Rome is one of those cities where the location of your hotel makes a huge difference – far more than you might expect when booking.

On a map, everything might look ‘close to the centre’. In reality, however, the difference between a hotel near the Pantheon and budget accommodation on the outskirts means spending tens of minutes extra every day on the underground or buses.

However, if you choose the right neighbourhood, you’ll be able to explore most of Rome on foot.

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My tips for the best hotels in Rome

If you don’t want to spend time searching for the best deals, we’ve selected the best hotels for you across several categories.

Cheapest accommodation

• Piccolo Hotel Boutique – a very small hotel with compact but beautiful and modern rooms, 500 metres from the Vatican
• Hotel Mosaic Central Rome– a simple, clean hotel in an absolutely brilliant location: just a few dozen metres from Termini station, heading towards the historic centre and the Colosseum
• Rossi Hotel– a simple, affordable hotel right in front of Termini station, ideal for late arrivals or early departures

The happy medium

• Hotel Nautilus– a standard 3* hotel with good reviews in an excellent location, roughly400 metres from the Vatican, betweenthe Lepanto and Ottaviano metro stations on Line A
• Eccelso Hotel– one of the best 3* hotels in terms of value for money. It has modern, clean rooms and is situated 50 metres from the Vatican and 200 metres from Ottaviano metro station

International chains

• Mercure Roma Centro Termini– of the larger hotels, this has the best location, just a short walk from Termini station towards the historic centre
• Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge– the most affordable of the Hilton hotels, situated in the northern part of the wider city centre, right next to the tram stop heading towards the metro and the city centre
• Hotel Principessa Isabella–another classic hotel in a very good location between Termini station and Borghese Park

Luxury hotels

These are the most luxurious and most expensive hotels in Rome.

• Bvlgari Hotel Roma – an iconic brand, uncompromising quality, modern design and a good location between the Spanish Steps and the Vatican
• Rocco Forte Hotel De Russie– a magnificent hotel near Piazza del Popolo
• Six Senses Rome – my favourite luxury brand, a superb location near the Pantheon with views of the Altare della Patria monument

Hotels I’ve personally tried in Rome

Domus Giulia

Of all the places I’ve stayed in Rome, this is the one I’d recommend most often. An excellent location between the Vatican and the historic centre, a quiet street and the chance to explore most of the city on foot.

• 👉 My review, impressions and photos

MEININGER Roma Termini

One of the best budget options in the wider city centre of Rome. A modern setting, with good transport links to the airports and the main railway station.

• 👉 My review, impressions and photos

Hotel Forum

The hotel is best known for its rooftop terrace overlooking the Roman Forum. The views are truly fantastic.

However, in my opinion, the rooms themselves do not offer good value for money at current prices, and today I would only book it for its unique location.

• 👉 My review, impressions and photos

The best part of Rome for a first visit

If it’s your first time in Rome, I wouldn’t overthink it.

Look for a hotel in these areas:

• the historic centre around the Pantheon, Piazza Navona or the Trevi Fountain
• near Termini railway station
• near the Vatican
• Trastevere

It’s usually from here that you’ll be able to walk to the vast majority of the main sights.

And in Rome, that’s a big advantage.

The metro tends to bypass the city centre, and buses are often slow.

The historic centre

Rome has a compact city centre, and if you manage to find a hotel here at a good price, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.

• ✅ Walking distance to practically all the sights
• ✅ a wide choice of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs
• ✅ the atmosphere of ‘authentic Italy’
• ❌ higher prices
• ❌ poorer access from both of Rome’s airports

During one of my visits to Rome, I stayed at the Domus Giulia apartment, situated between the historic centre and the Vatican. This accommodation offered the ideal combination of reasonable prices and a great location – I was able to walk everywhere.

For the last two nights, I moved to the much-praised Hotel Forum, which had a great location but offered absolutely no value for money.

View hotels in central Rome

The area around Termini station

Is it worth staying near the main Termini railway station? Probably the most frequently asked question.

Yes and no.

• ✅ Best access from both of Rome’s airports
• ✅ A wide choice of hotels
• ✅ The lowest prices in central Rome
• ❌ Very busy area
• ❌ Less safe at night
• ❌ The surroundings aren’t as nice as in the city centre
• ❌ Often very poor-quality hotels: read the reviews carefully!

I’ve stayed in the Termini area several times and the differences between individual hotels are huge. Whilst some budget hotels look run-down as soon as you arrive, the MEININGER Roma Termini, for example, made quite a good impression on me.

Modern rooms, clean surroundings and still within reasonable walking distance of the main sights.

Find a hotel near Termini based on reviews

The Vatican area

This is a good compromise between budget accommodation and fairly good accessibility.

• ✅ If the Vatican is your main destination, then this is your number one choice
• ✅ Lots of cheap deals from private hosts
• ✅ Plenty of cheap local restaurants nearby
• ❌ Few high-quality hotels from international chains
• ❌ Poor access to other attractions
• ❌ No direct connection to the airport

If you’re looking for good transport links, I’d recommend choosing hotels near the Ottaviano metro station in particular.

Find a hotel near Termini based on reviews

Trastevere

Trastevere is one of my favourite parts of Rome.

There’s a great atmosphere here, especially in the evening. The narrow streets, pizzerias, bars and pubs create a ‘typically Italian’ atmosphere.

• ✅ the best food and drink in the city
• ✅ beautiful narrow streets
• ✅ lively atmosphere in the evening
• ❌ high prices
• ❌ less convenient to get to from Ciampino Airport or Termini station
• ❌ Less peaceful

Find a hotel near Termini based on reviews

How much do hotels in Rome cost during peak season?

Category	Price per night for 2
Budget	from 70 eur
Standard 3* hotel	120EUR –220 eur
better 4* hotel	220 eur –400 eur
luxury	from 500 eur

Prices are rising significantly:

• April–June
• September–October
• Easter
• Christmas
• long weekends

Check hotel prices in Rome

The biggest mistakes when choosing a hotel in Rome

I’ve been to Rome many times and have chosen a really bad hotel on several occasions.

1️⃣A hotel far from the city centre
In Rome, the cheapest hotels (including the big international chains) are usually found along the motorways on the outskirts (mainly for motorists passing through Rome). Getting into the city centre from there is really very difficult.

2️⃣Choosing based on price alone
The differences in quality are huge, and in Rome you’ll find a large number of truly dreadful hotels. Always read the reviews and comments!

3️⃣ Last-minute bookings
If you’re travelling to Rome at weekends, in summer, at Christmas or at Easter, book your hotel at least one month in advance.