Where to Stay in Rome

Rome is the eternal city, as much as a sensation as a physical place.  For the full experience you want to open you window onto cobbled street ringing with animated voice and wafting smells of olive oil and fresh-made crusty pastry. Don’t just book a hotel, but rent an apartment in Rome in a charming, traveler friendly neighborhood and linger a while over your latte.

The most obvious place to look for dream apartments in Rome is the Centro Storico or Via Veneto. These are great choices for short stays, but in general the areas are crowded by short-term packages tourists. They are also overpriced for those looking for a slower brewed, more authentic Italian immersion. To live in Rome, as the Romans do, and stay just a little off centre and spend on shoes and wine.

Aventine

Aventine boasts some of the loveliest streets and most exclusive older style homes in Rome, and it is dotted by lots of parks and gardens. It’s only 15-minute walk to most of the major sights. You’ll find the Aventine neighborhood just south of the Circus Maximus

Testaccio

Testaccio is an area south of the Centro Storico which is a little more modern but home to fabulous restaurants and bakeries. It’s a very safe and convenient with a metro and excellent bus services that can have you at the door to the Coliseum in 15 minutes.

Forum Boarium

Here you’ll find the Church of San Giorgio in Velabro, the Church of San Nicola in Carcere and the Arch of Janus. It feels like you are stepping away from the bustle of Rome and into a quiet village here but actually, it’s not at all far off the action, being just a vigorous walk or short ride south and west of Circus Maximus.

Trastevere

Just over the Tiber from Campo die Fiori and the Jewish Ghetto is the atmospheric and energetic Trastevere. It bustles with lots of students and expats, mingling with working class and bohemian Romans. It has charming wandering lanes and old fashion corner shops, great tasty cheap eats and everything young and hip.

Monti

This is a striking area of medieval palazzo, cobble streets and cool boutiques. Mont is also very central and convenient being boarded by Via Nazionale going west, Santa Maria Maggiore running north, and the Colle Oppio Park going east, and the Roman forum and Colosseum heading south.