Last edit by: JBD
Where to Stay In Rome
There is an abundance of choices when deciding where to stay in Rome. We encourage you to post on this thread with questions about specific properties or with your specific needs - whether it be using hotel points, or wanting to be near certain attractions or transportation, etc. And the more details you give us (i.e. what time of year your stay will be, your budget, how many in your party), the more fitting our suggestions can be.The consensus for the "ideal" area for the typical tourist to be based in - is around the Pantheon. The reason is three-fold.
First: The places most visitors will want to see are situated in a relatively small area within the city of Rome, and somewhat encircle the Pantheon. This map is put out by a particular hotel, but it's representative of the typical "tourist" map with the major landmarks noted. Arguably, the two sites of popular interest that are the furthest away from each other are the Vatican and the Colosseum, and according to Google maps the walking distance between them is 3.5 km, or 2.17 miles. If you were based around the Pantheon, then your walk to the Vatican would be about 2 km, or 1.25 miles and your walk to the Colosseum would also be around 2 km /1.25 miles.
Second: The area around the Pantheon is on level ground, which means you won't have to climb/and descend Rome's fabled hills every time you venture out. Here is a map of Rome's walls but it also shows its hills, colored grey, with the flat-ish areas colored beige.
Third: The area you see around the Pantheon is comprised of Rome's most quintessential piazzas and labyrinthine cobblestone streets. Here is google's satellite view of this area and beyond.
But certainly there are also wonderful spots to be based in throughout the whole area seen on that satellite map, which will put you basically in the center, if not perfectly equidistant to all the sites. (And all the common sense rules apply regarding avoiding a noisy choice: avoid being directly on a busy road, or piazza, unless assured of double paned windows).Second: The area around the Pantheon is on level ground, which means you won't have to climb/and descend Rome's fabled hills every time you venture out. Here is a map of Rome's walls but it also shows its hills, colored grey, with the flat-ish areas colored beige.
Third: The area you see around the Pantheon is comprised of Rome's most quintessential piazzas and labyrinthine cobblestone streets. Here is google's satellite view of this area and beyond.
Rome's Tourist Accommodation Tax
Below is a cut and paste from the official 060608 site (made in May 2017; verified for current accuracy in April 2019). And here's the link to the 060608 page for the most up to date information:Roma Capitale - Tourist Accommodation Tax
Anyone staying in a hotel, bed& breakfast, holiday home, guest house or camp site in Rome, with the sole exception of hostels, is subject to pay an overnight accommodation tax for every day spent in the Eternal City.
The rates are per person.
Hotels:
1-2 Star Hotels: 3,00 per night, max 10 days;
3 Star Hotels: 4,00 per night, max 10 days;
4 Star Hotels: 6,00 per night, max 10 days;
5 Star Hotels: 7,00 per night, max 10 days;
Bed & Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Holiday Homes and Apartments:
- 3,50 per night, max 10 days;
Tourist Farms and Residences:
- 4,00 per night, max 10 days;
Camp Sites, Open Air Facilities and Equipped Park Areas:
- 2,00 per night, max 5 days;
How to pay? You can pay cash or by card, at the end of your stay, directly on site. You will be given a personal receipt. The overnight accommodation tax is applicable up to a maximum of 10 consecutive nights within one solar year, provided that you spend the nights at the same accommodation facility. The payment is due for a maximum of 5 nights for the guests of camping grounds, open air facilities and areas equipped for temporary stops.
Exemptions. Persons who are residents of Rome, children up to age 10, all who accompany patients for health reasons, members of the State police force and the other armed forces, and one coach driver and one tour leader/tourist guide for every 23 group members.
The rates are per person.
