Where To Stay In Rome: 5 Excellent Areas For A First Visit

We were definitely feeling overwhelmed figuring out where to stay the first time we visited Rome 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 in the evenings, but at the same time we had a super tight budget because we were traveling the whole world for 18 months.

Ideally we wanted something affordable, not too far from Termini station and surrounded by highly rated restaurants, yet within easy walking distance to the city’s major historical sites. After doing a bit of research, we ended up booking a cheap hotel in Monti for 3 nights, not far from the Colosseum. The area worked great and it was convenient for the train station, but we found ourselves drifting towards the historic center every day.

So when we went back to Rome for another 3 nights in May 2022 with a healthier budget and a better understanding of the city, we decided to stay in the Centro Storico in a solid mid-range hotel just steps from the Trevi Fountain. We loved having a central location among the city’s famous attractions and neighborhoods, it made exploring much easier. But now that we’ve done the major sights twice, next time we visit Rome we’ll probably stay in Trastevere for a livelier atmosphere, and more of a foodie and nightlife trip.

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. Let’s dive in!

Note: Our content is reader supported and contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and it helps us keep this site running.

🎥 Prefer to watch videos? Mark’s where to stay in Rome YouTube video deep dives into the 5 best areas with maps, pros and cons, and who should or shouldn’t stay there. Check it out below!

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. They’re all affordable hotels (relatively speaking for Rome) that we’d happily book ourselves:

🏨 Albergo del Senato: This popular lower mid-range hotel with a primetime location next to the Pantheon in the heart of the lively historic center is surrounded by restaurants and has a central location to everything on a typical Rome itinerary. It has Pantheon Dome views from the rooftop, and nightly prices are surprisingly affordable if you book far enough in advance.

🏨 Dimora ai Fori: This is our top pick for a top-rated and affordable hotel located in the lively Monti area just a few minutes from the Colosseum and not far from Termini train station. It’s great for logistics, and Monti is a trendier low-key neighborhood with great food and nightlife.

🏨 Maison Evelina: This seriously affordable hotel has impeccable guest ratings and it genuinely looks fantastic. We’d say it’s a massive hidden gem find, with a brilliant location close the Spanish Steps in a safe and popular shopping area in Campo Marzio. It’s way less touristy than the historic center, yet it’s still within easy walking distance.

Our favorite hotels in Rome are all excellent options with sky-high guest ratings, but we hope you love to research and learn about a place before you visit like we do. Keep reading to see what makes each of Rome’s popular neighborhoods a good or bad area to stay for your trip. Within each area we’ll show you the top rated cheap, mid-range and luxury hotels.

Here’s a summary of what we’re going to show you:

Area	Price	Vibe	Why?
Centro Storico	$$$ – $$$$	Historic / romantic	Heart of ancient Rome
Monti	$$ – $$$	Bohemian / trendy	Hip feel near Colosseum
Trastevere	$$ – $$$	Charming / lively	Cobblestone streets & nightlife
Prati	$$ – $$$	Residential / polished	Upscale & quiet near Vatican
Campo Marzio	$$$ – $$$$	Elegant / central	Refined shopping & dining

Centro Storico (Touristy Heart of Rome)

Okay let’s start with the most popular place to stay in Rome for a first time visitor – the Centro Storico. This is the area we were always drawn into like a gravitational pull by day and night across both our trips because it’s central, busy with tourists, has tons of restaurants, and is endlessly attractive with its historic narrow cobblestone streets.

In 2018, we absolutely loved walking around famous landmarks in the historic center, like the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona. And the food options were honestly non-stop (despite clearly being a bit more tourist-trappy), so we decided we’d definitely stay in the Centro Storico the next time we were in Rome. Here’s a top rated walking tour of the Centro Storico with Walks of Italy for a perfect introduction to the area.

When we finally returned to Rome in 2022, we stayed at Residenza Sciarra along Via del Corso near the Trevi Fountain. It was a lower mid-range hotel (we rarely go big on hotels because we spend very little time in them) with a superb location, which made life so easy for getting around to all the attractions we had on our action-packed itinerary.

But it was loud at night because it directly overlooked a busy road, and we did have to accept a more basic hotel room for the price we paid compared to what we would have been able to get staying somewhere like Trastevere or Monti. And while the restaurants in this area are mostly excellent, they definitely feel more touristy, and we’re sure the prices are inflated as a result.

