WHY ROME? 

 

Rome is the heart of Italy. Start here.

Check out the Travel Honey ROME PHOTO GALLERY.

View the ITALY COUNTRY OVERVIEW for everything else.

WHERE TO STAY IN ROME?

In addition to the awesome recommendations in the Travel Honey itineraries, we’ve listed a few additional places to stay in Rome that we love.

*Get the key to $, $$, $$$ and $$$$ in the Travel Honey Pricing Guide.

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Rome neighborhood map and Rome, Italy map

In Centro Storico. The bustling historic center and home to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain (we’re also including Campo Di Fiori).

Babuino 181 ($$$$) Muted, unfussy style in an amazing location.

G Rough ($$$$) Chic, hip and filled with vintage Italian furniture.

Casa Dei Coronari ($$$) Rustic ambiance with clean and minimalist rooms.

Navona Queen ($$$) Stellar roof terrace with big, regal rooms.

Down Town Spagna ($$) Small, hidden gem with big personality and great value.

In Trastevere. A bohemian, hipster neighborhood popular amongst local young professionals with few hotels but good AirBnB options.

Garden Scarpetta ($$$) Homey retreat with a private garden (can sleep 4).

Donna Camilla Savelli ($$$) Former monastery turned elegant hotel.

Il Boom ($$) Big, breezy rooms with fun décor and fabulous value.

In Forum/Colosseum/Monti/Aventino. These areas are generally pretty touristy and lacking accommodations, so seek out options in the hip Monti neighborhood or the Aventino if you want quiet/secluded/great views.

Fifteen Keys ($$$) Tidy, refined and has the best toiletries.

Pepoli 9 ($$$) Contemporary, playful design and super friendly staff.

You could also consider the wide calm boulevards of Prati, a white collar suburb with some affordable hotels, if you want to be close to the Vatican. If you have a little more time in Rome, you could also consider options in Villa Borghese Flaminio and Parioli to the north, which is are elegant, high end, residential neighborhoods.

If you’re trying to save money and you don’t have a lot of time, there’s also the areas around Stazione Termini, including Esquilino and Tiburtino.  The benefits are that you can find some amazing deals, it’s easy to get to from the airport and an easy hub for using public transportation and some areas are close to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. The downside is that it’s not as beautiful or charming as the neighborhoods listed above.  Also, do a street view of any potential hotel, so you can see what the area directly around the hotel looks like (you should actually do that with every hotel!)

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Vatican and the Pantheon in Rome 

WHERE TO EAT IN ROME?

There is so much good food in Rome in every price range that it’s hard to justify spending the big bucks on Michelin star quality restaurants.  So we’ve included mostly low key eats and a couple top spots.

*Get the key to $, $$, $$$ and $$$$ in the Travel Honey Pricing Guide.

In Centro Storico. This area is home to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Campo Di Fiori are located.

Imago ($$$$) Michelin stars with a view of the Spanish Steps. Although all the tables have a view, ask for a table at a window for the best view.

Collinee Miliane ($$) Family owned favorite since 1931 and THE place to go for homemade pasta.

Retro Bottega ($$) Just North of the Pantheon, Retrobottega is a hip, casual new restaurant with extremely inventive dishes, no reservations, communal seating and an open kitchen.

Caffe Colbert ($$) If you find yourself hungry while visiting the Villa Medici, try Colbert, which offers tasty Roman dishes with a French twist, stunning décor and spectacular view of Rome. It’s only open until 7pm, so best for lunch or late afternoon snack.  It’s on the second floor but it can be hard to find, so just ask.

Come Il Latte Gelateria ($) High quality ingredients for the best gelato in Rome.

Forno Campo di Fiori ($) A popular bakery in Campo de Fiori with spectacular baked goods and pizza that you pay for by the kilo.

Barnum Cafe ($) Cool spot in Campo Di Fiori for espresso during the day and crafty cocktails at night.

In Vatican/Prati.

Il Sorpasso ($$) A casual, fun, local favorite with a good wine selection and a modern twist on Roman favorites.

Trapizzino ($) A new pub steps from the Vatican, offers 20 draft brews on tap. Delicious snacks from are available next door.

In Trastevere.

Spirito DiVino ($$$) A family run gem with a cavernous wine cellar that dates back to 80 BC. Focus is on local and fresh ingredients.

Vizi Capitali ($$) Modern décor and tasty Italian seafood.

La Tavernaccia ($$) Opened in 1968, this local favorite is a bit of a hike if you’re not staying in Trastevere, but the mix of Roman and Umbrian fare, including fresh pasta, is worth the trek.

In Forum/Colosseum/Monti/Aventino.

Aroma ($$$$) Michelin starred restaurant and a spectacular view of the Colosseum.

In Pigneto.

La Santeria Pizzicheria ($$) Great break from traditional Italian. The bistro serves creative tapas and has good wines in stylish vintage décor.

In Termini Station.

Mercato Centrale ($) If you arrive to the station hungry, this is the best spot for local, fresh, affordable food cooked right in front of you.

WHERE TO GO AT NIGHT IN ROME?

There are a million nightlife options in Rome. Start early and finish late.

Co.So. Cocktails & Social ($$) Sip on cocktails in a trendy neighborhood known for Rome’s hottest nightlife.

Salotto 42 ($$) Great music and big selection of gin based cocktails. Start your evening here.

8 Millimetre ($$) Incredible drinks and the friendliest barmen. Lots of hipsters.

Black Market Monti ($) Funky bar with live music, good wine, beer and cocktail selection. Snacks and bar-type food is also available.

BEST INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR ROME?

Instagrammers of Rome @Igersoma

Photographer and creative @Giuliopugliese

The city of Rome @Roma

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Rome Skyline; Forum in Rome

HOW TO GET TO ROME?

If you’re coming from the U.S., you’re likely flying into Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (also called Fiumicino), which is 18 miles west of Rome.

HOW TO GET AROUND ROME?

  • You can’t flag a taxi, there are set taxi stands in Rome and sometimes, depending on where you are, they can be hard to find. If you call a taxi, the meter starts from wherever the taxi is sent from. It is a stupid system, because the cab arrives with extra time already running but this is Rome and so that is how it works.
  • Uber is different in Italy, they only offer Uber Black, which are the higher end cars. Ubers are sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive than taxis, so ask a taxi the cost and then compare it to the cost on Uber. Note that you’ll need to use cellular data to use Uber while in Rome. There are have been recent taxi strikes related to Uber, so do your research right before you leave.
  •  Order your taxi with one tap, track your driver’s arrival in real time and cover your fare with or without cash. You can use this app in 45 cities.