Hotels:
1-2 Star Hotels: 3,00 per night, max 10 days;
3 Star Hotels: 4,00 per night, max 10 days;
4 Star Hotels: 6,00 per night, max 10 days;
5 Star Hotels: 7,00 per night, max 10 days;
Bed & Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Holiday Homes and Apartments:
- 3,50 per night, max 10 days;
Tourist Farms and Residences:
- 4,00 per night, max 10 days;
Camp Sites, Open Air Facilities and Equipped Park Areas:
- 2,00 per night, max 5 days;
How to pay? You can pay cash or by card, at the end of your stay, directly on site. You will be given a personal receipt. The overnight accommodation tax is applicable up to a maximum of 10 consecutive nights within one solar year, provided that you spend the nights at the same accommodation facility. The payment is due for a maximum of 5 nights for the guests of camping grounds, open air facilities and areas equipped for temporary stops.
Exemptions. Persons who are residents of Rome, children up to age 10, all who accompany patients for health reasons, members of the State police force and the other armed forces, and one coach driver and one tour leader/tourist guide for every 23 group members.
Where to stay in Rome [Merged thread]
#271



Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
We stayed near the Pantheon and found it to be a nice central location, although a bit of a hike to Termini (I'd recommend a cab, unless you don't mind walking a good half hour). We stayed at a B&B, so can't speak to any of those hotels.
#272
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
We ended up on a travel leg in Rome 9AM May 3 to 1PM May 5. This is our first time in Italy. I've read through the recent 4-day thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/italy...here-stay.html) and really appreciated the advice - especially about cabs and the pantheon area.
We want to see as much as we can, but convenience (close to attractions and food) is most important due to our short stay. I'm comfortable spending what we need for a good location - we aren't used to over-the-top luxury and really just need a convenient, clean hotel. I found these hotels looking at TripAdvisor/looking at the 4-day thread:
We want to see as much as we can, but convenience (close to attractions and food) is most important due to our short stay. I'm comfortable spending what we need for a good location - we aren't used to over-the-top luxury and really just need a convenient, clean hotel. I found these hotels looking at TripAdvisor/looking at the 4-day thread:
- G-Rough - this seems less expensive (than the St Regis) for our dates and closer to attractions than the St Regis (maybe?)
- Palazzo Navona - is room size going to be a problem?
- Hotel Artemide - is this too close to Termini?
- Hotel Manfredi Suite - is this too far north? Too inconvenient?
St. Regis and Boscolo are great hotels, if staying in a hotel outside of the main area and having a big American breakfast is what you are going to Rome for, but not so good if you are going to Rome to see the historic, beautiful, and romanticRome. G-Rough is much better situated, and more economical. Unlike Boscolo, St. Regis, Barberini, when you go downstairs you won't need a cab to go anywhere because you'll already be there, in the heart of the historic center.
2. Palazzo Navona and G-Rough are right next to one another, so it's dealers choice. Both are optimally situated.
3. ?Hotel Artemide. It's further from the train station than the St. Regis or Boscolo, which is good. Still, it's not at the heart of things. Via Nazionale is a very commercial street, with cheap clothing stores, lots of buses, noise, traffic, etc. You are not going to want to wander outside and sit outdoors at a coffee shop, because you'd be on a major, noisy street, with horns honking, buses going by, etc, not on a historic, cobble stoned plaza. That area of Rome, Boscolo, St. Regis, Artemide, is not the part of Rome that people have in mind when they think of a postcard from Rome.
4. Manfredi is not too far north. You'd be less than five minute walk to the Spanish Steps. Via Babuino is a very upscale street. Not exactly a romantic street, but still one of the better ones. This is an excellent location.
The only ones that are not well located that you mention are St. Regis and Artemide. Take TripAdvisor with a huge grain of salt. The others are all well located. The only time you want to be near the train station is if you are arriving to downtown Rome at 10 at night and have to catch a 7AM train out.
The only time you want to stay near Piazza della Republica (St. Regis, Boscolo Exedra) is if you are going to Rome for a business meeting and don't care about the ambience of the city, if you plan to not leave your hotel, or want to be in and out of cabs to get anywhere interesting.
Last edited by Perche; Nov 14, 2016 at 11:14 am
#273




Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 165
You could always check out the adjacent Eataly.
