How to choose the right neighbourhood for your stay in Rome
When visiting a foreign country, deciding where to stay can be one of the hardest aspects of planning your trip. Because let’s face it, choosing the wrong neighbourhood can be such a deal breaker. And Rome is no exception! Whether it’s your first time in the Eternal City or you’ve been here often, here is my little guide to help you choose the right neighbourhood for your visit to Rome. Just a heads up, the public transportation system isn’t extremely reliable. So unless you’re planning on spending money on taxis, I’d definitely urge you to book your accommodation in Rome in the center. From the Campo Marzio area to Trastevere and Parioli, here are the best places to stay in Rome.
Tridente (centro storico)
Good for: upscale, shopping, sightseeing, food
I would recommend the Tridente if you want to stay in an upscale area with great shopping, sightseeing and good restaurants.
The Tridente is the name given to the three parallel streets that begin from Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, namely Via del Babuino, Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta. Whichever of these streets you choose to stay in, the location is spectacular! Via del Babuino is the more high-end street filled with luxury boutiques such as MiuMiu, Gente and Tiffany’s & Co and end where Piazza di Spagna begins. Via del Corso is Rome’s mainstream shopping street, that goes from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. Via di Ripetta is more quiet, and has less shops, but some restaurants and bars. Apart from these three streets, all the side streets in between are also a perfect fit for your accommodation! Who do I recommend this area to? Anyone! Staying at the Tridente is the top of the top. You are in the heart of Rome, next to Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo and just footsteps away from the Pantheon, Piazza Venezia and Piazza Navona. There are two metro stops in case you want to use public transportation, the area is perfect for shopping and it’s architecturally beautiful. You are also walking distance from nightlife locations such as Campo de’Fiori and La Pace. As you can imagine, accommodation here is quite expensive here.
Piazza Navona (Centro Storico)
Good for: sightseeing, nightlife, food, shopping
I would recommend to stay in Piazza Navona if you’re interested in good restaurants, chic nightlife, proximity to other nightlife locations and footsteps from all major tourist attractions!
Piazza Navona is a spectacular place for your stay in Rome. It’s in the heart of the historic center, footsteps away from Campo de’Fiori, the Pantheon, Via del Corso and Trastevere. Not to mention that you’re in PIAZZA NAVONA! Apart from the beautiful museums and attractions surrounding this area, the nightlife in this neighbourhood is also great! You have the chic La Pace area with its great bars and restaurants, Campo de’Fiori just a 5-minute walk away, beautiful Prati just a bridge cross away and Trastevere not too far by foot! And if you’re into shopping, wait until you stroll through Via del Governo Vecchio’s independent boutiques!
Campo de’Fiori (Centro Storico)
Good for: nightlife, sightseeing, shopping, food
I would recommend to stay in Campo de’ Fiori if you’re into nightlife and want to be in the historic center!
Campo De’ Fiori is in the heart of Rome’s historic center and just in between the Jewish Quarter, Trastevere and Piazza Navona. It’s known for its beautiful piazza and great open-air market where you’ll find everything from fresh produce, flowers and objects! It’s also one of the most popular nightlife areas of Rome, filled with bars and restaurants. Staying in Campo de’Fiori means you’ll be in the heart of Rome’s nightlife, walking distance from all major tourist attractions, and close to great restaurants and good independent shopping!
Monti (Centro Storico)
Good for: sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, food
I recommend this neighbourhood to anyone that wants to be in the heart of Rome, in a local area filled with great hangouts, super close to major attractions. If you’re a hipster, this is the place to be in Rome!
Oh Monti … how to describe you? You are absolutely fantastic. Filled with cobblestone streets, characteristic piazzas and a picturesque setting, the Monti neighbourhood is everyone’s dream. Not only is it beautiful, it’s bustling with restaurants and bars, and it’s perfect for nightlife and visiting tourist attractions! Just a short walk away from Monti you’ll find the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia and the Esquilino neighbourhood.