If we were to pinpoint an exact place to stay in the Centro Storico next time, we’d book a hotel on a side street closer to the Pantheon, rather than being near the Trevi Fountain. But honestly, anywhere between Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain is going to give you a similar experience with that coveted central location and ease of access to countless dining options.

💰 Cheap: If we wanted to stay in Rome’s Centro Storico area on the cheap, we’d compare prices 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 we’d be looking to book way in advance.

💰💰 Mid-range: With a lower mid-range budget, we’d book Albergo del Senato next to the Pantheon or I Tre Moschettieri near the Trevi Fountain (this one is located next to the hotel we stayed in). Or on the higher mid-range price point we’d happily book any of Palazzo Navona, Hotel Martis Palace or Martius Private Suites – they all look superb, with top locations and more comfort.

💰💰💰 Luxury: Or if we wanted to stay in the Centro Storico and had a bigger hotel budget available, we’d book either Singer Palace or Umilta 36. They both have sky-high guest ratings and are located near the Trevi Fountain.

🏡 Vacation rentals: Very strong Airbnb options here! For just the two of us, we like the look of Fontana di Trevi with front-on views of the fountain and Romantic Apartment with side-on views, or Elegant Apartment next to the Pantheon. If we visited with our kids and needed two bedrooms, we like both Trevi Panorama and Palazzo delle Maschere. With a small group, we’d look at three bedroom places like Trevi Terrace and Lux Pantheon. Or if we visited in a big group or with extended family, we like Family Apartment and Palazzo Berardi.

Our verdict: We really enjoyed staying in the Centro Storico, and if it was our first visit all over again we would book a hotel there. 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. Next time will be our third visit, so we’d probably stay somewhere else, but for first-timers, we think the historic center is the best place to stay in Rome.

Monti (Boho-Chic Near Colosseum)

Monti covers a large area of the city between the Centro Storico and Termini train station (Rome’s major public transport 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, with reasonable prices when booking last minute in summer. It was also surrounded by easy-going, cheap-eats type places, fun bars and lots of “life happening” spots.

If we were to stay in Monti again, we’d definitely book a hotel on the southwest side of the neighborhood closer to the Colosseum (this premium guided tour or this Gladiator’s Gate special tour are our top recommendations for doing the Colosseum and Roman Forum properly) and Centro Storico, rather than the northeast side near Termini. Don’t miss Mark’s Colosseum video guide on YouTube to learn about tickets, tours, and mistakes to avoid.

Staying in Monti meant we were within easy walking distance to Termini station, which was handy because we arrived and left by train. We didn’t have to take a taxi either way because it was just an 8-minute walk, and that helped us save a few euros on our tight budget. But the big thing to mention about staying in Monti is that in general, we don’t recommend staying too close to Termini because it can get pretty seedy at night, like most European train stations.

💰 Cheap: If we wanted that Monti location on a budget, we’d start by looking at Argileto Terra, Hotel Romano and especially Dimora ai Fori. They’re affordable hotels with excellent ratings near the Colosseum that would work really well.

💰💰 Mid-range: With a bit more money to spend we’d look at Condominio Monti Boutique and Dharma Boutique Hotel, both are fantastic mid-range boutiquey type accommodations closer to Cavour metro station (which has a direct one stop train to Termini).

💰💰💰 Luxury: Or if we had the budget available for a big splurge, we’d love to stay at H10 Palazzo Galla which has a magnificent location right on the border between Monti and the Centro Storico. This one looks awesome.

🏡 Vacation rentals: One-bedroom Airbnb’s in Monti don’t offer as much value as hotels, but if we wanted two bedrooms we really like the look of The View and Terrace Penthouse. For a small group we’d compare prices between Penthouse at the Colosseum, Penthouse with Views, and Terraces of Venus. Or if we needed four bedrooms for a bigger group, Maria Teresa’s Terrace looks great.

Our verdict: We really liked the chilled and trendy vibe in Monti, we’d say it’s perfect if you want a vibrant and fun area closer to the train station with a bit more life and soul that doesn’t feel exclusively touristy. It’s got a nice mix of charm, shopping, eateries and bars that we think works best for younger couples, groups of friends, solo travelers or families with teenage kids.