Here it is on google maps so you can see its proximity to your hotel:
https://goo.gl/maps/PS3zj1t187B2
Here it is on google maps so you can see its proximity to your hotel:
https://goo.gl/maps/PS3zj1t187B2
#274
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
You could always check out the adjacent Eataly.
Here it is on google maps so you can see its proximity to your hotel:
https://goo.gl/maps/PS3zj1t187B2
Here it is on google maps so you can see its proximity to your hotel:
https://goo.gl/maps/PS3zj1t187B2
Eataly is an international chain supermarket, and is a great thing, I would not recommend you get your breakfast coffee and pastry there (typical roman breakfast) because you said you wanted a typical Roman experience.
Eataly near Piazza della Repubblica is a three story supermarket, with a pizza and pasta place on the top floor. You can always get good food at Eataly, whether to take home and cook, or to have at one of their stores, whether you are at their branch in Rome, Chicago, Japan, New York City, Istanbul, or any of the other 15 or so places where they are at, but it's not a place for a romantic breakfast. It would be like going to Whole Foods for breakfast.
The main Eataly in Rome is far away from you at Ostiense station. The one near where you are staying opened last year when they tore down one of the two McDonalds around the hotel plaza (yes, it's that type of neighborhood) and converted it into a small Eataly.
It wouldn't be bad to grab a lunch there, but it's not where you sit down and savor a coffee for breakfast, although they do have some outdoor tables on the ground floor. But there is usually construction going on, and lots of buses and noise.
Since you'll be staying near the Termini train station, another thing you can try, but definitely not for breakfast, is its new food court. It just opened last month, so I haven't been there yet. It's supposed to be something special. It has everything from a restaurant with a Michelin star chef, to many great food stalls. But again, you don't want to have your morning coffee in a supermarket or a food court.
If you just want to have your morning coffee and pastry, which is all breakfast is in Italy, just go anywhere, because otherwise you'll spend an hour trying to do this at Eataly or Termini to have a coffee known in the USA as an espresso, (in Italy it's just called a coffee) that's just 2-3 sips and go.
You could get a cappuccino which takes longer to drink, but who wants to linger over coffee in a supermarket? If you want to linger over a coffee in a beautiful plaza, that's not the neighborhood to do it. Take a cab to where you are going, and do it there.
A coffee is usually 1 euro standing at a bar. A croissant, a typical roman breakfast, is maybe 2 euro. If you get a table with waiter service you'll probably pay about twice as much for each. However, you can stay at that table as long as you want.
If you do find an interesting place when you get to the true historic center and you want to linger at an outside table for half an hour and watch the world go by, there is nothing wrong with spending an extra couple of euros to do that. Behind the counter, by law, they have to post the price of the coffee at the bar, and at a table. You can look before you decide. Depending on location, it might only cost 2-3 extra euros, but will give you a place for people watching, catching the sun, and a place to sit down and spread your map, and make your plans. It's a personal choice.
In sum, if you just need your morning coffee, go anywhere. To see historical Rome you'll have to leave your neighborhood, you just have to make a decision where to have your roman breakfast.
Last edited by Perche; Nov 15, 2016 at 10:05 am
#275




Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 165
I can always understand the use of points. There's no reason to spend money if you don't have to.
Eataly is an international chain supermarket, and is a great thing, I would not recommend you get your breakfast coffee and pastry there (typical roman breakfast) because you said you wanted a typical Roman experience.
Eataly near Piazza della Repubblica is a three story supermarket, with a pizza and pasta place on the top floor. You can always get good food at Eataly, whether to take home and cook, or to have at one of their stores, whether you are at their branch in Rome, Chicago, Japan, New York City, Istanbul, or any of the other 15 or so places where they are at, but it's not a place for a romantic breakfast. It would be like going to Whole Foods for breakfast.
The main Eataly in Rome is far away from you at Ostiense station. The one near where you are staying opened last year when they tore down one of the two McDonalds around the hotel plaza (yes, it's that type of neighborhood) and converted it into a small Eataly.
It wouldn't be bad to grab a lunch there, but it's not where you sit down and savor a coffee for breakfast, although they do have some outdoor tables on the ground floor. But there is usually construction going on, and lots of buses and noise.
