The best area to stay in Rome for a first visit
Stay in the historic centre, between the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, and most of Rome is a short walk away. How the main areas compare.
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Rome as we know it
Guides to staying, walking, eating and drinking in the historic centre of Rome, written from Campo Marzio and checked regularly.
Trastevere or the centro storico: where to stay in Rome
The centro storico puts the sights on your doorstep; Trastevere is livelier at night. A plain comparison of the two.
Three days in Rome on foot, from the historic centre
A three-day walking itinerary from a base in the historic centre: the centre itself, the Vatican, and ancient Rome.
Beyond the famous sights in Rome's historic centre
The Ara Pacis, the Mausoleum of Augustus and the three churches where Caravaggio's paintings still hang where he intended. All within a short walk.
A walk from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps
A short walk through the most elegant corner of the historic centre: an Egyptian obelisk, the artists' street of Via Margutta and the Spanish Steps.
Where to stay in Rome for restaurants and nightlife
The areas of Rome with the best restaurants and bars within walking distance, and which of them still let you sleep.
Where locals eat in Rome's historic centre
Eight restaurants in the historic centre where Romans still eat, what to order, and four simple rules for avoiding tourist traps.
Aperitivo and wine in Rome's historic centre
Wine bars, hotel bars and rooftop terraces for an early evening drink in the historic centre, and what to order when you get there.
The best coffee and gelato near the Pantheon
The historic coffee bars and gelaterie within a few minutes of the Pantheon, and how to order at each.
Food markets in central Rome, for when you have a kitchen
The food markets within reach of the historic centre, what is in season, and what to bring home to an apartment kitchen.
Rome's historic centre at night: is it safe, and what is open?
The historic centre is safe and lively in the evening. What to see after dark, how to get home, and the few things to watch for.
A luxury apartment or a boutique hotel in Rome: how to choose
When a luxury apartment in central Rome is the better choice than a boutique hotel, and when it is not. An honest comparison.
Arriving in Rome's historic centre: airport, taxi and driving rules
How to reach the historic centre from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports and Termini station, and why you should not drive into the ZTL.