We were definitely feeling overwhelmed about where to stay in Rome before visiting for the first time back in July 2018. It’s natural to feel a bit of anxiety when planning trips to major cities, right? We didn’t want to book a hotel in a sketchy area that was miles away from attractions or had no atmosphere, and we were traveling on a tight budget which made things trickier.
Ideally we wanted something cheap, not too far from Termini station, near great restaurants and within walking distance to historical sites. Then we learned that Rome has thousands of hotels scattered across 22 rioni (neighborhoods), and that just sounded tiring. But it was easier than expected to narrow things down – and we ended up staying in Monti for 3 nights, not far from the Colosseum.
This is us in a church watching the three tenors on a trip to Rome
The hotel worked well and Monti was a fun place to stay, but when we went back to the Eternal City for another 3 nights in May 2022 with a healthier budget, we decided to stay in the Centro Storico. Why? Because it’s got that coveted central location among the city’s famous attractions. And now that we’ve ticked them off, next time we’ll stay in Trastevere for a livelier atmosphere. Read more about us.
We travel for a living and after our two touristy trips to Rome, we honestly think it’s one of the least overwhelming capital cities in the world to book a hotel. In this guide we cut straight to the chase and show you the 5 areas we’d consider staying in Rome, with pros and cons for each area based on our experiences, and a helpful map at the end. Okay, let’s begin!
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Our Favorite Hotels
If you’re in a hurry or don’t want to read this full guide, here are our top three affordable hotel picks for first time visitors to Rome based on a perfect blend of location, quality, value for money, previous guest reviews and our own experiences.
Maison Evelina – This seriously affordable hotel has sky high ratings and it looks lovely. We think it’s a definitely hidden gem located near the Spanish Steps in a safe and popular shopping area.
Albergo del Senato – This popular hotel with a prime time location is (quite literally) a stones throw from the Pantheon in the heart of the lively historic center. And nightly prices are surprisingly low if you book far enough in advance.
Dimora ai Fori – Highly rated and affordable hotel located in the lively Monti area just a few minutes from the Colosseum. It’s also close to the train station which is great for logistics.
But we hope you love to research and learn about a place before you visit like we do, so keep reading to see what makes each of Rome’s popular neighborhoods a good or bad area to stay for your trip!
Centro Storico
Mark took this photo of Kristen alone at the Trevi Fountain at dawn when we stayed in a hotel a few minutes walk away
Okay, let’s kick things off with the most popular area that we think will work best for the majority of first time visitors to Rome – the Centro Storico.
This is the area we’re always drawn into like a gravitational pull by day and night because it’s central, busy with tourists, has tons of restaurants and is endlessly attractive with its historic narrow cobbled streets. Here’s a top rated walking tour of the Centro Storico for a perfect introduction to the area.
In 2022, we stayed at Residenza Sciarra along Via del Corso near the Trevi Fountain. It was a low-mid budget hotel (we rarely go big on hotels because we spend very little time in them!) with a great location, but it was loud at night because it directly overlooked a busy road.
If we were to pin point an exact place to stay in the Centro Storico next time, we’d book a hotel on a side street closer to the Pantheon or Piazza Navona. But honestly, anywhere between Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain is going to give you a similar experience.
If we wanted to do Rome on the cheap we’d look at Pantheon Unique Rooms, Vicario Suites or Sant’Ivo Apartments. They all have excellent ratings and won’t break the bank. Vicario Suites is so popular that it rarely has availability, so book way in advance!
If we visited Rome with a lower mid-range budget we’d consider Albergo del Senato next to the Pantheon or I Tre Moschettieri which is exactly where our hotel was located next to the Trevi Fountain. And in the higher mid-range we’d happily book any of Palazzo Navona, Hotel Martis Palace or Martius Private Suites.
And if we had cash to burn we’d book either Singer Palace or Umilta 36. They both have sky high guest ratings and are located near the Trevi Fountain.
Look, you really can’t go wrong if you stay in the Centro Storico. We think Rome is a very walkable city to begin with, and staying in the middle makes life even easier.
Yes, it is Rome’s most touristy area – but it’s not tacky like Times Square in New York. And despite being the most likely place to be ripped off, we always felt perfectly safe in the historic center.
Pros
Central location within Rome
Lots of great places to eat
Close to tons of attractions
Very walkable area
Lively at night
Good for families and couples
Cons
Very touristy (not authentic)
More expensive hotels
Gets overcrowded and loud
More grifters and scammers
Monti
We took this photo of the Colosseum after eating dinner in nearby Monti
Monti covers a large area of the city between the Centro Storico and Termini train station (Rome’s major hub). It has the highest density of hotels in the city, mainly because it’s close to the train station but also because it’s a cool, hip, bohemian neighborhood with great restaurants and a lively buzz.
