We've found a few reasonable hotels in Rome (Andreina, RomAntica) that have good prices and good reviews, too. But I keep reading that people consider it a bad area.
Is it a long walk to the major sights in historic Rome? Certainly the Vatican is a taxi ride but is it doable to walk down the major areas? (Colosseum, Pantheon, Forum, Palatine, Capitol Hill)
I've walked to them from the Termini area; its not too far. BTW there is a subway stop right above the Coliseum and another under the Termini station. I've also taken that. And a subway stop near the Vatican.
With the dollar exchange rate being so poor the Termini area becomes much more appealing. I've never felt unsafe near Termini. It's not as attractive as the area closer to the sights but there is nothing wrong with it. Your money will go further in this area. Termini is the best spot for transportation links - the trains at Termini including the Leonardo Express train to/from Fiumicino Airport, both metro lines and countless buses including several hop on/off bus lines. If you don't want to walk there is public transport to take you wherever you want to go.
We always stay in the Termini area. Convenient to transportation and good restaurants. We walk to all the sites. Even walked back from the Vatican once -- the rest of Rome is very walkable -- remember -- that is what the Romans were doing 2000 years ago.
The RS tour I took stayed in a hotel within 3 blocks of the Termini, just to the west and slightly north. I stayed out until the wee hours of the morning many times and never felt unsafe.
The street just off to the east of the Termin felt alittle seedier to me but I know alot of people stay there and say that it is fine.
We walked all over from there. We even walked back from the Vatican one day. There is so much to see we took, our time and just enjoyed.
Cristina -- I think it was the Sonya. We bumped into a Steves tour that ended there last June. Of all the hotels we used in Rome we thought the Sonya had the best breakfast. It has moved to the top of our list but just barely above the Aberdeen. All good choices.
Frank, the RS tour stayed at the Aberdeen but the hotel I stay at before my tour was Hotel Sonya. I loved them both. They both had great breakfast and the rooms were comfy. The room I had at Hotle Sonya looked alittle more modern but they were both very nice and very safe.
My mistake... Hotel Aberdeen is closer to being 6 blocks from the Termin. It is an easy walk and still rather close.
I feel more comfortable in the area north of Termini than south- Good things about the neighborhood- proximity to Termini, hub of both subway lines, and city bus hub as well- so connections are quick and easy. It's not a hard walk to the coliseum, st. maria maggiore, piazza republica... and there are a plethora of good restaurants to choose from- we like to walk around the corner, look in the kitchen window and see who is cooking- choose that way!
My wife and I went to Rome last March (in 2007) and stayed at the Hotel Italia. Rick recommended it in his guidebook. It is reasonably priced and is within the termini area, but not directly near the station. It is down a quiet street, and within easy walking distance of the subway stops at Piazza Republica. I highly recommend it as a reasonable place to stay. The staff is very friendly and helpful; the rooms are clean; and the street it is on is fairly quiet.
Ken (and others) -
Would you say that it's reasonable to walk from the Termini area to all of the main Rome sights? (Perhaps other than the Vatican) We only have a few short days and don't want to have to worry about walking miles home after staying out late.
I thought I read that the taxis in Rome are insanely overpriced, like 7-10 Euros to go a mile sort of thing.
Randy, it is not miles. We have walked from the Vatican to the hotel. Maybe an hour or little more -- 4 miles? I think the comments about taxis and 10 Euro for mile is when you get ripped off. Make sure they use a meter. Ask prior to getting in the approximate price. And have some idea about general direction so you don't get taken in circles. We have never had a problem with taxis in Rome and found them to be fairly cheap. Contact me off line and we can talk locally if you like.
Randy: Taking the Hotel Italia as an example....We were able to walk from there to the coliseum/palatine hill/forum area with no problem. For the Vatican...take a subway. It's very easy to get around via the subways. However, remember that the subways stop running sometime at night (I forget the hour). It is at night when I'd take a cab.
Thanks guys for the info and insight. I have been stressing over the location to book for a while now. I'll feel better about booking near the termini now :-)
Last year I stayed in a hostel very close to Termini, not even a minute.I didn't feel unsafe , I even walked back by mys?
I stayed near Termini last fall and found it to be a very convenient location. I used public transportation or walked and didn't feel the need for a taxi. The Vatican is an easy Metro ride. I tended to walk "to" everywhere else (which were downhill) in the morning when I was fresh, and catch one of the many busses that go to Termini from just about everywhere "back" in the evening (when I was tired and they were fairly empty after the evening rush hour).
I've stayed in the Termini region twice by choice. I prefer the quickness & economy of taking the train from the airport to the Rome Termini & then walking a few blocks to a hotel. After sitting for hours on an airplane to get to Rome, I welcome the opportunity to walk! I've stayed in the Aberdeen, the Oceania & in May have booked the Welcome Residences.(I believe they are North & slightly West of the Termini.)I felt perfectly safe in this area. This area is also easy walking distance to the Colosseum, Forum, Palantine Hill, & most all areas except the Vatican. We took a bus to the Vatican but it got caught in all the traffic and took longer than we liked. I can't help but think that a taxi would suffer the same consequences. The next time we went to the Vatican we took the subway & got there quickly. I'd try it before a taxi.
As always, protect your belongings on public transportation!
On our RS tour we stayed at Hotel Selene just a short few blocks to Termini and never felt unsafe at all.
Thanks everyone - booked at 58 Le Real de Luxe, highly rated on TripAdvisor, close to Termini, and looks like an easy walk to almost everything else, too.
Randy, depending on which sites you wish to see check out the Roma Pass you get your first two museum entrances and three days of unlimited bus/metro usage for 20 euro. We chose Coloseum and the Borghese which meant the pass paid for itself before we stepped onto a bus or metro.
