Rome is known as the ‘Eternal City’ and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In fact, its history spans a massive 28 centuries.
Combine this with the center of the Catholic church in the form of Vatican City, architecture that reflects the richness of the Italian Renaissance and a love affair with food and there’s a very good argument for visiting Rome.
The Italian capital is also the fourth-most-populous city in the European Union and is the headquarters for the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization. It’s a huge city, home to almost three million people.
So, where among all the ancient streets and bustling crowds are you supposed to stay? Here’s a comprehensive look at some of the best districts and their hotels to help you find the best place to stay in Rome.
Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Rome (Travel Guide)
Where to Stay in Rome: Best Districts & Hotels
Table of Contents
Prati
Located northeast of Vatican City, this chic area on the west bank of the River Tiber is set aside from the typical cobbled streets and baroque buildings that Rome is famous for.
Its designer stores, wide sweeping boulevards, residential calm, and elegant architecture – in addition to its location away from the center – make Prati the ideal location for visitors wanting a calmer experience.
Top luxury hotels we recommend in Prati:
Top mid-range hotels we recommend in Prati:
Top budget hotels we recommend in Prati:
Top hostels we recommend in Prati:
Trastevere
Coming from the Latin trans Tiberim – ‘beyond the Tiber’ – Trastevere began life in the Roman kingdom period (around 500 BC) as the home of the hostile Etruscans, a civilization that predated that of ancient Rome.
It was eventually made part of the city by Emperor Augustus and is today well known for its cobbled streets lined with ancient buildings.
Trastevere is about its family-owned establishments, local eateries, and watching everyday life sipping a coffee in a piazza, as much as it is about fine dining and vibrant nightlife.
Top luxury hotels we recommend in Trastevere:
Top mid-range hotels we recommend in Trastevere:
Top budget hotels we recommend in Trastevere:
Top hostels we recommend in Trastevere:
Celio
Located to the southeast of the city center, Celio is a historic district of the capital, named after the Caelian Hill, one of Rome’s original seven hills (the others being Aventine, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal).
The area is most famous outside of Rome for being home to one of its most iconic buildings, the Colosseum, and features many more monuments. This is definitely where to stay in Rome if you’re interested in history, and don’t mind being based slightly outside the center.
Top luxury hotels we recommend in Celio:
Top mid-range hotels we recommend in Celio:
Top budget hotels we recommend in Celio:
Top hostel we recommend in Celio: B&B Giulietta al Colosseo
Trevi
Trevi is probably best known for its most famous landmark, and one of the icons of Rome, the Trevi Fountain.
Trevi is much more than a famous fountain, and in fact, is where to stay in Rome if you are looking for the idyllic streets and photogenic architecture which the Italian capital is most well known for.
Wandering around Trevi and sampling its comfortable ristorantes, sitting with a coffee in its many cafes, exploring its kitsch boutiques, is an experience in itself, even without the beautiful piazzas and centuries-old monuments, which include various palaces and churches.
Top luxury hotels we recommend in Trevi:
Top mid-range hotels we recommend in Trevi:
Top budget hotels we recommend in Trevi:
Top hostel we recommend in Trevi:
Testaccio
Formerly known as a working-class neighborhood, Testaccio is today known for its hipster population due to steady gentrification of the area.
Relatively far from the center and without the same incredible sights of Rome’s ‘Centro Storico’ or historical center, but it definitely packs a punch in terms of authenticity.
It’s relatively well connected, with bus stops peppering the area.
Top luxury hotels we recommend in Testaccio:
Top mid-range hotels we recommend in Testaccio:
Top budget hotels we recommend in Testaccio:
Top hostels we recommend in Testaccio:
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