We stayed at Nerva Accommodation on Via Cavour (not far from the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore) when we visited Rome in 2018. It wasn’t amazing but it gave us what we needed – a bed and a shower.
If we were to stay in Monti again, we’d prefer to book a hotel on the southwest side of the neighborhood closer to the Colosseum (check out this premium guided tour and this Gladiator’s Gate special tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum).
Argileto Terra, Hotel Romano and especially Dimora ai Fori are three affordable hotels with excellent ratings near the Colosseum that we’d definitely consider if we did Rome on a budget.
Closer to Cavour metro both Condominio Monti Boutique and Dharma Boutique Hotel are fantastic mid budget boutiquey type accommodations. Or for a big splurge, we’d love to stay at H10 Palazzo Galla.
Staying near Termini station was handy because we arrived and left by train, but we don’t recommend staying too close because it can get pretty seedy at night, like most train stations do.
That said, we did really like the chilled and trendy vibe in Monti – it’s not as touristy as the Centro Storico, but there’s still plenty of places to eat, drink and dance.
Overall we’d say Monti is perfect if you want a vibrant and fun area close to the train station. It’s got a nice mix of charm, shopping, eateries and bars that we think works best for couples, groups of friends, solo travelers or families with older kids.
Pros
Ideal for the train station
Lots of great places to eat
Charming and walkable
Lively at night
Good for solo and groups
Cons
Not as central for attractions
Expensive
Can be loud at night
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Trastevere
We took this photo of a typical street in Trastevere during our trip in May 2022
Some people think Trastevere is losing authenticity because it’s becoming too touristy, but we absolutely love the vibrant atmosphere in Rome’s most charming neighborhood. And by the end of our second trip, it was our favorite place in the city – which is why we’d stay in Trastevere next time.
Once we’d finished ticking off the city’s top attractions, we found ourselves wanting to walk down to Trastevere more than anywhere else. It reminds us of Williamsburg in NYC or Saint Germain in Paris. Cool spots to hang out.
We think Trastevere is the best place to stay in Rome if you want charm, lots of great places to eat, a bustling nightlife scene and a buzzy vibe. And as a couple in our thirties, that scene works for us!
It’s also the place to take foodie tours like this top rated pasta making class with Prosecco and wine or this sunset food and wine tour.
Now, there aren’t many tourist attractions to see, instead it’s all about great food, fun bars and swanky cocktail lounges dotted around a maze of lovely narrow cobbled streets. We’d say it’s most suited to couples, groups of friends, solo travelers, foodies and families with older kids.
We’d happily book a hotel anywhere near the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, but if we were being really picky we’d stay closer to the Ponte Sisto to have easier walking access to both the Centro Storico and the Vatican.
If we were visiting Rome on a tight budget we’d consider staying at SuitInn19, Window On Rome or Hanky Suite. They’d all do the trick and give you an affordable stay in Trastevere.
But if we had a healthier budget we’d prefer to stay at either Hotel Santa Maria, Residenza San Calisto or Giuditta in Trastevere – all of which have excellent guest ratings. Hotel Santa Maria would be our first choice.
Or if we wanted to treat ourselves we’d book a few nights at Donna Camilla Savelli, which has a unique setting in a converted 17th century convent.
Pros
Amazing places to eat
Charming and walkable
Very lively at night
Good for any traveler
Cons
Not close to attractions
No transport links
Old buildings (no elevators)
Can be very loud at night
Prati
This was the view we had overlooking Prati from a balcony in the Vatican
Prati is a ritzy and affluent neighborhood to the immediate northeast of Vatican City. We’ll admit we totally overlooked this area both times we visited Rome because we thought it was “too far out” based on reviews and what we’d read online.
And sure, it’s a long way from the Colosseum, but it’s also close to attractions on the north side of the city.
We took a walk through Prati on our second trip to Rome, and we realized it’s a very safe and quiet neighborhood with tons of highly rated places to eat, wide streets and attractive buildings.
It felt very modern and architecturally similar to Paris in some ways, which was a complete contrast to the old-world feel we were used to in the Centro Storico.
After taking this seriously fantastic early entry guided tour of the Vatican, we ate lunch at a superb spot along Borgo Pio called Rione XIV Bistrot which we recommend checking out.
Technically, the Borgo Pio area is slightly south of Prati, but it’s close enough and it would also make for a great place to stay in Rome because the Centro Storico is just across the Tiber.
For us, Prati is a place we’d definitely consider booking a hotel in Rome if we visited with our young kids because it’s safe, quiet and affluent. But it also works perfectly if your top priority is high-end shopping or visiting the Vatican Museums.
Oh, and we’d definitely consider spending our evenings in Trastevere before taking a short ride share to a quieter hotel in Prati – just food for thought!
In terms of hotels here – any of B&B Domus Quiritum, The Place 217 or Polinari Rooms San Pietro would work great on a low budget. They all have good ratings.
