Where to stay in Rome? In which area and part of Rome should you choose your hotel? You will find in this post every detail to make the right choice for you: the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in Rome, the areas to avoid, and the best places to stay in Rome, as a couple or with family.
- In which part to stay in Rome?
- Map of the neighborhoods to stay in Rome
- Atmosphere, pros & cons for each area
- Best places for a romantic trip to Rome
- Lovely places to stay in Rome with family
- How to go to Rome city center from the airport?
- Tips for finding accommodation in Rome
1. Which part of Rome should you stay in?
Main places to see. The best solution for staying in Rome is to choose a hotel near the significant sightseeing places. In our blog post about what to visit in Rome? we uncover where the main areas to see are located. We also talk about less busy places that are just as interesting to discover.
Reference point for searches. You can take the Pantheon as the most central point to stay in Rome, in a hotel. It is in the midpoint, equidistant from everything, from Colosseum to Vatican City. Other neighborhoods also remain attractive but for different reasons. For example, if you crave a view of St. Peter Basilica.
The best area is this historic center of Rome, Centro Storico in Italian. This area is around the Pantheon area, between Piazza Navona and Trevi’s Fountain. Although the prices in this district are higher, many visitors choose a hotel in this area to stay in Rome. You will also find a lot of delicious places to eat.
2. Map of the best areas to stay in Rome
Discover below more information on these 5 best areas to stay in Rome during a trip. Each neighborhood has its vibe, pros, and cons. So, even if you are staying in the most central area of Rome, it is always interesting to discover other city districts.
3. Best neighborhoods to stay in Rome (and areas to avoid)
In which area to stay in Rome? Here are the 5 best neighborhoods to stay in when visiting Rome. The Pantheon is the most expensive among the central districts to stay in Rome, and Termini is the cheapest.
- Pantheon
- Vatican
- Colosseum
- Trastevere
- Termini
3.1 Pantheon, the heart of the historic center of Rome
Here, we predominantly find the tiny cobbled streets, baroque churches, and must-sees such as the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Prices are higher than in other areas of the city. Despite being one of the most crowded, the Pantheon is one of the best areas to stay in Rome.
Little Queen Pantheon: a lovely place to stay in Rome, in the most central district. Ideally located a few minutes from the Trevi Fountain, this hotel is excellent for visiting Rome.
Navona Open Space Aparthotel: this apartment is 60sqm and located just 5 minutes from the Castle of Sant’Angelo and 15 minutes from the Pantheon. A great place to stay in Rome!
3.2 The Vatican or the areas around the City-State
It is the most convenient area to visit the Vatican and its monuments, such as St. Peter’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel (tips for visiting). The pace here is more relaxed than in the Pantheon area. However, it is a less convenient area for the Roman side, for example, the Colosseum. Going from Vatican City to the Roman Forum takes at least 30 minutes by bus.
Eccelso Hotel: with lower rates than in the Pantheon district, this hotel is ideally located for visiting the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo. Other must-see places in Rome are also accessible by crossing the Tiber River. A great alternative to the Pantheon district!
3.3 Colosseum, the ancient quarter of Rome
The huge advantage is to be closer to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum (read our post: Tips for visiting the Colosseum in Rome). If you choose this area to stay in Rome, we advise staying within the Colosseum and the reference point, which remains the Pantheon. The Colosseum area is one of the best places to stay in Rome, Italy, but only some streets are appropriate.
Madonna de’ Monti Suites: a stone’s throw from the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, a perfect place to visit Rome on foot.
Darlin 30 Suite Roma Monti: a lovely 60m2 apartment with a bedroom, a living room, and an equipped kitchen, located near the Cavour metro station in Rome. A larger apartment (two bedrooms) close to the Colosseum is LIVING COLOSSEUM.
Areas to avoid in Rome. For example, the district is not great towards the Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. The Parco Del Colle Oppio park, next to the Colosseum, should also be avoided.
3.4 Trastevere, the new cool area to stay in Rome
Trastevere is the up-and-coming district for visitors. It has tiny cobbled streets and a village atmosphere. Visitors also like it for its lively streets and more authentic side. In addition, the Trastevere district partly runs along the quays of the Tiber River. Even if poorly developed, the Tiber’s riverbank is rather pretty and pleasant for a walk, mainly thanks to the bridges and the tall trees that border them.
Tree Charme: here, you will find elegant rooms near the Tiber. A terrace in an interior courtyard also awaits you on site. It is a perfect place to stay in Rome in the Trastevere district.
Vicolo del Cinque apartment: a 75m2 apartment with two bedrooms, perfect for visiting Rome with the family.
Like the Vatican, Trastevere is on the right side of the Tiber. You will, therefore, of course, stay in a more authentic neighborhood of Rome. You will also be further away from the sights to visit in Rome. Ultimately, Trastevere’s area is one of the best places to stay in Rome.
