Best Areas to Stay in Italy for a Single Female Traveler?

We've been to Rome 4 times. I think the Vatican area is far away from the many interesting historical sights.
I would suggest the Pantheon, Piazza Navona or Campo di Fiori area. There are markets, restaurants (eat at the ones on the side streets away from the piazzas. They are more authentic and more catered to the locals. The food is usually better) We enjoyed the Pantheon area the best. Easy walk to Piazza Navona and the Trevi fountain. We walked to the Borghese and to the Colosseum.

The Vatican area is quite a distance.

If you could squeeze a few more days into your trip I would suggest Ricks Village Italy tour. We had been to Italy before but this was our first RS tour. We have done 6 more since then. There have been single travelers on all of our tours and they were welcomed, included and a lot of fun. The Village Italy tour takes you to some smaller places that would be more challenging to visit on your own. Take a look at the tour and if you can't do it this time it's something to keep in mind for your next trip.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip!
Mimi

I am also a single woman who travels alone. For the last 15 years or so, I have been staying at the Hotel Stella in Rome. It is right by the Termini train station where you can catch many buses. The hotel is in a neighborhood with embassies and about a five minute walk from the train station. I feel very safe in this area on my own and the connections are easy to other parts of Rome.

I too like the Pantheon area, however it's kind of pricey on accommodations.
Look at the Ottaviano/San Pietro metro station neighborhood which is down the street from the entrance to St. Peters and close to the Vatican Museum entrance. There are a number of small B&B's in the neighborhood apartment complexes within 3 blocks. You can hop on the Metro or catch buses that come up to the Vatican's entrance.
We have stayed in Ottaviano's neighborhood twice in the last two years. Nice to have been able to use the Metro from Termini when arriving. We went through Booking.com.

For Rome, do not stay near the Vatican. There is not as much to see and do on that side of the Tiber river. You will be spending all your time using the bus or subway to cross the river to see all the sites. Take a look at a map to see where all the major sites are. I have stayed at the Hotel Aberdeen and it is nice and clean. Whereever you stay in Rome stay on the opposite side of the Tiber and not near the Vatican.

As for Florence, take a look at the Hotel Torre Guelfa, I stayed there twice on two RS tours and it was very nice.

Have a great time. Get the RS Italy guide book and take a look at the hotel sections.

My experience as a woman traveling alone was that the hotels right near the major train stations in any city tend to be a bit seedy; ditto for those neighborhoods. That's just a generalization, though.

In Rome I had a good experience near Piazza Navona. In Florence some friends recommended a place called Pensione Dante, which was lovely, but I'm not sure it still exists and I'm afraid I don't remember what part of the city it was in.

I would choose according to convenient location for the sights you want to see, price, and the descriptions/reviews in resources like the RS Guide (description) and TripAdvisor (reviews).

In terms of safety, one of my practices is to not tell inquiring strangers where I'm going. ("Where are you going today?" "Oh, I have a whole list of destinations!") If a situation feels dicey, leave. If you enjoy going out to bars, limit your intake and tell someone you know (e.g., hotel clerk, or text a friend at home) beforehand where you're going and when you expect to return.

I have stayed at Arco Dei Tolomei which is a B&B in Trastevere, right over the bridge at Tiber Island and a short walk away from many of the sights. It is a lively area, well-lit at night, and the B&B is run by a lovely couple. I never felt unsafe in the neighborhood.
Have fun!
Cynthia

Another good option in Rome is monasteries and convents.

When I was in Rome (sola), I stayed at the Rabbit Hole through VRBO. It's a studio in the Jewish quarter, and found it to be perfect for one person. It's an easy walk to Campo di Fiero and it's morning market, less than 10 minutes to the Pantheon, and not too bad to walk to the Colosseum. Even the Trevi Fountain is doable. Pretty sure you could walk over to Trastevere as well, although I didn't get a chance to do that. It's near a busy bus stop area with buses to the Vatican and the Borghese Gallery/Park. If you look on a map, it's just south of the Torre Argentina. I liked the area because the Jewish Quarter has a pedestrian street filled with restaurants -lots of tourists there but I found the food to be good at all the places I went to. I don't normally eat big dinners, but it's nice to sit and linger here when all the tourist stuff is closed, and you're close to "home" after a couple glasses of wine. :) There is also a grocery store nearby if you want to pick up food not available at the market and the owner is great with suggestions on what to eat and where to go, and available via text if you need anything.

For Florence, I stayed near the Ponte Vecchio at Hotel Alessandra. It was a nice hotel and a great location, but a little on the expensive side for one person (in the $90s per night with private bath that was down the hall). Not that I wouldn't recommend it, but when I go again, I'd probably stay either near San Lorenzo or thereabouts, or go across the river to stay near Piazza Santo Spirito. That seemed like a fun area, still lots of tourists, but away from the big crowds (if that will be an issue in May).

