Where to stay in Rome?

Stay in Centro Storico, in the heart of Rome

The historic centre, or Centro Storico, offers the most majestic and romantic setting for your stay in Rome. Its narrow streets, carved out during the Renaissance, lined with palazzos - the homes of Roman aristocracy - and leading to cosy squares full of fountains and ancient monuments, are all part of the charm of this city, which attracts visitors from all over the world.

Staying in a hotel in the heart of Centro Storico will allow you to enjoy this unique atmosphere in the most authentic way possible.

The historic centre is nestled in a bend of the Tiber River. It is bordered to the north by the Vatican and the gardens of Villa Borghese, to the south by the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, and to the east by Monti, a district dotted with hills. It is home to an impressive number of monuments, museums and points of interest. To name just a few:

• the Pantheon, with its pierced dome dating back almost 2000 years,
• the Trevi Fountain, a marble Renaissance masterpiece,
• or the many Baroque churches, such as the Church of the Gesù, the stronghold of the Jesuit brotherhood.

Aside from these attractions, you can simply stroll through the streets and squares, such as Piazza Navona, enjoying an ice cream or a coffee and taking in the overall atmosphere.

If you do decide to stay in Centro Storico, you’ll also have easy access on foot to the nearby areas of interest. Access to the metro, on the other hand, will be a little trickier, as the lines only go around the heart of the city. Not to worry though, as you’ll never need to walk more than 30 minutes to reach a metro station if you stay in this area.

Just be careful with your budget. Indeed, to enjoy the luxury of the historic centre you’ll need to be prepared to pay the price. This is one of the most expensive areas in the capital. The hotels, housed in historic mansions, are quite expensive, and don’t expect to find a hostel in the area!

Tridente and Piazza di Spagna: ideally located for accommodation

The Tridente area takes its name from the 3 axes that form its heart and resemble the teeth of a trident. It lies to the north of the historic centre, between the Tiber and the Villa Borghese, which overlooks it. This area is home to the most luxurious stores. It is a regular haunt for shoppers, both local and foreign.

It offers a number of advantages for city trips of a few days.

First, its convenient location. Indeed, the historic centre is right next to it, so you can get to many of the sites on foot. The Spagna metro station provides direct access to more out-of-the-way places, such as the Vatican or the Colosseum, which is a little further south. Staying in Tridente means you don’t have to make long journeys.

What’s more, the area itself offers some important monuments and sites. There’s the Piazza di Spagna, of course, at the foot of the Trinità dei Monti, from which you can get a remarkable view of the city. Or the Piazza del Popolo, to the north, which forms the base of the Trident.

Last but not least, the accommodation and surroundings are very charming. Accommodation is available to suit a range of budgets, from the very affordable to the very luxurious with views over the rooftops of Rome or the Piazza di Spagna. If you choose to stay or rent here, Tridente offers the typical Roman atmosphere, with its streets lined with tall buildings with green shutters and churches, and its small, nice restaurants and bars. This makes it a great place to stay in Rome and enjoy Roman life in a pleasant, relaxed environment.

Colosseum and Monti: a popular pick for staying in Rome

The Colosseum, an icon of the city and of Italy, marks the south of the Roman Forum area. You can stay toward the south-east of the monument, or in the Monti District, which extends roughly to the east of the Forum.

This area is a popular choice for accommodation in Rome, for many reasons.

First, the location, of course. If you stay at a hotel in this area, you’ll be right on the doorstep of the ancient sites. We’ll only mention them briefly, but you could spend hours there: the Forum and the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Domus Aureu, Nero’s folly, which marks the heart of the area.

Then simply walk north through the area to reach the historic centre, less than 15 minutes away on foot. To reach other major sites a little further out, such as the Vatican or Villa Borghese, Colosseo, Vittorio Emanuele or Manzoni metro stations are very close by.

For day trips outside the capital, the station is not far away. So if you’re staying for an extended period, you can easily reach most of the tourist attractions in the Lazio region of Rome by metro, or even on foot.

When it comes to accommodation, you’re likely to find something whatever your budget. There are plenty of hotels, bed and breakfasts and other types of tourist accommodation to choose from. On the whole, rates are cheaper than in the historic centre or other more upmarket areas of the city, except if you choose a hotel with a view of the Colosseum: then prices go up!

The area is also less touristy and quieter than the historic centre, although it is still a very attractive area and therefore popular with visitors to the Italian capital. So you won’t have any trouble finding something to eat in the evening.

To sum up, the main advantages of the Colloseum and Monti districts are their proximity to places to visit, a quieter atmosphere than the centre, and generally more affordable prices. This makes it one of the best areas, along with the historic centre, in which to stay when travelling in Rome.

