Getting ready for your first trip to Rome and not sure where to stay? Finding the best area to stay Rome can be an overwhelming task. We’ve spent a few good weeks in the Eternal City before moving to the United States. so I know firsthand how difficult it is to decide where to stay when you don’t know the city.
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Where to Stay in Rome
There are many beautiful neighborhoods and safe areas in in this great city but people’s interests, preferences, and budgets are quite different. In this article I’m going to take you through some of the best areas in Rome in order to help you decide which one is a good place for you to stay.
Best Area to Stay in Rome for Sightseeing
1. Centro Storico (Historic Center)
Location, location, location! One of the best places to stay in Rome is the historic center (Il Centro Storico) – the area around the Colosseum, Campo Fiori and Piazza Navona. Centro Storico is everything you ever dreamed about Rome: ancient ruins, baroque architecture, old churches, charming squares and winding medieval streets.
This is where you’ll find the most beautiful squares and fountains and you’ll be surrounded by incredible sights. The historic center is one of the best parts of Rome, so it’s hard to beat this location.
Staying here will insure that you are within walking distance from most of Rome’s attractions, therefore Centro Storico is one of the most convenient areas to stay if you are a first time visitor.
Hotels in this area tend to be small (boutique style) and very expensive. But if you want to be within a few minutes walk to most of Rome’s major attractions, you can’t beat this location.
Where to Stay in Centro Storico
Here are some excellent hotels in Centro Storico, Rome, to can choose from.
Most Romantic Neighborhood in Rome
2. Trastevere – a Great Neighborhood for Couples
Trastevere is one of the best places to stay in Rome. A lovely medieval neighborhood with great restaurants, beautiful baroque architecture, narrow cobbled streets, and charming piazzas. Some of my favorite places to eat in Rome are in Trastevere, so I visit this neighborhood quite often when I am in Rome.
Trastevere is one of Rome’s most lively districts and the best neighborhood for nightlife. If you are looking for a quieter area not far from the historic center that buzzes with activity and crowds of locals, then Trastevere is the right place for you.
From here you can easily visit the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Forums, and other attractions in the historic center. Hotels in Trastevere are a little more affordable than in the historic center.
Where to Stay in Trastevere
Here is a list of hotels in Trastevere you can choose from. Or you can book an apartment on VRBO – Vacation Rentals By Owner website.
Best Area to Stay in Rome for Local Vibe
3. Monti – Best Neighborhood for Local Vibe
Monti would probably be my second choice for staying in Rome. This tiny area that spreads between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum was once the red-light district of ancient Rome. Today, Monti is packed with traditional trattorias, chic boutiques and lots of bars and hip cafés where the locals hang out.
Monti is not as touristy as Trastevere and Centro Storico, although it’s just a stone’s throw from Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The area has good access to public transportation.
In terms of accommodations, there are a number of nice boutique hotels in the area, apartments and bed-and-breakfasts in the area.
Where to Stay in Monti
Here is a list of great hotels in Monti you can choose from. If you are a budget traveler, you might want to check out this article for the best hostels in Rome for backpackers.
Where to Stay in Rome as a Budget Traveler
4. Termini – a Good Place to Stay if You Are on a Budget
Termini Station is the main transportation hub and Rome’s main train station. The place where the airport express train arrives and the two metro lines intersect. Also, at Termini is where all hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses stop.
The immediate surrounding of the Termini Station are a maze of hectic streets with cheap shops and food markets.
The area around Termini station is often considered to be a more dangerous part of town, so you should be on your guard on streets like Via Giolitti.
As you move away from the station, you’ll find hotels and restaurants on almost every street and for every budget. This area is probably the best location to stay in Rome if you are on a tight budget. It is also very convenient if you want to be close to all public transportation.
In terms of sites, Termini isn’t blessed with much and is not particularly charming. You won’t find the same atmosphere as in the Historic Center, or in Trastevere.