Prati
Good for: shopping, sightseeing, food
I recommend Prati for foodies, first-timers in Rome who want to be close to major attractions, shoppers, couples and families.
Prati is one of Rome’s chicest neighbourhoods, characterized by tree-lined avenues, high-end shops, restaurants and bars for happy hour. It’s one of Rome’s best-frequented areas and is probably one of the Eternal City’s best-kept secrets. And the best part? It’s just a bridge cross away from Via Tomacelli and Piazza Navona which means you’re just a short walk away from Via del Corso, Piazza di Spagna and the Pantheon. It’s also walking distance from Campo de’Fiori and the Vatican.
Parioli
Good for: shopping, nightlife, food
I would recommend staying in the Parioli area if this isn’t your first time visiting Rome and you don’t need to visit major attractions on a daily basis, if you have a car (make sure your accommodation has parking) or if you’re here on business.
Parioli is one of my favorite neighbourhoods of Rome. I used to live here when I was younger and it’s just a 10-minute ride from my Roman home so I spend a lot of time in this area! How to describe Parioli? I think it can be considered the Mayfair of Rome. It’s filled with stunningly beautiful Renaissance palazzi, its tree-lined avenues are full of boutiques and high-quality restaurants, and it’s also very close to Villa Borghese and the beautiful Borghese Gallery. The downside? While it’s very close to the center, it isn’t extremely well-connected to public transportation, so moving to one place requires either a car or a taxi. Also keep in mind that this area is expensive.
Click here to check out my favorite restaurants and bars in Parioli
Trastevere (Centro Storico)
Good for: nightlife, sightseeing, food
I recommend Trastevere to anyone searching for nightlife, history and proximity to attractions.
Cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, beautiful piazzas and yummy typical Roman cuisine. Trastevere is definitely the perfect central neighbourhood to stay in Rome. And if you want to dive into the city’s nightlife, Trastevere is filled with bars, restaurants and is only just footsteps away from Campo De’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. It’s a central neighbourhood so it’s perfect for visiting all the important Roman attractions. If you are a family with kids, best to stay in the quieter area of Trastevere, not near Piazza Trilussa as bars close at 2am.
Jewish Ghetto
Good for: food, sightseeing (close to nightlife)
I recommend the Jewish Ghetto if you want to stay in a central location close to everything but away from the crowds.
The Jewish Ghetto is an absolute gem. Its quaint streets, beautiful old town atmosphere and yummy Roman-Jewish cuisine make it a very attractive neighbourhood for your Roman stay. Located between Piazza Venezia and the Tiber river, this neighbourhood is perfectly central and the ideal base for exploring Rome. Campo De’Fiori, Trastevere and Piazza Venezia are only a short walk away! Which means you’ll have a taste of Rome’s nightlife in a heartbeat!It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to be in the center but away from the crowds!
Via Veneto (Centro Storico)
Good for: upscale, luxury hotels, sightseeing
I would recommend Via Veneto if you want an upscale area, within walking distance from major attractions but that isn’t very chaotic. Very good area for business.
Via Veneto is another upscale area to stay in Rome and known as the heart of “la dolce vita”. In the 1950s and 1960s it was considered the place to be and frequented by celebrities, politicians and film stars. While it isn’t considered the “it-place” anymore, it is still a wonderful area to stay in, walking distance to Piazza Barberini, Piazza di Spagna and the Tridente. The area is filled with luxury hotels and beautiful palazzi.
Not Termini
Most of you will probably know Termini: the name of Rome’s central train station. But, I’m not really a big fan of the area. Sure, the Termini area has lots of cheap accommodations, but it’s also in a part of Rome that doesn’t exactly scream la dolce vita, if you ask me. Lots of websites recommend this area for accommodation but I think it’s not very inviting. Of course it has its pros, like cheap accommodation, proximity to the train station for early trains and good public transportation (for Roman standards). But honestly, to have the great experience in Rome, I wouldn’t stay here. Also, if you’re just a group of girls, I wouldn’t stay here at all. It’s not extremely safe at night.
