In our guide to cheap hotels in Rome, most of our hotel picks are located right in the center of the city. Here are some of our favorite budget hotels in Rome with impressive locations:

Hanging out at the Hotel Smeraldo.

Hotel Smeraldo
Campo de’ Fiori
Doubles: From €78

Another pick in the historic center near the Campo de’ Fiori, the three-star Hotel Smeraldo offers bright and cheerful rooms, free Wi-Fi, spacious bathrooms and a peaceful roof terrace with views of Rome’s historical architecture.

Cheapos take note: The Smeraldo includes an expansive Italian continental breakfast (fruits, meats, cheeses, breads, croissants, juices and coffee) in the room rate.

Hotel Mimosa
Piazza Navona
Doubles: From €69

The one-star Hotel Mimosa may be a simple place, but it offers budget travelers a clean home base steps from some of Rome’s most famous squares. The Mimosa places you one block south of the Pantheon, just minutes from Piazza Navona, five minutes from Campo de’ Fiori, and a 15 minute-walk to the Spanish Steps.

While rooms don’t offer TV, the Mimosa does provide free Wi-Fi, a basic breakfast and air conditioning.

Look out over Trastevere at the Hotel San Francesco.

Hotel San Francesco
Trastevere
Doubles: from €67

Located across the river in the hopping Trastevere neighborhood, the Hotel San Francesco is a comfortable and reasonably priced three-star hotel. While the San Francesco is located near some of Rome’s best bars and restaurants, it’s still a couple of blocks removed from the “main scene,” which keeps things quiet. The hotel may be across the river from most of the city’s most famous sights, but it’s still a surprisingly quick walk over to the Campo de’ Fiori, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Piazza Navona — even the Vatican is only about a 30-minute walk (and what a walk!).

The hotel itself, once a seminary, now sports a Mediterranean vibe, and offers comfortable and clean rooms, a picturesque courtyard and a rooftop terrace. Wi-Fi and an expansive breakfast are included in the room rate.

Guest House Trastevere
Trastevere
Doubles: From €77

Also located in Trastevere, the Guest House Trastevere is a budget-friendly bed and breakfast with a cheerful, make-yourself-at-home atmosphere. From here its a short walk to major sights like Saint Peter’s Basilica, Santa Mara in Trastevere Church,  Campo de’ Fiori and many other central spots.

The Guest House Trastevere features only four rooms, which allows guests to get to know the owners and learn about local life in Rome. Wi-Fi and breakfast are included in the room rate.

More hotel suggestions: Looking for more hotel suggestions? Stop by our Rome guide for a complete list of our editor’s picks.

The post Rome: 4 cheap hotel locations that will make you scream “Ciao Bella!” appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Ah, yes. Shopping at these markets is a real Roman rite of passage and the perfect chance to get a glimpse of real Italian culture. Once you step inside (or rather, outside), it’s a maze of tents and booths with vendors shouting “Un euro!” and begging for your business.

But you have to be smart. It takes guts and skill to master the art of picking out the perfect fruit and haggling the price down. I’ve come up with some tips to help you smooth over the transition from shopping at a supermarket to the mercato all’aperto in order to help you get started.

1.  Browse before you buy

Before I buy anything, I take out my list to see what exactly I need to buy and then I browse the tents to get an idea of who’s offering what. In other words, don’t buy the first thing you see. Not all vendors have the same prices. In fact, you may find a few with prices much cheaper than their competitors.

2. Bring lots of change (or small bills)

Many of the items on your list could cost less than a euro or two, which means you’ll need lots of change, or spicci (or small bills at least). Don’t even think about walking into a mercato and trying to pay with a €50 bill. They will definitely turn you away.

3. Make it your lunch spot

If you’re smart, your trip to the mercato could also turn into a cheap lunch spot. For example, if you head over to the Fornaio or the Panificio (the bakery stand), grab yourself a slice of pizza. Or if you feel like making yourself a sandwich, ask for a rosette or a ciabatta, two common sandwich breads. (You can even ask them to cut it open for you.)

After you’ve grabbed yourself some bread, head over to the stand where they sell cold cuts and cheese and ask for “un etto di prosciutto” (100 grams of Italian ham). If that’s too much, you might ask for “cinquanta grammi di prosciutto” or “mezzo etto di prosciutto” (50 grams of Italian ham).

4. Know what’s in season

Be informed as to which fruits and veggies are in season before you buy. Though you may see vendors selling produce that’s not in season, it won’t taste as good as fruits and veggies in season. Here are some of the most popular fruits and vegetables that you will find in Italy and when they’re in season:

Asparagus (asparagi): March – June
Eggplant (melanzane): July – October
Figs (fichi): July – September
Oranges (arance): January – May and November – December
Squash/Pumpkin (zucca): September – November
Watermelon (angurie): July – August

For a comprehensive list of produce and their seasons, check out this food calendar for vegetables and this calendar for fruit.

Where to go shopping

The two most popular mercati all’aperto in Rome are the Mercato Trionfale and the Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori.

Mercato Trionfale
Via Andrea Doria (corner of Via Tunisi) – Vatican/Prati area
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The Mercato Trionfale is the largest outdoor market in Rome—and one of the largest in Italy. It has over 250 booths specializing in fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, bread, pizza, clothes, toiletries and more.

Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori

Piazza Campo de’ Fiori
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori is much smaller than the Mercato Trionfale, but it’s just as famous because of its picturesque square and its close proximity to everything in the historic center. The market features a few produce stands, spices, fish and flowers.

The post Tips for exploring Rome’s outdoor markets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are four of my favorite spots for people watching in Rome.

The Spanish Steps

Taking its name because of the Spanish ambassador who once lived here, the steps leading up from Piazza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti church are ideal for taking a rest after a day’s shopping in the nearand all those fabulous tourists and Romans—go by.

Piazza Trilussa

Just over the Ponte Sisto bridge in Trastevere is Piazza Trilussa. This is a lively piazza full of young Romans who congregate till the early hours. On any given evening you could witness anything from an impromptu guitar concert, locals crooning old Calabrian tunes from a bygone era, or see some breakout flamenco dancing. Keep an eye out for the regular, and very amusing exploits, of Indian magician “Guarda”. Cheapo tip: There’s a small ice cream parlor just off Piazza v.Pallotti where you can grab a few cold bottles of beer for just €1.50 before heading for the piazza.

Campo de’Fiori

With a host of fun restaurants and wines bars circling the piazza, this is another ideal spot for watching Romans in their natural environment. Come late into the evening and the place has a more lively frenetic energy to it which can border on the chaotic. On occasion, it’s not for the fainthearted. Cheapo tip: Head for La Vineria (Campo de’ Fiori, 15) for a perfect ringside seat and great, inexpensive wine by the glass.

Isola Tiberina

At sundown, the Tiber Island is a fantastic place for an easy stroll and a good bout of people watching. It’s a wonderfully relaxed and laid back environment. There’s an outdoor cinema,  and loads of vendors selling all manner of delicious foods.  Choose from all manner of bars, grab a drink, and then pop a squat on a cozy sofa—or in the case of one bar—a bed! It’s accessible from Ponte Fabricio. Cheapo tip: The cocktails around here can be on the expensive side. Buy a couple of bottles at a local shop beforehand.

The post Rome Tip: Find the best (free!) people watching in town appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.