What area to stay in Rome?

Glowing

Hi all, am so excited, just booked my first trip to Rome departing in May for 4 nights.

We're tying to narrow down our choice of hotels and apartments, and I'd just like to have your opinions on the best area to stay in Rome.

I don't mind metro-ing it or taking the odd taxi, but I'd love to stay in a nice, old-ish area with restaurants and bars, and within walking distance to some of the sites.

Thank in advance for your advice.
x

ozchick

Well its all pretty old in Rome!! There is the historic centre and ancient Rome,but I don't have that travel book on me to give you its location.

Don't stay up near the termini (station) There are lots of hotels on Via Nazionale, we stayed in a little lane way off via Cavour, the next one over. It was abut 10 mins walk to the station (or departure point) and about 10 mins down to the Colosseo. We even managed to get buses to St Peter's and the metro back.

There are heaps of places to check on line for accommodation. We stayed in a two star place and thought it was quaint. You are really only there to sleep, rest of the time you'll be out pounding the cobble stones (wear comfortable walking shoes!) Most accommodation is very small, cheaper places don't have lifts (big deal) and are noisy. There is no where very quiet in Rome.

Piazza Novona is meat to be a great area for food etc. You won't be short of choices!

Its awesome though and we plan to go back soon.

Ace1

Hi,

We stayed in a lovely quite hotel - Hotel S. Anselmo:

www.aventinohotels.com/inglese/hotel_rome_colosseum.htm

Short (cheap) taxi ride to all sites.

Ace

Glowing

Ace1 wrote: »

Hi,

We stayed in a lovely quite hotel - Hotel S. Anselmo:

www.aventinohotels.com/inglese/hotel_rome_colosseum.htm

Short (cheap) taxi ride to all sites.

Ace

Wow! That hotel looks amazing - although a bit over our budget! Did you have to pay over 200 per night?

Thanks

Ace1

Hi,

It was a few years ago and cost about €140 per night for both of us incl. breakfast. We stayed 6 nights and was well worth it.

Ace

microgirl

Unlike a previous poster, I would say do think about the area around Termini station, although it's more of an immigrant area. But it's good value.

My friend and I are literally just back from Rome (her 5th time, my first) and we stayed in a pensione on via Ratazzi on the central Rome side of Termini (same side as via Cavour) and my mother stayed about 10 minutes from there last year when she was there.

There are nicer areasm undoubtedly, but we were very limited in our budget.

Don't stay anywhere around Trastevere or anywhere like that - gorgeous areas, but no transport anywhere. Basically, there's only 2 metro lines so it's better to not expect to rely on them. If you're in central Rome though everywhere's within walking distance.

Piazza Navone is lovely, as is Campo del Fiore, but they might be expensive for accommodation.

Possible idea is get a guidebook and even if you don't find a suitable hotel amongst their suggestions, you'll at least know what areas are what, and can then do your own online search. The most authentic places (real pensioni etc) are unlikely to have a convenient online presence, bar maybe a phone number

Oh, and it will be very, very hot in May. We went 1-5th March and it was t-shirt weather (at least to us pasty Irish - the Italians were all well-wrapped up and thought we were mad ) and we got sunburned! at least 18C one of the days.

Harry Mudd

I stayed in the Hotel Golden last month (http://www.hotelgoldenrome.com/en/index.htm). I booked it through booking.com and got it for 80 quid a night. It had a very good rating on TripAdvisor and it didn't disappoint.

It was grand, good breakfast and the location was fine - close enough to the Spanish Steps and a 10 min walk to the nearest Metro stop

lmtduffy

I found the area around the train station good,
lots of affordable accommodation,
and the restaurants are incredibly cheap compared to those in the more touristy areas,
quiet good too.

estebancambias

I stayed in a moderate ''hotel' back in 2005 with the parents, about 30 minutes south of the terminal. It was bleeding great, the atmosphere on the last tram home was spellbinding.

Highly recommend staying outside the city.

black & white

http://www.hotelmiami.com/inghilterra/hotel-rome-3-xxx-hotel-miami-rome.htm

Stayed here last year, less than a 10 min walk from the Terminii station, 20/25 mins from the Colloseum. Ask for a room at the back as the traffic noise at the front can get very loud. Rooms were big enough though some of the bathrooms were a tight enough squeeze. Check out tripadvisor for some reviews.

Glowing

Thanks a lot for your suggestions so far. I've heard bad reports about the Termini area - although I know it is a fair bit cheaper. Do you recommend that area, and is it convenient to the sights?

black & white

As I said, we stayed close enough to the Terminii last year and had no problems at all. It's close enough to the Colesseum, Spanish Steps and the rest of the sights. The tourist bus runs close by, the Archeobus that goes to the catacombs and aquaduct goes from the Terminii. There's a tube station 100 metres away and the bus to the Vatican goes from just outside the door. We stayed for 5 nights and found some lovely restaurants within a couple of hundred yards, there's an Irish bar across the road but personally I tend to stay away from them when abroad.

I'd stay there if I went back to Rome again.

coleen

I am just back from Rome on Monday I spent 4 nights in B&B Giovy Iwould really recommend it. For 80 euro a night for a double room we got a lovely big room with a breakfast. It was a warm and cosy place with a lovely courtyard. Breakfast was coffee or cappachiono or tea and yougart fruit juice crossiant and crackers and cheese no cereal or cold meat but plenty to eat. It was very close to the station but we did not find it rough or unsafe. It was great to be able to walk up 1 block and get on the metro to alot of the major sights like the trevi fountain spanish steps or st peters all just 10 to 15 mins by metro. You could also go the collosuem by metro but we walked ther in 15mins. There was 2 lovely restaurants close by one accross the road and one just down the street. The lady running the b&b was more than helpfull She gave us a map and loads of tips. There was also a fridge in the room and she had some jucie in it for us. Look it up in trip advisor if you are looking for some where at a good price this is it. we booked it through venere.com and requested her largest room.