Rome
What you need to know before you go
At times, Rome feels like the world's biggest open-air museum. Its jaw-dropping historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to ancient architectural icons like the impressively intact Colosseum and the resplendent Roman Forum. Then of course there's St Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church and a preeminent masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture.
But the ostentatious Italian capital is in no way stuck in the past. On the contrary, it's a cosmopolitan modern metropolis, with edgy contemporary galleries, eclectic nightlife and a trailblazing fashion scene. Of course, it's also a gourmand's paradise, where you can feast on crispy wood-fired pizzas and creamy homemade gelato to your heart's content.
Trending now in Rome
Featured stories & fun stuff11 Best Things to Do in Rome
There's no shortage of things to do in Rome, since the city brims with historical and architectural wonders. Few other cities have been able to build around ancient ruins and evocative palaces as successfully as Rome, and you'll find living history pretty much wherever you look. One day isn’t enough to cover it all, but we’ve...10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rome
Here are some things you might not know about Rome, which can add to the fun factor on your visit...10 Best Markets in Rome
Rome is a shopping paradise, with some of its cobblestone streets abuzz with local vendors selling fresh produce, as...6 Things to Do in Rome in Spring
Spring holidays in Rome, roughly around April and May, bring together Easter church services, flowers, and centuries-old traditions....7 Things to Do in Rome in Winter
Street fairs, nativity scenes and festivities dot the calendar on winter holidays in Rome. Book a Rome winter hotel...4 Best Outlet Stores in Rome
The best outlet stores in Rome include dedicated complexes where you can spend a day out on a shopping adventure....
neighborhoods in Rome
Why book with Hotels.com?
Free cancellation
on most hotels*Our price guarantee
find out moreGet a reward night
For every 10 nights you stay
Start planning your trip
More information about Rome
A Rome city break immerses visitors in history and culture. Book a Rome hotel to explore a fabled past and vibrant present of ancient Rome’s ivy-clad ruins, glittering baroque palaces and modern art galleries.
Get your bearings
The River Tiber winds north-south through the western edge of central Rome. St Peter's Basilica and the walled Vatican City look east over the river to Rome's historic center and famous seven hills. Piazza Navona, dramatic Trevi Fountain and landmarks of medieval and baroque Rome are directly across the river. Further east is huge Central Station, while ancient Rome's Colosseum arena and the crumbling palaces of the Palatine Hill are south-east.
Roman dining
Open-air restaurants overlooking Piazza Navona serve iconic Italian dishes from Rome, like creamy spaghetti carbonara and saltimbocca veal. For Roman-style gnocchi dumplings head to a local trattoria restaurant in Trastevere, south of the Vatican. Fried artichokes and other Jewish-Roman recipes are a specialty in the Ghetto district, on the north side of a bend on the River Tiber by Tiberina Island.
Three thousand years of history
Peel back layers of history at every turn on a Rome city break. Visit ancient Rome's birthplace on Palatine Hill, and climb steps designed by Michelangelo from the Capitoline Hill to the ruined temples of the Roman Forum. Streets lined with Renaissance palaces lead north to the historic center and the fountains of Piazza Navona, a former Roman stadium. Christian Rome's focus lies across the River Tiber in the Vatican City, home to the popes, and there are hundreds of churches to explore across central Rome.
Stylish shopping
Fashion-conscious Romans trawl the boutique-lined streets around the Spanish Steps in the east of the historic center. This area is also home to treasure-filled antique shops, while Via Sannio market in the south of the city is the place to source vintage clothing. Food-lovers make a beeline for famous gourmet stores like Castroni, north of Vatican City, and the food market at Campo de' Fiori. The best flea market is held every Sunday morning at Porta Portese in Trastevere, south of the Vatican.
Romance in Rome
Rome is filled with tucked-away places for romantic moments. The streets outside your Rome hotel might lead down to the River Tiber, crossed by ancient bridges like Sant'Angelo, lined with fluttering statues of angels. Catch sunset views from the Pincio Hill terrace across Rome to St Peter's Basilica. Couples cozy up in candlelit restaurants in the center's medieval backstreets, and throw coins in the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to Rome.
Family fun
A Rome city break brings history alive for children. The sheer size of the Colosseum creates a lasting impression, and a trip on the Time Elevator helps make sense of the ruins with a reconstruction of ancient Rome. Exhibits are hands-on at the Explora children's museum, and the nearby Borghese Gardens have a zoo, train and puppet shows.