Trastevere (Nightlife & Dining)

Some people think Trastevere is losing authenticity because it’s becoming too touristy, but we absolutely loved the vibrant atmosphere in Rome’s most charming neighborhood. It had so many inviting bars and restaurants that really came to life in the evenings, and by the end of our second trip it had become our favorite place in the city – which is why we’d stay in Trastevere next time.

On our second trip, each day after we’d finished attraction-hunting, we found ourselves wanting to walk down to Trastevere more than anywhere else, including the Centro Storico. It kind of reminded us of Williamsburg in NYC or Saint Germain in Paris, super cool areas with countless trendy spots to hang out, eat, drink, and soak up the infectious vibe.

We also discovered that Trastevere was the place to take foodie tours like this top rated pasta making class with Prosecco and wine or this sunset food and wine tour with WalksDevour (our favorite tour operator in Italy). That didn’t surprise us, because we could feel and see the foodie scene happening all around us as we drank Aperol Spritz at Mr Brown’s and ate a delicious dinner at Tonnarello.

Now, other than the Basilica di Santa Maria there weren’t many tourist attractions to see in Trastevere, that’s not what staying there would be about. Instead it’s all about having instant access to great food, fun bars, and swanky cocktail lounges dotted around its maze of picturesque narrow cobblestone streets.

In terms of exactly where to stay within Trastevere, we’d happily book a hotel anywhere close the Basilica di Santa Maria, but if we were being really picky we’d choose to stay near the Ponte Sisto to have easier walking access to both the Centro Storico and the Vatican.

💰 Cheap: If we wanted to stay in Trastevere on a tight budget, we’d check prices at SuitInn19, Window On Rome and Hanky Suite. They’d all do the trick and give us a more affordable stay in the neighborhood.

💰💰 Mid-range: With a healthier budget we would definitely prefer to stay at either Hotel Santa Maria, Residenza San Calisto or Giuditta in Trastevere. They all have excellent guest ratings, but Hotel Santa Maria would be our first choice.

💰💰💰 Luxury: Or if we wanted to treat ourselves in Trastevere, we’d book a few nights at Donna Camilla Savelli, which has a unique setting in a converted 17th century convent.

🏡 Vacation rentals: Trastevere has a very strong Airbnb game. For one bedroom, we like Charming Loft, Refined Loft, Trastevere Terrace, and La Torre Suite. If we visited with the kids, we’d look at Iconic Alley and Mum’s House with pool access. For three bedrooms, we’d compare prices at Trastevere Exclusive, Majestic Trastevere, and Trastevere 68. Or if we needed four bedrooms for a bigger group, we’d go for either Luxury Apartment or Renzi 4.

Our verdict: We think Trastevere is the best place to stay in Rome if you want charm, lots of authentic places to eat, a classier nightlife scene, and a buzzy but not over the top vibe. As a couple in our mid-to-late thirties, that’s the sort of scene works for us. We’d say Trastevere is most suited to couples, groups of friends who want classy tradition over a boozy club scene, definitely foodies, and also families with grown up kids.

Prati (Quiet & Local Near Vatican)

We have to admit we completely overlooked Prati and Borgo Pio as a place to stay both times we visited Rome. After pinning attractions and restaurants onto our Google Maps app, it just looked too far out from the action. We didn’t really see much of Prati on our first trip, but we took a walk through the ritzy and affluent neighborhood in 2022 and it turned out to be very safe and quiet with tons of highly rated places to eat, wide streets and attractive buildings.

Now, we’re not saying it’s the perfect place for every first-timer to book a hotel, but if visiting the Vatican Museums is top of your priority list and you want a modern, safe and more polished place to stay, Prati is actually a really good option. It had a residential feel, which was a total contrast to the touristy Centro Storico, and we’ve found loads of vacation rental style accommodation options in the area to back that up.

Sure, Prati is a long walk from the Colosseum, Termini train station and Trastevere, but it’s actually super close to attractions on the north side of the city like Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza del Popolo, and the Borghese Gallery when accessed through Villa Borghese. From an aesthetic perspective, Prati felt architecturally similar to Paris, which was a complete contrast to the old-world feel we were used to in the Centro Storico.