Since you'll be staying near the Termini train station, another thing you can try, but definitely not for breakfast, is its new food court. It just opened last month, so I haven't been there yet. It's supposed to be something special. It has everything from a restaurant with a Michelin star chef, to many great food stalls. But again, you don't want to have your morning coffee in a supermarket or a food court.
If you just want to have your morning coffee and pastry, which is all breakfast is in Italy, just go anywhere, because otherwise you'll spend an hour trying to do this at Eataly or Termini to have a coffee known in the USA as an espresso, (in Italy it's just called a coffee) that's just 2-3 sips and go.
You could get a cappuccino which takes longer to drink, but who wants to linger over coffee in a supermarket? If you want to linger over a coffee in a beautiful plaza, that's not the neighborhood to do it. Take a cab to where you are going, and do it there.
A coffee is usually 1 euro standing at a bar. A croissant, a typical roman breakfast, is maybe 2 euro. If you get a table with waiter service you'll probably pay about twice as much for each. However, you can stay at that table as long as you want.
If you do find an interesting place when you get to the true historic center and you want to linger at an outside table for half an hour and watch the world go by, there is nothing wrong with spending an extra couple of euros to do that. Behind the counter, by law, they have to post the price of the coffee at the bar, and at a table. You can look before you decide. Depending on location, it might only cost 2-3 extra euros, but will give you a place for people watching, catching the sun, and a place to sit down and spread your map, and make your plans. It's a personal choice.
In sum, if you just need your morning coffee, go anywhere. To see historical Rome you'll have to leave your neighborhood, you just have to make a decision where to have your roman breakfast.
Eataly is an international chain supermarket, and is a great thing, I would not recommend you get your breakfast coffee and pastry there (typical roman breakfast) because you said you wanted a typical Roman experience.
Eataly near Piazza della Repubblica is a three story supermarket, with a pizza and pasta place on the top floor. You can always get good food at Eataly, whether to take home and cook, or to have at one of their stores, whether you are at their branch in Rome, Chicago, Japan, New York City, Istanbul, or any of the other 15 or so places where they are at, but it's not a place for a romantic breakfast. It would be like going to Whole Foods for breakfast.
The main Eataly in Rome is far away from you at Ostiense station. The one near where you are staying opened last year when they tore down one of the two McDonalds around the hotel plaza (yes, it's that type of neighborhood) and converted it into a small Eataly.
It wouldn't be bad to grab a lunch there, but it's not where you sit down and savor a coffee for breakfast, although they do have some outdoor tables on the ground floor. But there is usually construction going on, and lots of buses and noise.
Since you'll be staying near the Termini train station, another thing you can try, but definitely not for breakfast, is its new food court. It just opened last month, so I haven't been there yet. It's supposed to be something special. It has everything from a restaurant with a Michelin star chef, to many great food stalls. But again, you don't want to have your morning coffee in a supermarket or a food court.
If you just want to have your morning coffee and pastry, which is all breakfast is in Italy, just go anywhere, because otherwise you'll spend an hour trying to do this at Eataly or Termini to have a coffee known in the USA as an espresso, (in Italy it's just called a coffee) that's just 2-3 sips and go.
You could get a cappuccino which takes longer to drink, but who wants to linger over coffee in a supermarket? If you want to linger over a coffee in a beautiful plaza, that's not the neighborhood to do it. Take a cab to where you are going, and do it there.
A coffee is usually 1 euro standing at a bar. A croissant, a typical roman breakfast, is maybe 2 euro. If you get a table with waiter service you'll probably pay about twice as much for each. However, you can stay at that table as long as you want.
If you do find an interesting place when you get to the true historic center and you want to linger at an outside table for half an hour and watch the world go by, there is nothing wrong with spending an extra couple of euros to do that. Behind the counter, by law, they have to post the price of the coffee at the bar, and at a table. You can look before you decide. Depending on location, it might only cost 2-3 extra euros, but will give you a place for people watching, catching the sun, and a place to sit down and spread your map, and make your plans. It's a personal choice.
