The complete guide to Rome’s 7 best neighbourhoods

Take a glimpse into Rome’s top 7 neighbourhoods. Find out how they rank for quality of life, safety and suitability for internationals.

Yordan

7 minute read

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Updated on 29 Aug 2024

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Living

Italy’s capital city has 21 neighbourhoods and is considered the top city to live in Italy. Over 500,000 expats live in Rome, making it one of Italy’s most international cities. It can seem daunting to find rental homes in Rome. when there’re so many areas to familiarise yourself with. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best neighbourhoods in Rome so you can find the perfect neighbourhood for your life in Rome.

To help you decide which neighbourhood in Rome is best for you, we’ll take a deeper look at the 7 best neighbourhoods. Rome has something for everyone, with neighbourhoods for those who want to be at the heart of it all, or want more chilled, authentic vibes, or need a family-friendly community. Let’s get into it!

Neighbourhood vibe: Cosy, central, vibrant Average rent: €1,750/month Perfect for: Young professionals and students

Located in central Rome, Monti is a neighbourhood for shopping and other leisure activities. Despite its central location, Monti is less touristy than the neighbouring areas. So, the neighbourhood offers more of a small-town vibe without missing out on the hustle and bustle of city life.

At the centre of Monti is the Parco del Colle Oppio, which is ideal when you need fresh air. Getting around Rome from Monti is a breeze as there’re plenty of metro and bus stops in the area. If you want to head further away and take a trip to another Italian or European city, the nearby Roma Termine Station has you covered.

Housing in Monti is quite a mixed bag, with affordable private rooms starting at €500/month and pricey apartments costing over €2,000/month. But many people are happy to pay a premium price for a place to live in the very centre of Rome. Monti has many available housing options, so you can shop around and find the price that best fits your monthly budget in Rome.

As you’d expect, there’s lots of bars and restaurants to explore in Monti. The nightlife here is excellent, but you’ll need to be conscious of pickpockets at night— make sure you have your wits about you.

Neighbourhood vibe: Busy, boho, pretty Average rent: €1,830/month Perfect for: Students and young adults

Trastevere is the home of nightlife in Rome. It has a boho vibe and perfectly combines old and new. Trastevere is a popular tourist spot despite being located on the east bank of the Tiber and a little bit out of the centre. But living here is an excellent decision if you like to stay busy. You’ll have so many markets, shops and funky restaurants to explore while living here.

Travestere is car-free, so you’ll need to rely on Rome’s public transport to get around, or cycling or walking. Unfortunately, there’s no metro stop in Trastevere. However, plenty of tram and bus stops will help you get around this car-free neighbourhood. Roma St Pierre train station is also located in Travestere if you decide to take a train journey further afield.

The price of housing in Trastevere is similar to Monti. The riverside neighbourhood doesn’t have as much housing to choose from, but you’ll typically pay between €600/month for a room and €2,100/month for an apartment. This neighbourhood is popular amongst expats, so if you want to live close to other internationals, this is a great spot to live!

Trastevere is a great place to head to explore what Rome’s nightlife has to offer. There’s an abundance of bars, clubs, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Trastevere is busy with tourists, so beware of pickpocketers when you’re out and about here.

Trastevere is a good student spot

With its two American universities and active nightlife, the streets of Trastevere may get noisy at night. This means that the area is less friendly to families than some of the more suburban ones.

Neighbourhood vibe: Cultural, touristy, classic Average rent: €2,100/month Perfect for: Young adults

The historical centre of Rome, Centro Storico, is the place to live if you value history and culture. This neighbourhood has plenty of major tourist spots like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Roman Forum. As such, it can be pretty busy with crowds of tourists. That said, living in Centro Storico will give you a real taste of Roman life and surround you with stunning architecture.

Centro Storico has an abundance of tram and bus stops. Getting around this neighbourhood via public transport is simple, and you’ll have regular buses and trams operating.

Housing in Centro Storico is one of the priciest in Rome, and it can be hard to find. Centro Storico is such a hotspot for tourists, so most accommodation around here is short-term. Finding mid-to-long-term accommodation in Centro Storico can be tricky and expensive. If you can find a private room, it’ll cost at least €750/month to rent. Renting an apartment in Centro Storico will cost about €2,500/month.

Living as an international in Centro Storico is ideal as there’re plenty of internationals staying here. Again, with so many tourists, there’ll be more pickpockets, so be aware of your surroundings in Centro Storico. Otherwise, this neighbourhood is safe to live in.

