How to choose the right neighborhood in Rome
Moving can be a stressful experience. Moving to Rome? That can be ten times more stressful if you are not properly prepared. There are so many things to take into consideration: the language, legal paperwork, getting a job, and most importantly, finding an apartment.
When moving to a new city, and especially to Rome, one fundamental thing to take into consideration when choosing your dream apartment is simply: “location, location, location”. It can make or break your time in Rome. Each neighbourhood, or rione, comes with a unique personality. Certain areas are more charming than others – but this totally depends on your personality. Luckily, we’re here to provide you with a detailed guide to help you choose where to live in Rome, based on your interest and needs.
Centro Storico
Rent price: Public transportation: Nightlife:
Let’s start with the historic center of Rome. This neighbourhood includes the Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Campo Marzio and Pantheon. It is truly the heart of ancient Rome. You’ll find plenty of medieval cobblestone streets, charming cafes, elegant palaces, musicians, and street artists. It’s a lovely area for strolling, relaxing, and enjoying La Dolce Vita. Unfortunately, this area is also known for having high prices and loud tourists. Oh, and because of the narrow cobblestone streets, it’s impossible to own a car here. Fear not – many people have a more practical solution: scooters and Vespas.
Roma Centro Storico looks ancient from the outside, but inside, the apartments are gloriously modern. You’ll find that many of the accomodations have balconies with superb views, conveniently located only twenty meters from any cafe, bar, boutique, or restaurant. It’s a photographer’s dream, crammed with Rome’s most famous classical sights.
There are buses as well as metro stops such as Popolo, Spagna and Barberini.
Testaccio/Ostiense
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Dear foodies, you have found your home. Testaccio is located south-east of the Vatican, home to the popular market and hangout, Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio, and filled with all sorts of hipster vibes and graffiti. Another pro? It is very close to many forms of public transportation.
Testaccio is great for: twenty somethings, young families, hipsters, vegans, and artists. That being said, at night, the area can be very lively. Read: loud! People in this area know how to have fun. Especially in the nearby Ostiense neighbourhood filled with restaurants and bars.
Because the area is slightly removed from the Centro Storico, rates should be cheaper. That being said, it is very easy to hop on a train, tram, bus, or metro form the Piramide station, and get to any other spot in Rome within a matter of minutes.
Monti
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Monti is the largest and most up-and-coming neighborhood in Rome these days. That being said, it is also very safe. Monti, meaning mountains, is named after the three hills which it is built upon: Quirinale, Viminale and Esquilino.
This rione is for those who have a bit more money to spend. Think of it as the underground London of Rome – a secret club for only the coolest, richest, and most fashionable of people. Or so they like to think. It’s for families with money, self starters, and singles in their thirties. It’s also home to some of the most chic bars, speakeasy’s, and clubs in Rome.
In Monti there is the metro Cavour, and the Colosseum metro stop, and the Termini train station is walking distance.
Trastevere
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Trastevere is one of the more touristy and well-known places in Rome. That being said, it certainly has just as many pros as it does cons.
The pros include convenience. Anything and everything you will ever need is just footsteps away: restaurants, grocery stores, bars, gelaterie, churches, tram stops, etc. It is incredibly picturesque, so for those looking build a photography portfolio, every corner is filled with opportunity, from red vespas to pink Fiat 500’s and balconies overflowing with flowers. Better yet, it is a wonderful location for John Cabot University students as well as for American University of Rome students. The area is very welcoming of diversity and is well known for having the largest immigrant population in all of Rome.
However, one of the most common complaints is that Trastevere has become a sell out for tourists. You can’t go ten steps without being offered a selfie stick. Each place serves the same pizza and pasta (hey, I’m not complaining…). Oh, and study abroad students are very loud in the middle of the night.
There are no metro stops here, there are buses and trams. However, many streets in Trastevere are so narrow that it is almost impossible to even take a taxi!
Prati
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North of the Vatican lies Rione Prati. This is a middle-class suburb with an abundance of office buildings,which mixes tidy business buildings with hotels, restaurants, and high end shops. You’ll also find a smattering of very well dressed business-y men and women in this area.
While Prati is removed from the city center, the nearby Lepanto and Ottaviano metro stops make transportation easy. In addition, it’s not hard to find a luxury apartment on Nestpick for a low price.
EUR
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Situated in southern Rome, EUR is the perfect neighbourhood for those searching for green parks, lots of shops, beautiful Fascist-style architecture and excellent transportation. If you’re working for international companies and banks such as Procter & Gamble or UniCredit, EUR is the ideal neighbourhood as its offices are located in this area.
It’s not a chaotic area, it’s mostly tranquil and has a lovely artificial lake perfect for strolling during the day. Ostia is also a short drive away for those wanting to head to the sea. It’s also well connected to the city center with its abundance of buses and two metro stops (Fermi and Palasport). EUR is great for families and people working for companies in the area. While there are a few nightclubs and bars, this area isn’t the best for nightlife.
Cassia/Ponte Milvio
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Cassia and Ponte Milvio are situated in northern Rome and are just a 5-minute drive from one another. Via Cassia is mostly residential with its tree-lined street, abundance of buildings with large terraces and compounds, and many international schools including American Overseas School of Rome, St. George and Institute Saint- Dominique. It’s also full of embassies and it’s the ideal neighbourhood for families. The downside of Cassia is that it’s not well-connected to the city center and requires you to take your own transportation, or to depend on buses (there are no metro stops).
While nightlife in the Cassia neighbourhood is lacking, just a 5-minute drive away awaits you one of the local nightlife hotspots: Ponte Milvio. Ponte Milvio is a great neighbourhood for couples, families and young people who have their personal transportation. It’s great for nightlife and packed with restaurants, bars and shops.
Pigneto / San Lorenzo
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The Pigneto and San Lorenzo area is often described as the most artsy, bohemian, and funky area in Rome. You will find graffiti, old train tracks, and bargains. To the unconditioned, the area can feel unsafe, but it is actually pretty safe. Of course, practice caution and use common sense. Don’t walk down dark alleys alone at night.
This area is perfect for students, especially those who attend La Sapienza University in Rome. To locals, the Pigneto and San Lorenzo areas are well loved for their lively nightlife, thrift stores, cafes, and wine bars.
Appio / San Giovanni
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This area has a lot of variety. Some parts (along the Metro line) are very congested, while others are more shopping oriented and still others are very residential. Overall it is well-lit. It is removed from the city center as well, making the prices for accommodation lower. That being said, if you stay near the Metro line (A), you can easily access the Roma Centro Storico from here.
The Appio / San Giovanni area is also home to plenty of excellent restaurants, many of which are part of the Slow Food and Kilometer 0 movements. It is a great area for those looking to save money, start a family, and those who want to be closer to open space and parks, instead of crammed in Rome’s tiny apartments.
Piazza Bologna
With Sapienza University nearby, the Nomentano neighbourhood is the perfect area for students to find affordable apartments. Thanks to the metro, tram and regular buses to Villa Ada, Villa Borghese, Barberini, Termini and San Lorenzo, it’s a well connected area of Rome.
This neighbourhood is perfect for those that enjoy staying in a humble and thriving social area with less tourists and plenty of authentic restaurants and cocktails bars where locals like to hang out. It’s a residential area with a friendly and sociable vibe. There are also some beautiful parks such as Villa Torlonia for walks.
Click to check out how to find an apartment in Rome
Click to check our Rome neighbourhoods’ guide
This is all great info! I would love to someday move out of the country, and Rome is definitely top of the list!
Great Post!
amazing, thank you!