Which area is better to stay in Rome? There is no single answer to this question. Someone prefers the proximity of attractions, while others are willing to spend time and money daily on the road, if only to escape away from the tourist crowds and enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the city. Therefore, BlogoItaliano prepared a special review of the areas of Rome and decided to share his observations about their pros and cons.
Immediately make a reservation that not all areas of Rome from this article have similar administrative names. For some places, we moved away from the official names and replaced them with the main landmarks nearby. This will make it easier for you to find every place you mention.
But before we go directly to the area overview, we recommend installing an Rome audio guide for iPhone. This is a ready-made audio tour from the Vatican to the Coliseum, which will save you a lot of money on guides in Rome. In the test version, the first 5 are available for free, which will allow you to try out the application before purchase.
Navona Pantheon
For tourists who are accustomed to comfort, the historic city center is probably the best. This is especially true for those who plan to visit the Eternal City for the first time and no more than a couple of days.
Narrow streets with colorful houses will ensure complete immersion in the past of the city with its myriad cultural wealth. Here, all the sights are at hand and it is quite possible to walk to the main places of the Eternal City: whether it be the Vatican, the Colosseum or Trastevere.
Here all the sights at hand
Naturally, there are always a lot of tourists in this area of Navona and the Pantheon, and many do not like it. In addition, the proximity of the main attractions serves as the basis for overpriced almost everything: from housing to food.
If you plan to visit other cities in Italy, it should be borne in mind that from a transport point of view, this is also not the best choice. Especially if you need to get up early and return late, because the main transport hub of the city - Termini - is quite far from here, and there are no metro stations in the immediate vicinity.
Via Venetto
The cafes and bars of Vittorio Venetto Street once sang in the film “Sweet Life” by the great Italian director Federico Fellini. Today they remain almost the main attractions of this prestigious area of Rome near the historical center.
In the Via Venetto area are concentrated the most luxurious hotels in Rome and the embassies of different countries. Shops and restaurants have long attracted secular celebrities here, so this is an ideal option for those who want an expensive and comfortable stay.
Termini
To some extent, the Termini station area can be considered the opposite of the historic city center: there are much fewer attractions that instantly affect the cost of living, but it’s very convenient to travel around the city (and around the country!), And also get to the airports.
It offers residents and visitors of the city an extensive network of buses, trains and a metro station at the intersection of two main lines. In addition, it is from Termini that most of the routes to large suburban outlets go.
With Termini it is convenient to move around the city, country and get to the airports
Thanks to the developed infrastructure of the station, you will not have problems finding a mobile phone store, information point, ATM or souvenir shop - in Termini, it seems, there is everything that a traveler may need, including relatively cheap cafes and restaurants.
Housing near Termini may not seem sophisticated for discerning customers, but this is offset by the price and convenience of the infrastructure.
The saved money can be spent on shopping with pleasure: a few steps from the station stretches Via Nazionale, one of the main shopping streets in Rome.
Many of the main attractions can be reached by metro.
What you should be prepared for when choosing Termini as a place to live is for crowds of migrants and for a large number of people in general.
A “rescue” can be a hotel a few blocks from the station itself: so that you can walk, but you do not have to live in the midst of a flood of people.
Prati, Vatican
The Prati district near the Vatican is considered one of the most respectable areas of Rome - but at the same time one of the most crowded.
It is worth mentioning right away that in this area of Rome you find yourself far from other attractions of the historic city center - they are all on the other side of the Tiber.
The Prati district is one of the most respectable in Rome
But at your disposal the whole Vatican and the majestic castle of the Holy Angel to facilitate the road to the center.
Hotels here are not as luxurious as in the city center, but quite comfortable and affordable. You can ensure peace and quiet by choosing a hotel in the heart of the area.
In terms of the convenience of moving around the city, this is a less convenient area, but if the main goal of the trip is the Vatican, this is what you need.
Monti and Celio districts
Monti is an ideal place for those who prefer a night lifestyle - a huge number of trendy bars and clubs are concentrated here.
In addition, from here you can even walk to Termini to go to Florence, Naples or suburban outlets.
Monti has a huge number of trendy bars and clubs
This area of Rome is located some distance from the city center, but from here it is very close to the Coliseum, located in the Celio area.
Choosing a house near the Coliseum, you can hardly hope to escape from the crowd of tourists, but if you are willing to sacrifice calm for the view from the window at one of the most famous monuments in the world, you should pay attention to the Celio area.
Moreover, many hotels here have existed for several centuries, so that the historical spirit of this place can be fully felt.
For the view from the window on the Colosseum, you have to sacrifice calm
Trastevere District
For a leisurely holiday away from well-trodden hiking trails, the Trastevere district, famous for its winding streets and ancient basilicas, is perfect.
This area of Rome is surrounded by greenery and flowers, it even has its own botanical garden. Authentic restaurants offer delicious dishes at much more reasonable prices than in the city center.
You can rest from the tourist crowds in Trastevere
There is a separate railway line (Regionale train) to Fiumicino Trastevere Airport, but getting to the main Roman sights or to the train station is possible only by tram and in many cases with transfers - there is no metro nearby.
Hotels here are not very cheap, but the beauty and cosiness of this area fully pays for the cost of living in it.
Re di roma
The area of the Re di Roma metro station is located away from the historical center, but is connected with it by a direct metro line.
A quiet green area away from tourists and migrants offers accommodation options at much more loyal prices than in the old part of the city.
Cafes and restaurants here are also much cheaper, and there are not many less interesting shops than in the center.
Cafes and restaurants here are much cheaper than in the center
If this is not your first time in Rome, and public transport is not a problem for you, then perhaps this area of Rome can be a great option for a quiet, inexpensive vacation in your favorite place.
Useful Housing Tips in Rome
When going to Rome, we recommend watching a video about the 7 best attractions of the city. Incidentally, the topic of housing is also mentioned in passing in it, and you can find some usefulness for yourself.
Please note that in Rome you can rent both a hotel room and apartments. Each of these methods has its pros and cons.
If we talk about apartments, this is the preferred option for large companies, since you can rent excellent accommodation in a good area, which will be cheaper than a hotel.
For Rome, it’s best to search for apartments through the Airbnb website. By the way, if you have never used it before, then registering in the service using this link, you will receive a discount coupon for your first trip.
With Airbnb, you can really find a very colorful home. For example, in 2016, one apartment was so liked by BlogoItaliano that we dedicated a separate video review to it.
As for hotels, since there are thousands of them in Rome, we recommend that you select a room not only based on the area, but also taking into account current discounts and sales.
In the Eternal City you can always find a hotel in a very good location, which for one reason or another decided to arrange a rally. In such hotels, discounts on rooms can reach 40-70%.
The current selection of Rome hotels with promotions can be found below:
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