When I studied abroad in Rome during college, I lived in the neighborhood of Trastevere. I loved it, and many would agree with me when I say that Trastevere is the best neighborhood in Rome. Trastevere, which means beyond the Tiber (river), is a charming and authentic Roman neighborhood filled with history, restaurants, cafes and, of course, gelato! Read through this Trastevere guide to learn how to experience the best neighborhood in Rome, the savvy way.
Where to Stay in Trastevere
It’s a budget-savvy decision to stay in Trastevere* during your trip to Rome! Accommodations in Trastevere tend to be more affordable than places closer to the popular Rome attractions (i.e.: the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain).
Even though it’s more affordable to stay in Trastevere, Rome, tourists are not sacrificing their experience by staying a little further from the tourist traps. Visitors staying in Trastevere will enjoy its quiet and its easily accessibility to areas like Piazza Navona, Campo d’ Fiori, and the Pantheon. While walking between Trastevere and those areas is doable (I did it every day when studying in Rome!), the tram #8 will easily shuttle you between Trastevere and Largo Argentina as well.
When deciding where to stay in Trastevere, you’ve got to consider your needs and priorities. If having the ability to wash your clothes or cook your own meals, or even just having access to a fridge, is important to you, then I recommend renting an apartment. If you’d prefer room service and daily cleaning, time to make your hotel reservation.
Trastevere Airbnbs
Believe it or not, there are over 300 Airbnb apartments for rent in the neighborhood of Trastevere. Many of them advertise an average nightly rate of <$75. Trust me, that’s a great nightly rate for access to a kitchen and washing machine in the best neighborhood in Rome!
Savvy savings: if you are new to Airbnb, you can save $40 off your first home booking through this link*!
While I highly recommend staying in Airbnbs and stayed in one during my last trip to Rome, I recognize that not everyone is comfortable with it. For those who are not interested in renting an apartment through Airbnb, there are several affordable hotel options in Trastevere.
The Best Hotels in Trastevere Rome
There are 15+ hotels in Trastevere, but some of them don’t meet my budget-savvy criteria of being affordable plus having free wifi & decent reviews. It’s really not necessary to spend $100+/night for accommodations in Trastevere. Save your money for pizza, pasta, wine, and gelato by staying at one of these Trastevere hotels that have my savvy stamp of approval!
Hotel Trastevere
Hotel Trastevere* is my top suggestion for an affordable place to stay in Trastevere. Its central location in Piazza di Santa Maria puts guests steps away from numerous restaurants and the Trastevere night life. Guests staying at Hotel Trastevere are also in prime walking distance to many tourist attractions like the Vatican and the Pantheon. Wifi is reliable and free (so important!) and the hotel even offers free breakfast to guests.
Hotel Santa Maria
Hotel Santa Maria* is a hidden gem in Trastevere. This boutique-style hotel is not only affordable, but is also one of the highest-rated Booking.com hotels in Trastevere! There is an on-site bar, an outdoor courtyard (great for enjoying your morning cappuccino!), and even free bikes to borrow. Travelers staying in Trastevere can’t go wrong with the Hotel Santa Maria.
Residenza San Calisto
Residenza San Calisto* is another top choice for affordable accommodations in Trastevere. Amenities include an on-site café, free breakfast, and wifi. The 18th-century building where Residenza San Calisto is located was restored in 2007, resulting in a hotel that guests find stylish and beautiful.
Things to See in Trastevere, Rome
Even though Trestevere’s central location Rome makes it easy to get to most of Rome’s biggest and best tourist attractions, there are several things to see and do in the Trastevere neighborhood itself. Since these attractions are located within the neighborhood, make it a priority to visit these places if you’re staying in Trastevere.
Basilica di Santa Maria
The Basicila di Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the first Christian churches in Rome. Founded in the third century, it maintains in early medieval architecture, even though it’s been through several restorations over the years. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is home to the Madonna della Clemenza (“Icon of the Virgin and Child”) fresco.
The Basilica de Santa Maria is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and admission is free.
Piazza di Santa Maria
The Basilica de Santa Maria is located in the Piazza di Santa Maria. Visitors to Trastevere and to the Basilica di Santa Maria will enjoy spending time in and around the Piazza di Santa Maria. This popular piazza is busy with locals as there are several shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars in the area.
When I lived in Trastevere, one of my favorite things to do was to go to Piazza di Santa Maria to immerse myself in the true Roman culture. I’d grab gelato at the Blue Ice gelateria located in the Piazza di Santa Maria and sit at the fountain in the middle of the square. I loved to people watch while enjoying my gelato and encourage visitors to the Trastevere neighborhood to do the same!