In sum, if you just need your morning coffee, go anywhere. To see historical Rome you'll have to leave your neighborhood, you just have to make a decision where to have your roman breakfast.
#276
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 63
1. G Rough is in an excellent location. The St. Regis is in a terrible location, a 20-30 minute walk to anywhere you might want to go. You'll always be using cabs. Like Boscolo Exedra, it's in a terrible location near Piazza della Republica and the train station. These are the least desirable places to be. The only place that rivals St. Regis and Boscolo for terrible location is staying at Piazza Barberini, but at least Barberini has the saving grace of not being near the train station.
St. Regis and Boscolo are great hotels, if staying in a hotel outside of the main area and having a big American breakfast is what you are going to Rome for, but not so good if you are going to Rome to see the historic, beautiful, and romanticRome. G-Rough is much better situated, and more economical. Unlike Boscolo, St. Regis, Barberini, when you go downstairs you won't need a cab to go anywhere because you'll already be there, in the heart of the historic center.
2. Palazzo Navona and G-Rough are right next to one another, so it's dealers choice. Both are optimally situated.
3. ?Hotel Artemide. It's further from the train station than the St. Regis or Boscolo, which is good. Still, it's not at the heart of things. Via Nazionale is a very commercial street, with cheap clothing stores, lots of buses, noise, traffic, etc. You are not going to want to wander outside and sit outdoors at a coffee shop, because you'd be on a major, noisy street, with horns honking, buses going by, etc, not on a historic, cobble stoned plaza. That area of Rome, Boscolo, St. Regis, Artemide, is not the part of Rome that people have in mind when they think of a postcard from Rome.
4. Manfredi is not too far north. You'd be less than five minute walk to the Spanish Steps. Via Babuino is a very upscale street. Not exactly a romantic street, but still one of the better ones. This is an excellent location.
The only ones that are not well located that you mention are St. Regis and Artemide. Take TripAdvisor with a huge grain of salt. The others are all well located. The only time you want to be near the train station is if you are arriving to downtown Rome at 10 at night and have to catch a 7AM train out.
The only time you want to stay near Piazza della Republica (St. Regis, Boscolo Exedra) is if you are going to Rome for a business meeting and don't care about the ambience of the city, if you plan to not leave your hotel, or want to be in and out of cabs to get anywhere interesting.
St. Regis and Boscolo are great hotels, if staying in a hotel outside of the main area and having a big American breakfast is what you are going to Rome for, but not so good if you are going to Rome to see the historic, beautiful, and romanticRome. G-Rough is much better situated, and more economical. Unlike Boscolo, St. Regis, Barberini, when you go downstairs you won't need a cab to go anywhere because you'll already be there, in the heart of the historic center.
2. Palazzo Navona and G-Rough are right next to one another, so it's dealers choice. Both are optimally situated.
3. ?Hotel Artemide. It's further from the train station than the St. Regis or Boscolo, which is good. Still, it's not at the heart of things. Via Nazionale is a very commercial street, with cheap clothing stores, lots of buses, noise, traffic, etc. You are not going to want to wander outside and sit outdoors at a coffee shop, because you'd be on a major, noisy street, with horns honking, buses going by, etc, not on a historic, cobble stoned plaza. That area of Rome, Boscolo, St. Regis, Artemide, is not the part of Rome that people have in mind when they think of a postcard from Rome.
4. Manfredi is not too far north. You'd be less than five minute walk to the Spanish Steps. Via Babuino is a very upscale street. Not exactly a romantic street, but still one of the better ones. This is an excellent location.
The only ones that are not well located that you mention are St. Regis and Artemide. Take TripAdvisor with a huge grain of salt. The others are all well located. The only time you want to be near the train station is if you are arriving to downtown Rome at 10 at night and have to catch a 7AM train out.
The only time you want to stay near Piazza della Republica (St. Regis, Boscolo Exedra) is if you are going to Rome for a business meeting and don't care about the ambience of the city, if you plan to not leave your hotel, or want to be in and out of cabs to get anywhere interesting.
