Accommodations in Rome: Can a Person Walk to it All?

Not surprisingly, the answer to all your questions is "It depends." Can you walk it? Some people can; some people can't. You can use Google Maps Directions Pedestrian option to see what the distances are between places. Rome does have some hills (you've probably heard of the 7 hills), so factor that in. You can use Google Maps Streetview to get an idea of the area around your lodging choices. As for whether a neighborhood is quiet, it depends on exactly where your lodging is and whether the windows of your room open up onto the street or into a private courtyard, and also on whether the windows have soundproofing. Piazza Navona itself is a major activity center until very late in the evening. Before you decide to stay at a convent, find out about their curfew policy and whether that would pose a problem, esp. considering how late Rome stays hopping. Usually the advantages to renting an apartment are a combination of having a kitchen to save money on food, and getting lower rent than at a hotel/B&B since you're not paying for as much overhead. Hope that helps. Happy travels.

Look carefully at the scale of the map. Rome is actually fairly big. Really. Walking all over Rome in a day or even for all your touristing sounds unlikely and not very fun. However, the Rome's meto system is fairly limited and there are many areas that you could walk once you got there. We tend to take the metro just once or twice a day and walk between sights in that area. Piazza Novona is as central as you can get and it may be quieter than around the Colosseum and Forum. But whether the apartment faces primarily into the courtyard or the street, what street (how busy) it's on, and whether there is a restaurant with outside seating nearby will matter more as far as noise goes. There are several advantages to apartments. The first, especially if you are a part of a larger group (3-6) is cost per night. The second is having a kitchen which is comfort and if you want it to be so, a considerable cost savings. Having a washing machine is another big advantage. So is the greater likelihood of being on a quiet side street. The disadvantage is that there is no help desk to make calls for you and alert you to potential strikes. Finding one and checking it out takes a little more work too.

The first time I was in Rome was with a RS tour. In the am I took the Metro to Circus Maximus and walked all over Rome, including the Vatican, from there. I walked back to my hotel (the Sonya) which is near the train station and Metro. My walk took me in a big loop, and I'm sure it didn't cover everything. You could take the Metro to the Vatican and walk most of Rome from there, then back to your hotel. I find that the Termini area is convenient for exploring Rome and having easy access to transportation.

Hi, I stayed in a convent !! - you dont have to be religiously affiliated and I found one with late curfew (they are very clean and inexpensive!)that was less than 10 mins walk to the Colosseum and then I walked to the Forum and many sites in that area. But I did have to take the Metro to the Vatican area. Once you are in the Vatican area you can walk to a lot of places in that area. No, you cannot walk everywhere in a day. Either the Metro or a taxi (and watch them!) will be necessary at some point. A kitchen is nice but then you have to get to the markets to make it worthwhile. And Rome is hilly. Also, try to get over to Trastevere, a fun area. Have fun! Dej

My wife and I stayed near the Forum. We walked everywhere, even the Vatican. Parts of Rome can be noisey. Where we stayed was not. We are both 60 and without any health problems. We enjoyed walking.

Be sure to go to RonInRome.com for lots of helpful information about visiting Rome. He explains the Metro and the bus system. (The buses take you to lots more places than does the Metro.) And taxis are very reasonable in Rome, so keep that as an option. You can catch one at any taxi stand. They're all over.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions! I have emailed inquiries about the places I'm looking into, but I'm thinking that staying in more central location makes the most sense, and having a fridge/microwave can come in handy when we don't want to eat out all day long (and I love the idea of shopping fresh at the local markets!). I'll look in to the bus website. Thanks!

For 6 nights I definitely recommend an apartment. Not only are there the advantages of having a kitchen and hopefully a washing machine, but another huge advantage is having some room to spread out. Hotel rooms are
really small, especially for that period of time. Most apartments have free wifi too, if you are bringing electronic devices. Hotels may not have wifi in the rooms, but just in the lobby, if at all.

Boschetto Cove is in a great area. Not only very walkable (although the Vatican is a bit far), but close to metro at Cavour and busses on via Nazionale and at Piazza Venezia. One of my favorite restaurants is on via del Boschetto: L'Asino del Oro. Friday lunch is a steal, if you can make that work.

I agree with the peson that said for 6 nights stay in an apartment. We always stay in apartments for extended periods and love it. Just do you research to make sure it is a good one. This means check reviews ask questions and look at it on google maps. As for walking, you do alot of it in room. I find the subway somewhat limiting so you do alot of walking unless you take taxi's or buses. I found bus routes difficult to follow so for the most part we took subways and walked from there. We did so much walking that despite all the food and wine we actaully lost weight in Rome. Found that to be amazing since I ate so much!

Definitely doable even to the Vatican. I know. I did it and I'm no spring chicken. Truman was in office when I was born. For me walking around any city is the best way to experience it so it's what I do. Even here in LA. Stayed in an apartment in the Jewish Ghetto which is basically across the river from Trastevere. Never took the metro.

All great thoughts and advice! Central location in apartment makes even more sense when I consider that it will likely rain on us the whole time (last week of March). I am so excited to go!