Via Francigena Trail

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.

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.

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.