Best Place to Stay in Rome: Districts and Neighborhood Guide [2024]

Looking for the best place to stay in Rome? The Eternal City has thousands upon thousands of accommodation options and it can get overwhelming. In this guide, we cut straight to the chase and tell you the best districts to stay in depending on your style of travel, who you are traveling with and the length of your stay.

Plus, we’re sharing our pick of the best hotels, apartments and Airbnbs in each area.

Summary of the Best Places to Stay in Rome

Here’s a quick summary of Rome’s neighborhoods. For a detailed description of which travelers they suit best read the detailed descriptions including hotel and Airbnb selections below

• Pantheon / Piazza Navona / Campo de’ Fiori – best for first time visitors. Easily walk to major sights of the city and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the greatest cities on earth
• Piazza di Spagna – home to luxury hotels and high-end shopping. Being close to the gardens at Villa Borghese means this area of Rome is also great for families
• Trastevere – charming neighborhood close to the historic center known for small cobbled streets and a thriving restaurant scene
• Colosseum / Monti – an interesting combination of ancient sites and bohemian neighborhood. Not as easy to walk to other sites from here
• Vatican / Prati – elegant residential area that is a useful base for St Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums
• Roma Termini / Esquilino – best area in Rome for budget travelers and those needing quick transit out of Rome
• Testaccio – interesting neighborhood with great restaurants and bars plus specialty shops

Pantheon / Piazza Navona / Campo de Fiori Area

Our absolute favorite area to stay in Rome is right in the heart of the historic center. Surrounded by the city’s history and iconic monuments, you immediately feel at one with the city. In this area you’ll find the Baroque splendor of Piazza Navona, bustling Campo de’Fiori market and of course, the magnificent Pantheon which has stood in place for 2,000 years.

And to top it all off, you can walk easily to the major attractions in Rome. The Colosseum, St Peter’s Square and Trevi Fountain are all around 20 minutes from this area on foot. So there’s no need to navigate public transport. Simply wander and soak up the wonder that is Rome.

The Pantheon area is also a great place to eat. You’ll find classic gelato bars like Giolitti as well as some of the best pasta restaurants in the city – Roscioli is where we go for our carbonara fix!

Hotels near the Pantheon

• LUXURY – Singer Palace Hotel – small and chic 5-star hotel with stylish rooftop terrace
• MIDRANGE – Boutique Hotel Campo de’ Fiori – charming 4-star hotel in a great position close to the market
• BUDGET – Little Queen Pantheon – this 3-star hotel offers lots of value, style and substance

Apartments near the Pantheon

Looking for an apartment? The Plum Guide handpick the best apartments and Airbnbs near the Pantheon – click here to browse

Read: our full guide to best places to stay in the pantheon area

Piazza di Spagna

Also in central Rome, the area around the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna is the place to stay if you are looking for a luxury hotel or apartment, fine dining restaurants and one of the best designer shopping streets in the world – Via Condotti – on your doorstep. Close by you’ll also find the Trevi Fountain and Villa Borghese. The famous art museum is set within beautiful parks and gardens making this area perfect for families too.

The Piazza di Spagna area is great for getting around on foot with the most popular attractions within walking distance. It also has the advantage of having two Metro stops – Spagna and Barberini – if you need to go further afield.

Make dinner reservations at La Terrazza for Michelin-starred dining with unparalleled views of the city. Or take your morning coffee at Antico Caffé Greco just as poets Keats and Byron did 200 years ago.

Piazza di Spagna Hotels

• LUXURY – J.K. Place Roma – modern designer opulence abounds in this new 5-star hotel with an exclusive rooftop terrace
• LUXURY – Hassler Roma – expect the very best at the place celebrities from all over the world stay when in Rome
• MIDRANGE – Palazzo Nainer – 4-star hotel with beautifully appointed rooms in a historic Palazzo setting
• BUDGET – Charme Spagna – lovely 3-star hotel with modern interiors and two terraces for guests’ enjoyment

Apartments and Airbnbs near Piazza di Spagna

Find your perfect apartment stay in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna district. Some of the Plum Guide picks have views of the Trevi fountain! The Plum Guide reviews and inspects properties available on all the major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo and selects only the very best to list on their site.