After taking this seriously fantastic guided tour of the Vatican with Walks of Italy, we ate lunch at a superb spot along Borgo Pio called Rione XIV Bistrot which we recommend checking out. Borgo Pio is slightly south of Prati, and it would make for a great place to stay in Rome because the Centro Storico is just across the Tiber. The lack of nightlife might put some people off, but Trastevere isn’t too far in a taxi.

💰 Cheap: With a tight budget in Prati we’d start by looking at B&B Domus Quiritum, The Place 217 and Polinari Rooms San Pietro. They all have good ratings and would do the job nicely.

💰💰 Mid-range: If we had a bit more cash to spend here, 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, which is a solid location.

💰💰💰 Luxury: Interestingly, all three of the luxury hotels in Prati are located on the far east side closer to the Tiber, which would be half way between the Vatican and Centro Storico – this might just be a hidden gem top location. We’d check prices at Hotel Isa, Orazio Palace Hotel, and The First Musica if we wanted this area on a higher budget.

🏡 Vacation rentals: Airbnb’s in Prati are surprisingly affordable so we’d definitely consider booking one over a hotel. For one bedroom, we like Davita, St Peter Charming, and Vatican Rooftop. If we needed two-bedrooms we’d look at The Golden Parrot, Eulalia, and San Pietro. For a small group we’d compare prices between Vatican Retreat, Alferini, and The Best Rent. Or for a much bigger group, Domus Alberico looks fantastic.

Our verdict: 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. And it also works perfectly if your top priority is high-end shopping or visiting the Vatican Museums. Mark explains tickets, tours and mistakes in his Vatican Museums YouTube video if you want to learn more. It’s not especially easy for connecting to Termini train station, but that’s what taxis are for.

Campo Marzio (Spanish Steps & Shopping)

Whenever we did any research on where to stay in Rome, we only really saw the Centro Storico, Monti and maybe Trastevere get mentioned. But during our second trip to the Eternal City, we actually spent a lot of time walking around a lovely part of the city we’d never explored called Campo Marzio as we walked up to Piazza del Popolo on our way to the Borghese Gallery. And it really surprised us with artsy and fashionable shopping streets that felt super upscale.

We obviously saw the Spanish Steps first time around, but once we ventured further afield and purposefully got lost among the narrow back streets, we realized that Campo Marzio would be a fantastic place to set up base for a first trip to Rome. It’s less touristy than the Centro Storico but still within easy walking distance, it’s got high-end shopping and dining options, and it’s not far from Termini train station. The vibe felt more sophisticated and elegant, and there’s loads of highly rated hotels in the area.

Another thing that surprised us was this area to the north of the Centro Storico and east of Prati is actually home to most of Rome’s 5-star luxury hotels. Not so much around the Spanish Steps area, but more along the eastern banks of the Tiber, which would provide super easy access to the Vatican, while still being close to the historic center, so in reality, this area might be the best all-rounder for a classier stay near top attractions. It’s further from the Colosseum, but it makes up for that in other ways.

The trendy boutiques, independent shops, and art galleries will attract certain types of visitor. 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. Tickets sell out instantly, so check this guided tour with Walks of Italy and this guided tour with Viator to see if you can join a tour which includes entry.

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 generally more expensive, which is to be expected for that upscale feel.

💰 Cheap: If we wanted to stay in Campo Marzio on a lower budget, we’d 100% try to book Maison Evelina which looks amazing. Our backup would be Albergo Delle Regioni, which is set back near Barberini metro but looks great.

💰💰 Mid-range: 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 for the area, but mid-range in Campo Marzio can be more expensive than luxury hotels in other part of the city like Monti.

💰💰💰 Luxury: And if money was no object for our next trip to Rome, we’d love to stay at one of these classy 5-star hotels in Campo Marzio – Hotel Locarno, Palazzo Dama, or our favorite Palazzo Ripetta. They all look like pure luxury.

🏡 Vacation rentals: Just like hotels, Airbnb’s lean more exensive in Campo Marzio, but we have found some excellent options we’d love to book one day. For just the two of us, we adore The Art Lover’s Loft, it’s got a great looking terrace. If we needed two bedrooms, Spanish Steps Home and Spanish Steps Penthouse offer better value, but Babuino 104 and Spanish Steps Terrace look more luxurious. And in a bigger group, we’d be looking at Babuino Suite, Ripetta, or The Frattina.

