Where is the best place to stay in Rome? This is maybe the most common question asked by travelers coming into town.  The short answer:  depends!  There is no one great area of Rome that people should stay in.  It really depends on what your schedule is like, how long you have, how you’ll be traveling around, if you prefer being right in the hustle and bustle or out in a quieter area….  Here’s some brief idea’s on some of the different areas of Rome most travelers might stay in.

Where to Stay in Rome | Trastevere Neighborhood

Trastevere is a picturesque neighborhood located in the south-west section of the city.  It is filled with characteristic windy narrow streets, jewelry stands, pubs, restaurants, and study-abroad college kids (as there are several American University campuses in this area).

• Benefits: Great for romantic walks, small quiet streets to wander, walking distance to the historic city center.
• Cons:  depending on where you stay, some parts are crowded with people and therefore loud.  Also, unless you are comfortable walking a bit, Trastevere is not always well connected by buses after a certain hour and there is no Metro line nearby (the closest is Piramide Line B).
• Tips: Stay closer to the river, and the main square Santa Maria in Trastevere or near Santa Cecilia.  The farther south you go towards the train station, the less pleasant and definitely more inconvenient it becomes.

Where to Stay in Rome | The Historic Center

By “historic center”, I mean the heart of Rome…Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, Trevi Fountain…  This is the busiest part of Rome and is truly an endearing labyrinth of cobblestoned narrow streets and alleys meeting  busy roads with buses and trams.  At least half of what you came to Rome to see is in this area.

• Benefits: being able to walk easily to major sites, and also hopping on buses or trams to get to other areas.  The atmosphere is also of course warm and charming (that is when you are off the busy roads).  There’s no lack of shopping, food/wine/gelato, and sites here…so you’ll never go hungry or get bored.
• Cons:  No Metro stops mean that you will have to rely on buses and your own two feet (and taxis).  Some areas can be very loud, like the Campo Dei Fiori area, and any places located on a major street like Via del Corso or Corso Vittorio Emanuele.  Also, since this is the cream della cream of locations, the price is not ideal for those on a smaller budget.
• Tips: Apartment rentals are always an option for those in town more than just a few days and looking to save a bit on accommodation costs.  But if you are going to be renting an apartment, you really need to do your research beforehand…  Keep in mind that apartments in the historical center are generally on the smaller side too, so they aren’t always ideal for families.  Campo dei Fiori has a daily fresh food market.  Take a look, get some fresh things to pack up and have a picnic in a park with later on!

Where to Stay in Rome | Colosseum/Cavour/Monti

The Colosseum…need I say more?  The area directly across the street from this beloved building is filled with lots of great wine bars, pizza spots, and also some hotels.  The area known as Monti, near the Metro Line B “Cavour” stop is an area known for art galleries, little shops with vintage clothing and antiques, and some pretty famous wine bars/restaurants like the ivy-covered Tre Scalini on Via Panisperna.  It’s calm and quaint, and makes for some good evening walks.

• Benefits:  calmer streets for wandering around, yet being near the major sites, Metro, and not far from the Historic Center.  It’s located nearby lots of buses and Metro Line B, which makes it pretty convenient for getting around without being right in the middle of any big busy streets.
• Cons:  None really, except that it is maybe 15-20 minutes by foot from some other major sites like the Pantheon and Piazza Navona…which means it requires some walking or travel by bus.
• Tips: Don’t forget to take a peek at Michelangelo’s statue of Moses with horns in St. Peter’s in Chains!

Where to Stay in Rome | Ostiense/Aventino

The Aventino area is from Circo Massimo down to the area called Ostiense, where the famous Pyramid monument is as well as the train station Ostiense.  This area is well connected by bus and Metro, not to mention train.  Trains to Ostia and Civitavecchia can be taken from Stazione Ostiense.  This area might not have the same charm and aesthetic appeal as the other areas I’ve mentioned but it’s pretty convenient.  Apartments in this area tend to be roomier too.

• Benefits  Well connected and usually cheaper accommodation options.  The Ostiense station has trains that go to Ostia, Civitavecchia, and even Fiumicino airport.
• Cons:  As I mentioned before, it doesn’t have the same charm to it that places like Trastevere or the historic center do, but it’s a great spot nonetheless.  Staying in the Ostiense area means less sites are walking distance but at least you can easily get around by bus, metro, or train.
• Tips:  Check out the Porta Portese market on a Sunday morning for some interesting antiques and cheap souvenirs.  The nearby Testaccio area has some really good restaurants by day and by night turns into a major spot of all-night dance clubs.

Where to Stay in Rome | Termini / Repubblica / Esquilino

Arguably the busiest area of Rome is Termini, the main train station and the Repubblica area.  It’s also the most convenient area, connected to both Metro Lines, loads of buses, trains, and both airports and ship port too. Piazza Vittorio is sort of the equivalent of China Town, and also has an amazing Fresh Food Market daily along with lots of foreign food markets.

• Pluses:  Super convenient and usually less expensive than areas like the historic center.  There’s always shops open in the shopping area of Termini which is a plus, since things can be closed on Sundays and holidays  everywhere else.
• Minuses: Some might say that the Termini area lacks charm…but the Repubblica area is quite pretty anyways.  Train stations can also have some types hanging around that are up to no good (ie: pickpockets)…but I wouldn’t worry about it too much, as Termini isn’t unsafe.
• Tips:  If you like Opera, the Rome Opera house is located right in this area.  The major basilica Santa Maria Maggiore is as well, for church-explorers.  Via Nazionale has some good shopping options, for shop-aholics.

Where to Stay in Rome | Parioli

Parioli is an upscale part of town that sits against and around the massive Villa Borghese park.  It’s fancy and quiet.

• Benefits:  Good location for folks who want to stay in a quiet area.
• Cons:  It’s not located near any major sites really.
• Tips:  If he weather allows, have a picnic in the park Villa Borghese.  There’s also some play areas for kids, which is great for traveling families.

Where to Stay in Rome | Vatican Area

This area directly around the Vatican called “Prati” is a pretty nice area with shopping streets too.

• Benefits:  This area tends to be cheaper in terms of hotels.  There are both buses and the Metro Line A, which means it’s pretty easy to get around the rest of the city.  There’s also a train station near St. Peter’s which goes to the ship Port.
• Cons: Besides the Vatican, the other major sites are located on the opposite side of the river.
• Tips:  Via Cola di Rienzo is a great street for shopping!  Piazza Risorgimento has a great restaurant called La Soffita which has a completely gluten-free menu.