Where To Stay In Rome
Make An Informed Choice Where To Choose your Hotel Accommodation In Rome
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On this page we make an attempt so the first time visitor to Rome can make an informed choice on suitable districts to stay in Rome. There are literally hundreds of hotel accommodation options in Rome, each one of them meeting the needs of a particular market.
There is no 'best' hotel or 'best' district to stay in, there are better districts than others for your own individual preferences and budget.
Types Of Hotels / Chain Hotels
In the centre of Rome there are very few large chain hotels with familiar brand names, nor large modern towers.
At present the only global chain with a relatively large presence in most districts is the Best Western Hotels franchise. Chains like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott have most of their sites well outside the city centre. Sightseeing from these locations can be very tedious.
Several of the chains like Marriott and Sofitel do have a city centre location site but it tends to be a trophy hotel in the exclusive Via Veneto district, beyond most peoples budget.
There are also at present no low cost budget chain hotels in the centre.
The odds are, that if you are going to stay in the centre of Rome where the sights are, you will stay in an independent hotel in an oldish building perhaps relatively smaller than you are used to.
Overview Of Rome Hotel Districts
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Central Rome, at least where the visitors want to go is a very compact place. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon are all in the ancient city of Rome within easy walking distance of each other. The Vatican is on the opposite side of the river, again easily walkable. So nowhere is very far from one another.
In terms of numbers, the largest accommodation district is around Termini Station, just to the south of the ancient centre.
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| Typical Street Around Termini Station Rome |
Hotels Around Termini Station
Termini Station is the main transport hub in Rome City Centre. The two metro lines intersect here and the main central bus station is in front of the terminus. Termini is also the terminus of most long distance trains out of Rome on the Italian rail network. Trains to Fiumicino airport and the cruise port Civitavecchia also run from the station and buses to Ciampino and Fiumicino. The station is quite a modern affair with lots of shops, travel agencies, fast food, even a supermarket on several levels.
Termini is the public transport hub for Central Rome. From Termini it is possible to go direct by the limited Rome Metro service to the Colloseum, Spanish Steps and Vatican. The dense network of buses will take you everywhere else.
Termini is also the main start point for the multitude of Rome Hop on Hop Off sightseeing buses.
Accommodation here spans all the hotel sectors from hostels trough to luxury hotels. On the east and west sides of the station are a myriad of tight streets on a grid pattern, crammed with hotels and restaurants of all types, (see image above, right).
Its a bustling place with lots of people going about their business at all times. Typical of areas around a cities main railway station everywhere.
Partly because of the number of hotels in the immediate vicinity, room rates are very competitive. If value for money is at or near the top of your priority list, this is the district to benchmark all other alternatives against.
The area is also unrivalled as a transport hub, both for getting around the city and transfers to the airports.
Hotels Around Termini Station - More Details
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| Via Veneto |
Villa Borghese & Via Veneto
At the other end of the scale, perhaps the most exclusive are to stay is around Villa Borghese and Via Veneto just to the east of the ancient centre. Many of the trophy hotels in Rome are located at the top of Via Veneto, adjacent to Villa Borghese, the equivalent in Rome of Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York.
Here you have the best of both worlds. Perched up here on the hill you are just 10 minutes walk from the ancient centre, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and the recreational bolt hole that is the Villa Borghese, where you can easily find your own secluded corner and some peace and quiet.
This area is relatively spread out with elegant villas, top of the range restaurants and shopping. If money is no object, or you want to make your visit to Rome really special, this is a good place to look.
Hotels Around Villa Borghese & Via Veneto - More Details
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| Typical Street In Prati District of Rome (Vatican Area) |
The Vatican
The main reason, for some the only reason, to visit Rome is to visit the Vatican. Its on the northern border of the ancient city, on the other side of the river.
There are hotels around the Vatican, mostly to the east of it where Prati a middle-class suburb built on a grid pattern is located. The picture right is typical of what you will see for block after block. Nothing very high rise or modern.
Accommodation is of all grades, but there is a very good selection of small family owned bed and breakfast accommodation with just a few rooms.
The Rome Metro has several stations in the district and there is a constant stream of buses shuttling between the Vatican and Termini Station through the heart of the city. All the popular hop on, hop off buses of course visit this area so although across the river from the city you are not cut off.
Hotels Around The Vatican - More Details
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| Typical Small Hotel In Ancient Centre |
Other Central Districts
To the west of the ancient centre, hills soon rise up steeply. There are few accommodation options on the west bank of the river, though Trastevere is a favourite restaurant district for locals and visitors alike.
Down the hill from Termini Station, at the southern tip of the ancient centre is the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Mid way between the two is the Rione Monto district - for most people the nicest district to stay in this part of the city.
The district tucked between via Nazionale and via Cavour, has kept intact all its enchanting beauty and this is thanks to its lovely narrow side-streets and superb examples of architecture almost around every corner.
The area has a village like atmosphere with plenty of small cafes and quite a lot of oriental restaurants too.
Accommodation is mostly in small establishments that blend in rather than stand out and range from cheap family bed and breakfast to boutique hotels.
Hotels Around The Colosseum - More Details
The ancient city centre itself has perhaps, given the narrow lanes and ancient buildings a surprising choice of accommodation, especially around the Trevi Fountain / Spanish Steps district. As well as being fascinating from a historical perspective, this is a very high class shopping district and very popular restaurant area as well.
Given the age of the buildings, you won't find large hotels here with plenty of facilities, but you will find 'character' smaller establishments.
Hotels Spanish Steps / Trevi Fountain - More Details
Room Rates & Seasons
Room rates are highly volatile in Rome, dependant on the season.
The peak season for room rates shoulders the height of the summer in late July and August. At this time room rates can be double or more than in the winter months. Trying to find a family room at the peak times is problematic, unless you book well in advance at these times.
The month of May and April (outside Easter) can be a good time to visit with reasonable room rates and comfortable temperatures. The end of the year can be very wet and the height of summer too hot to sightsee in comfort.
Inner Suburb Hotels - A Value For Money Solution
You do pay a premium for staying in the centre of the city of Rome, especially so at the busier times of year.
The solution for many is to stay outside the city centre.
Unfortunately many of the 'resort hotels' with well known brands are in isolated locations. You end up planning your day around restricted hotel shuttles or paying a lot out on taxi fares. Unless you can get a hotel near a Metro station or suburban railway station the transfer into the city can be time consuming and stressful or expensive, local buses can take an awful long time to get you into the centre.
The answer for many is to look at hotels within easy walking distance of a Metro or rail station. We have a page dedicated to highlighting some of the best value hotels in the inner suburbs.
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