The two biggest attractions to see here are the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Diocletian’s Baths. Because of the number of hotels in the immediate vicinity, room rates are very competitive.
Although major crime is very unlikely, petty crime (particularly pickpockets) is more frequent in this area. Termini is a good location to stay in Rome for budget travelers and for people who want mobility.
Where to Stay around Termini Station
Here are some hotels around the Termini Station area to choose from. Around Termini are also some of the best hostels in Rome, in case you are traveling on a budget.
Safest Area to Stay in Rome for Families
5. Prati – the Best Neighborhood for Families with Children
Despite being Rome’s designer shopping district, Prati is one of the quietest areas in Rome. It is an affluent residential neighborhood, very close to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Prati is a well-connected part of town, without being stuck in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s easy to get to by metro and has loads of good hotels and eateries to choose from. Because of its close proximity to the Pope’s residence, Prati is also of the safest neighborhoods in Rome.
If you are visiting Rome with children, this would be a great neighborhood for you. (For a complete guide on visiting Rome with a baby read this post.) If you plan to stay in Prati, you will need to use public transportation in order to visit the tourist attractions in Rome.
Where to Stay in Prati
Here is a list of good hotels in Prati you can choose from.
So What’s the Best Area to Stay in Rome as a Visitor?
I’ve covered some of the best areas to stay in Rome for visitors. I tried to give you a fell of each one of these neighborhoods in order to help you make an informed choice. Your decision will ultimately be based on your interests, preferences and budget.
I hope the information I provided will make it easier for you to decide where to stay in Rome. Don’t get intimidated by the popularity of this city. Most areas are quite safe and with some careful planning you can find pretty good deals.
If you are traveling on a budget, I recommend you check out this post about the best budget hotels in Rome. Another good place to check for hotel deals is on HotelsCombined, a World’s Leading Hotel Comparison Website.
A Final Thought
Rome is one the world’s most fascinating cities, so no matter where you choose to stay you’ll have an amazing time here. Because there is just so much to see and do in Rome, you should plan on spending at least 4-5 days here. You can always add Rome to a bigger European itinerary.
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Hari Sitaula
For those of us who are unfamiliar with the city, like me, that is an excellent overview of the city. We appreciate you sharing this content.
Bryan
What would have been helpful is a map showing where each of these areas are located – possibly also including dots for some of the major sites. I realize I can work this out going back and forth to Google Maps, but it would have been a nice visual here.
Anda
Thanks for the suggestion, Bryan. I’ll try to add maps to my guide.
Sam
Hello, of couse depends on financial capabilities and sympathy, Trasteve is very atmospheric area and absolutely fantastic. Piazza della Repubblica is very beautiful too, but not so popular but whole area location is great, thanks for article, wish all the best!!
Anda
Thanks, Sam.
Yukti Agrawal
Your guide to stay in Rome, Italy is wonderful and it is very helpful for first timers. I would love to to stay in Rome at its historic center (Il Centro Storico) – the area around the Colosseum, Campo Fiori and Piazza Navona. It would be good to admire ancient ruins, baroque architecture, old churches, charming squares and winding medieval streets in this area. Monti too looks worth staying due to its history of red light area and also some rustic cafes and eatouts.
Marina Springer
Loved the article: very informative and just made my planning easier. Thank you!
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Marina. Hope you have a wonderful trip in Italy.
Clarice / Camping for Women
My husband is visiting Rome in the latter part of the year. He had been asking me to help him look for places where he can stay. Thus, I am so happy to see your post. It is very helpful.
Anda Galffy
WHope my post was of some help to you then.
Medha Verma
That is a fantastic post detailing all the areas to stay and the key USP of each. Although I usually choose to stay in the historical centre when I travel to Europe, given my love for ancient architecture and cobbled stone streets, I also love how Trastevere looks. Out of all these, it would be my choice to stay in Rome.
