Hotels in Rome, Italy

Best time to visit Rome

Explore Rome in the shoulder months of May or September when average temperatures hover around 18 degrees Celsius. In these months, the large tourist crowds that throng the city in the peak summer months are yet to come in, or have already left. Between October – April, average temperatures dip to around 5 – 10 degrees Celsius but almost never fall below 0 degrees Celsius. Hotel rates also drop dramatically during this time, except in the week of Christmas and during the year-end festivities. Pack a warm jacket and enjoy the cool weather along with great deals and discounts. During the peak tourist period from June – August, the weather is hot and humid. This time of the year is so busy, that you may need to book your accommodation a few months in advance to get a hotel of your choice.

Getting around Rome

With so many of the popular attractions clustered in a compact, pedestrian-only zone, most of the city can be explored on foot. If you plan to visit the Vatican City, you may need to rely on taxis or the metro. The Rome metro (subway), called Metropolitana by the locals, runs approximately every 7-10 minutes and costs €1.50 EUR for a time-integrated ticket of 100-minutes. For €7.00 EUR, you can buy a one-day ticket which allows unlimited travel on all means of transport for 24-hours from first validation. A bus ticket costs the same as the metro, but all above ground transport is affected by traffic congestion, usually leading to delayed journeys. Metered taxis are easily available all over the city. With heavy traffic, scarce parking, and several pedestrian-only zones, it is best if you walk or use the metro instead of driving around Rome.

Best places to stay in Rome

The magical ‘City of 7 Hills’, Rome promises to enchant you with its deep history, heritage monuments, world-famous landmarks, delectable cuisine and aromatic cafés. It’s quite possible to become happily lost in the winding streets and piazzas at every turn, when exploring the ‘Eternal City’. If you are visiting for the first time, try to pick your accommodation in the central areas that are home to most of the popular tourist attractions.

Centro Storico (Ancient Rome or Historic District)

The magnificent city centre neighbourhood is home to several tourist attractions, such as Palatine Hill, the Forum Romanum, and the Michelangelo-designed Piazza del Campidoglio. In the heart of Centro Storico, just steps away from the Piazza del Popolo, stay in the plush rooms of Hotel De Russie, the city’s first designer hotel. You can also consider the Hotel Indigo Rome – St. George that offers contemporary rooms decorated with legendary art.

Monti

Monti is a hip neighbourhood full of narrow streets packed with bars, eateries and cool boutiques. The Via Nazionale is one of the busiest retail streets in the area and home to several historic attractions. Amid the trendy shops and restaurants in Monti, stay at The Residenze Argileto, a modern guesthouse that offers hotel-like accommodation and features a gorgeous terrace with panoramic views across the city. Enjoy luxurious accommodation at Villa Spalletti Trivelli, an elegant villa-hotel overlooking the Quirinal Palace gardens, offering opulent rooms furnished with antiques and art.

Celio

Out of the 7 hills in Rome, Celio is nestled around the Caelian Hill, and is home to the iconic Colosseum. This is primarily a residential neighbourhood lined with fascinating churches, lively restaurants, and the city’s most vibrant gay bars. Enjoy the bright, airy rooms with old school décor and charming balconies in Hotel Lancelot, just a 6-minute walk from the Colosseum. You can also look at the lavish rooms of Hotel Celio, set in a grand 1870s mansion, with wood panelling, Venetian glass and period wallpaper interiors.

Spanish Steps

With a high density of designer boutiques and high-street shopping, the Spanish Steps neighbourhood encompasses ‘the trident’ of 3 streets – Via del Corso, Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino. A short walk from the Spanish Steps, stay in style in the luxurious suites of Portrait Roma and experience the exclusivity of this 5-star accommodation. Surrounded by designer fashion shops and historic monuments, consider the Crossing Condotti hotel which offers enchanting rooms with antique furnishings and modern amenities.

Pantheon and Piazza Navona

This neighbourhood is full of art-filled churches, delightful restaurants, shops and sophisticated bars. The Piazza Navona is a dazzling example of Baroque drama with Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Four Rivers fountain) set in the middle of the square. Try the Relais Palazzo Taverna, a boutique hotel set amid the antique shops of Via dei Coronari. The hotel features spacious rooms with bold wallpaper. You can also stay at the classic, antique-filled, traditional Roman hotel, Albergo Del Senato, situated in the Piazza della Rotonda, directly in front of the Pantheon.

