The 30 best Hotels with charm in Rome

About Rome

Do you want to spend a Roman vacation just like Audrey Hepburn or Gregory Peck? Take a ride on a Vespa through the streets of the eternal city, have a delicious Italian ice cream, put your hand in the mouth of truth or throw a coin into the Fontana di Trevi? It couldn't be easier because, you know, all roads lead to Rome. So, jump on the plane and come live your own movie vacation.

Moving around

The bus network in Rome is good but there's always the problem of traffic, very intense in the Italian capital. Night buses run from 00:00h until 05:30h. Rome has two subway lines, A and B, which converge in Termini station. There's also the option of taking the tram. Anyway, the best choice is to walk around and make the most of the city, getting to know the neighborhoods and little winding streets so you get the chance to see the monuments of this open air museum at your own pace.

Out & About

What they say about Rome it's completely true, it's an open air museum. The center is full of truly spectacular squares, monuments or fountains. In Piazza Navona, always full of life, they used to celebrate sports events. If you want to come back to Rome, you'll have to throw a coin with your back to the fountain into the Fontana di Trevi, two if you want to make a wish. Piazza Campo dei Fiori it's a food market in the morning and it's surrounded by plenty of bars, vintage shops or workshops. The Foro was the social and political center of the ancient Rome and the bloody games of the Gladiators took place in the Colosseo. As Audrey Hepburn checks in the movie, it's said that the Bocca della Verità bit the hand of those who lied. The beautiful Piazza di Spagna, called like that because the Spanish embassy used to be there, gets even more beautiful when all the flowers that adorn it bloom. The Trastevere, with its many narrow and winding streets, it's one of the most charming zones of the city and the perfect place to eat something and have a drink. We could go on and on talking about all there is to see in Rome but we think that it's better if you come and find it out for yourself.

What's going on in

January 6th: in Italy, the Befana witch is the one in charge of giving out the coal to the kids who haven't behaved themselves through the year. April 21st: it's the biggest celebration in Rome. It's the anniversary of the new birth of the city. This day a great fireworks show.takes place May 1st: a great rock concert takes place in Piazza Porta di San Giovanni. Roma Fashion Week. In July, it gathers the best designers. The same month, the Festa de'Noantri takes place in the Trastevere where you can enjoy music and food. In August 15th, known as Ferragosto, almost everything is closed.

Shopping

There are several shopping zones in Rome. In the outlet Discount dell'Alta Moda, you'll find all kinds of haute couture boutiques like Armani or Versace at lower prices. In Via Condotti, the most glamorous Street in town, you'll find Gucci or Prada amongst other designer stores. Via Margutta has become the designer center of Rome. It's hardly surprising that, over the years, artists like Picasso or Fellini lived or found inspiration in this corner of the city. Via del Corso it's the commercial street of the city. Porta Portese is a market that takes place on Sundays in the Trastevere. It's the most typical market in town and there you'll find everything, from antiques to fake goods. The market of Campo dei Fiori is full of colors thanks to its fruit and vegetable stands.

What's cooking?

A noi ce piace da magnà e beve!, that is, Romans love to eat and drink. Maybe that's why Roman and Italian food is one of the most famous internationally. The Trastevere is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city and also the perfect place to savor one of the many famous dishes of the Roman gastronomy. In Rome, you can enjoy local products and dishes such as Spaghetti alla carbonara, Gnocchi, Pecorino cheese, mortadela or bresaola. No matter what you eat, you have to taste the delicious Italian ice cream for dessert. Italian tradition says that, before going out, you have to take the aperitivo. It's a little tapa that accompanies a glass of wine and initiates the Roman night. In Italy, there's also a chain of fast food called Spizzico which serves pizza and salads, amongst other things.

Weather

Rome enjoys the Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunny days. The best time to visit the city is during the spring or in autumn, when the temperatures aren't as suffocating because in summer the thermometer can reach 40º and the humidity doesn't help either.

Practical information

The best way to know Rome is to walk around so it's important that the shoes you use are confortable. If you want to visit a museum, you must keep in mind that they're closed on Monday. Even the city hall of Rome warns you to be aware of pickpockets so occhio al portafoglio. European Union citizens only need their identity card to enter the country and citizens from most countries just require a regular visa and the passport.

So...

If you are a night owl, you can enjoy Rome just for you. A night walk around the deserted streets will take you to the first days of this amazing city. There are no words to describe it. Come and enjoy the dolce vitta in this lively city that invites you to get lost in its streets, breath the scent of its flowers or get mixed up with the locals in its squares. It's easy, you just have to keep going tutto dritto and you'll get to the Eternal city.