Central Hotel in Rome - Where to stay in Rome's Historic Center

Looking for a central hotel in Rome? 

Figuring out where to stay in Rome's Centro Storico, or Historic Center, can be daunting.

Don't worry, that's what we're here for!

Central Hotel in Rome - our picks for every area of downtown Rome

Where is the best hotel location in Rome?

Obviously this can be subjective, but on general, you'll probably want to look for hotels in Rome city centre.

So what, exactly does that mean?

Where to Stay in Rome's Historic Center

I think the most popular request is for where to stay in Rome that's “central”.

This covers a pretty large area and set of neighborhoods.

I'd consider a neighborhood to be in "central Rome" if you can walk easily to at least two major sights. 

On this page, we'll cover:

• What exactly is the historic center of Rome?
• Hotels near Barberini/Via Veneto/Trevi Fountain
• Hotels near Spanish Steps/Piazza del Popolo
• Hotels near Pantheon/Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori/Jewish Ghetto
• Hotels in Trastevere
• Tips for choosing the best hotel in Rome for you

What is the historic center (centro storico) of Rome?

Rome's Historic Center, Centro Storico, refers to those 22 areas (called rioni) enclosed between the Aurelian walls and the Gianicolense walls.

The word rione derives from the Latin word regiones, which were subdivisions first defined by Roman king Servius Tullius, around the 6th century BCE.

They were originally four.

They have evolved and grown since then and today there are 22.

Some neighborhoods you know today, such as the Jewish Ghetto and the Vatican, may include parts of various Rioni.

Rome's center itself is made up of lots of neighborhoods that vary quite a bit from each other, even in a 2-block area.

On this page, we'll describe the most central Rome neighborhoods briefly, and offer our top suggestions for Rome city centre hotels in each of these areas.

The below neighborhood descriptions were written by Rome native Alessandro. 

Piazza Barberini/Via Veneto/Trevi Fountain

PIAZZA BARBERINI

Piazza Barberini is in the heart of the historic center of the capital, in the Trevi district.

It's perfectly located at the bottom of the famed via Veneto and at the top of the well-known via del Tritone, which leads directly to via del Corso, the nerve center of city shopping.

Barberini has its own Metro stop, and the Trevi Fountain is just a few minutes' walk away.

This combination of factors makes Piazza Barberini one of the best locations for staying in a central hotel in Rome.

The piazza owes its name to nearby Palazzo Barberini.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near Piazza Barberini include:

• Aleph Rome Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton 5* luxury hotel
• Hotel Barocco or Hotel Barberini 4* hotels
• Hotel Cortina 3*
• Trinity Rooms guesthouse
• Parisii Luxury Relais Rome B&B

VIA VENETO

Famous around the world as a symbol of the dolce vita, via Veneto still dominates the “Olympus of architectural pearls”, a rare example of historic buildings, today home to prestigious luxury hotels.

Via Veneto harks to an era of glamour that no longer exists, once THE place to see and be seen in Rome.

While strolling along this broad, sweeping boulevard, you may still come across a few elegant landmarks, those frequented in the 1960s by movie stars and prying paparazzi.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome on or near Via Veneto include:

• Baglioni Hotel Regina “The Leading Hotels of the World” 5* luxury hotel
• Hotel degli Artisti or Grand Hotel Flora by Marriott 4* hotels
• Hotel Modigliani or The Radical 3* hotels
• Via Veneto Prestige Rooms guesthouse
• Residenza Monfy B&B

TREVI FOUNTAIN

This small but iconic area of Rome's historic center is most famous for its eponymous fountain.

It also has a particular character, which tries to resist the advance of a frenetic (and inevitable) loss of the "slow-motion" rhythm of life that once was part of Romans' DNA.

Marked by its narrow cobblestone streets filled with ice cream shops, trattorias, and throngs of people, the Trevi neighborhood has its own unique feel and charm, almost as if you are in a village of Rome rather than Rome city center.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near Trevi Fountain include:

• Harry's Bar Trevi Hotel & Restaurant 5* luxury hotel
• The Talent Hotel or Rome Style Hotel 4* hotels
• Trevi Beau Hotel or Charme Spagna Boutique Hotel 3*
• FourHeads Private Suites or Terrazza Marco Antonio guesthouse
• Cenci B&B

Spanish Steps/Piazza del Popolo

The Spanish Steps/Piazza del Popolo area is one of the most central places to stay in Rome.