In the mid budget category we’d happily book Growel Exclusive Suites San Pietro, San Pietro Boutique Rooms or Domus Alberico. The latter two are located in-between Vatican City and Castel Sant’Angelo.
Interestingly, all three of the posh hotels in Prati are located on the far east side closer to the Tiber. Take a look at Hotel Isa, Orazio Palace Hotel and The First Musica if you’re visiting Rome with a top end budget.
Pros
Very close to Vatican
Walkable and relaxing
Quiet at night
Great for families
Cons
Long walk to some attractions
Not many transport links
Long way from Termini
Not much going on at night
Campo Marzio
Here’s Kristen in the always busy Piazza di Spagna with the Spanish Steps behind
You’ve heard of the famous Spanish Steps, right? Well, they’re located next to Piazza di Spagna in Rione IV, which is called Campo Marzio and is located north of the Centro Storico and east of Prati.
We think this would be a fantastic place to stay because it’s Rome’s most popular shopping area, it’s less touristy but still close to attractions, and it’s near Termini train station.
For us, Campo Marzio is the most intriguing part of Rome in the sense that it would work perfectly as a place to stay for many types of visitor but it still rarely gets mentioned online.
It’s not good for nightlife, hipster vibes, mingling with locals or budget travelers (this area has more 5 star hotels than anywhere else). But otherwise, it has tons of positives.
We walked around this area quite extensively and thought it was a lovely spot with trendy boutiques, independent shops and art galleries. Plus, it’s close to Villa Borghese – which is the Roman version of New York’s Central Park – and is home to the famous Borghese Gallery. Here’s a top rated guided tour of the gallery which works perfectly if tickets are sold out.
So this area really ticks a lot of boxes, and yet it remains a place that’s often overlooked. Why? Honestly, we’re not sure.
From what we’ve seen, it’s busy by day but quiet at night, it’s got a lot of high end restaurants and accommodation, and it’s a very safe area. So it’s a bit of a mystery, but if we had to guess we’d say it’s because hotels are more expensive here.
We’d be more than happy to book a hotel anywhere between the Trevi Fountain and Piazza del Popolo among the charming cobbled streets near Via del Corso or Via del Babuino – as long as we had the budget available.
On the lower end of budget we’d go for Maison Evelina (which looks amazing) or Albergo Delle Regioni (which is set back near Barberini metro).
With a healthier budget we’d be looking at hotels like Mario De’ Fiori 37, TB Place Roma and Palazzo Goldoni. They’re all very highly rated and have mid range prices, but mid range here can be more expensive than luxury hotels in other part of the city.
And if money was no object for our next trip to Rome, we’d book one of these classy 5 star hotels in Campo Marzio – Hotel Locarno, Palazzo Dama or our favorite Palazzo Ripetta.
Pros
High end places to eat
Near Termini and attractions
Good transport links
Charming and walkable
Quiet at night
Good for families
Cons
Not lively at night
Expensive accommodation
Not suitable on a budget
Very busy during the day
Rome Neighborhoods Map
Map key:
- Green – Cheap hotels
- Red – Mid range hotels
- Blue – Luxury hotels
How to use this map: Click the map above to activate, then tap any hotel icon to see more information and book (hotel link in description). See a list of all hotels and arrondissements by clicking the arrow icon in the top left, or see a full version of the map by clicking the “view larger map” icon in the top right.
How to save this map: Click the small star next to the map title – this will add the map to your Google account. Open your Google Maps app, tap “saved”, then tap “maps” and open this map.
Our Top Tips
This was a motorcycle event we watched from our hotel window on Via del Corso
Here’s a few quick tips we learned about booking accommodation in Rome that could save you a small fortune:
Avoid weekends – Hotel prices are significantly lower on weekdays compared to weekends in Rome. We recommend booking your stay anytime between Sunday night to Friday morning.
Beat the rush – Book as far in advance as you possibly can to get the best rates. Last minute deals don’t work like they used to, and especially not in a place as popular as Rome.
Stay longer – Typically the more nights you stay, the cheaper the average nightly rate becomes. We’ve noticed this is especially true if you book midweek stays.
Seasonality – Hotels here are way cheaper in the off season and shoulder seasons versus summer, especially July and August when tourism peaks. May and October are excellent times to visit Rome.
Events – Be mindful of any events taking place around the time you visit. During our May trip to Rome, we saw an event called the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride out of our hotel window on Via del Corso and Roma won the Europa Conference League which sparked wild (and loud!) celebrations through the night.
And finally, we travel for a living so take a look at our guide on how to stop overpaying for hotels and book yourself a cheaper trip to Rome.
Next Steps
We hope our guide on where to stay in Rome has given you a better idea about which neighborhood to book a hotel, but please let us know if you have any questions in the comments box a little further below.
Still figuring out your plans for Italy?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.
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