Use good sense throughout Rome. A good travel wallet or money belt--- don't carry valuables in a pocket. Personally I'd avoid the metro durning rush hour it's packed ++++ and it's hard to tell if someone's trying to pick your pocket or simply has nowhere else to put their hand.
The 64 bus has a bad rep as a pickpocket express--- but if you don't have anything in your pocket to pick it goes near most of the sites of interest. Make a list of your MUST SEES then try to cluster them as best you can. Check the metro map and the bus map and plan your touring accordingly.
Supermarket in the Termini for cheap water and snacks Onda blu a few blocks away for a quick load of laundry and internet
Randy - we hoofed it everywhere in Rome without much difficulty and were staying in the Prati area. If you'll be near Termini, you'll closer in that we were so you should be fine on foot unless you really aren't used to much walking. On foot really is the best way to see Rome as the street culture is part of the experience, and exploring the tiny back alleys (fun little bars and restaurants on these!) is great fun. Bring really good shoes as almost all of central Rome is cobblestones, sidewalks are often uneven, some of historic sites involve stony, unpaved paths and you'll be climbing LOTS of stairs!
This is the only area my daughter and I saw gypsy children with fake babies, cardboards to hide they pick pocket activity etc. I really don't like the area at all.
We rented an apartment near San Giovanni area and used the metro to go everywhere. The apartment was beautiful and located near transportation. I feel anywhere in Rome is relatively safe (except from pickpocketing) so I wouldnt hesitate to stay near Termini. But check out the apartment we rented...
cristalhome.com
I stayed at the Beehive in Rome 2 blocks from Termini Station. I have never felt scared to walk in that area even late at night. I would say it's definitely an ok place to stay. I walked most days and even a few nights to the historic district. It's a nice walk. Also the subways are right at termini. Enjoy and have fun!!!!
We stayed at Gulliver's Place B&B (reccomended in Rick Steeves Rome)and were about a 5-10 minute walk to Termini. It was a great place, we had no issues and felt safe. We even would stop and chat with the man selling fruit on our way back an forth to the Termini. It was very easy to get around Rome on the metro and also to the side trips we did to Florence and Naples (just got up and walked to Termini and bought our tickets from the machine).
Hi, I have bben reading all your posts.I am going to Rome in about 2 weeks
and found this B&B La Casa di Rosy Rome - bed and breakfast
Via Napoleone III, n. 10. But I don't know if that is a good area or not.
Just know it is very near by the Santa Maria Maggiore.Does anybody know this place? I can't find any ratings on the net. And I don't wanna take any risks.
No, not jet, but I will do that now, thanks Randy
Area-wise, it's fine. Easy walking distance from the train station.
Nothing on TripAdvisor for it - it's probably a very small place.
The area near Termini is full of grafitti and not as attractive, but the transportation options are a big plus. I do take cabs back from Termini to the hotel if it is really late, but would stay in the area anytime.
Randy,
Termini is not the "tourist area" that many people are used to when they book in Rome - perhaps that's why it has a "lesser reputation." It is a blue-collar part of town and has many different ethnic cultures clustered around the station.
I've had many friends stay there with no issues; in fact, they all liked the central location. Because of the train station, it is the MAJOR rail, bus, metro and taxi link for the city. So there is a lot of traffic in this area.
I'm not sure I would walk from Termini to "sites," rather I would take advantage of the transportation system that's so convenient for you! The busses will go almost anywhere from Termini and as noted in previous posts you can ride the metro to many sites...
If you head southwest from Termini, towards Piazza Republica, you move into the "nicer" side of the station. This is where you'll find Via Nazionale, a major shopping street... further on you'll hit the Quiranale, Piazza Barberini, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps - each also right off the metro A line.
If yo go the other way, you can walk down Cavour all the way to the coloseum and Forum (or just take the Metro B line two stops!).
I go to the Termini area often and have NEVER had any issues. You will see gypsies - just ignore them and hang onto your money. You'll have folks suggesting you get in their cab - ignore them also and head to the official cab stand just in front of Termini. But mostly you'll see working class Italians and budget minded tourists. Note there is a small "Chinatown" around Piazza Esquino that has a great market and many, many inexpensive Chinese restaurants.
Termini is as safe as anywhere in Rome, it just may not be as pretty... good luck!
Ciao,
Ron
My daughter and I stayed in the area a few years ago and it was the only area we saw the"gypsy" children working the area so blatantly. . If you keep your wits about you it is ok. We saw a group of very young children with their cardboards ready to use to block their hands as they tried to pick pocket or slash belly packs. We saw a group of older women with fake babies in carriers with a napkin like head cover over the "babies". We just crossed the street. Termini is not a good area but the metro takes you to the sights and if you don't mind going up and down hills you can walk. Rome is easy for walking.
Just back from 18 days in Italy. I was surprised to see very few gypsies around Termini. My friend who lives there said that the new mayor is really trying to keep them out of Termini itself.
Did find myself the victim of an odd sort of scam. Got on a crowded 40 express bus. It was difficult to get to the validation machine (and you don't want to be caught with an invalidated ticket). The man standing in front of the bus was offering to validate tickets for us and the others that got on the bus. This was our first day of this time in Rome and we hadn't started using our bus pass.
Later when my husband was sorting out stuff to submit to the college for reimbursement he noticed that the validation date on the bus ticket was the day before we got to Rome. I fished my ticket out of my daypack and my ticket was validated from that morning--- while we were still on the train from Orivieto. Apparently the "good samaritan" was keeping our unused tickets and giving out used tickets. Had the bus inspector stopped us we'd have faced a huge fine.
Now I know that when you can't validate your ticket for any reason you can simply write the bus number, the date and time.
Late