(It also falls into the "luxury neighborhood" category.)

Both the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo have a convenient Metro stop, and can also be easily-reached by the Barberini Metro. 

PIAZZA DI SPAGNA/SPANISH STEPS

This piazza takes its name from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, located just a few meters/feet from the bottom of the famous steps.

In the center of the square, at the foot of the 135-step staircase, you can spot the fountain known as the Barcaccia, designed by Pietro Bernini and his more famous son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

The name of the fountain derives from the boats that used to ship wine from the port of Ripetta.

Staying in the Spanish Steps area puts you smack in the middle of Rome's top shopping district.

Some of the most popular city shopping streets include Via dei Condotti, Via Frattina and Via Borgognona, well known for their exclusive boutiques and antique shops.

And there are plenty of options for places to eat nearby.

A few ideas for a central hotel in Rome at the Spanish Steps include:

• Portrait Roma or Rocco Forte Hotel de la Ville 5* luxury hotels
• Royal Suite Trinità dei Monti or Hotel Dei Borgognoni 4* hotels
• Relais de La Poste or Hotel Scalinata Di Spagna 3* hotels
• Vite Suites Guest House or Mood44 guesthouse
• Piazza di Spagna 9 B&B or Elysium Suites B&B

PIAZZA DEL POPOLO

Located near the northern city gate, Piazza del Popolo was once the entrance to Rome during the Roman Empire.

This piazza is the nexus of an important intersection.

Three arteries branch off from the south of the piazza, forming what is known as the tridente, or trident: Via del Babuino, on the left, Via di Ripetta on the right, and in the center Via del Corso, one of the most popular shopping streets of the city.

In the middle of the piazza, stands the 24-meter tall Egyptian obelisk dedicated to Ramses II, known as the “Flaminio Obelisk”, brought to Rome by Rome's first emperor, Augustus.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near Piazza del Popolo include:

• Rocco Forte Hotel De Russie or Hotel Locarno 5* luxury hotels
• River Palace Hotel 4* hotel
• Boutique Hotel Anahi 3* hotel
• Residenza Canova Tadolini Luxury Rooms & Suites guesthouse
• Poēsis Experience Hotel guesthouse
• Domus Piazza del Popolo B&B

Pantheon/Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori/Jewish Ghetto

The neighborhoods of Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, and Jewish Ghetto are not all the same, obviously.

You can stay in any one of them and be a stone's throw from another.

They are all in a small congested area right in the heart of Rome.

And yet they all have very distinctive neighborhoods and feels. 

PANTHEON

The Pantheon is one of the wonders of Rome's historic city center.

It was built and rebuilt between the 1st and 2nd centuries in Ancient Rome.

The word "pantheon" derives from Greek and means "Temple of all Gods".

Take a stroll around this tortuous and intricate maze of streets and passages, where it’s easy and delectable to get lost, where the most skilled ice cream masters still make “artisanal gelato” full of taste and aroma, or where you can indulge your palate with a strong Italian espresso.

Staying in the Pantheon area guarantees an unparalleled experience, and memories you will hold dear for a lifetime.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near the Pantheon include:

• The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel Autograph by Marriott 5* luxury hotel
• Martius Private Suites Hotel 4* hotel
• Albergo del Senato 3* hotel
• BeigE et BlE' Guest House guesthouse
• Little Queen Pantheon guesthouse
• Lh Royal Suites Terrace B&B

PIAZZA NAVONA

When I look at a map of my city, I rediscover with amazing clarity what exactly Piazza Navona is to Rome - its core, its heart, full of energy and life.

Located in Campo Marzio, where the Roman legionaries trained, this spot was chosen as the site of Domitian’s Stadium to host races and Greek games in honor of Capitoline Jupiter. 

Later it would become the most endearing “parlor” of the Roman Baroque period, the spot where generations of Romans have gathered, strolled, listened to music, or even found the love of their life.

For many, it was their first and last backyard.

Click here to read more about Piazza Navona.

Piazza Navona offers one of the best options for those seeking all the advantages of a central/iconic landmark, but with accessible services and competitive rates.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near/at Piazza Navona include:

• Lifestyle Suites Rome 5* luxury hotel
• Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj or Hotel Lunetta 4* hotels
• Navona Street Hotel 3* hotel
• Florea Palace guesthouse
• Palazzo De Cupis - Suites and View guesthouse
• Rome Visits B&B or Relais Rione Ponte B&B

CAMPO DEI FIORI

History and legend, faith and heresy are intertwined in this famous piazza of Rome.