Shreya Saha
That’s an important article on which neighborhood to stay in Rome. In a city, often there are more than one or two important places or areas to stay in and I get confused. I would be at rest when it will come to Rome, thanks to your blog. I will settle either with Centro Sortico or Trastevere. Well yes, still I am keeping two options.
Raghav
I’ve only ever spent two quick nights in Rome, so I really want to go back and discover it all over again. Trastevere looks like a charming location to spend time in Rome. I love the old-world charm that seems to engulf the area, as seen through your photos. I do like how you have divided the city as per the characteristics particular to the regions. Thanks and this will come in handy when I plan my Roman Holiday.
emman damian
Rome is one of my favorite cities in Italy. I went to Trevi fountain and Colloseo! It was so fun! I lived near Colloseo. It was a good neighborhood. Not so expensive too!
Adele Gee
This article is on point, my three trips to Rome and where I stayed was reflected in my budget situation, on my very first trip I stayed at the area near the Termini station which was way cheaper. Most recently I stayed at Centro Historico which was perfect for visiting the main sites just by walking. I wish I had this article when I was planning my Rome trip.
Soumya Gayatri
This is such a comprehensive post. I visited Rome more than 5 years ago and we stayed somewhere in the historic center, dont remember exactly where. It was such a wonderful experience. After reading through your post, I feel like I should try out one of the other neighborhoods this time. Some of them look really interesting, the Trastevere for example.
Daniel
This is one brilliant post and a great summary, Anda. I visited Rome on many different occasions and I stayed in a lot of the areas you mentioned here and I think you truly did cover the best areas to stay in Rome. My personal favorite (until now) is Trastevere
Jane Dempster-Smith
We have only visited Rome once and stayed around Termini. This is a very informative article Anda because we are always being asked where is the best place to stay in Rome which is close to the attractions. We will bookmark this article for our future reference.
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Jane. I’m glad you found it useful.
Carrie Ann Karstunen
This is a great resource for a first-time visitor to Rome! It’s always difficult to choose a location to stay in an unfamiliar city. As I don’t like to break my budget by staying in the most expensive area, but I still like to be somewhat near the action, I think I would choose Trastevere. Thanks for providing so many options with pros and cons!
Kavita Favelle
I have visited Rome only once, and certainly loved it, mostly for the sense of history around every corner. I’d like to go again though, and your guide on where to stay is super helpful, we hardly thought about it last time, which was at least two decades ago! I’d likely go with your first or second choices of Trastevere or Monti, both are appealing, I think we have similar taste!
Ami Bhat
That is a wonderful breakdown of the city for people like me who are not so familiar with the place. The B&Bs rarely share such insights and whenever I go down to booking them, I get confused about the areas. The center city would be my first choice given its proximity to places that I want to visit. I would definitely be looking for bargains on that one. Cheers and thanks for such a lovely and informative post.
Jennifer Melroy
I am a big fan of staying as close to historical city centers as possible. I make it easy to get up and get to the historical sites and beat the hordes of tourists. I love getting to spend time by fountains and in squares and almost be alone.
Samantha Sparrow
I stayed in the Centro Storico when I visited Rome (overlooking the Pantheon and it was great for a first time visit as i was so close to everything. I think if I was to visit again I’d try Trastevere or Testacchio which both have an incredible food scene and would definitely be a little more laid back!
Victoria
Very useful post, Anda. Travellers (even seasoned ones) get incredibly overwhelmed when choosing an area to stay in a new city. For me, it is the most stressful experience in planning a trip and I often feel, even after hours of research, that I am not entirely sure of my choice. In Rome we stayed near Spanish Steps and it was a good choice for us. Like you, though, I was overwhelmed by the crowds (which made the entire experience…an underwhelming for me), but that is another story (I did read your other Rome story:)
Cathy
Incredible guide for first timers like me. Rome is truly one of the best places in the world that we should’ miss out. Although couldn’t help but notice that Piazza della Repubblica has a resemblance to the Opera house in Hanoi, the architecture, and the color. Termini could be my suitable location, and yes how true that Rome has numerous pickpocketers? Nevertheless, Rome should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Stevo Joslin
Thank you so much for this guide. We are planning to visit Europe next year and we’d love to visit Rome. It’s good to know there are affordable rooms so close to all the sights in Trastevere, and to get more of a feel for the way people live in Rome. It’s nice to see how life is lived in big cities all over the world. Thank you for the inspiration.
