Where in Rome should a first-time visitor stay?

Unless you're a priest, don't stay near the Vatican. The historic center that includes Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori is great, but you guys might really enjoy Trastevere. Do a little searching on this site for more info.

Sergio, I normally stay in the area near Termini station, as it's so convenient for transportation. There are some nice Hotels there and it's easy to get to other locations from there via Metro or Bus. I agree with the previous reply, that Trastevere would also be a good area to consider. You might find it very helpful to have a look at the Italy 2012 Guidebook, as there's an enormous amount of information there on things like Hotels, restaurants, transportation, sightseeing, etc. Happy travels!

We are with Ken. In our four visits to Rome we prefer to stay in the Termini area. Little more reasonable, convenient to transit, some nice local restuarants.

Hi Although i have nothing to offer, I'd welcome similar comments. Although I have the rs books, the area to stay remains a bit of a guess.
Regards

For first timers, if your budget allows, I'd suggest staying in the centro area. It does cost more, but to be able to step out of your hotel and walk through the beautiful streets of centro Rome at night, especially for you first time, is.... priceless! (Well, okay - some places can be pricey). These articles have suggestions (and maps & pictures) for the best-ranked accommodations in the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps areas. We were fortunate to stay here often our first few times and it made quite an impression on us. Trastevere is a wonderful change of pace - albeit sometimes a little loud if you're on the ground floor. We have many friends who live in this lively section of town and we enjoy "house-sitting" their apartments, or heading over for dinner at one of the fine restaurants in the area. This area primarily has fewer hotels, but many, many B&B's. Here are a few suggestions; If you use the Search function, you'll probably find more. Another often overlooked area is the Colosseo and Monti Area. I prefer the hills ABOVE the Colosseo. To me, down near the Colosseo can be a little "dead" at night - not to mention the Forum, Colosseo, etc are all closed. Great to see lit up at night, but perhaps not the most active part of town. The Monti section, above the Colosseo, has great little restaurants and shops. Again, we have other friends who live here and they LOVE it.

The next two options are the lower cost options... the Vatican/Prati area and the Roma Termini area. Both are "newer" than any area we've mentioned and have their own unique falvor. We lived near the Vatican for a few years and enjoyed the area. At night, after the Museums close up, the "mood" of the area changes. Often we walked for dinner to the centro area, cutting through another country (The Vatican) on our way home. It's quite a safe area, and like Roma Termini, well connected by metro, bus, and tram options to the city. Like Trastevere, there are fewer hotels here, much more B&B's. Many if these B&B's are among the highest rated in the city. Some great gelato spots in this part of town! See this article for some accommodation suggestions for the Prati/Vaticano area. And then there's Roma Termini. There are more than 350 hotels in this densely packed area. Many of the smaller hotels are perhaps one floor of a five-story building. And thus, some buildings may have 4-5 "hotels." For price, you probably cannot beat the Termini area. Also for convenience! It's where the current metro lines cross, a major bus hub, and the primary train station in the city. With so many choices, I'd read the many suggestions you'll see on this board or take a look at this article for some help.

Roma Termini is not the most picturesque part of town, and although a great spot for saving money, it's not where I'd put my friends to create a "first impression" of the city. That's not a negative - it's just not the Rome they've read or dreamed of... On their 2nd trip, yes, save some money and stay in the Vaticano/Prati area or near Roma Termini. But your first time in the city should be a magical as you can make it! I'd suggest the same "idea" if you were headed to Paris, one of our favorite cities. We don't stay in the center anymore, but our first few trips we did. Now that we've seen all the sights, we're far more into seeing "other neighborhoods." But we still have quite fond memories of our first stays in Paris, Rome, etc... and if it was our LAST stay ever in those cities, we'd probably head back to those "first-time"spots. There are many choices and like any big city, many different "atmospheres" in Rome. I'd read up on those parts of town that interest you. For cost and convenience, Roma Termini or the Prati-Vatican areas. For a lively atmosphere, maybe Trastevere. For a "small town" feel, maybe the hills above the Colosseo. And for the sights, sounds,and beauty of Rome that you've read about or seen in the movies, the centro areas of the city might be your best option. It depends on what you're looking for and your interests and priorities. EVERYONE has a favorite area! Soon, you will also! Good Luck.

Sergio, I agree with Ron in Rome, stay someplace memorable for your first trip. I prefer the Piazza Navona or Pantheon areas. If you book through a service like booking.com, they sometimes have special deals. These areas are a little pricier than Termini, but I think worth the extra money. If you can find a hotel with a rooftop terrace, that's even better (Hotel Genio is one).

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

You should consider Albergo del Senato on Piazza della Rotonda. The hotel is beside the Pantheon. My son and his wife stayed there and loved the hotel and the central location where they walked to everything.

Sergio, I also agree that for your first trip in particular, you should stay in the Pantheon/Piazza Navona/Campo de Fiori areas. We stayed in the Piazza Navona area on our last trip & loved it. We really enjoyed walking around P. Navona at night with a gelato in hand & walking through the narrow quaint streets back to our apartment. For our next trip in September, we will stay at Albergo del Senato in the Pantheon area. We are definitely splurging on this hotel but the area is wonderful & we won't probably won't get back to Rome for quite a few years. I personally didn't care for the area around Termini; it wasn't the quaint historic Rome that I imagined or craved. While I loved walking around Trastevere during the day, I personally felt it was a little too far removed from the central area for my taste. I like to return to my hotel in the late afternoon or early evening, rest for a little while & then walk out my door & have a large ion of restaurants to choose from. I also enjoy walking around after dinner & being in a lively place. I enjoyed seeing the street performers & artists in P. Navona & then walking about 2 blocks back to our apartment.

I hope this is OK to ask, etiquette-wise: We'll be first-time visitors, also (self, wife & 13 yr old son) and we've booked at the Hotel Golden near the Villa Borghese. Does this seem like a good place to base ourselves for a 4- day stay in Rome? Dave