Cheap Hotels in Rome

Cheap areas to stay in Rome

Rome is a city of architectural and culinary riches – but that doesn’t mean it lacks in cheap accommodation. There’s an abundance of no-frills 1- and 2-star hotels gathered around the main Roma Termini train station, in the center. A 15-minute walk southeast of here finds you in the historic Esquilino district – a residential area speckled with historic churches and inexpensive hotels. There’s also a smattering of casual and affordable hotels west of the shimmering River Tiber, in the plaza-studded neighborhood next to the Vatican City.

Cheap hotels in Rome

The Inn at the Spanish Steps is just what you’d expect – a simple, no-frills 2-star hotel based beside Old Rome’s steep stone Spanish Steps. Enjoy free WiFi, guestrooms with exposed roof beams, and a relaxed bar lounge. The Hotel Aquarium is another budget-friendly option – based in Esquilino, this hotel offers spacious ensuite guestrooms, free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk. The Inn Spagna Charming House, meanwhile, is set in a central Old Rome location, and boasts cozy but elegantly-decorated ensuite air-conditioned rooms.

Where to find cheap food in Rome

In the historical central city areas – around the Colosseo district and riverside Renaissance-era Old Rome neighborhood – you’ll find a wealth of cheap, quick, and authentic pizzerias serving thin-crust Roman pizza. There are also plenty of traditional and inexpensive gelaterias here, serving a range of rich and cool multi-flavored gelato ice creams. Outside the center, the Monteverde Vecchio neighborhood offers affordable residential restaurants selling fresh Italian pastas and salads. For a speedy bite, there’s also a gathering of modern fast-food restaurants around Roma Termini.

Cheap things to do in Rome

Rome welcomes urban explorers traveling on a budget, and many of its key architectural sights can be seen for free. Stop by the Pantheon, a former Roman temple-turned-church built around 120 AD. Walk through its Corinthian columned facade and into the cylindrical stone back building, where natural light pours through a smooth hole in the domed ceiling. After, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain for good luck – this Baroque 18th-century stone fountain is fitted with symmetrical rococo horse statues, loomed over by the Greek god Oceanus. For more majestic Rome architecture, visit St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City – a small, sovereign city state west of the shimmering Tiber. This vast 17th-century Italian Renaissance church, capped with an enormous white dome, boasts a lavish cavernous interior cast in marble and gold-leaf decorations.

Cheap ways to get around Rome

The central areas of Rome are remarkably walkable – narrow, labyrinth-like cobbled streets, lined with small cafés and trinket stores, snake between the key Colosseo, Old Rome, and Modern Center areas. Rome also champions an extensive public transport network of buses, trams, and an underground metro line – combined, this network will whirl you almost anywhere you need to go in the city. Save on fares by purchasing single or multi-day passes, which grant access to the whole network.