If your ideal Italy holiday includes dramatic coastlines, long boat rides and luxurious villages, consider choosing Amalfi Coast as your destination.
Location – With close proximity to major attractions, this area provides the ideal accommodation in Italy for families with young children, solo travel, and elderly travelers alike. Walking is minimalized here as well as accessing Rome’s best-connected metro lines: Termini station.
Centro Storico
For visitors wanting a convenient walking tour of Rome’s top attractions – such as the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia and Trevi Fountain (legend has it that tossing a coin in will ensure your return visit). Plus it makes shopping much simpler by looking out for alleyways off main streets!
As Rome’s main Metro station is situated in Centro Storico, staying nearby will make traveling around easier. Nerva Boutique Hotel provides family-friendly master suites as well as single rooms featuring pops of color for easy stay amidst modern decor – only minutes away from Pantheon and Spanish Steps, as well as within easy walking distance from both Colosseum and Forum.
Trastevere is Rome’s go-to area for foodies looking for authentic restaurant options that have local approval, where there’s less chance of falling victim to tourist traps with “tourist menu” dishes. Try Tavernetta 29 or Nannarella for authentic Roman cuisine!
Centro Storico may not be as central, but this area remains within walking distance to most of Rome’s top attractions – including the Colosseum. You’re also close to Termini train station, making a trip into Vatican City an easy journey. Or take an easy and fast 20-minute metro ride from either Colosseo or Cavour stops on Linea B to reach it directly!
Trastevere
Trastevere is one of Rome’s vibrant neighbourhoods and hosts some of the best things to do in Italy. A maze of alleyways between elegantly crumbling ochre buildings and grand sprawling piazzas provides ample opportunity for exploring Rome like a local. Trastevere’s long and distinguished history lends character, while numerous cafes, restaurants, and bars can keep the party going until morning!
Though not as tourist-heavy as Rome’s historic center, there are still a range of hotels within close proximity of top sights without overwhelming crowds. Our favourite hotel here is Hassler; established in 1947 and offering such unique comfort you might even feel as though you are sleeping next to someone from its glorious past! There is a selection of rooms here with panoramic views being particularly delightful.
Nerva Boutique Hotel is another fantastic option, perfect for families or solo travellers looking for fun accommodations on Via del Babuino – an ideal spot for shopping and dining in Trastevere. The rooms here feature pops of vibrant color that welcome the entire family while offering family-friendly master suites.
Staying in Trastevere makes it easy to see why so many iconic Italian quotes mention La Bella Vita! Enjoy wandering its charming streets, joining locals for aperitivos in small piazzas, and taking in all this delightful atmosphere. Plus if you want to explore more of Rome there are tours which run throughout Trastevere as well!
Spagna
Start off your trip to Italy right by staying in Rome’s best neighborhood (Piazza di Spagna). This vibrant square and its surrounding streets are filled with attractions that range from the famed Spanish Steps to Keats and Shelley House Museum; making this location one you won’t forget anytime soon!
The Spanish Steps, so called after their proximity to Spain’s Embassy among the Holy See, are a must-see attraction in Rome for many tourists. Boasting striking urban Baroque architecture, these stairs lead up to Trinita dei Monti Church – making this site an excellent opportunity for tourists looking to live out their Roman Holiday dreams!
Via Condotti is Rome’s fashion shopping epicenter, lined with luxury stores like Prada, Valentino and Gucci. Here you will find everything from high street favorites such as H&M to designer brands such as Prada. Valentino and Gucci.
From Rome Airport, Piazza di Spagna can be easily accessed by taking the Leonardo Express train to Termini Station and then changing onto Metro Line A, heading toward Battistini. This will drop you right at its doorstep – bus services also run to this area of Rome but walking is always your best bet for reaching this historic square.
One of the advantages of living here is being close to many of Rome’s attractions – Vatican is two stops away and Colosseum 15-minute ride. Hotels range in price from budget options up to luxury properties; Hotel Art By Piazza di Spagna provides apartments starting at EUR150 per night.
Prati
Prati may fly under the radar when it comes to tourists’ attention, but it is one of Rome’s finest luxury stays for visitors seeking an immersive experience. Conveniently close to Vatican City and all its main attractions – making Prati an excellent option for visitors interested in staying near all that Rome has to offer without needing taxis or metro rides – yet also relatively peaceful, Prati offers families looking for peace and quiet an alternative option in one of Rome’s bustling areas.
Prati is one of Rome’s upscale neighborhoods, featuring wide roads that follow an orderly urban plan stretching from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Tiber River. Prati boasts plenty of upper-class apartments – some from Fascist times while others built in Rococo style – like my elementary school on Via Montezebio.
Prati’s wide streets come alive at night with al fresco wine bars, chic cocktail lounges and sophisticated restaurants offering gourmet cuisine. Additionally, Prati is an excellent place for local shopping with numerous boutiques and artisanal markets offering all sorts of brands and merchandise for sale.
Mercato della Vittoria is one of the city’s premier grocery markets and was one of the first neighborhoods to welcome outdoor cafes (now ubiquitous throughout Rome!). Residents enjoy shopping there for groceries and exploring one of Rome’s first outdoor cafes (now common across most neighborhoods!).
If you choose Prati as your location for travel, Imago Artis Travel has several tours designed to expose its hidden treasures. One tour, in particular, showcases some of Prati’s Belle Epoque villas and stately buildings boasting Liberty Style architecture–an Italian take on Art Nouveau–while taking guests past some of Rome’s most breathtaking monuments.
Testaccio
Testaccio offers an authentic local experience, full of family-run osterie and pizzerie off the beaten path as well as an incredible food market where you can source ingredients for dinner or lunch.
This area was initially constructed for industrial and slaughterhouse workers. Today, many of its residents, known as veri testaccini, are direct descendants of these original residents and live within an organized grid of homes, shops, and schools that still functions more like an extended village than an urban hub.
At the heart of Testaccio is an expansive public market where locals shop. Packed with stalls offering everything from produce and meat to lingerie and cleaning supplies, you can reach this market easily by taking Bus 170 from Termini Station and getting off at “Branca.” From there it’s approximately 20-minutes walk to reach Testaccio district center.
Testaccio offers many wonderful attractions, but one of its must-dos is visiting its melancholic and beautiful Protestant cemetery, Keats and Shelley are both interred here, creating an idyllic landscape to visit and relax in.
Testaccio offers many exciting activities, and one popular one is climbing the remains of ancient Rome’s defensive wall, situated behind Pyramid Cestius. This free activity offers breathtaking views of this grand pyramid! Additionally, visit Museo della Via Ostiense located in a former post office for artifacts found nearby.
