Stay near Rome’s top attractions in clean, welcoming hotels that fit well within a tight budget. Just steps from some of the best spots in Rome, these hotels provide a comfortable home-base for Cheapos to retire to after long days of sight-seeing and exploring.

Budget hotels near Rome’s top attractions

Below are some of our favorite affordable hotels in Rome located near the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s and more. For more options, be sure to check out our entire list of budget hotels in Rome.

Related:
• 25 Free things to see and do in Rome
• 10 Easy ways to save on your next trip to Rome

Hotel Paba is just down the street from the Colosseum.

Near the Colosseum

Hotel Paba

Via Cavour 266
Neighborhood: Monti
Doubles starting at $80

You might not believe us when we say that you could have free breakfast delivered to your room every morning, plus amenities like air conditioning, TV, a kettle and free Wi-Fi — and perhaps even a balcony for a reasonable rate! Welcome to Hotel Paba. Add the sweet proprietor, Alberta, and a location just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum, and you’ll be downright astonished.

Hotel Paba offers a great location, top-notch amenities and the family treatment to Cheapo guests. Read our full review here.

Relax in a modern room for a good price at Hotel Navona.

Near the Pantheon

Hotel Navona

Via Dei Sediari 8
Neighborhood: Pantheon-Piazza Navona
Doubles starting at $80

Wood-beam ceilings and exposed brick walls bring charm to Hotel Navona, one of the most centrally-located hotels in the city. Economy rooms offer a comfortable and clean cheapo stay, while those who are looking to splurge can upgrade to larger rooms.

Some rooms have balconies for those who want to watch pedestrians along the quiet Via Dei Sediari. When you want to check out the ancient Pantheon, it’s just a 3-minute walk away. Read more about Hotel Navona here.

We love the charming rooms at Hotel Boccacio.

Near the Spanish Steps

Hotel Boccaccio

Via Del Boccaccio 25
Neighborhood: Piazza di Spagna
Doubles starting at $83

If you’re looking for a family-run establishment on a quiet and charming cobblestone street near the Spanish Steps, look no further than the Hotel Boccaccio. The caring owner, Patty, takes great care of her guests and her hotel, making the Boccaccio one of our favorite hotels in Rome.

Antique furnishings and high ceilings bring elegance to the rooms, and the shared balcony is a great place to make friends with your fellow guests. Read the full review of Hotel Boccaccio here.

Spend a perfect morning in the lush breakfast garden at Hotel Modigliani.

Near the Trevi Fountain

Hotel Modigliani

Via Della Purificazione 42
Neighborhood: Piazza di Spagna
Doubles starting at $113

With a lovely garden, a lounge space for film screenings and a basement bar, the three-star Hotel Modigliani provides more than the average list of amenities in a prime location near the Trevi Fountain. The hotel walls are decorated with framed photographs taken by none other than the owner and former guests, meaning you can leave your mark on this hotel by sending in your own artistic shots of Rome.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Read more about Hotel Modigliani or book a room here.

More Rome budget hotel options

Looking for a hotel near an attraction not listed here? Search our comprehensive list of hotels by Roman landmark.

The post Our favorite budget hotels near Rome’s top attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.

As the saying goes, when it rains it pours and the last place you want to be when traveling is stuck outside in the rain. When it’s raining like mad in Rome, you don’t want to be hanging out in the middle of the Roman forum, as there’s nowhere to take cover.

Never fret. Here’s a few of my favorite things to do when it rains in Rome:

1. Museums

An obvious first choice is to check out one or two of Rome’s famous museums. There’s the MAXXI, MACRO, Capitoline, Ara Pacis and of course, the mother of all museums, the Vatican Museums.

Even in the rain, the Sistine Chapel dazzles. Photo: Jim Forest

It’s probably already on your checklist, anyway. Who comes to Rome and skips over the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel? That would be sinful. What better way to spend a rainy day than losing yourself amidst works by some of the greatest artists in the world, including Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raffaello and Caravaggio.

Vatican Museums
Viale Vaticano
Metro A Ottaviano-San Pietro
Tel.: 06 69884676
Admission: €15
mv.vatican.va

Cheapo Tip# 1:

On the last Sunday of the month, the entrance is free. Beware of the long lines on any given day, especially when it’s free. However, if you don’t feel like waiting in line, you can simply buy the tickets online for €4 more and you can skip straight to the head of the line and into the museums. Simple as that!

