How to choose the right neighborhood in Rome
Moving can be a stressful experience. Moving to Rome even more so if you’re not prepared. There’s the language, legal paperwork, finding a job, and, most importantly, securing the right apartment. In Rome, it truly is location, location, location: the neighborhood you choose can make or break your time here. Each rione has its own personality; some feel postcard-pretty, others more local and lived-in. What’s “best” really depends on your lifestyle.
Whether you’re planning a short stay or relocating as an expat, this guide compares Rome’s most popular areas with a clear look at pros & cons, transport, rent levels, safety, and overall vibe, so you can match your interests and needs to the right neighborhood. Use the quick comparison table for a fast scan, then dive into the detailed cards to find your fit.
Quick comparison (at a glance)
| Area | Ideal for | Pros | Cons | Transport | Rent | Nightlife |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro Storico | First-timers, short stays | Walk to top sights, postcard streets | Premium prices, tourist noise | Walk + buses | €€€€–€€€€€ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Monti | Young pros, couples | Central, indie shops, Metro B | Pricey, weekend noise | B (Cavour/Colosseo) | €€€€ | ★★★★☆ |
| Trastevere | Nightlife & charm | Character, food, Tram 8 | Crowds, limited metro | Tram 8 + buses | €€€€ | ★★★★☆ |
| Prati | Families, quieter central | Safe, elegant, Metro A | Calmer nights, pricier | A (Ottaviano/Lepanto) | €€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Testaccio & Ostiense | Foodies, locals | Markets, trains, value | Some gritty blocks | B (Piramide) + trains | €€€ | ★★★★☆ |
| Aventino | Families, calm | Leafy, serene, central-adjacent | Limited nightlife | B (Circo Massimo) | €€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Monteverde | Families, green space | Villa Pamphilj, local vibe | Fewer metro stops | Tram 8 + buses | €€–€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flaminio & Parioli | Upscale expats | Parks, culture | Higher prices | A (Flaminio) + trams | €€€€–€€€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Trieste–Salario (Coppedè) | Long-term expats | Residential, elegant | Limited nightlife hubs | B1 (Sant’Agnese/Annibaliano) | €€€–€€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Garbatella | Locals | Character, Metro B, value | Mixed housing stock | B (Garbatella) | €€–€€€ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Esquilino | Students/budget | Multicultural, central | Busy near Termini | A/B (Termini/Vittorio) | €€–€€€ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Pigneto & San Lorenzo | Students, creatives | Affordable; bars & live music; vibrant street life | Late-night noise; more urban edges | C (Pigneto) + trams; B via Termini/Tiburtina | €€ | ★★★★☆ |
| Appio–San Giovanni | Families, value | Metro A/C, shopping | Traffic corridors | A/C (San Giovanni) | €€–€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Piazza Bologna (Nomentano) | Students, staff | Metro B, universities | Less “postcard” | B (Bologna) | €€–€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Balduina/Trionfale | Families | Residential, markets | Hilly, quieter nights | FM3 + buses; A (Cipro) | €€–€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| EUR | Business expats | Offices, parks, larger flats | Farther from old center | B (EUR Fermi/Palasport) | €€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cassia / Ponte Milvio | Families, intl schools | Space, clubs, embassies | Car helpful | Buses; ring road | €€–€€€ | ★★☆☆☆ |
How to use this guide
- Short-stay visitors: start with Where to stay, then scan the neighborhood cards below.
- Expats / long-term: dive into Where to live and read the detailed neighborhood cards with Pros/Cons/Transport/Rent/Nightlife.
- See our Rome neighborhoods guide and How to find an apartment for deeper planning.
Where to stay in Rome (short-term)
For first-timers, you can’t go wrong with Centro Storico, Monti, or Prati. All central, walkable, and well-connected. Prefer nightlife and a distinct Roman vibe? Trastevere and Testaccio/Ostiense deliver personality and great food. On a quieter, upscale note, Aventino offers serenity a stroll from the center.
- Best for first time: Centro Storico, Monti, Prati
- Best for nightlife: Trastevere, Testaccio/Ostiense, Pigneto/San Lorenzo
- Best for families (central): Prati, Aventino
- Best value near center: Testaccio/Ostiense, Esquilino
Where to live in Rome (expats/long-term)
If you’re moving to Rome, think beyond postcard streets. Consider commute, schools, noise, green space and budget.
- Family-friendly & green: Monteverde, Trieste–Salario, Balduina/Trionfale, Prati, Aventino
- Young professionals: Monti, Trastevere (quieter backstreets), Testaccio/Ostiense, Garbatella
- Students: Piazza Bologna (Nomentano), San Lorenzo, Pigneto
- Corporate/business: EUR, Prati
- International schools & space: Cassia / Ponte Milvio; consider Balduina/Trionfale too
Rome neighborhoods A–Z
Centro Storico (Historic Center)
Vibe: Iconic and walkable; your “postcard Rome.”
Pros: Steps from major sights; endless cafés; beautiful streets.
Cons: Premium rents; tourist crowds; weekend noise.
Transport: Walking + buses; Metro A/B on the perimeter (Spagna/Barberini/Flaminio).