Stay in the historic city center. In Rome I concur with others. The piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori area is perfect. Take a look at Navona Essence hotel. In Florence take a look at Rivoli hotel.

I often travel alone as a single woman and am very careful about where I stay.

Hotel for Rome: On the Rick Steves' Venice/Florence/Rome tour in June 2017, our group stayed at the Hotel San Carlo near the Spanish Steps. I stayed there again on my own in Dec. 2017, and I will stay there on my own in Dec. 2018 also. Even though Rome does not have as extensive a subway system as do London and Parix, I will like being near a subway stop, and Hotel San Carlo is 2 minutes' walk from the Spagna subway stop. Also it's in walking distance from the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Lots of restaurants and also a small grocery very nearby.

I echo others' recommendation that you not stay near the Vatican/it's much too far away from the other sites.

Rome is easy to walk through. We stayed near St Peters and walked from the Vatican past the Castel St Angelo to the Pantheon all the way to the Roma Termini on one day. So you are never really too far from anything. It is a great walking city.

Logistically my first choice would be the historical center (anywhere within a 1/2 mile radius from the Pantheon). It’s vibrant, it’s safe, it’s in the middle of everything. The drawback is that it is also the priciest place in town.
My second choice for a single young woman would be near Santa Maria in Trastevere. Vibrant, safe, not too far from the historical center, but cheaper.
The area near Termini station is not the best for a young woman alone. Lots of young migrants are congregating in that area nowadays and if you are a woman walking alone at night, you will likely be harassed. I wouldn’t suggest it to a young woman unless accompanied. If you decide on that, stick to Via del Viminale near the opera house, it’s less seedy.
The Vatican/Prati area is a nice residential area, but may be too quiet for you and not really close to the sights.

I stayed at a lovely B&B in Rome that was within walking distance to the Vatican, Metro stop on corner, and very clean, comfortable, and beautifully decorated called - Ale and Nikki’s Home Rome. Just google and their website will come up- pictures are exactly what it looks like- a really great place to stay in Rome!

Happy Travels✨💫

Congrats on your upcoming trip to Italy! Can’t think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. In fact, I landed in Rome on my birthday this year, and enjoyed a fantastic tour of the Campo de’ Fiori, Jewish Ghetto, and Trastevere neighborhoods right after landing. Jet lagged and had so much fun!

All of my trips to Italy have been as a solo female traveler. Comments on Rome and Florence below.

Rome
First visit: Rented an apartment in the Monti neighborhood. Most of my sightseeing activities were close to this neighborhood, and I loved the vibe. Plus, my apartment was right around the corner from Fatamorgana gelato, which became a daily treat. If staying in this neighborhood, try to pick a place that’s not on one of the main streets as that will be noisier.

Second visit: Stayed at Albergo Santa Chiara, one block south of the Pantheon and across the street from Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. I can’t recommend this hotel enough! On my first trip to Rome, I met 3 retired ladies who have known each other and traveled together the last 40 years. They always stay here. It’s pricier due to location, but totally worth it. I requested a quiet, interior room, and my room was just right.

Third visit: Albergo Santa Chiara for part of the trip, then Hotel Aberdeen for the last night before flying home. Other forum members like this hotel. I have nothing against it, per se, but my room was even tinier than at Albergo Santa Chiara and was very hot and stuff (in March). Also, I agree with Roberto about the Termini area. I am not inclined to stay in that area again.

For Rome, look for lodging that is central to most of the sites you want to see. It’s well worth it.

Florence
First visit: Hotel dei Macchiaioli based on the write-up in Rick Steves’ Florence guidebook. A great place to stay for a first visit to Florence because it’s on Via Cavour, which is the street that you take south that deposits you right in front of the Duomo. Major Stendhal Syndrome! The hotel was quiet, and the staff all quite lovely.

Second visit: Palazzo Guadagni based on a recommendation on the Girl in Florence site. This hotel is in Piazza Santo Spirito. My room was on the top floor and faced Palazzo Pitti. Loved staying here as the Oltrarno district is much less touristy. Will likely stay here the next time I am in Florence.

Please let me know if I can help with any additional female solo traveler in Italy questions and happy planning!

I've been to Italy many times, to the cities you've mentioned, but only once solo. I always stay in the Pantheon area when in Rome, simply because it is safe and vibrant. Expensive though. In Florence, I always stay at the same hotel. I feel it's pretty inexpensive and it's in piazza Santa Maria Novella (5 Min walk to train or bus). It's the Rosso 23. Hotel is just ok but I love the location. As for Venezia, I would feel safe anywhere! Enjoy your bday, bella!

The Piazza Novana and Campo di Fiori are safe areas that are great jumping off points for anything you'd like to do in Rome.

A vote from another Single Female traveler. I felt very safe staying in the area of the Main Train Station ( Centrale). I felt very safe walking around the area - day and night..... but use your usual big city cautions.
Hotel I used was Contilia - great budget hotel.
Great location to catch various local and long distance transportation to get around Rome and other places.
Happy Travels