Best area to stay in Rome

Sheron, I like to stay in the Monti area, from which I can walk to anywhere, including Termini and the Vatican. Monti is designated as between the Termini station and the Via dei Fori Imperiali. I have twice stayed at a convent, once at a hotel, and next year an apartment in that area, but close to the Colosseum. During one visit, the lady in the bar had my coffee ready (with a welcoming smile) by day 3, as she saw me walking across the little piazza.
I always choose accommodation by looking at a map - the proximity of the hotel and places I wish to visit. The Vatican area is lovely - more quiet -and as long as you are happy to walk, and it is safe, even at night, easy for everything and everywhere.

Sheron,

On past visits I've stayed in both the Termini area and Trastevere.

Termini is a great location for transportation links, if intending to take a lot of day trips to Ostia Antia, Naples/Pompeii, Oriveto or elsewhere, as the station is so close. Of course, being near the Metro, Buses and Taxis at Termini is convenient also, and at times I enjoy browsing in all the shops on the lower levels.

Trastevere is a wonderful area also. There are no Metro links close by, but I had no trouble walking to Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Museo Capotilini or elsewhere. Accessing the Trams is also easy. There are lots of wonderful small restaurants in that area, the Santa Maria in Trastevere Church is beautiful, and there's a Museum in that area also (it was holding a photographic exhibit when I was there in April, but this may have changed now?). There was a street market set up in Piazza Trilussa, with small tents and all kinds of crafts and other merchandise, but not sure if this will be present next September?

Where you stay will depend on what sort of activities interest you the most. I probably wouldn't choose the Vatican area, as it would be too "quiet" for me.

Happy travels!

As Pat points out, the Vatican area is a quieter neighborhood. You would probably need to take metro or bus to/from the more lively areas, but public transportation is easy and buses run late. Although I've not stayed in Trastevere due to cost, it's a fun neighborhood and only about a 15-20 minute walk from Piazza Navona area. I tend to rely less on metro in Rome than I would in London or Paris. Buses or trams also get you around just fine. I find Rome's daily transportation pass (4 euro) to be very convenient and a good value, but keep in mind that it expires at midnight.

We liked staying near the Vatican--partly because it is a little quieter. While it's a little off the beaten path, it's easy to walk or take public transportation to other areas like Piazza Navona or Trastevere for nightlife. It's probably more expensive to stay in the Piazza Navona area compared to the Vatican. I liked walking through Vatican City each morning and night as we made our way to and from other parts of the city.

We stayed in the Vatican area last December and as the other posters confirm, it is definitely quiet after dark. There are plenty of restaurants that are open, and we did see some crowds of people getting an early start on their Xmas shopping, but the social scene/people watching is definitely not there. This time, we are staying near the Colosseum.

Being near the metro is nice, but not essential. Even from the centro storia (historical center--Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc.) there are busses and it does not take an impossibly long time to walk to the metro. Rome is a big city, but it's pretty compact--particularly the areas tourists tend to frequent. We actually walked from the Vatican Museum to Piazza Navona the first night in Rome, and it was a slightly long, but not exhausting walk.

Access to the Metro in Rome isn't particularly important. It doesn't provide close access to most of the key sites in Rome. For your first time in Rome, the Piazza Navona area is the best area for walking access to the main sites.

Our first time in Rome we did two nights near Termini and three nights near Piazza Navona. The second time we went we spent six nights in Trastevere and loved it.

I've stayed near Termini and Piazza Navona and have liked both. Near Piazza Navona you are near everything and Termini you are far enough removed but near the subway. It just depends on what you are looking for.

We like the Piazza della Repubblica area, recommended in Steves' Italy book. The Hotel Pendini was just BEAUTIFUL. A splurge, but great service and a wonderful, warm home in what can be an overwhelming city. Close to metro for all sites, plenty of nightlife and restaurants nearby, too.

I was in Rome in April and am going to be there again this month. I highly recommend the area around the Spanish Steps. It is in an area with alot of great shops, museums and restaurants. I stayed at the Hotel Gregorianna which has just been redone and is a gem. Also on that street, which is rather private and out of the way, is the Hotel Suisse Rome which is all old polished wood and antiques. Both serve breakfast and in April, they should both be priced around 200 Euros. Offer to pay in cash and they will offer a discount.

I agree with Maria. We stayed within about a half mile or so from the Spanish Steps on the Via Veneto and it was wonderful. We stayed in the Hotel Flora, now a Marriott property, that overlooked the Villa Borghese. The Metro was a 10 minute walk and none of the big sites within Rome was out of walking distance for us. We do love to walk and made several trips to the Colosseum, Forum, Piazza Navonna, Trevi from our hotel. We even did the walking tours that Rick S. recommended twice per day. The Vatican was a 15 minute Metro ride away and there are tons of restaurants in the area for lunch and dinner. We loved the area and would definitely stay there again.