Cheapo Tip #2:

On September 27, 2011, World Tourism Day, entrance to the Vatican Museums is free. The only catch is you have to make a reservation online to get the free entrance and pay a €2 per person reservation fee.

2. Pantheon

Not too many monuments can be fully appreciated during the rain. But there’s nothing more fascinating than entering the Pantheon during a downpour.

This temple-turned-Catholic church is something truly special to marvel at from the outside with its colossal dome. During a rainstorm, once inside the Pantheon you’ll witness a cascade of rain entering through the large circular hole at the top of the dome, creating a waterfall onto the resplendent marble floor, before draining away. The best part? It’s free.

3. Church Hopping

You’ll need an umbrella to get from church to church. But once inside, you’ll be nice and dry and you can also take in the beauty of each one at your own pace. Here are a few of my favorite Roman churches:

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Millions of pilgrims flock to Saint Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most important Catholic church in the world, every year. The burial site of its namesake, Saint Peter’s construction involved Italian masterminds Michelangelo, Raphael and Bramante, and took more than a century to complete.

Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Our Lady of the Altar in Heaven)

Nothing is more enchanting than the monumental sweeping staircase leading to the entrance of the Santa Maria in Aracoeli basilica, perched atop the Capitoline Hill. Its 137 steps were designed according to myths that celebrate the passing of the plague, the “Black Death.” Whew. Now that’s a climb! It’s best known for its carved wooden figurine of the Baby Jesus, the “Santo Bambino.”

Santa Maria sopra Minerva

There are very few Gothic-style churches in Rome, but if you had to choose one, Santa Maria sopra Minerva definitely takes the cake! Just around the corner from the Pantheon, this church is best known for its vast collection of art and sublime frescoes designed by Filippino Lippi. The church was built in the 13th century over the Temple of Minerva (the Goddess of wisdom). Also to be admired (with an umbrella in hand) is Bernini’s elephant obelisk in front of the church.

Sant’Ignazio

No, your eyes don’t deceive: It’s actually an optical illusion. What appears to be a dome above the church is actually an elaborate painted optical illusion. Sant’Ignazio, built in 1626, was dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin

The Santa Maria in Cosmedin

should be on your must-visit list, rain or shine. Tourists line up here, anxiously awaiting their turn to stick their hand inside the Bocca della Verità (“Mouth of Truth”), an drain cover from the Middle Ages located in its portico. Legend has it that the jaws would clamp down on the hands of those who are untruthful! Unfortunately, tourists rarely seem interested in the church’s well-preserved interior and Romanesque bell tower, the tallest medieval belfry in Rome.

4. Gelato

Sure, it doesn’t have to be raining in order to duck into a gelateria to savor some delicious gelato. But since it is raining outside, why not? Here are a few of my favorite gelaterie:

Giolitti
Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40
Near the Pantheon, Rome

San Crispino
Piazza della Maddalena, 3
Near the Pantheon, Rome

Via della Panetteria, 42
Near the Trevi Fountain, Rome

Il Gelato
Piazza Monte d’Oro, 91/92
Near Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Rome

Fata Morgana
Via Lago di Lesina, 9/11
Near Villa Ada, Rome

Your tips for Rome when it rains?

Have another rainy-day activity for Rome when it rains? Share with us in the comments section!

The post Rome: What to do on rainy days in Rome appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The release of the movie “Angels and Demons” is set to do for Rome what “The Da Vinci Code” did for Paris—bring a lot more Dan Brown fans to town! But while Rome is currently afire with pricey “Angels and Demons”-inspired guided tours, you can visit most of the sights featured in the film for free.

Here are six sights, featured in the film, that are easy to get to and free to visit:

1. The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

This provocative sculpture by Bernini holds court in the Santa Maria della Vittoria church. Works by Bernini are featured prominently in “Angels and Demons,” and throughout Rome, where it’s hard to imagine the cityscape without the indelible mark of the painter, sculptor, and architect.

Where to go: Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Just off Via Nazionale.

2. Fountain of Four Rivers

The striking and imposing “Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi,” sculpted in 1651 by Bernini, is the setting for a scene in which Dr Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) saves a cardinal from drowning. The fountain is an excellent example of the dramatic flourishes of the “High Baroque” period. Toss a penny in the fountain and make a wish for good luck.

Where to go: The fountain is located in the center of Piazza Navona, in the heart of Rome.

