Via Francigena

A classic long-distance pilgrimage linking Canterbury and Rome across roughly 1,900 km.

Time to Hike: About 1,900 km - typically walked in around 70 to 90 days depending on daily distances and rest days.

Best Time to Go: Spring to early autumn is the walkable season, roughly April to October, with alpine crossings safest in late spring to early autumn.

Getting there: Begin at Canterbury by train from London or finish at Rome by plane or rail; many walkers start in the north and walk south to Rome.

Costs: Budget pilgrims can manage on modest daily spending using shared pilgrim hostels and agriturismi; expect higher costs in cities and tourist hotspots. There is no single national permit but a pilgrim credential is commonly used for hostel access.

Difficulty: Varied terrain - mostly easy lowland walking and country lanes, with alpine sections and one major pass that can involve snow and steep slopes. Expect some long stages between services in rural stretches.

Canterbury to Rome follows routes used by medieval pilgrims and passes through lowland English paths, northern French countryside, Swiss alpine approaches and the rolling hills of Tuscany before descending into Lazio and Rome. The route presents a patchwork of landscapes - farmland, vineyards, mountain tracks and ancient stone roads.

Highlights include historic cathedral towns, the Alpine crossing via the Great St Bernard Pass and memorable Tuscan villages and Roman ruins as you approach Rome. Accommodation is a mix of municipal pilgrim hostels, private refuges, agriturismi and small hotels; wild camping is restricted in places and services can be sparse on some sections. What makes the Via Francigena notable is its continuity as a marked pilgrimage way with a living pilgrim community and clearly documented stages.

• Canterbury to Calais (approx. km 0-200) - A short UK section to the Channel, then a crossing into northern France. Expect lowland walking with village paths and a mix of urban edges and countryside lanes.
• Calais to Reims (approx. km 200-550) - Rolling farmland and small towns across northern France. Highlights include long, straight rural tracks and cathedral cities along the way.
• Reims to Besançon (approx. km 550-900) - A quieter interior-France feel with bigger days between services in places. Terrain is mostly gentle but can be undulating, with riverside walking in sections.
• Besançon to Lausanne (approx. km 900-1150) - Approaching the Jura and crossing into Switzerland brings more climbing and forested trails. Lake and hill viewpoints begin to feature more often.
• Lausanne to Great St Bernard Pass (approx. km 1150-1350) - A sustained Alpine build-up with steeper gradients, mountain weather, and higher exposure as you head for the historic pass.
• Great St Bernard Pass to Aosta (approx. km 1350-1450) - A dramatic descent into Italy through the Aosta Valley, typically on mountain paths and valley routes. Strong scenery and a clear shift to Italian culture and food.
• Aosta to Pavia (approx. km 1450-1625) - The route eases into valley floors and then the flatlands of northern Italy. Expect long, straightforward walking between towns, often on tracks and quiet roads.
• Pavia to Lucca (approx. km 1625-1750) - Crossing the northern Italian plains into the first real Tuscan hills. The walking becomes more varied again, with historic centres and increasingly frequent pilgrim infrastructure.
• Lucca to Siena (approx. km 1750-1815) - One of the most popular and well-marked stretches, with classic Tuscany scenery and frequent villages. Expect rolling hills and busy accommodation in peak season.
• Siena to Rome via Viterbo (approx. km 1815-1900) - Southern Tuscany and northern Lazio bring a mix of quiet countryside and small towns before the long approach into the capital. The final days can include more paved sections as you near Rome.

The practical walking window is roughly April to October. Aim for late spring or early autumn to avoid high summer heat in central Italy and to reduce the chance of snow on alpine crossings like the Great St Bernard Pass.

No national permit system is required, but many refuges and municipal pilgrim hostels fill in high season so book key stops ahead if you travel in July and August. Expect heat, busy tourist towns in mid summer and possible snow or ice on high passes outside the main season.

The traditional northern trailhead is Canterbury, reachable by train from London St Pancras after flying into any London airport. Southern access is easiest via Rome Fiumicino or Ciampino airports, combined with regional trains to trailheads in Lazio or Tuscany.

Most walkers tackle the route north-to-south from Canterbury to Rome, though sections are commonly walked separately and can be joined by rail at multiple points along the way.

No permits are generally required to walk the Via Francigena.

Most pilgrims carry a pilgrim credential (passport) to collect stamps from churches, accommodation, and other participating places along the route. In Rome, you may be able to request a pilgrim certificate if you can show a minimum number of stamps from the final stages, but requirements and issuing bodies can vary, so check shortly before you arrive.

Accommodation is frequent in the more popular sections, especially in Italy. Options typically include pilgrim hostels and religious guesthouses (often simple, dorm-style or basic private rooms), plus B&Bs, guesthouses, and small hotels in larger towns like Lucca, Siena, Viterbo, and Rome.

Booking ahead is wise in peak months and in smaller stage towns with limited beds, particularly in Tuscany. Camping can be possible in places but is not uniformly available on the route, so do not rely on it as your only plan unless you have confirmed campsites or permission locally.