Trastevere

If your vision of Rome is of shuttered houses looking out over cobbled streets and buildings hung with vines, then Trastevere is the district that is right for you. This traditional neighborhood, on the west bank of the Tiber River, charms even the most hardened souls with its tiny bars and restaurants, quirky churches and museums and small piazzas.

Though it is not quite in central Rome, Trastevere is close enough to everywhere you want to go by foot in around 30 minutes. There is also a tram service that will take you to the Colosseum and Monti district. You’ll find fewer hotels here but an abundance of Airbnbs for budget to midrange travelers.

You won’t go hungry with some of the best local restaurants close by including Dar Poeta – a famous Roman pizzeria – and classic trattoria Da Enzo al 29 where the cacio e pepe tastes all the more delicious thanks to its traditional atmosphere. In summer the banks of the river are lined with tempting food stalls.

Hotels in Trastevere

• LUXURY – Villa Agrippina Gran Melia – one of the top 5-star hotels in Rome with seasonal pool for hot summer days
• MIDRANGE – VOI Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel – this former monastery is now a lovely 4-star hotel with a terrace
• BUDGET – Hotel Santa Maria – comfortable and clean, the hotel has a pretty orange garden for summer breakfasts

Apartments and Airbnbs in Trastevere

Trastevere is one of the most popular areas in Rome to book an apartment or Airbnb. If you’re looking for a cosy home away from home in the Trastevere district then browse these lovely apartments on the Plum Guide.

Read: our full guide to best places to stay in Trastevere

Colosseum / Monti

Imagine waking up to see the Colosseum out of your window. That could be you if you stay in the Monti district of Rome. South east of the historic center, Monti is an up-and-coming neighborhood with bohemian flair known for hip shops and cafes and of course, the city’s most iconic monument is its crowning glory. Plus the Roman Forum monuments are right there at your feet.

Most of Rome’s main sights are reachable on foot from the Colosseum and Monti areas however the Vatican is perhaps a little too far. You can however make use of the Metro stations at Cavour or Colosseo to get around town. And if you want to have dinner in Trastevere, it’s only a few tram stops away.

Staying local, vegetarian and vegan restaurant Aromaticus is an insight into modern Roman cuisine. If that’s not your style there are plenty of traditional restaurants like La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali where you can get a classic carbonara. But, for fine dining cuisine with the best views of the Colosseum, you can’t go past Aroma at the Palazzo Manfredi hotel.

Read: our guide to the best places to stay near the Vatican City

Hotels near the Colosseum

• LUXURY – Palazzo Manfredi – 5-star luxury abounds throughout this hotel with the hero views of the Colosseum
• MIDRANGE – Hotel Capo d´África – an elegant and welcoming hotel surrounded by traditional trattorias and wine bars. The roof garden has stunning views over the Colosseum
• BUDGET – Hotel Romano – clean and simple, friendly hotel with a wide variety of room types

Apartments and Airbnbs near the Colosseum

Wake up in the heart of ancient Rome when you choose a stunning apartment near the Colosseum. We use booking specialists the Plum Guide to find and book the best apartments in Rome for short stays. They inspect and review properties in detail to find the very best available from 1,000s to choose from – browse apartments

Read: our guide to the best places to stay near the Colosseum

Vatican / Prati

The elegant Prati district next to the Vatican City is a popular area to stay if you want to spend most of your time in Rome exploring the Vatican Museums, visiting St Peter’s Basilica and attending a Papal audience. Known for wide boulevards and sophisticated shopping streets, fewer tourists visit Prati and it has a gentrified neighborhood feel. The area closest to the Vatican up to Castel St Angelo retains some narrow cobbled streets, however.

A 30 minute walk over the Tiber will take you to many of the sights of Rome. The Colosseum is out of reach on foot unfortunately but the Lepanto and Ottaviano Metro stops in the district are useful for getting around.

If you love pizza then one of Rome’s most famous stores, Pizzarium is found behind the Vatican Museums. Otherwise, head away from St Peter’s Square to Hostaria Dino e Toni for a big plate of carbonara. Grab a gelato at Fatamorgana next door before a leisurely stroll along the river to admire Castel Sant’Angelo and the magnificent Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II.

