Rome neighborhoods help?

Trastevere or Campo dei Fiori/Pantheon/Piazza Navona. Good nightlife, restaurants and in the middle of or close to major sights.

Any research I have done has sent me to treservere so I must be on the right track! Thank you!

*trastevere

While Trastevere is a nice, casual area it is not central to anything. Look on a map. You will need to take public transit to get anywhere.

This is true where do you suggest? This also has been my trouble I look on a map and it seems far I research and they talk of safety and culture I want to be close to city center without walking into all the tourist traps!? Frustrated! Help! Please

I agree with Quirite, just walk across the bridge and you are in the centro storico. Trastevere is well-served by trams and buses if you need them (be sure to validate tickets when you board).

And Rome is safe! So you can focus on the other factors when picking your hotel. Some areas may more/less crowded, more/less glitzy, more/less rundown appearing. But they are safe.

I live in a big city so my perception is a little skewed. But I think Rome is a very walkable city. In most of the neighborhoods, you will be a short walk from some sights, longer walks from others, but still walkable. The Piazza Navona/Campo di fiori area is more central so walking time will be shorter. Trastevere is on the southern end so you will need to rely more on short bus/tram trips or be prepared for A LOT more walking. But as Zoe said, great night life in both.

I would recommend against staying near the Vatican if you are looking for night life. It is beautiful at night so it is definitely worth a visit but it is very quiet.

I'm 62 years old and have been going to Italy for almost 20 years. NOW I stay in the Prati neighborhood (Vaticano). When my son and his girlfriend were planning a trip to Rome I sent THEM to Trastevere. It's a fun neighborhood at night with lots of well dressed young people up for a good time! I eat dinner there sometimes, and when I get tired, I go back to my quiet Prati hotel.

Public trans. in Rome is very easy and safe (except for the occasional pick pocketer) and taxis are not that expensive! You can walk over the bridge as described earlier, TO Campo di Fiori, etc., and when you're ready to return to Trastevere, spend a little $$ on a taxi. You're going to LOVE your trip to Roma! Don't forget to throw your coins in the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return! I always do this, because I always want to return!

I just returned from Rome last week and my daughter and I (ages 58 and 16) stayed in Trastevere at the Arco dei Tolomei guesthouse. The neighborhood is completely safe and we walked everywhere except to the Vatican. Buses are plentiful, the area is charming, and we felt like we were going "home" each evening when we crossed the bridge. It is a very old part of the city, without any modern development. I would definitely stay there again. Also highly recommend the Arco dei Tolomei B &B.

Best wishes,
Cynthia

We've stayed in Trastevere twice and loved it. Look at a map. Although what Frank says about Trastevere is true for parts of it, you do NOT have to take public transportation from there to the historic center if you stay anywhere near either the Ponte Sisto or Ponte Garibaldi (unless you have mobility problems). It's exactly the kind of neighborhood you're describing.

Check out these photos I took there a few years ago to see a little of what I mean: Trastevere in May 2008 We stayed there again last year.

Michael, your pictures are amazing, and exactly what I remembered! Stay in Trastevere, bsibiski! It's great for people your age!

First I want to thank all of you who posted!!!! You where all so helpful. And we have decided to stay in Trastevere! Now finding a hotel another thing lol!! But I'm feeling confident! Micheal your photos defiantly helped push me over this is the kind of place that will be perfect for us! I'm 36 and my sister is 28 so we like to walk, want to meet interesting people with local nightlife without traveling to far to the hotel after!!

For activity in the late evening in Trastevere, the main pedestrian lane is Via della Lungaretta, between Piazza Sidney Sonnino and S. Maria in Trastevere. Also check out the following piazzas:
P. S. Maria in Trastevere
P. Trilussa (if they've finished the restoration)
P. S. Egidio

For a really good restaurant, you could go to Marco G. on Via Garibaldi, but it's outside the main hub of activity. For a more active pizza place, go to Dar Poeta.

As for a place to stay, check out Villa Della Fonte. You can't beat its location. We almost stayed there but then decided on an apartment instead since we're so familiar with Rome. (We're planning our fifth trip now.)

Thank you so much for the recommendations I will use them!!

And since you enjoyed those pictures so much, I've created a larger set (with a video clip to start) from 2008, 2011 and 2013:
Trastevere clips and photos. Enjoy!