If you look carefully, you'll find evidence of a city that's changed and evolved over the centuries: once a place for business meetings, a cultural and social hub, a berth for merchants to trade a bit of everything, even a stage of social events attended by nobles and common patrons alike.

Campo de' Fiori had also a dark side, embodied in the bronze statue still standing in the center of it, in memory of the philosopher Giordano Bruno: the piazza in fact became the stage of capital executions and torture during the Inquisition.

Today, Campo de' Fiori is a very popular spot for tourists and Romans alike: it's a daily hangout for thousands of tourists, bustling with a mix of sophisticated restaurants, casual Roman-cuisine trattorias, offhand bars, and shopping for every taste, from the extravagant to the funky to the artisinal.

Wend your way along the tiny streets leading away from the main piazza, and you will find yourself in a Rome neighborhood that feels as if it stepped back in time.

Grandmas sit outside on wooden chairs, wood-working shops and antique sellers abound, and every turn of the corner brings a surprise.

When the sun goes down, Campo de Fiori comes to life - the perfect setting for those looking for fun and ambiance.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near Campo de Fiori include:

• Hotel Indigo Rome - St. George 5* luxury hotel
• DOM Hotel Roma - Preferred Hotels & Resorts 5* luxury Hotel
• Hotel De Ricci 4* hotel
• Hotel Damaso 3* hotel
• Lh Royal Suites Terrace guesthouse
• Giubbonari Suites guesthouse
• Navona Queen Rooftop B&B

JEWISH GHETTO

The Ghetto is a small district of Rome whose borders were marked in the 16th century by a papal decree, within which all Roman Jews were forced to live.

Over time much of this area was demolished, but there are still some remnants that can be visited with a suggestive walk through narrow streets and small piazzas of uncommon architectural beauty.

On this terrain, emperors, patrons, patricians, and nobles of Rome raised buildings of various types and functions.

In the Middle Ages it hosted the most important fish market in Rome.

Today the neighborhood is important not only as the focal point of the Jewish community of Rome, but it has also become a crossroad for thousands of Romans, thanks to its distinctive shops, sophisticated vintage boutiques, wine-bars, and above all, restaurants.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome near/at Jewish Ghetto include:

• The Rooms of Rome - Palazzo Rhinoceros 5* luxury hotel
• HT6 Hotel Roma or Chapter Roma 4* hotels
• Navona Essence Hotel 3* hotel
• Argentina Style View guesthouse
• Vittoriano Luxury Suites guesthouse
• NEMAN Maison Experience B&B
• Temple View B&B

Trastevere

I know I know, Trastevere is on the top of most blogs about where to stay in Rome.

I love Trastevere, and I don't even mean from a touristic point of view.

It's a really fascinating, historic neighborhood with a lot to see and do. 

Trastevere also has a high concentration of wonderful places to eat and drink.

As places to stay in Rome go, Trastevere is pretty particular.

I think this is a great area of Rome to stay in if you've been to Rome before, if you prefer something a little off the beaten track, and/or, if you are looking specifically for quaint/cute/old-world-feeling.

Our picks for a central hotel in Rome in Trastevere include:

• Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá - 5* luxury with pool
• VOI Donna Camilla Savelli 4* hotel (this is where I'd stay!)
• Horti 14 Borgo 4* hotel
• Hotel la Rovere 4* hotel
• Hotel Santa Maria - superior 3* hotel with garden
• Tolomeo B&B
• Trastevere Luxury Design Apartment - 6 people

Central Hotel in Rome - What Matters Most to You?

During the 18 years we ran our B&B in Rome, people asked us often about following factors.

So, on this page we based our suggestions for where to stay in a central hotel in Rome on these criteria:

• How easy is it to get to the major sites?
• How noisy is it?
• How close is it to public transportation?
  
• Are there good restaurant and eating options nearby?
• How safe is it?
• We were asked often if we had rooms with a view. We did not. While it's not actually that easy to find rooms with a view in Rome (until we get into expensive territory), some of the places we suggest do have options for a room with a view. You may find it's easier to find a hotel with a common roof or terrace where you can enjoy a view than finding a specific room that has a nice view.
  

Booking.com

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