3. Chigi Chapel

The Chigi Chapel was designed by Renaissance painter and architect Raphael, although it was finished in 1520, nearly a hundred years after his death, by Bernini. The chapel is tucked inside the Santa Maria del Popolo church in Piazza del Popolo. The Chigi Chapel houses the famous Chigi pyramidal wall tomb, and the Bernini sculpture “Habakkuk and the Angel,” which factors into Brown’s book.

Where to go: Santa Maria del Popolo church in Piazza del Popolo (Metro Flaminio)

4. Pantheon

The Pantheon, that wonder of ancient architecture, is referred to as the “oldest church in Rome” by Dr. Langdon in “Angels and Demons.” Constructed in 125 AD, the Pantheon was originally dedicated to the worship of all gods, or “pan theos.” In 609, the building was consecrated as a Christian church by Pope Boniface IV. Today, the Pantheon represents the best-preserved ancient building in Rome, and is filled with sculptures, tombs (including Raphael’s), and incredibly-preserved details.

Where to go: Piazza della Rotunda. Open daily, admission free.

5. Ponte and Castel Sant’Angelo

The magnificent Ponte Sant’Angelo (pictured above), constructed in 136 AD by Emperor Hadrian, leads travelers past its Bernini sculptures over the Tiber River and to the Castel Sant’Angelo and Vatican City.

The Castel Sant’Angelo is an imposing sight, and was built by Hadrian as a tomb for himself, his family, and subsequent Emperors. The building has been used for many purposes since, including a fortress, castle, and today, museum. The Castel plays a crucial part in “Angels and Demons.”

Where to go: Take bus #40 from Termini to Castel Sant’Angelo

6. St. Peter’s Square

The dramatic first murder in “Angels and Demons” takes place in St. Peter’s Square, crowded with visitors.

The square, located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, is another of Bernini’s Roman masterpieces, designed to give the faithful a massive gathering space where every visitor could see the Pope and receive his blessing.

The square, replete with colonnade and obelisk, was constructed between 1656 and 1667, and can accommodate more than 300,000 people.

Where to go: Bus 40 or 64, or Metro Ottaviano.

The post Rome: Free “Angels and Demons” walking tour appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Alas, with Roman hotel rates higher than ever and the dollar at depressing lows against the euro, it can be difficult to find any budgetary relief for tourists in Italy’s capital city. Or is it?

This morning we were doing a little research on the value of “all-in-one” tourist passes in Rome, when we realized that quite a few sights in Rome are actually free to visit… or at least free to gaze at from outside. After all, most of them are located outside and are just part of the Eternal City’s street scene.

Some of our favorite Roman freebies:

St. Peter’s Basilica – Visiting the seat of the Catholic Church is free, and the Pilgrim Tourist Information Center, located along the colonnade on your way into the basilica, offers free brochures and information. Note that if you show up in the summertime wearing shorts, you may have to buy paper pants from eager vendors in order to enter the religious site.

Spanish Steps – Nobody will charge you to waltz your way down (or up) the famous outdoor staircase, nap in the afternoon sunshine, or pose for that postcard shot.

Trevi Fountain – The city’s most famous fountain is overflowing with visitors night and day, and the most it will cost you is whatever coin you flip into it.

Pantheon – The oldest intact structure from the ancient world, this domed temple is an absolute must — and absolutely free.

Some other Roman freebies include the Baths of Diocletian, Capitoline Hill, and walking around the exterior of the Colosseum and the Castel Sant’Angelo. Of course the city’s famous squares are also free to hang out in, including the Piazza Navona and Campo De’ Fiori.

What do you need to pay to visit? Several big sights, including:

The Colosseum (interior) – €9
Borghese Museum & Gallery – €8.50
Vatican Museum (and Sistine Chapel) – €13
Capitoline Museum – €6.50

And, as of March 2008, the Roman Forum is charging admission (€10). Certain all-in-one cards allow discounts to multiple sights (including the Forum), although it’s not quite as well organized as in other cities. For example, the city’s “Archaeologia Card” provides admission to the Colosseum, the Forum, Palatinum and Palatinum Museum, National Roman Museum, Terme Di Caracalla, Cecilia Metella, and Villa dei Quintili. It costs €23.50 for adults. For EU citizens between 18 and 25 years of age, the Archaeologia Card costs just €13.50 and is valid for one week.

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