Villa Farnesina
This Trastevere mansion was built in the 1500s by a banker, Agostino Chigi, who wanted to display his wealth and prestige. Chigi hired well-known painter and architect, Baldassarre Peruzzi, to design and plan what is now known as Villa Farnesina. Peruzzi brought in several other well-known artists to paint frescos throughout the villa. The most popular artist whose work is displayed in Villa Fanesina is Raphael.
Art-appreciating visitors to Trastevere should plan to tour Villa Farnesina to see the work done by Raphael, Peruzzi, and others. Villa Farnesina is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Adult admission is 10€ and includes an audio tour. On Saturdays, there is a guided tour (in English!) that takes place at 10:00 a.m. and costs 12€.
Piazza di San Cosimato
Piazza di San Cosimato is a small square in Trastevere. Frequented by locals, it’s hard to find tourists there. When I lived in Trastevere, I walked through this square daily, and loved how authentic it was since it was not overrun by tourists.
The open-air Trastevere market is set up Monday through Saturday in Piazza di San Cosimato. The market is primarily filled with fresh fruits and vegetables for locals to purchase ingredients for dinner that night. There’s even a small children’s playground in the square, which is not something you can find closer to the center of Rome, where the main tourist attractions are located.
As with any piazza, it’s free to visit and is accessible 24/7. However, Piazza di San Cosimato doesn’t have very lively nightlife, so I don’t recommend visiting after dark.
Trastevere Restaurants
Your money is going to go further in Trastevere, since the area is not geared towards tourists. Restaurants in Trastevere are no exception. Some of the best pizza, pasta, and vino can be found in Trastevere and at a more affordable price than what can be found at the restaurants near the center of Rome. Below are a few of my favorite budget-friendly places to eat in Trastevere.
Related: I recommend this authentic Rome food guide for the best places to eat throughout the city!
La Renella Forno
The best pizza by the slice in Trastevere can be found at La Renella Forna. This bakery has been in business since 1870, so you know it’s good! La Renalla Forna is a great place to stop for a quick slice of wood-fired pizza at lunchtime.
Dar Poeta
For a sit-down dining experience at a pizzeria, plan to visit Dar Poeta. This adorable restaurant has both pizza and pasta (basically everything you could want in Rome!) at an unbeatable price that’s perfect for my savvy readers. While Dar Poeta is small, it has indoor and outdoor seating, so it’s fun to sit outside when weather permits.
Pro tip: the pizza you order in restaurants won’t be cut into slices, so you will have to use a knife to cut it yourself! Also, since the pizza in Rome has thin crust, most people enjoy a pizza to themselves without judgement.
Ristorante L’Archetto II
My absolute favorite restaurant in all of Rome is Ristorante L’Archetto II in Trastevere. It is located within steps of Piazza di San Cosimato and I seek it out every time I visit Rome.
Ristorante L’Archetto II is as authentic as Italian restaurants get, and it’s extremely popular among locals. The food is delicious, not to mention affordable, plus the house vino is amazing (and only about 5€ for a bottle!). Be sure to order their bruschetta—it complements the vino incredibly well.
I hope you can now understand why I consider Trastevere the best neighborhood in Rome. I also hope you will consider staying in or at least spending quality time in Trastevere during your upcoming travels to the eternal city.
Traveling to Rome? Be sure to check out my ultimate Rome Travel Guide for the Savvy Traveler and Rome to Siena Day Trip post!
Cheers!
*This is an affiliate link so I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.
I love Trastevere! We stayed next to the Campo di Fiori but I really enjoyed exploring Trastevere, I think I’ll stay there next time to try something new.
Campo di Fiori is a great choice! I’ve stayed in that area a couple times after studying abroad but still consider Trastevere a great option too!
I’ve only been to Rome once and have been dying to go back! Note to self, Trastevere is where it’s at! Thanks for the list, pinning for future reference 🙂
Yes, Trastevere is definitely a great neighborhood in Rome that a lot of visitors don’t even realize exists!
Omg Trastevere is so cool! And Rome is just amazing. I’m dying to go back again.
I am glad you are in agreement! I can’t wait to go back myself – I can never get too much of Rome!
Sounds great. Will be doing Rome soon and will check this instead of the crowded places there.
Great! Be sure to eat at L’archetto II when in Trastevere!