Our verdict: We think Campo Marzio is the most intriguing area for Rome accommodation 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. But otherwise, it has tons of positives. We’d be more than happy to book a hotel anywhere between the Trevi Fountain and Piazza del Popolo among the charming cobblestone streets near Via del Corso or Via del Babuino – as long as we had the budget available.

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 neighborhoods 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.

Where To Avoid Staying

Termini train station: In Italy (and most of Europe generally), we never book hotels right at train stations. Being close is super handy for transport when we have big suitcases, but train stations get gritty in the evenings. We’ve had that deer-in-headlights feeling at a few train stations in Italy, so make sure you book a hotel at least a 5-minute walk away.

Esquilino: This is the area immediately to the southeast of Termini station, which technically borders Monti. Don’t be blinded by the cheaper rates at hotels in Esquilino, it’s a massive step down in safety and distance to any attractions when compared to Monti. Pay extra to stay in Monti, you won’t regret it.

Peripheral areas: We’ve read that Pigneto has a cool street art and bar scene, and that Ostiense has a big local-forward foodie and nightlife scene – but we absolutely would not book a hotel in either place on a first visit. They’re too far from the major attractions and touristy neighborhoods that 99.9% of people will want to see.

Vibe: For us, the key to picking the right place to stay in Rome is to think about the vibe of each area. Want the beating tourist heart? Go for the Centro Storico. Want a more down to earth place? Stay in Monti. Want authenticity and a foodie scene? Book a hotel in Trastevere. Want polished and safe near the Vatican? Stay in Prati. Want a high-end stay in a great all-rounder area? Go for Campo Marzio.

🎥 YouTube: Watch Mark’s 4 days Rome itinerary video to see exactly how we’d plan a first trip based on everything we learned across two trips. It has daily map walkthroughs, tips on booking tickets and tours, logistics advice, and what to do before leaving home.

Our Top Tips

Here’s a few quick tips we learned about booking accommodation in Rome that could save you a small fortune:

Walkability vs metro: We were surprised at how limited Rome’s metro was the first time we visited. But it makes sense, construction can’t go through ancient Rome’s vast archaeological network. As a result, we think being within reasonable walking distance to the sights or neighborhoods you want to see is far more important than being near a metro station.

Cobblestones and luggage: We don’t mind walking from train stations to hotels in European cities, but it’s tough in Rome because the sidewalks are narrow and there’s so many wheel-destroying cobblestone streets, especially in areas like Trastevere and the Centro Storico. Suck it up and pay for a taxi if you’re carrying big suitcases.

Noise: Staying close to main roads or piazzas can mean loud nights and mornings. We had it next to Via del Corso, so next time we’d book a hotel along a side street or at least not right on a busy square.

Air Conditioning: As is common in European cities, lots of old hotels in Rome don’t have AC. It’s wild to think because it gets so hot in the summer, but if you’re visiting in July or August and don’t like being too hot, check hotels to see if they actually have AC before booking.

Elevators: Lots of hotels in the Centro Storico and Trastevere don’t have elevators. This could mean climbing stairs up several floors with heavy suitcases, so again, check the hotel descriptions for elevator information.

Seasonality: Like most European cities, hotels in Rome are typically much cheaper in the off season and shoulder seasons versus summer. Prices were noticeably higher when we visited in July vs when we visited in May. We think April, May, September and October would offer the best value vs weather.

Events: Be mindful of any events taking place around the time you visit. During our May trip to Rome, we saw a heavily crowded 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 very 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 neighborhoods guide helps you figure out where to stay in Rome.

If you’d like more personalized help, we offer expert travel planning consultations where we answer any questions you have, help you avoid tourist traps and find you the perfect hotel. Book a 1-on-1 call.

Still researching for your trip?

• Read our action packed 4 days in Rome itinerary.
• Don’t miss these top attractions in Rome.
• Here’s where to take the best photos in Rome.
• This is where to visit in Italy.
• Here’s how to spend 14 days in Italy.
• These are the top places to stay in Capri.
• Here’s where to stay on the Amalfi Coast.

Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel guide for helpful tips and advice.

Happy travels,

Mark and Kristen

Find our guide helpful? Pin it for later!

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.