Staying in Rome with 19 year olds

There's public transport to one sort of another pretty much everywhere in Rome but the historic center is compact enough not to need it much, if at all. We've gone 3-4 days or so without using it even once. As well, Rome is a city best seen from your feet whenever possible.

The area around Piazza Navona and Pantheon is central to many of Rome's attractions. Do be advised that your 19 year-old are considered adults in Europe so will be subject to limits on how many adults can occupy 1 room in many hotels. Apartments might be a better fit but I'd make sure what is described as 'beds' aren't fold-outs in the living room. They'll also be subject to adult prices for Rome's attractions. All that said- and because your offspring are adults - their ages really don't make a difference regarding where to stay.

If they want to go out at night, Trastevere is lively and a magnet for the young. Staying near the Ponte Sisto pedestrian bridge over the Tiber, also close to Campo dei Fiori, would be ideal and is right in the Centro Storico.

Trastevere. They're probably going to want to go out and this area is lively. It also has amazing restaurants, isn't overly tourist populated, and is within walking distance to everything.

I'll concur with the others on Trastevere for how young and lively it is, but along with the first reply, that means it will be farther to walk to the main sites.....it could be an extra 10 min or more walk beyond the Corso Vittorio Emanuele (what I consider the southern edge of the most convenient "historic center" locations, and a major road for the buses) and you would be less likely to pop back to your lodging if you were out exploring.....could be a bad or a good thing....

Trastevere would be a nice base as it's a vibrant neighborhood and not too far from the popular sights (by foot). Downside is that there is no good metro connection (if you want that). There are buses that go to and from there, tho (but I don't like using the bus in Rome tbh).

If you want to be close to the metro, consider Campo Marzio/around Flaminio/Prati. I really like those neighborhoods. You can check them out on a handy map here: https://twoinrome.com/where-to-stay-in-rome/

Thank you, this map was great!! On another note, same question about Florence? Any suggestions best area to stay. Thanks again

Florence is so small, most of it is walkable, I would say anything within a 10 min walk of Piazza della Republica would be in a fine area...

Many folks love the Oltrarno area (the southern side of the river) for the more local feel as less tourists make it that way, but I like being close to Tornabuoni, as it's halfway between the center and the station because when I stay in Florence I am out of the city as much as I am in the city....

Now for the "young" area, no idea, but since the university is in the area "north" of the Accademia, I would bet that around there would have the most students....

I'll ditto the Trastevere which I found to be one of the most enjoyable areas of Rome. At the same time it is family friendly (lots of locals out in the evening with their kids) but with a hip vibe. There are enough little twists and turns and alleys to wander down to keep it interesting, but yet at the same time the pedestrian area is mostly contained and feels pretty safe.

In Florence, I really liked San Giovanni and San Lorenzo for the convenience (right in the center of the action), but I also enjoyed staying more off the beaten path in Santa Croce. For a lively neighborhood, I would consider Santo Spirito :-)

Another map to check out (not as handy as the Rome neighborhood map, but still handy, I think): https://twoinrome.com/where-to-stay-in-florence/