The Best Hotels in Rome

A seat of learning, culture and artistic grandeur, Rome is a museum without walls. At one point, all roads led to Rome, but even if the Empire is gone the city bears all the hallmarks of its incredible past at the forefront of human civilization. With medieval, Etruscan, baroque and modernist architecture and art all rubbing shoulders, from ruins to relics and the seat of the Catholic Church, this is a place full to the brim with classical lines, priceless artefacts and unforgettable panoramas. Add to that Rome’s culinary excellence and its bustling nightlife and you have one of the great global capitals.

Things to see

Nothing quite blends Rome’s past with its present with as much elegance as the Trevi Fountain. Designed with grandeur in mind, it was completed in 1762 and is a spectacular example of baroque sculpture, complete with its statues of the god Neptune, two Tritons and a horse. Redesigned when the Pope declared that it wasn’t theatrical enough in the 1600s, this fountain has inspired songs and even featured prominently in that masterpiece of Italian cinema, La Dolce Vita. Dating back a little further, to 80 AD in fact, the Colosseum was originally home to the pitched battles of gladiators. These days you can avoid the bloodshed, but are able to tour the arches of this incredible amphitheatre. You can soak up even more ancient Roman grandeur with a trip to another brilliantly preserved reminder of ancient Rome, in the shape of the Pantheon, a domed temple built to honor the city’s former gods in around 118 AD.

Hotels in Rome

This city, being home to centuries of Imperial grandeur, knows a thing or two about luxury. As such, you’ll have no problem finding five-star hotels in Rome, where you can expect complimentary WiFi and flat-screen televisions as standard, but will also encounter a host of more unique treats from the high-end hotels. From rooms with rugs and bedding modelled on the Vatican City’s regal colours to rooftop restaurants, marble fireplaces and period furnishings there’s plenty of glamorous features on offer. The buildings themselves are often works of art, with custom-built chains competing against column-fronted guest houses, tree-lined spas and hilltop Chateaux .

Where to stay

Set among cobbled streets, the neighborhood around the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain is the perfect spot for shopping, with countless couture stores. To the north of the center, Piazza Navona is a brilliant slice of baroque, within close walking distance of the Pantheon and the bustling market square of Campo de Fiori, a perfect place for bargain hunting or watching street performers as you nibble some of the best fruit in the city. For a more historical stay, you might want to head south to the area around the Roman Forum and Colosseum, which is full of ancient ruins and temples.

How to get to

Rome's main airport for international visitors is Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, which is around 30 kilometres out of the center. A direct express train runs into the center of town every 30 minutes, taking around 30 minutes to get you into the heart of the action. There is also a shuttle bus which runs seven times per day. The city's main train station, Stazione Termini, operates rail services to and from a host of European cities and many internal services, and is centrally located. The smaller Ciampino Airport is used by budget airlines, and is around 15 kilometres southeast of the city, with a regular coach service connecting it to central Rome.

When are the best times to travel to Rome?

Visit Rome in the winter months – from November to February, avoiding the Christmas week – and enjoy an abundance of discount hotels. The city relaxes into a peaceful rhythm during this quieter season, perfect if you’re after an easy going city break. Sun seekers who want to explore Rome’s ancient ruins in blazing, honey-like sunshine should travel in the late spring and summer. Early May, just prior to peak season when it’s seriously hot, provides some cheap Rome hotels.

What are the top must-see attractions in Rome?

Rome is renowned for its wealth of ancient heritage sights, such as the mammoth Colosseum – a vast, oval-shaped amphitheatre dating to 80 AD. This immense stone structure of stacked arches once hosted Roman gladiatorial contests. The Pantheon is the next key heritage sight – an ancient temple composed of granite Corinthian columns linking to an airy rotunda, capped with an enormous coffered dome. Finish your history tour at the Roman Forum, a rectangular plaza covered in the travertine stone ruins of ancient governmental buildings.

What are the best types of food and restaurants in Rome?

Rome is the cuisine capital of Italian food, with many authentic, rustic restaurants sprinkled throughout the whole city. Although the central historic area is full of lovely Italian restaurants with atmospheric outdoor seating, to experience truly traditional Italian cooking – and at a lower cost – dine in some of Rome’s residential neighbourhoods, like the Aventino-Testaccio district. Gorge on Rome’s thin crust pizza, fresh pasta dishes and fried rice balls, washing it all down with a glass of local wine. The luxury hotels in Rome, meanwhile, offer fine dining restaurants.

What are the top things to do in Rome?

Spend a morning sipping expresso at one of the quaint cafés along the Piazza Navona, a sweeping square built on the sight of a 1st-century stadium, today crowned by obelisk-speared fountains and surrounded by rich Baroque Roman architecture. Art lovers will want to spend an afternoon strolling around the peaceful, marble-lined corridors of the Borghese Gallery, which houses an array of fine European paintings from masters like Caravaggio and Raphael. Later, venture into the Vatican City, home to the Sistine Chapel, decorated with an epic ceiling mural painted by Michelangelo.

What are some fun facts about Rome?

One of Rome’s nicknames is “The Capital Of The World”, which sounds extravagant, except when you realise that, at its height, the Roman Empire held sway over 21% of the world’s population. Later, Rome was a centre of European activity, too – at one time, its population of over 1 million wasn’t matched by any European city, until London superseded it in the 19th century. Rome doesn’t go big on everything, though – the Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world.

What kinds of public transport are there in Rome?

Rome is rich with easy, extensive and inexpensive public transport. All Rome public transport is run by ATAC, and compromises a network of buses, trams, trolleys, metro lines and light rail, that will take you just about anywhere in the city. All tickets are valid on all forms of public transport – you can buy single journey tickets, day tickets, double-day tickets and monthly passes. Rome is also flush with taxicabs, a quick and convenient way to get around outside of rush hour.