Punita Malhotra
We just loved the one week we spent in Rome. I would love to go back again and concentrate purely on photography this time, now that the sights are out of the way. 🙂 Love all your photos.
Vlad
I stayed pretty far from the city center on my first visit to Rome, but next time I go to Rome I definitely want to stay in Trastevere, I loved it there 😀
David
I’ve heard really good things about Trastevere from people so I think that is where I’d like to stay next trip to Rome. My last visits I stayed in Via Aurelia which is past the Vatican. Whats good I think is that Rome’s public transport is decent so it wasn’t hard getting into the city centre. Great write up! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Medha
Thank you for this informative post, the one thing I research before I visit any city or town is ‘the best areas to stay in..’ so this is actually very helpful! I don’t plan to visit Rome again, I’ve been there some 6 years back and I don’t even remember where I stayed. But if I return, I know this is one of the first posts I will look for. Cheers!
Medha
Thank you for this informative post, the one thing I research before I visit any city or town is ‘the best areas to stay in..’ so this is actually very helpful! I don’t plan to visit Rome again, I’ve been there some 6 years back and I don’t even remember where I stayed. But if I return, I know this is one of the first posts I will look for. Cheers!
Jennifer
I lived in Italy for seven years. Centro Storico actually is the area of Rome that’s bordered by the 3rd-century Aurelian walls and by the mura gianicolensi, which include the Vatican walls – in other words, it’s massive and divided by neighborhoods. All the other neighborhoods you discussed are in Centro Storico.
I really like the Campo dei Fiori and Jewish Ghetto neighborhood. You’re an easy walk to the major monuments like the Colosseum, but also a short walk to the great and less touristy restaurants of Trastevere.
Ash
I think I’ll choose Trastevere anytime. It’s not far from the historic centre and the attractions that made Rome famous are within easy reach. Also, as you said, hotels are more affordable in this area.
Eva
Thank you for this very inclusive post. I absolutely love Rome and has something to offer for all tastes and interests, so it is good to know in advance which area fits your taste. I personally like Trastever best hehe
shere
I find picking where to stay in big cities always overwhelming. I was in Rome 13 years ago, I think I stayed in Monti, but I can’t remember. I always want to be close to the centre
Kat
My first visit to Italy was with Trafalgar Tours in 2008 – can’t remember exactly where we stayed in Rome – I believe it was outside of the city. But I would really love to return to Rome again and explore the sights on my own at my pace. Have read quite a bit on Trastevere, this might be the location I would consider the next time 🙂
Jessica Norah
We have been to Rome a few time and have stayed in a few different areas around the center (most of which you noted), and we loved being able to walk to many of Rome’s top attractions. Although we found the public transit easy enough it is nice to be centrally located!
Wendy Maes
When I was in Rome, I stayed in a tiny hotel in front of the Trevi Fountain. It’s called Hotel Fontana and it’s the only hotel that overlooks the fountain. Marvelous!
Sandra
I stayed in a hotel in Trastevere almost 10 years ago and I was really happy that I did.
Sara
I’ve been trying to figure out where to stay when we go back to Rome in April. We’ve stayed near Repubblicca on our last two trips… and it’s a good location, but we’re hoping to stay somewhere more central on this trip! This gives me some good ideas to look at!!
Anda Galffy
I hope you’ll have a great time in Rome, Sara.
jill
I’ve never been to Rome so this will definitely be helpful to me if I go as I am totally clueless about the city. Trastevere – and your photos of it – looks appealing to me though so I guess that is where I would be inclined to stay.
