All roads lead to Rome but where do you stay when you get there? From central boltholes to palazzos with a pool and hotels right next to legendary landmarks, we’ve compiled the definitive list of hotels ready for your next Roman holiday.
Even if your stay is short, the city is eternal, so we’ve picked 10 of the best hotels in Rome if you want to linger longer, perhaps forever…
FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS
Palazzo Ripetta
If you prefer luxury with a more discreet flavour, Palazzo Ripetta is the best hotel in Rome for you. The 17th-century palazzo, just set back from the banks of the Tiber, was once a shelter for unmarried women, and tokens of its history are on display throughout — you can browse photographs of the ladies exercising in the courtyard back in the day, or see the gloves they stitched for the Vatican.
As always in Italy, there are archaeologist-pleasing relics strewn throughout the place too, including a 3rd-century Roman emperor’s sarcophagus casually resting in the courtyard. The hotel has a rooftop that’s primed for sundowners, a church-like frescoed event space, tables set up in the courtyard and an impressive array of artworks — spanning pieces by Keith Haring-collaborator Angel Ortiz and almost-centenarian Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Best room for first-timers Settle into a spacious Junior Suite to feel like locals for the weekend in your own refined Roman retreat.
Design details All eras are covered here, from antiquity to late 20th-century American graffiti hanging in the bar. The rooms have stately features, including panelled walls, parquet floors, marble bathrooms and strong colour combinations.
Something to eat There’s a smart restaurant — San Baylon — at the hotel, which hosts a weekly themed brunch on Sundays — along with courtyard bistro-and-bar offering Piazzetta Ripetta, and two more bars (one on the roof). But you’re in central Rome and great pasta is never far away: around the corner is classic Roman restaurant Frezza; or head to hyper-modern Retrobottega, which could not be further from a trad trattoria but is still worthy of your dining consideration.
See the sights The palazzo is directly between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Spagna, and all of the other Centro Storico landmarks are easily reached on foot, too.
FOR SPA SPOILING
Six Senses Rome
More often seen on a Thai island or Vietnamese beach, Six Senses succumbed to the bright lights of the city and debuted in Rome in 2023. Of course, the brand’s first urban adventure in Italy brought a super spa along for the ride — fittingly, it has a full Roman-style thermal suite, complete with laconiums and tepidariums.
The hotel keeps the past present — peer down by the back entrance near the signature Earth Lab (where you can partake in wholesome activities, such as making beeswax wrap) and you’ll see an ancient baptismal font, tucked into the historic layers beneath the building.
Best room for spa-seekers For space and serenity, book a Terrace Junior Suite, which feels like a small apartment. There’s a neutral-toned travertine bathroom with a walk-in shower, plus views of the neighbouring landmarks from your sunny terrace.
Design details The hotel is set in a staggeringly grand former private palazzo, with a supersize marble staircase as its centrepiece. The Patricia Urquiola-designed rooms seamlessly blend an air of Asian wellness with sleek Italian styling; the warm lighting is especially ambient.
Something to eat Unsurprisingly, breakfasts help you get your five a day in early, with a juice bar and vinegar shots on hand for everyone who wants them (pastries for everyone else). Bivium, the hotel’s restaurant-café-bar space, has a more international flavour, leaving the pasta classics to the local experts on your doorstep. Between spring and autumn, the rooftop is open for cocktails with a view.
See the sights The hotel is at the top of Via del Corso, close to ‘the Wedding Cake’, also known as the Vittorio Emanuele II monument (visible from some of the rooms with private terraces). You’ll be able to wander up into Monti (Rome’s coolest neighbourhood) and over to the Colosseum and the Forum.
FOR SIGHTSEEING
Palazzo delle Pietre
If you like rocks (as we’re guessing many of you antiquity-hunters do), you’ll love Palazzo delle Pietre, the passion project of a devoted collector who needed a home to showcase his many wares. In fact, there are so many artefacts on display that the name — which means ‘palace of stones’ — is rather apt; it’s almost like staying in a museum, only one with a spa in the basement, a rooftop terrace and a five-star concierge on hand to direct you to the best local restaurants (of which there are many).
The project is a labour of love by the family who acquired the palazzo in the early 2010s — every last piece of fabric is handpicked by them. They even have their own line of Ginori ceramics, colour-matched to the building’s original façade.
Best room for budding archaeologists Each suite has a handy folder cataloguing the works on show in your room.
Design details The spacious apartment-style suites have been designed to feel like your own private Roman pied-à-terre, with small kitchens, high ceilings (many with original fresco details) and, naturally, lots of stonemasonry on show.
Something to eat The concierge can do some grocery shopping for you and will deliver a light breakfast — for more sustenance, there’s an espresso bar nearby on Via delle Coppelle. Lots of fine Roman establishments are on your doorstep too, including Trattoria Antonio and the lively Osteria delle Coppelle around the corner on Piazza delle Coppelle.
See the sights Roman retreats don’t get much more central than this — should you wish, from your window, you could toss a pizza into the hole at the top of the Pantheon; and you can reach Piazza Navona in seconds.
