Val d’Arbia and Val d’Orcia, stopping at gems like Bagno Vignoni and Radicofani. The Via Francigena in Tuscany, from Lucca to Siena, is one of the most popular and spectacular stretches of the Via Francigena to Rome.

9. Via Domitia, France — Gateway to Gaul

The Via Domitia was the first Roman road built in Gaul, constructed in 118 BC by the proconsul, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, whose name it bore. Unlike other Roman roads built on virgin territory, the route that the Romans regularised and paved was ancient when they set out to survey it, so old that it traces the mythic route travelled by Heracles. Hannibal traversed it on his way from Hispania to Italy, establishing its strategic importance centuries before Roman conquest.

Total Length: 600 km Pyrenees to Alps
Construction: 118 BCE by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus
Original Route: Col de Montgenèvre → Durance Valley → Nîmes → Narbonne → Pyrenees
Modern Parallel: A9 Autoroute follows ancient alignment
Strategic Purpose: Connect Italy with Hispania through Gallia Narbonensis

The land for the route was provided by Massilia in exchange for Rome’s protection, creating the first formal alliance between Rome and a Gallic city. The road became the economic backbone of Gallia Narbonensis, carrying Spanish silver, Gallic wine, and Italian manufactured goods across the Mediterranean trade network.

Via Domitia Route

Crossing the Alps by the easiest passage, the Col de Montgenèvre (1850 m), the Via Domitia followed the valley of the Durance, crossed the Rhône at Beaucaire, passed through Nîmes (Nemausus), then followed the coastal plain along the Gulf of Lion. The most accessible and spectacular preserved sections run between Nîmes and Narbonne.

10. Via Salaria, Italy — The Salt Road

The Via Salaria owes its name to the Latin word for “salt”, since it was the route by which the Sabines living nearer the Tyrrhenian Sea came to fetch salt from the coastal salt pans near the Adriatic. Unlike other Roman roads built primarily for military conquest, the Salaria existed as a trade route before Roman expansion, evolving from ancient Sabine paths used to transport this precious “white gold” that preserved food and sustained armies.

Length: 242 km, Rome to Porto d’Ascoli (Adriatic coast)
Construction: Pre-Roman origin, formalized by the Romans 4th century BCE
Original Route: Porta Salaria (Rome) → Reate (Rieti) → Asculum (Ascoli Piceno)
Modern Designation: Strada Statale 4 (SS4) follows ancient path
Economic Purpose: Salt transport from the Adriatic coast to inland Rome

The road’s strategic importance grew when Rome conquered the Sabine territories in the 3rd century BCE. Salt was so valuable that Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt – the origin of the word “salary.” The Via Salaria became Rome’s economic lifeline, carrying not just salt but also goods from the Adriatic ports, connecting Rome to the lucrative trade networks of the eastern Mediterranean.

Rome’s Ancient Commodity Highway

The ancient Roman salt road runs from the capital to the Adriatic Sea, and is still in use today, and is better known as the SS 4 road. It is, in fact, the road between Rome and Rieti. The most accessible and historically significant section for tourists runs from Rome’s Villa Ada to the Sabine Hills around Rieti.

11. Watling Street, England – London to North Wales

Watling Street was one of Britain’s most important Roman arterial roads, constructed soon after the Roman invasion of Britain in A.D. 43. Unlike many Roman roads that followed entirely new routes, Watling Street incorporated ancient Celtic trading paths that had been used for centuries before Roman conquest.

Total Length: 500 Roman miles (approx. 460 modern miles/740 km) from Richborough to Hadrian’s Wall
Construction: AD 43-50 by Roman military engineers following the conquest
Original Route: Dover (Dubris) → Canterbury → London (Londinium) → St. Albans (Verulamium) → Wroxeter (Viroconium)
Modern Parallel: The A2 road (Dover-London) and A5 road (London-Wroxeter) follow the ancient alignment
Strategic Purpose: Connect Channel ports with the Welsh frontier and northern garrisons

The road’s strategic importance lay in its role as Britain’s primary military and administrative artery, enabling rapid deployment of troops from the Channel coast to the volatile Welsh borderlands and northern frontiers.

It facilitated the movement of Roman legions, government officials, and commercial traffic, becoming the economic backbone that connected Continental Europe with Britain’s mineral wealth and agricultural production.

Watling Street Route

Beginning at the Roman port of Richborough (later Dover), Watling Street crossed the Kentish downs to Canterbury, then continued northwest through the Thames valley to London. From the provincial capital, it struck northwest through St. Albans, traversed the Chiltern Hills, and crossed the Midlands to reach Wroxeter near the Welsh border.

12. Via Egnatia, Greece and Turkey – Eastern Empire Highway

Via Egnatia was the great Roman highway that connected the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire, begun in 146 BC and completed in 120 BC by the proconsul Gnaeus Egnatius, whose name it bore. Initially following the traces of an older, pre-Roman road running from the Adriatic to the Aegean, the route incorporated ancient trading paths that had linked east and west for centuries before Roman conquest.

The termini of the Via Egnatia and the Via Appia, leading from Rome itself, were almost directly opposite each other on the east and west shores of the Adriatic Sea, establishing its strategic importance as Rome’s primary eastern arterial road.

Total Length: 1,120 kilometers from Adriatic to Byzantium
Construction: 146-120 BC by Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia
Original Route: Dyrrhachium (Durrës) → Apollonia → Thessalonica → Amphipolis → Byzantium
Modern Parallel: Egnatia Motorway (A2) follows portions of ancient alignment through Greece
Strategic Purpose: Link Roman colonies from the Adriatic Sea to the Bosphorus

The route gave the colonies of the southern Balkans a direct connection to Rome and was a vital link to Roman territories further to the east. The road became the economic backbone of the eastern Mediterranean, facilitating the movement of troops, officials, and merchants between Rome and its eastern provinces, carrying goods from the Black Sea region to Italian markets.

Via Egnatia Route

Beginning at the Adriatic ports of Dyrrhachium and Apollonia, two branches of the road united in the Skumbi valley, then crossed the Pindus Mountains into Macedonia. The road passed through Thessalonica, continued east through Amphipolis, crossed into Thrace, and terminated at Byzantium on the Bosphorus.

Choosing Your Roman Road Route

As you have seen, the traces of Roman roads can be seen anywhere throughout Europe, and pretty much in every country you could choose a Roman road route for your trip, be it a rental car or public transportation, and even cycling or walking.

First-Time	Fosse Way (Bath to Cirencester section)	Easy walking, excellent preservation, English countryside
	Via Julia Augusta (Nice to Menton)	Spectacular scenery, manageable distance, luxury options
Cycling	Via Claudia Augusta	Purpose-built cycling infrastructure, Alpine challenge
	Via Augusta (Catalonia section)	Mediterranean climate, cultural highlights
History Buffs	Via Appia	Multiple Roman sites, 2,000 years of continuous use
	Via Augusta (full route)	Longest Roman road, diverse Spanish regions