Rent: €€€€–€€€€€ • Nightlife: ★★★☆☆ • Good for: first-timers, short stays, photography lovers.
Rome’s postcard core: walk to landmarks, cafés, and boutiques in minutes. Perfect for first-timers and short stays who want maximum charm and minimal commuting. Expect premium rents, tourist traffic, and weekend noise. Quiet side streets and upper floors help. Long-term expats tend to prefer nearby, calmer residential districts, but for a few months (or a splurge), Centro Storico is unbeatable for pure convenience and atmosphere.
Testaccio & Ostiense
Vibe: Foodie heartland with authentic local life.
Pros: Markets, trattorie and street-food; Metro B + train links; good value vs center.
Cons: Some grittier blocks; nightlife streets can be noisy.
Transport: B (Piramide) + Ostiense rail hub, trams and buses.
Rent: €€€ • Nightlife: ★★★★☆ • Good for: food lovers, creatives.
Rome’s foodie heartbeat: markets, bakeries, traditional trattorie, plus street art and former warehouses in Ostiense. Well connected via Metro B and trains, with better value than ultra-central areas. Some blocks feel gritty and nightlife streets can be noisy, but it’s a fantastic base for people who care about food, authenticity, and transport.
Monti
Vibe: Creative and central; indie shops, wine bars, Roman heritage.
Pros: Metro B; chic bars; boutique streets; walk to Colosseum/Termini.
Cons: Pricey for long-term; lively on weekends.
Transport: B (Cavour/Colosseo); Termini within walking distance.
Rent: €€€€ • Nightlife: ★★★★☆ • Good for: young professionals, couples.
Bohemian-meets-historic, with indie shops, wine bars, and artisan studios between the Colosseum and Termini. Central and lively without feeling tacky. Prices are high for long stays and weekends can be busy, but quieter backstreets (Via Urbana area) work well for expats. Excellent for couples and young professionals who want character and convenience in equal measure.
Trastevere
Vibe: Cobblestones, ivy-draped façades, buzzing evenings.
Pros: Character; restaurants; riverside walks; great for student life.
Cons: Crowds; limited metro; some streets very narrow (taxis struggle).
Transport: Tram 8 + buses.
Rent: €€€€ • Nightlife: ★★★★☆ • Good for: nightlife, lively ambience.
Cobblestone alleys, ivy-clad façades, and a true Roman vibe. By day it’s picturesque; by night it buzzes with trattorie and bars. Limited metro access and evening crowds mean you’ll want a quieter lane or higher floor for long stays. Great for visitors who want atmosphere and for expats who enjoy nightlife and local street life.
Prati
Vibe: Elegant, safe, residential near the Vatican.
Pros: Wide avenues; shopping; Metro A; calmer nights.
Cons: Less nightlife; higher rents.
Transport: A (Ottaviano/Lepanto).
Rent: €€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: families, professionals.
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.
EUR
Vibe: Modernist business district with parks and lake.
Pros: Offices of major companies; larger apartments; parking; family-friendly parks.
Cons: Farther from historic center at night/weekends.
Transport: B (EUR Fermi/Palasport).
Rent: €€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: corporate expats, families who value space.
Modernist business district with parks, lake, and larger apartments. Popular with corporate expats and families who want space, parking, and calmer evenings. Farther from the historic center for nightlife or late dinners, but Metro B and road links are strong. Expect solid buildings, services, and a more contemporary feel than the historic core.
Cassia/Ponte Milvio
Vibe: Residential north side with embassies and sports clubs.
Pros: Larger flats/terraces; proximity to international schools (AOSR, St George, etc.); lively restaurants in Ponte Milvio.
Cons: Car helpful; bus reliance; traffic at peaks.
Transport: Buses + ring road; Metro A reachable from nearby zones.
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ (Ponte Milvio itself ★★★☆☆) • Good for: families.
Residential north side with embassies, sports clubs, and bigger homes. Ponte Milvio itself is lively with restaurants; Cassia offers space and access to international schools. A car helps; buses and the ring road do the heavy lifting. Great for families who value room to breathe more than instant access to the historic center.
Pigneto / San Lorenzo
Vibe: Artsy, student-friendly, alternative nightlife.
Pros: Bars, live music, thrift stores; value rents.
Cons: Late-night noise; more urban edges.
Transport: Trams + buses; Metro B accessible from San Lorenzo side via Termini area.
Rent: €€ • Nightlife: ★★★★☆ • Good for: students, creatives.
Artsy, student-friendly, and affordable by Rome standards. Bars, live music, thrift stores, and street life define both areas, great for creatives and students. Expect late-night noise and a more urban edge. Pigneto now has Metro C; San Lorenzo relies on tram/bus and proximity to Termini/Tiburtina.
Appio / San Giovanni
Vibe: Big-city convenience, strong transport, local shopping.
Pros: Metro A/C; value vs center; great food (including Slow Food spots).
Cons: Traffic on main corridors; less “storybook” charm.
Transport: A/C (San Giovanni).
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: families, commuters.