Stay in Termini: the capital's cheapest area

The area around the station, Termini, is packed with cheap hotels and hostels, so this is the area to go for if you want to stay in Rome cheaply. As well as the attractive room rates, the location has other advantages, particularly when it comes to transport: situated at the intersection of the metro lines, it is also where the airport shuttles drop off passengers.

There’s not much to see in the area, apart from the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, just to the west on the way to the centre. The streets are not very charming compared to parts that are more typical of the city, but it’s still Rome. So it might not be the best place to stay in Rome to enjoy the city’s beauty.

As far as location in relation to the main tourist attractions is concerned, while not a deal breaker, the area is not optimal for your stay in Rome. You’ll have to walk quite a bit to reach some of the tourist areas (30 minutes on foot to reach the Pantheon, for example), especially as the historic centre is not served by the metro. The area is lively and there are plenty of small restaurants open in the evenings. Bear in mind, though, that like other major European cities, the area around the station is not always the most secure.

Note that you can take trains and buses to visit the capital’s surrounding areas from here. So if you’re planning a day trip to the surrounding towns, staying near Termini could be a good choice.

In short, the area around the station is mainly suited to those who want to limit their accommodation budget, even if it means compromising a little on the atmosphere and location of their hotel.

Trastevere: stay in a vibrant area

Crossing the Tiber, you leave behind the grandeur of the Centro Storico for the simpler atmosphere of Trastevere. Staying in Rome on the other bank of the Tiber will allow you to enjoy the special charm of this part of the city. Trastevere has retained a large part of its old houses, and this authenticity has made it a hit with tourists.

Trastevere is quite large, but the most visited part is its centre, full of typical little streets. It’s a great place to wander around, and you’ll also be able to find products from local artisans, including leatherworkers. The two main churches are also worth a visit:

• the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, famous for its façade and mosaics
• Santa Cecilia and its adjoining convent, also very beautiful

If you decide to stay in this part of the city, you’ll be very close to the historic centre on foot: just cross the Tiber and you’ll be in the heart of Rome in 10 minutes. Note, however, that the metro does not run through the area: allow half an hour on foot to reach the nearest stations, Colosseo or Circo Massimo.

There’s plenty of accommodation on offer, as the charm and dynamism of the area attracts many people. Staying in Trastevere will also be cheaper than in the city centre. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the many restaurants and bars in the area, which is very lively in the evenings and very pleasant. This is the main reason why some travellers choose this area.

So go for a hotel or apartment in Trastevere for a simpler, more authentic atmosphere, while remaining in a lively, well-located district. If you want to get away from the touristy areas, this is the alternative to choose, as you’ll still be close to the sites and monuments to discover.

Vatican and Prati: a good alternative for staying in Rome

The Vatican area offers a number of advantages when looking for accommodation in Rome. Although not central, it is very close to the heart of the city, with good transport links.

Of course, the main attraction is the Vatican city-state and St Peter’s Square. Staying in this part of the city means you can get an early start and avoid the crowds when visiting the Vatican Museums, particularly the Sistine Chapel. You’ll also be able to walk toward the historic centre, past the Castel Sant’Angelo, or take the metro to the south of the city.

When it comes to the nightlife, the area around the Vatican is very quiet, maybe even too quiet. You’ll have to walk for a while to find a restaurant in the evening.

Prati, to the north-east of St Peter’s Square, is much livelier. There are quite a few nice restaurants and bars, with cosy atmospheres and affluent locals.

As in all of Rome, the area offers a wide choice of accommodation for anyone and any budget. It’s worth bearing in mind that Prati is a fairly upmarket area, so plan your budget accordingly! There are, however, some cheaper hotels in the immediate vicinity of the Vatican. In other words, this area is a must see. You’re sure to spend a whole day exploring the different sites of the city-state. But it’s not necessarily a place you’ll return to several times during your stay. Unless you choose to stay there…

What about staying in other areas in Rome?

As you’ll have seen from our tips, Rome offers a wide range of options for overnight stays. You’ll always find something to suit you, whether it’s the local atmosphere, proximity to monuments, transport links, or price.

Nevertheless, this article has only touched on the most central areas of the city. And as you’d expect, the City of Rome is much larger. Other areas of the Italian capital include:

• Ardeatino, where the Via Appia is located.
• Ostiense, the district where you’ll find the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
• Salario, to the east of the Villa Borghese

With that said, looking for accommodation in these areas or even further afield will really take you away from the historic heart of the city. As a result, you’ll need to make a lot more trips.  This is not recommended, especially if you’re only spending 2 or 3 nights in the capital.

What’s more, you also lose out on the charm of the historic areas, from the grandeur of the Colosseum or Piazza di Spagna to the simpler but livelier atmosphere of Trastevere. We therefore recommend you stay in the areas detailed earlier in this guide. And there’s no shortage of choice!