FOR A HONEYMOON
Palazzo Talìa
Rome has many spots that would please a location scout, but for filmic interiors, it has to be Palazzo Talìa, whose decor was in part presided over by the acclaimed Italian director Luca Guadagnino. The art-house accommodation respects its historic backdrop, with frescoes, friezes and classical sculptures all on display.
The setting itself is of note, too — it’s where the Aqua Virgo aqueduct once ran. Over the centuries, the palazzo has been home to aristocrats and abbots (including the secretary to Pope Leo X, who built a house on this site), later becoming a school for the poor.
Best room for honeymooners High ceilings come as standard in all rooms and suites, as do art and architectural gems (from marble busts to Bocci chandeliers) — but the Terrace Suite, designed by Studio Luca Guadagnino, has outdoor space overlooking the courtyard for alfresco breakfasts, a curving blush-pink sofa and ridged wooden accents.
Design details Unsurprisingly for an aesthete such as Guadagnino, the interiors are a series of perfect vignettes, with the perfect amount of colour saturation.
Something to eat At Tramae, the quality seasonal ingredients steal the scene, used to create traditional Roman dishes, alongside Sorrentine and Venetian plates: squid with cacio e pepe sauce, lemon risotto, and spaghetti with clams and tomatoes grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
See the sights The palazzo is perfectly placed between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and, by default, the rest of the Centro Storico.
TO STAY NEAR THE SPANISH STEPS
Piazza di Spagna 9
The Spanish Steps have been immortalised in popular culture at various moments over the years, from an effortlessly chic Cate Blanchett crossing them in The Talented Mr. Ripley to the glamorous staircase supplying the backdrop as Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn enjoyed an ice-cream in Roman Holiday. The Romantic poet John Keats travelled here in 1820 while consumptive, seeking a milder climate, but passed away in February 1821 — his final dwelling place is now a museum in his honour (along with Percy Bysshe Shelley’s).
For a Grand Tour of your own, Piazza di Spagna 9 is the ultimate address, with six individually designed suites, linked by curving corridors, and lots of artworks. The concierge will gladly manage every aspect of your trip, from airport pick-ups and low-key check-ins to hiring the hammam for a spa treatment.
Best room for Spanish sights The Sunrise junior suite overlooks the famous piazza; otherwise, the communal lounge has windows that open onto the square for an especially rousing morning vista.
Design details The boutique hotel has enough paintings, sculptures and installations to fill a small gallery. The floors are a glossy white resin, and the headboards in the rooms are particularly inventive.
Something to eat There’s no restaurant at the hotel, but if you’re a fan of elevenses or afternoon tea, two of Rome’s most historic cafés are within a scone’s throw: Babington’s Tea Rooms is just off the steps and Antico Caffè Greco is around the corner on Via dei Condotti. These esteemed establishments were founded in 1893 and 1760 respectively.
See the sights You’re perfectly placed for exploring the delights of the Tridente, the three roads (Babuino, Corso, Ripetta) that fork off from Piazza del Popolo, which include the antique stores along Via Margutta. It’s also easy to ascend from here into the Villa Borghese Gardens.
TO STAY NEAR THE TREVI FOUNTAIN
Casacau
If you have your coins ready to toss or are on a return visit having successfully thrown a Euro into the water last time, Casacau is the hotel for all Trevi Fountain devotees. The 17th-century building is just steps away from the famous Baroque masterpiece, with Sixties-inspired apartment-style suites that any self-respecting Italian fashionista would be proud to call their casa.
The passionate owners are on hand to be your local guides, happily revealing their secret spots, whether you want to go in search of your own vintage treasures or just need somewhere for a drink.
Best room for couples There’s a mini sauna for two in the Studio Apartment or you can up the romance in the Master Apartment, which has a secret passageway leading through a cupboard to an inward-facing balcony.
Design details There are lots of vintage and contemporary pieces on show throughout, with antique trinkets, colourful kitchenettes and fit-for-a-fresco headboards.
Something to eat There’s no restaurant at Casacau, but if you’re planning to get busy in your kitchenette, the team can direct you to local markets and grocery stores to stock up on some amazing Italian produce. They can also arrange food deliveries, from pizzas to morning pastries.
See the sights As fountains go, this one’s pretty special and so should be your first port of call, particularly if you’re falling for the city and would like to manifest a return. A staggering €1.5 million worth of coins are chucked in by hopeful tourists annually.
FOR A SMALL HOTEL
Hotel de’ Ricci
There are just eight suites at Hotel de’ Ricci, so it’s the perfect hotel in Rome for boutique purists. It’s a little away from the action in the residential Regola neighbourhood (and all the better for it), close to the banks of the River Tiber. The exclusive air is helped along further by the red ropes guarding the entrance — but as a guest, your name’s firmly on the list.
It’s also the peak Roman residence for oenophiles, since the cellar holds no fewer than 1,500 different labels, which you can enjoy in the speakeasy-style bar.