Fiori and Farnese

Fiori has an old-world charm, and plenty of smart boutiques that attract elderly ladies with sharp bargaining skills. The Piazza Farnese impresses with Rome’s largest Renaissance palace, Palazzo Farnese. These neighbourhoods are also home to artisan workshops and a large ghetto where Rome’s Jewish community still thrives. Stay at the Campo de’ Fiori, an eclectic boutique hotel with opulent, individually decorated rooms set in a Baroque building, just around the corner from the Campo de’ Fiori square. On the cobbled streets of Via Giulia, you have the Hotel Relais Giulia, set in a 16th-century palazzo and featuring stylish rooms with a minimalist décor.

Trastevere

Across the Tiber River, on the right bank, the Trastevere district has 2 halves. West of Viale di Trastevere, you have picturesque alleys, a stunning square, an ancient church, and scores of bars and restaurants. East of the divide is a relatively quiet area with beautiful churches and historic palaces. Enjoy the harmonious balance of vintage Italian and Spanish interiors, and elegant rooms and suites of the Gran Meliá Rome hotel set on the banks of the Tiber river. Or consider the bright and comfortable rooms of Hotel Santa Maria set in a renovated 16th-century cloister within a short walk from popular sites and attractions.

Cheap hotels in Rome

In the heart of Piazza di Spagna, where you have Rome’s fashion triangle and Spanish Steps at your doorstep, you can stay at the Mario De’Fiori 37 hotel set in a charming 17th-century townhouse. Close to the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia, you can look at the stylish rooms of Nerva Boutique Hotel. In the Aventine Hill neighbourhood, consider the family-run Hotel San Anselmo with Art-Deco interiors. The unique rooms here are inspired by epic tales of love and poetry. Amid the shops and restaurants in Monti, you can look at the warm traditional rooms of Hotel Rosetta. Or try the family-run Albergo Nord Nuova Roma hotel set in a historic 1937-built building just a minute’s walk from the Museo Nazionale Romano (National Roman Museum).

Rome is a true blend of historic legacies, artistic riches, cultural explorations and al-fresco style romantic feasting. There is so much to see and do in this city, that even a week-long trip may not be sufficient to do full justice to your Rome adventure. Here are some suggestions on what to see and do if you are visiting for the first time.

• Visit the epicentre of Roman Catholicism, the Basilica di San Pietro (St Peter’s Basilica) in Vatican City. Also take a tour of the art extravaganza across the various Vatican museums, and admire Michelangelo’s famous frescoes that adorn the ceilings and walls of the Sistine Chapel.
• Gaze at the perfect proportions of the Pantheon, and enjoy a cup of coffee or a slice of pizza at the vibrant Piazza della Rotonda.
• Imagine the many bloody gladiatorial fights that were fought in the great historical landmark, the Colosseum, a massive structure built in 80 A.D. with a capacity to hold 50,000 spectators.
• Visit the first public museum in the world, the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums), and learn intricate details of the history of Rome through various artefacts, sculptures, and paintings housed within the museum.
• Tour several significant churches of Rome. The San Luigi dei Francesi is known for its display of the artist Caravaggio’s work. The Santa Maria della Vittoria which boasts splendid Baroque architecture, will leave you mesmerised. The Basilica di San Clemente, is an archaeological wonder with a 2nd-century pagan temple underneath a 4th-century church which is underneath a 12th-century church.
• At the Spanish Steps, click an Instagram-worthy selfie, climb to the top of the steps, grab a gelato, or just people-watch for entertainment.
• Spend time at the Piazza Navona which dates back to the 15th-century, and sip a coffee or browse through the myriad shops while enjoying a street performance in the square.
• Admire the beautiful baroque design of the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), and toss a coin or two to make a wish. According to Roman lore, you throw 1 – 3 coins with your right hand over your left shoulder and wish for a speedy return to Rome, or for falling in love with, and marrying a Roman.
• Hike to the top of Passeggiata del Gianicolo (Gianicolo Hill), also called The Janiculum, to get unobstructed panoramic views of the city of Rome and its several legendary monuments.
• Take a leisurely stroll at the Via Appia Antica (Ancient Appian Way) which has a history that dates to 312 B.C., including the 71 B.C. execution of Spartacus’ army. Stop by and admire the numerous monuments along the way.
• Head to the Campo de’ Fiori during the day to see the bustling markets, and also after sun down to enjoy the vibrant nightlife in the area.
• Don’t miss a trip to the Porta Portese Sunday market where you will find plenty of vendors selling books, antiques and vintage clothing.