Where to stay in Rome

 

After sharing our Rome travel guide from last summer, one of the questions I’ve been asked most often is where we chose to stay. With just three nights in the city, finding the right base made all the difference to how we experienced it – especially as we wanted to explore as much as possible on foot while still having somewhere calm to return to in the evenings.

 

When we started planning our summer trip to Rome, one of the biggest decisions was where to stay. Location really mattered. We knew we wanted to explore on foot, soak up the atmosphere, and for it not to feel too hectic. After a bit of research, we chose Trastevere – and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

 

Colorful Trastevere is a funky, bohemian area that is famous for its centuries-old, working-class roots. It felt like ‘real Rome’. It’s known for owner managed traditional trattorias, craft beer pubs and quirky shops, as well as Airbnb’s, simple B&Bs and budget hotels. From the relaxed foodie and aperitif vibe to the young crowds that buzzs around Piazza di San Calisto and Piazza Santa Maria.

 

 

Where to stay in Rome

 

 

A neighbourhood that feels lived in

 

Trastevere sits just across the River Tiber from the historic centre, and it has a completely different feel to the busier tourist hotspots.

The streets are narrower, the buildings are covered in ivy and warm terracotta tones, and there’s a real sense of everyday Roman life ticking along in the background. In the mornings, it felt calm and almost sleepy – the perfect place to grab a coffee before heading out for the day.

In the evenings, though, it gently came to life. Restaurants filled up, lights twinkled above the cobbled streets, and the atmosphere became warm without ever feeling overwhelming.

Everything within walking distance

 

 

One of the things that worked so well for us was how easy it was to walk everywhere from Trastevere. Over the course of three days, we explored the Pantheon, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, The Vatican and the Trevi Fountain almost entirely on foot.

Crossing the bridges into the historic centre became part of the daily rhythm – busy mornings taking in the sights, followed by a quieter wander back across the river later in the day.

 

Evenings that felt like an escape

 

After navigating crowds around the main attractions, it was lovely to return somewhere that felt slightly removed from it all.

Trastevere offered that balance. It was lively, but not chaotic. There were plenty of traditional restaurants and bars tucked into side streets, and it felt easy to stumble across somewhere good to eat or drink without needing to plan too far in advance.

It also gave us the chance to slow down a little, something that’s not always easy in a city like Rome in a short space of time.

 

Would we stay in Trastevere again?

 

Absolutely. For a short city break, especially if you’re visiting as a couple and want to explore on foot while still having a quieter base, Trastevere worked perfectly for us.

It gave us access to everything we wanted to see, while still feeling like a place to retreat to at the end of a busy day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to stay in Rome