Mary (The World Is A Book)
We just booked our tickets to Rome a few days ago! Such a timely and useful post right now as I’m searching for lodging. It’s been 7 years and the place where we stayed at is all booked. Thank you for this!
Anda Galffy
Have fun, Mary. I’m sure Rome will not disappoint you, no matter where you decide to stay.
Upeksha
I agree – nothing like staying in the centre for visiting the attractions. We stayed via Veneto when we visited many years ago.
California Globetrotter
Last time I visited Rome in college, we stayed at a resort like an hour by shuttle bus out of the city which made for a hassle to get in and out because we were stuck to the hotel’s times. Next time, I’m definitely staying IN Rome or probably more like Trastevere would be my ideal location!!
Anda Galffy
An hour away from Rome sounds way too far. You definitely have to go back and stay somewhere close to the historic center. We’ve stayed in many places in Rome and although not all were close to the city center, I liked all of them. Each neighborhood has its own charm and there is so much to see and do everywhere in Rome.
Anisa
Last time I was in Rome, I stayed in the city center. Yes, it was expensive but it was so nice to be able to walk to everything.
Emese
Great info and beautiful pictures, Anda!
Oddly enough, I haven’t been in Italy yet. But now I know where to stay when we finally end up going. I’ll have to bookmark this post until we do. My choice would probably be the Trastevere.
Anda Galffy
I think you’ll love Italy, Emese. Their culture is quite similar to ours, so you’ll feel very “at home” there.
Vibeke Johannessen
I went to Rome as a kid so don’t really remember the area we stayed in. I want to go back and would definitely stay in Trastevere. Looks amazing and charming. It seems like a typical and charming Italian area, just like I imagined it to be 😀 I hope I can go back to Rome. Will save this post until then 😀
LaiAriel Samangka
Wow, I haven’t been to Rome and these places are really beautiful. I love all those intricate design of building, which is only in Rome. Will surely stay with these beautiful places if I get the chance to visit Rome soon. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Hallie
I’d probably like to stay in the historic areas but would like end up like you and stay in Trastevere. I’ve gotta get on planning a trip to Rome. Oh the history and the beauty.
Marta Cunha Grilo
A good friend of mine just went to Rome 2 days ago and she wasn’t sure about where to stay. I’ll be sending your post 😉
Rhonda Albom
I only spent the day in Rome when I was in Italy so I didn’t need a hotel. If I were to spend some time there, I think I’d want to stay in the Centro Storico area. I can revisit all the sites I saw before and others that I didn’t have time to see last time I was there.
Anda Galffy
Staying in the historic center has only one downside Rhonda: you’d probably be so comfortable there that you won’t go anywhere outside that area. And that would be a pity because Rome has many outstanding areas that deserve to be visited.
Ryan Biddulph
Trastevere would work for me too Anda. Gotta get off the beaten path to see and experience a different side of these major cities. Like a full 180 in some cases from heavily touristed centers. As for Roma it’d be my first visit as I have barely been to Europe. I am too addicted to the tropics methinks. But I have a score of Italian expat buddies here in Chiang Mai who have painted a pretty picture of both Rome and Italy itself. Gotta go one day.
Signing off from Thailand.
Ryan
Anda Galffy
Oh, you surely go to Europe more, Ryan. You may have a change of heart and abandon the tropics for a few years. The only downside to it is that life in Europe is so much more expensive than on these tropical islands.
Iuliana Marchian
This is such a wonderful post. I was in Rome 20 years ago. Honestly, I don’t remember where I stayed, I was a student, so it didn’t matter so much where I slept but I remember the beautiful Trastevere and the area of ancient Rome.
Anda Galffy
That’s how I actually closed my article, Juliana. I closed saying that regardless where you stay in Rome, you will have a great time.