3.5 Termini, the Termini station district in Rome
As it hosts the train station, Termini is very convenient if you also plan to visit Florence or Pompei. Airport transfer from Fiumicino by train or bus also takes you there (find out more: how to get to Rome center city from the airport). It saves time, effort, and money on arrival and departure to stay in this district of Rome. It is the cheapest downtown area. On the other hand, it has less charm than the districts of Pantheon or Trastevere but remains a pleasant district to discover in Rome.
Hotel Virgilio: 5 minutes walk from the train station and 10 minutes walk from the Roman Forum, this hotel is an excellent place to stay in Rome as a couple or with the family.
Rooms Roma – Monti: double and family rooms for 3, 4, or 5 people.
4. Lovely places to stay in Rome for couples
Discover our selection of the best hotels to stay in for a romantic visit to Rome.
Little Queen Pantheon: This hotel offers very nicely decorated rooms in addition to an excellent location for visiting Rome, a few minutes from the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
Tree Charme: located on the banks of the Tiber, in the lively district of Trastevere, this guest house offers comfortable and pleasant rooms for a great stay in Rome for two!
Hotel Virgilio: A 5-minute walk from the train station and a 10-minute walk from the Roman Forum, this hotel offers excellent value for money for a romantic visit to Rome!
Hotel 55 Fifty-Five – Maison d’Art Collection: located in the Pantheon district, this hotel is ideal for a romantic trip to Rome. You will be able to enjoy Rome and visit everything on foot.
Tree Charme Parliament Boutique Hotel: 10 minutes walk from the Trevi Fountain, in the heart of the historic center of Rome, this charming hotel is a very excellent place to stay in Rome. However, the rates are above average.
5. Best places to stay for visiting Rome with family
Discover our selection of the best hotels, apartments, and guest houses where to stay in Rome with family.
Navona Open Space Aparthotel: located 5 minutes walk from Castel Sant’Angelo and 15 minutes from the Pantheon, this apartment is 60sqm and has a balcony overlooking an interior courtyard.
Borgo Vittorio St. Peter Apartments: 300 meters from St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, this 70m2 apartment has two bedrooms, a living room and an equipped kitchen, and even a terrace! An excellent address for a family stay in Rome.
Rooms Roma – Monti: near the station and not far from the historic center of Rome, you will find double rooms here, but also family rooms for 3, 4, or 5 people.
Darlin 30 Suite Roma Monti: if you want to stay not far from the Colosseum in Rome with your family, here is a good address! It is a lovely 60sqm apartment with a bedroom, a living room, and an equipped kitchen near the Cavour metro in Rome.
Vicolo del Cinque apartment: located in the Trastevere district, a 75m2 apartment with two bedrooms. Perfect for visiting Rome with the family!
Tankara Suite: This guest house in the Trastevere district offers family rooms for 3 or 4 people.
6. Getting from the airport to the city center
There are several solutions to get from the airport to the city center of Rome: train, bus, taxi, or airport transfer booked in advance. In addition, some hotels offer an airport transfer service. Be careful and check if it is a private transfer if you do not want to wait at the airport. Sometimes, when the hotel takes care of the transfer, it groups several travelers. Therefore, you may have to wait for other people’s flights.
- You will need at least 1 hour to go from Fiumicino airport to Rome city center by train or shared shuttle. And less than an hour with a taxi.
Find all the practical information in our blog post: 3 options for getting from Fiumicino airport to Rome city center.
7. In which area to stay in Rome with good value for money?
In which district should you choose your hotel where to stay in Rome? Here are the main selection criteria.
Best area. As we saw above, the Pantheon district is the most central and expensive. It is here that there are many monuments to visit in Rome. It is also the most expensive district. The neighborhoods on the other side of the Tiber are an excellent option for finding cheap accommodation in Rome.
Comfort. Goal: sleep well and start the day of the visit in great shape! Comfort is just as important as the price.
Rates. Hotel rates may vary throughout the year. It is hard to go below 100$ by night while keeping good comfort, except during the low tourist season. If you want a central location with affordable prices, look towards Termini station instead. See also here: best time to visit Rome.
Breakfast. It is very convenient to have breakfast at the hotel. So that’s one of the essential criteria. However, if this is not possible, it is okay because you will find quite a few small cafes in Rome where you can have a quick breakfast. And that pushes us to leave the hotel earlier.
7.1 Other lovely places where to stay in the center of Rome
The historic center’s main difficulty is to have sufficiently well-insulated housing. Indeed, this is one of the main drawbacks of the historic center. Here are two other hotels where couples or families can stay in Rome.
The Bridge Suites hotel is very well located and close to the quays of the Tiber. Meanwhile, the Residence Regola is less decorated but ideally located for visiting Rome.
7.2 Hotels where to stay in Rome near the Colosseum
The micro-district around Metro Cavour is very friendly. This corner is one of the neighborhoods where you can choose your hotel in Rome with your eyes closed.
Rome is one of the most visited cities in Europe. The choice of accommodation is vast, and it is therefore quite challenging to choose the right hotel in Rome.
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