Neighbourhood vibe: Alternative, artsy, community Average rent: €1,200/month Perfect for: Students and families

Ostiense was redeveloped from an industrial area of Rome to its current modern and funky residential status. It is known for its street art and alternative culture. Some of the old factories and warehouses have been repurposed to create an excellent but secluded nightlife in Ostiense. This means you’ll have the possibility of residential peace combined with an excellent party scene when you want to enjoy it, as the nightlife is quite separate from where people live.

Ostiense is a bit south of the centre of Rome, but you can get around Rome easily from Ostiense via the multiple transport options. Bus, metro, and train stations are dotted across the neighbourhood.

Ostiense is one of the more affordable neighbourhoods to live in Rome. Renting a room in Ostiense can be as cheap as €450/month while renting an apartment can cost as little as €1,400/month. Many students live in Ostiense, so if you’re looking for student living, this is the spot for you. Even though it’s a popular student spot, the residential side of Ostiense also attracts families; many families live here, too!

One thing about Ostiense is that while a decent international population is living here, many locals will prefer to speak Italian. It’s a good idea to learn some Italian to make your day-to-day life easier while living in Ostiense. Ostiense is a super safe neighbourhood to live in.

Neighbourhood vibe: Traditional, upper-class, luxurious Average rent: €2,000/month Perfect for: Young adults and families

Prati is located next to the Vatican and close to the heart of Rome. Its interesting location makes Prati a unique mix of tradition, religion, modernity, and tourism. Living here, you’ll meet a huge range of unique characters while living in one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Rome.

The Metro Line A goes through Prati, which keeps you well-connected to the rest of Rome. There’re also plenty of buses to get you around Prati itself and beyond. But Prati is very aesthetically pleasing, so walking is a great way to get around and take in the beauty of your new surroundings.

Finding a place to live in Prati is challenging. Prati has few mid-to-long-term rentals as most of the accommodation is used for tourism. This also makes it super expensive to live in Prati. If you can find a room in Prati, it’ll cost around €650 monthly to rent. An apartment in Prati can cost as much as €2,800 per month.

Prati is considered one of the fancier neighbourhoods in Rome, and it’s pretty quiet. It’s been compared to Paris by many people, so if that’s your vibe, Prati is the place for you. In Prati, life is peaceful; there’s plenty of greenery and wide streets full of restaurants and boutique shops to explore. Prati is incredibly safe to live in, too.

Neighbourhood vibe: Culinary, connected, affordable Average rent: €1,300/month Perfect for: Young adults and families

Testaccio has a reputation for being a foodies heaven in Rome. The market here is one of the main reasons people come to this neighbourhood. Living here, you’ll have fresh and affordable ingredients close to hand every day. You’ll live amongst many culinary experts and have incredible nightlife on your doorstep.

Testaccio is perhaps the best-connected neighbourhood outside of central Rome. You’ll have trains going through the neighbourhood to take you out of Rome, metro and trams to take you around Rome, and buses to take you around the neighbourhood.

Testaccio is another affordable neighbourhood in Rome, though finding a place to rent there can be tricky. Renting a room in Testaccio costs around €500/month, but they can be hard to come by. An apartment in Testaccio will cost about €1,500/month. People move to Testaccio and don’t want to leave, so finding a place there can take time.

Testaccio has a great nightlife that is secluded enough not to disrupt the whole neighbourhood. It’s got a great community vibe and plenty of excellent restaurants and cafes. It’s a safe neighbourhood in Rome that works for lots of people, regardless of their situation.

Neighbourhood vibe: Green, cosy, peaceful Average rent: €1,400/month Perfect for: Families and older people

Known as the greenest neighbourhood of Rome, Monteverde Vecchio is the place to be if you’re seeking a calm escape from the city lights. Villa Pamphilj and Gianicolo Hill are ideal for some tranquil time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. So much greenery and outdoor space attracts many families to this part of Rome.

Monteverde Vecchio is well-connected to central Rome via tram and bus lines. While there’s no metro line, you’ll get to one in no time using the other transport options if you need to. Quattro Venti train station can also be found in Monteverde Vecchio, so if you need to head out of the city, you’ll have a station nearby.

Monteverde Vecchio is one of the most affordable neighbourhoods in Rome. Monteverde Vecchio has plenty of accommodation options to browse that won't break the bank. You can rent a room here for about €500/month, while an apartment costs about €1,400/month.

You’ll find many locals living in Monteverde Vecchio, especially elderly Romans. This neighbourhood is a peaceful escape from the buzz of Rome, with plenty of schools, making it a perfect location for families moving to Rome.

Now that you’ve got a general impression of the top 7 neighbourhoods in the city, you’re ready to explore rental homes in Rome.. If you’re considering a neighbourhood not mentioned here, it might be worth ensuring it’s not an area you should avoid in Rome before you move. If you’ve got more questions about expat life in Rome, be sure to check out our guide for all the answers