Urban and practical, anchored by Via Appia Nuova and the A–C interchange at San Giovanni. You get good value vs the historic center, strong day-to-day services and retail. Main avenues are traffic-heavy and less “postcard,” but quieter side streets offer solid, family-friendly homes.
Piazza Bologna (Nomentano)
Vibe: Practical, university-oriented, well connected.
Pros: Metro B; near Sapienza; services and parks (Villa Torlonia).
Cons: Less “postcard Rome.”
Transport: B (Bologna).
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: students, researchers.
Practical, university-oriented, and well connected via Metro B. Close to Sapienza and good for students, researchers, and staff who want everyday convenience over scenery. Solid value, parks like Villa Torlonia nearby, and plenty of services; limited “wow” factor compared to the center.
Aventino
Vibe: Leafy hilltop overlooking Circus Maximus; serene and elegant.
Pros: Quiet streets; quick reach to center; green corners.
Cons: Limited nightlife; smaller rental market.
Transport: B (Circo Massimo) + buses.
Rent: €€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: families, couples seeking calm.
Leafy, serene hilltop above Circus Maximus with a discreet, upscale vibe. Close to the center yet wonderfully calm, with small parks and beautiful streets. Limited nightlife and a smaller rental market, but excellent for families and couples who want peace without being isolated.
Monteverde
Vibe: Residential with Rome’s best park access.
Pros: Villa Doria Pamphilj; local cafés; good value pockets; community feel.
Cons: Fewer metro stops; rely on tram/bus.
Transport: Tram 8 + buses to Trastevere/center.
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: families, runners, dog owners.
Residential comfort and Rome’s best park access at Villa Doria Pamphilj. Local cafés and a family vibe. No metro, expect slightly longer journeys by bus/taxi. Close to the Gianicolo viewpoints and near several American universities (e.g., AUR, JCU). Great for families, runners, and anyone who prioritizes greenery.
Flaminio & Parioli
Vibe: Culture and class—MAXXI, Auditorium, Villa Borghese edges.
Pros: Parks; good schools; elegant buildings; quiet streets.
Cons: Higher prices; calmer after dark.
Transport: A (Flaminio) + trams/buses.
Rent: €€€€–€€€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: executives, families.
Culture and class: MAXXI, Auditorium, and Villa Borghese edges meet elegant residential streets. Quiet after dark, excellent schools and parks, and higher prices. Well suited to executives and families seeking refined living with quick access to the center by Metro A and trams.
Trieste–Salario
Vibe: Stylish residential area with unique art-nouveau corners.
Pros: Solid services; B1 metro; quieter vibe; handsome architecture.
Cons: Nightlife limited to a few hubs.
Transport: B1 (Sant’Agnese/Annibaliano).
Rent: €€€–€€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: longer-term expats.
Stylish residential district with art-nouveau gems and solid services. Quieter than trendier cores, with B1 metro access and good day-to-day convenience. Nightlife is limited to a few pockets, but for longer stays it delivers comfort, architecture, and a stable rental market.
Garbatella
Vibe: Historic garden suburb with strong community character.
Pros: Distinctive courtyards; Metro B; good value.
Cons: Housing stock mixed; aesthetic varies street to street.
Transport: B (Garbatella).
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★★☆☆ • Good for: young locals, creatives.
Historic garden-suburb feel with strong community character and quick Metro B access. Distinctive courtyards and local trattorie make it charming and more affordable than many central districts. Housing stock varies street to street; scout the exact block.
Esquilino
Vibe: Multicultural and central with big-city convenience.
Pros: Value near center; large market; transport hub proximity.
Cons: Busy around Termini; mixed building quality.
Transport: A/B (Termini) + A (Vittorio Emanuele).
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★★☆☆ • Good for: students, budget-minded.
Multicultural, central, and practical, close to Termini and markets. Good value near the center but expect bustle and varied building quality. Choose carefully: quieter side streets can be a sweet spot for students and budget-minded expats who want connections over charm.
Balduina / Trionfale
Vibe: Residential hill north of Vatican with local markets and views.
Pros: Quieter streets; Mercato Trionfale; family-friendly.
Cons: Hilly; nightlife sparse; more bus reliance.
Transport: FM3 + buses; A (Cipro) nearby for parts of Trionfale.
Rent: €€–€€€ • Nightlife: ★★☆☆☆ • Good for: families.
Residential hill north of the Vatican with local markets, views, and a calmer pace. Family-friendly and good value relative to central hotspots. Hilly terrain and fewer nightlife spots; transit relies on buses and the FL3 line (with Metro A reachable from parts of Trionfale).
Click to check out how to find an apartment in Rome
Click to check our Rome neighbourhoods’ guide
FAQ
Central, well-lit districts like Prati, parts of Centro Storico, and Aventino feel very safe; standard big-city precautions still apply.
For families: Prati, Aventino, Monteverde, Trieste–Salario, Balduina/Trionfale. For young professionals: Monti, Trastevere, Testaccio/Ostiense, Garbatella.
Monti, Centro Storico, or Prati—easy sightseeing and transport.
San Lorenzo and Piazza Bologna (Nomentano) for proximity to universities and value.
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!