Best room for wining and dining Each of the eight suites has a small table and chairs at which to enjoy a bottle of wine and some room-service bites, but they’ll taste even better out on a courtyard-facing terrace or balcony from the outdoor-space-enhanced rooms.
Design details Velvet curtains, polished brass, vintage Italian furniture and plenty of polished wood create the timeless glamour around here.
Something to eat There’s no restaurant at the hotel but the bar more than makes up for it, and not just with its impressive cellar. If you’ve had one Negroni too many (mixed up tableside, courtesy of the mobile bar), a menu of gourmet bar food is on hand to help.
See the sights Amble along the banks of the River Tiber, or cross it to reach Vatican City and St Peter’s Square. Back towards the Centro Storico, it’s close to Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona.
FOR FAMILIES
Hotel de la Ville
The Rocco Forte group owns several stand-out properties all over Italy and beyond, including the legendary (no exaggeration) Hotel de Russie right here in Rome. At the top of the Spanish Steps along from the Trinità dei Monti church on Via Sistina, Hotel de la Ville is the newer stablemate already on its way to greatness.
This family-friendly Rome hotel offers lots of activities for guests of all ages, including urban safaris for little explorers, where they’ll go in search of the marble animals which adorn the architecture. Bathrooms can be set up with baby-kind bath products, hooded towels and rubber ducks, and kitchen equipment from sterilisers and bottle-warmers to high-chairs and bibs are available on request. You’ll also be able to borrow mobiles, play mats and night lamps.
Best room for families The Family Rooms sleep four, but for more space opt for a Family Suite or Family Junior Suite, which are formed from two connected rooms or suites.
Design details As with most of the other hotels in the Rocco Forte collection, design doyenne Olga Polizzi oversaw the renovation of this 18th-century palazzo, during which a vast Irene Forte Spa was added.
Something to eat Choose between a table next to the open kitchen or a seat out on the courtyard for breakfast at Mosaico. Before heading out for dinner, don’t miss aperitivo up on the Cielo rooftop. There’s also Café Ginori, a must for ceramics enthusiasts, who will likely be more enamoured of the plates than the food.
See the sights You only need to head up to the Cielo rooftop and secure a red-striped seat to enjoy some of the best views of Rome. Further afield, stroll down Via Sistina towards Via Nazionale to reach the Monti district, or head west past the church and up into the Villa Borghese Gardens.
FOR ROMANCE
JK Place Roma
Why stay in a hotel when you can stay in a home instead? More precisely, JK’s place, which is just as inviting as it sounds. JK Place Roma is not far from the banks of the Tiber, which means it will be easy to cross over into the charming Trastevere neighbourhood. The tourists have discovered it, but it still has a more authentic, local feel.
The casa is set in the city’s former school of architecture, itself within a 17th-century palazzo — the classrooms are now bedrooms, with a mid-century makeover. The group’s ethos is to make you feel at home: check-in is done over a prosecco or caffè as you relax in a sleek seat, and you won’t see a bill in sight until you depart.
Best room for romance For a chance at a dramatic Shakespearean moment, it has to be a room with a rooftop view from its balcony.
Design details This is your dream Roman home from home: a statue-graced communal lounge in chic grey tones, a cosy wood-panelled bar and possibly the best use of mint-green paint ever.
Something to eat JK Café is as relaxed as you’d hope, with all-day dining — wholesome dishes such as nonna’s meatballs, parmigiana di melanzane, and comforting plates of carbonara and cacio e pepe — available until 10.30pm.
See the sights If you’re not feeling stylishly attired enough to keep up with the other guests, head down to the boutiques of the Via del Corso or (if the budget allows) Via dei Condotti.
FOR LUXURY
Palazzo Roma
Be ushered in away from the crowds of Via del Corso (Rome’s main drag) and into the luxurious embrace of Palazzo Roma. It might be an aristocratic sort of stay (and the former residence of various noble families), but they haven’t gone neutral with the colour — instead, it’s an unrestrained display of stripes and bold shades (olive-green banquettes and blue-frame-covered walls in the bar; yellow cushions on a fuchsia sofa in one of the suites).
The grandeur continues with stately stucco staircases, cherub-graced ceilings and arched windows watching out over Via del Corso below. You’ll feel like a patrician in no time.
Most luxurious room Out of 39 rooms, 22 are suites, so there’s no shortage of opulent high-ceilinged lodgings here. We love the Roof Terrace Suites on the top floor for a view of the Roman rooftops.
Design details The palazzo has successfully retained its grandeur for the past few centuries, with oversize chandeliers and marble statuary keeping it as regal as ever.
Something to eat The food can’t really compete with the elaborate backdrop at Core Restaurant, where the full-sleeve frescoes adorn every corner of the walls and ceiling. You’ll also be able to enjoy light bites in the Sala della Musica.
See the sights Hit the shopping street on your doorstep or whizz round the rest of the Centro Storico — Rome hotels don’t come much better placed than this.
Ready to book a Roman holiday? See the rest of our collection of hotels in Rome or plot the perfect weekend there