The Centro Storico is the historical center of Rome, where most of the main points of interest can be found. However, there are 22 different rioni, or districts, of the Eternal City. Several of them can be considered as an amazing choice where to stay during your Roman holiday.

The historical center of Rome and the geographical one are completely different places. Rome is a huge metropolis, the largest city in Italy with a population of about 4 million people. Since 5-6 storey buildings prevail in Rome, the area of the city is huge. The ring road has a diameter of about 20 km, and due to the many narrow streets and relaxed Italians, transport and just everyday chaos reigns in us.

Losses of time in Rome for travel are huge, so it is very important to immediately choose the right strategic location of the hotel to enjoy and fall in love with the Eternal City, walk only by foot, and not waste time, money, nerves in taxis and public transport.

Before every trip, it is important for every traveler to study a map of the city so that when he leaves the hotel he doesn’t find himself at the back of the city. Google maps gives the geographical center of the city near our “beloved” Termini station, but it does not coincide with the historical center.

How to Define The Historical Center

On the map below, I included the main attractions that immediately come to mind. I’m sure even if you’ve never been to Rome, you heard about them in history classes or in films – the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps and other points of interest.

It is worth to mention that most attractions are located in the area of the Pantheon

The Vatican, by the standards of Ancient Rome, is the outskirts, backyards. Therefore, the phrases “We lived right at the Coliseum” or “next to the Vatican” may sound cool when you tell stories to friends, but people who know the city will only politely smile. However, it is still much better than renting a room somewhere on the outskirts of the city where you will always have to take several buses to get to Centro Storico (or even a metro).

Speaking of the subway. The closest stations to the historic center are Barberini (10 minutes walk to the Trevi Fountain), Spagna (Spanish Steps), Colloseo (Colosseum) and Ottaviano (Vatican Museums). Inside the most interesting part of the city, which is huge – there is no metro.

If you decide to stay in the historic center, you will reach most of the main attractions in 10-30 minutes and spend your holidays as efficiently as possible. I recommend you to read our ratings of the best 3 star, 4 star and 5 star hotels in Rome. For budget travelers, there are also many nice options of hostels in the historical center of Rome.

• Watch our video about the main 30 attractions to visit in Rome:

How to Choose a Hotel?

The most important conclusion for you is that the center of Rome is the Pantheon. When choosing a hotel by yourself, simply compare the distance from your address to the Pantheon. Let’s highlight three levels of remoteness:

1. An ideal location of the hotel is the distance to the Pantheon of an about a kilometer, with a walk of no more than 20 minutes by foot. In this case, to see the main attractions, you do not have to use public transport at all
2. If the distance from your hotel to the Pantheon is about 25 to 45 minutes by bus or tram – it is more or less normal, but do not choose the area of Termini Station
3. Travel time, taking into account the trip by bus or metro, is more than an hour – this is absolutely a disaster. Transport in Rome is far from ideal, but rather even terrible. Plus regular traditional strikes, possible disorientation in the Eternal City, lateness, events that cannot be predicted or even imagined – all this will increase the chances of not falling in love with the most beautiful city in the world. Get ready to spend 2 to 4 hours daily for nothing. Do you dream of such a Rome?

Tip: if you are travelling to Rome in the heat of its summer climate it’s difficult to find a hotel with air conditioning- pay attention to this detail when you choose a hotel. Same rule works with winter period, where you always have to pay attention if your hotel has heating

Many travelers try to find a hotel with swimming pool. Of course, there are such options in the Eternal City (usually much more expensive than other hotels), but don’t forget that the closest beach is only in 30 minutes from Rome and there are hundreds of amazing beaches in Italy. Moreover, Rome is about its rich history, food, shopping and culture. You should better choose another city if you want to spend days of your trip laying on the sunbed.

Another peculiar thing is Internet! Even if we live in the 21st century, you should pay attention if there is a free wifi in the hotel or hostel that you choose. Otherwise, there will be an extra charge per day, which is usually not that small.

If you are looking for best bars, night clubs and restaurants, then Trastevere and Testaccio areas are for you! However, even if you are not interested in bars or night clubs, you should definitely visit Trastevere, as the best restaurants are located there and it is one of the most historically rich districts of Rome. On another hand, if you are looking for a romantic weekend, then you should consider to stay in the area of the Aventine hill, since it is very quiet, tranquil and simply beautiful.

If it is your first trip to Rome, choose a hotel in the Centro Storico, so you will be able to access all main monuments and museums by foot.

The peak season for hotel room rates starts from the late May, June, early July, September and October. At this time room rates can be double or more than in the winter months. Trying to find a family room at the peak times is not that easy, unless you book well in advance at these times. The months of May and April (outside Easter) can be a good time to visit with reasonable room rates and comfortable temperatures. Moreover, Rome celebrates its birthday on 21st of April and you should definitely visit the Eternal City during this period to see wonderful shows and events that are held every year!

Book a hotel at least 3-6 months prior to your trip as close to the historical center as possible, so as not to use public transport at all. Wish you to save time, nerves and enjoy the city from the first minutes!