Hotels in the Vatican / Prati district

• MIDRANGE – Starhotels Michelangelo Rome – 4-star contemporary hotel just steps from St Peter’s Square
• MIDRANGE – Hotel Isa – modern boutique hotel in the heart of Prati with panoramic rooftop terrace
• BUDGET – Domus Terenzio – comfortable modern rooms within easy reach of the Vatican on foot

Prati / Vatican Airbnbs and Apartments

There are very few apartments and Airbnb listings in the Vatican City however you’re just steps away from St Peter’s square in Prati. This lovely apartment is just steps from the Vatican Museums.

Roma Termini / Esquilino

Rome’s central station – Roma Termini – is one of the busiest in Europe and you will find many hotels in this area. Like most station districts, however, proximity to transport equates to a lack of charm. This is a useful area to stay if you have only one night in Rome and need to access the train station early in the morning or late at night. You’ll also find the most budget options here. If you’re traveling solo or as a family and want to explore at night this probably isn’t the area for you as it has a reputation for being a little seedy.

The sights of the historic center are within walking distance of Rome Termini. You can reach the Trevi fountain in around 15 minutes and the Colosseum in just over 20 minutes. However, getting to the Vatican is quickest by Metro or bus. There are stops at the Vittorio Emanuele and Termini stations.

When you get hungry there are a number of decent eateries inside the station itself at Mercato Centrale – an upscale food court. For your mandatory pizza fix head to nearby Forno Roscioli Pietro or for pasta, the cacio e pepe Trattoria Da Danilo is as good as it gets.

Hotels near Roma Termini

• LUXURY – St Regis Rome – opulent and grand with all the amenities you would expect at a 5-star hotel
• MIDRANGE – Hotel Donna Francesca – this family-run luxurious hotel features stylish rooms and is located on the fourth floor of a historic palace. Family rooms are also available
• BUDGET – Hotel Domus Praetoria – great value classic-style budget accommodation close to Roma Termini station
• HOSTEL –The Beehive  – one of the top-rated hostels in Rome over many years

Apartments and Airbnbs near Roma Termini

There are many apartments in the Roma Termini area but you’ll want to be discerning when you choose your stay. This beautiful apartment close to the station has all the comforts you need for a short stay in Rome.

Testaccio

The Testaccio / Ostiense area is just outside Rome’s central historic district, tucked away behind Aventine Hill. This local neighborhood has interesting sights, wonderful restaurants and interesting specialty boutiques to explore. Of particular interest is Rome’s Non-Catholic cemetery where poets Keats and Shelley were laid to rest. And right next to it, you’ll find a 2,000-year-old pyramid, the tomb of a Roman senator.

There are only a handful of hotels in the Testaccio area but you’ll get great value if you choose an apartment or Airbnb. And, if you’re driving, this is an area where parking may be more readily available.

While you can walk to the Colosseum and ancient sites from Testaccio, you will need to use buses or the Metro to reach most of the other attractions in the city. The Piramide Metro station is on Line B and you can change at Termini for the Vatican and Spanish Steps.

Historically this area has been known as the food bowl of Rome and that tradition continues today. In Testaccio, you can dine at Felice where traditional dishes are the order of the day. Or to discover the best in modern Italian produce and cuisine head to Eataly Roma close by. There’s also the Testaccio market where you can pick up fresh fruit and vegetables and tasty street food.

Hotels in Testaccio / Ostiense

• MIDRANGE – San Anselmo  – set in a 19th-century villa, this chic hotel offers a garden and elegant rooms
• BUDGET – Gasometer Urban Suites – spacious accommodation close to Ostiense train station and Eataly. Some suites offer kitchenettes, perfect with Testaccio Market being just a 10-minute walk 

Apartments and Airbnbs in Testaccio

Testaccio is a great area to try living like a Roman and offers better value than Trastevere on the other side of the Tiber. You’ll find larger apartments for rent like this 4 bedroom property in Testaccio.

Where will you stay in Rome?

The rione or districts of Rome each have their own unique charm. Whether you’re staying for a night or two or are soaking up the city over a classic 3 day trip, choose the area that’s right for you and enjoy all that the Eternal City has to offer on your doorstep. But, if exploring ancient sites, gushing fountains and pretty piazzas is your ideal Roman holiday, you can’t beat staying in the historic center with the Pantheon close by.

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