Any tips about the immediate area around G-Rough/Navona? We plan to venture to various attractions, but I'm betting if we are tired after venturing out, we may end up hanging close by the hotel for a little bit.
#277
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy




Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 27,009
Perche, are you familiar with LA Residenza on Via Emilia? We have stayed there a few times and thought it was quite nice. We haven't been to Rome in several years but did enjoy our last stay. We were fortunate in that our room came with a very large private terrace where we would drink wine and eat local delicacies..Quiet street yet easy walk to borghese gardens, Spanish Steps. Actually walked just about everywhere including Vatican. Breakfast is really fine
We have recommended this to friends and family all of whom enjoyed their stay
We have recommended this to friends and family all of whom enjoyed their stay
#278
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 63
I know you addressed Perche, but since I'm interested in staying in a good spot, I'm going to chime in.
Looks like La Residenza is in the area of Manfredi - north of Pantheon. Also La Residenza has more competitive rates for our dates.
Is there more to do closer (walkable) in this area? Is there more accessible true Roman (less touristy) style restaurants?
Looks like La Residenza is in the area of Manfredi - north of Pantheon. Also La Residenza has more competitive rates for our dates.
Is there more to do closer (walkable) in this area? Is there more accessible true Roman (less touristy) style restaurants?
#279
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy




Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 27,009
I know you addressed Perche, but since I'm interested in staying in a good spot, I'm going to chime in.
Looks like La Residenza is in the area of Manfredi - north of Pantheon. Also La Residenza has more competitive rates for our dates.
Is there more to do closer (walkable) in this area? Is there more accessible true Roman (less touristy) style restaurants?
Looks like La Residenza is in the area of Manfredi - north of Pantheon. Also La Residenza has more competitive rates for our dates.
Is there more to do closer (walkable) in this area? Is there more accessible true Roman (less touristy) style restaurants?
I don't recall when you are going, but surely worth asking if the room with the large terrace is available. I think the location is just about perfect. Quiet street, small hotel, good service, reasonable rates and walking distance to best shopping and food.
#280
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 522
I ended up booking at the Boscolo Exedra. Wanted to stay more central as was advised many times, but just couldn't pass up free stay on Marriott Awards. I'll spend the extra cash on having some fun.
Question. This stay does not include breakfast. Can someone recommend a decent place to have some breakfast around this hotel besides the hotel itself?
Question. This stay does not include breakfast. Can someone recommend a decent place to have some breakfast around this hotel besides the hotel itself?
This link will bring you right to his post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...l#post27517451
#282
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
I am always curious why properties advertise themselves as being steps away from a major tourist site, in the same way that all hotels in Venice say they are minutes away from San Marco and Rialto.
This property is just a little shorter walk to the Spanish Steps than it is to Piazza Navona, and or the Pantheon. They are all less than a ten minute walk. Walking to the Spanish Steps from there will have you going down Via Condotti, Rome's most luxurious shopping street. There is a great restaurant a few minutes walk away, called Il Moro.
#284




Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 165
amyers: I just saw a FTer post about this Boscolo on the St. Regis Rome thread in the SPG forum. He's there right now and says it's "a wonderful hotel". Thought you may want to PM him with questions you might have about your upcoming stay, or maybe you might post a follow up question to his post. His FT name is abk.
This link will bring you right to his post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...l#post27517451
This link will bring you right to his post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...l#post27517451
#285
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,404
As suggested earlier and in the Suggestion Box, I have merged several related threads into a master thread for "Where to stay in Rome".
If anyone knows of other threads which could be merged into a master thread please click the red 'Alert a moderator to this post' button or send a PM to let me (and other senior moderators) know.
Thanks.
NewbieRunner
Senior moderator
If anyone knows of other threads which could be merged into a master thread please click the red 'Alert a moderator to this post' button or send a PM to let me (and other senior moderators) know.
Thanks.
NewbieRunner
Senior moderator




