Trastevere: Rome’s Coolest Neighborhood

My answer is a resounding YES.

What makes it cool aren’t the museums or the fancy restaurants, but rather the narrow, cobbled streets, the tiny houses, the colorful crowd and the laid-back atmosphere.

Best Hotels and B&Bs in Trastevere

Here’s my carefully curated list of the best hotels and bed & breakfasts in Trastevere.

Top pick: Horti 14 Borgo Trastevere

Horti 14 Borgo is a small and comfy hotel with private parking and modern, fully equipped rooms. This hotel is only 1km away from Campo de Fiori and 10 minutes’ walk from the central square in Trastevere. Horti 14 Borgo is also fairly close to the Vatican.

Click here to choose your dates and to see the room prices as of today.

Best value for money: Villa Riari Garden

Villa Riari Garden was on my shortlist due to its location, but also due to its affordable price. Located near Villa Farnesina and The Botanical Garden of Rome, Villa Riari is one of the best places to stay in Trastevere.

Click here to see the current room prices and some photos and to book your stay. If you travel solo, I’d suggest you book a double room anyway, as the economy single rooms are basic and very small. They don’t even have a private bathroom. For the price difference I’d go for a room upgrade.

Best for groups of friends: Charming San Cosimato Apartment

This two-bedroom apartment is located near Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 1.7 km from Piazza Venezia and 1km from Campo de’ Fiori.

This apartment has two bathrooms and a kitchen. You can cook your own food here. Even though I’m not a big fan of cooking while traveling, I’m happy to save money by making my own salads or sandwiches.

Click here to see the apartment price and the availability.

Where in Rome Is Trastevere?

Trastevere is located in the south of Rome, on the right bank of the Tiber. This neighborhood spreads over a fairly wide area that boasts some of the most beautiful places in Rome such as Piazza Santa Maria, the Botanical Garden and Villa Farnesina.

I discovered Trastevere during my first trip to Rome.

That time I had chosen to stay in Gianicolense, a few tram stations away from Trastevere and about 30 minutes by tram from Piazza Venezia. One of my friends, however, had told me that Trastevere was the coolest neighborhood of Rome.

My top two hotel choices were one in Gianicolense and this other one in Trastevere. I chose Gianicolense because the single room had a desk where I could do some work. Getting to this neighborhood of Rome from Ciampino Airport was fairly easy. I took a bus to Termini, and then another bus to Gianicolense.

I loved Gianicolense, but I felt I was a bit too far away from all those lovely monuments, ruins and museums in Rome. The next time I get to see the Eternal City, I’m going to book one of the best hotels in Trastevere.

How Far is Trastevere from Rome’s Center?

Trastevere is at 20-30 minutes of walking from Campo dei Fiori. This puts this cool neighborhood on the map as close to Rome’s center as it gets.

Keep in mind, though, that both Trastevere and Rome’s center are relatively wide areas, so you can easily end up walking way more than 30 minutes to get to various tourist objectives that are considered to belong to the city center.

What Are Some Things To See in Trastevere Rome?

Trastevere is a beautiful neighborhood in itself. Visit it without nay objective. Just roam around the narrow streets, look at people, enter some shops, enjoy a coffee or eat something at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Piazza Santa Maria & Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere

This is the heart of Trastevere, the place to be if you want to experience a slice of Roman life. Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere is a pre-medieval church with a beautiful mosaic facade.

People love to sit by the fountain in the middle of the square, to talk and to listen to music.

The Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico di Roma)

The Botanical Garden boasts a wide array of plant species, as well as a butterfly nursery. While in Rome, seek for special events such as wine tasting that take place in Orto Botanico di Roma.

Villa Farnesina

Here you can see one of the Caravaggio paintings in Rome. This renaissance style villa is surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Villa Farnesina is worth visiting, so take it into account when you calculate how many days to spend in Rome.

Galleria Corsini

On the opposite side of Villa Farnesina, on Via della Lungara, there’s Galleria Corsini, a former baroque palace and art gallery.

Both Villa Farnesina and Galleria Corsini are located on this long and calm street, which is a pleasure to walk along in the afternoon or early in the morning.

Fontana del Prigione in Trastevere

Located by the bottom of the hill in Trastevere, this charming little fountain is worth a quick stop. There are a few benches nearby, so you can simply sit and rest for a while before hitting the road again. Did I tell you that Rome itineraries involve a lot of walking?

Regardless of the number of days you can spend in Rome, make time to see Crypta Balbi, the museum that’s going to help you understand the history of this intriguing city.

Best Pasta in Trastevere

Trastevere is the place to eat in Rome.

In Trastevere I ate the best pasta ever, at Grazia & Graziella, one of the many restaurants in this area.

I also had grilled artichokes for the first time ever. They were delicious, but I could hardly call that a filling meal, so I was happy that I had also ordered spaghetti cacio pepe.

This spaghetti was divine! It’s hard to imagine that such a basic dish can be so satisfying!

Click here to see the geographical location of the Trastevere restaurant Grazia e Graziella on the map.

Shopping in Trastevere

Like all tourist neighborhoods, Trastevere is full of shops. You’ll find clothes, shoes and various souvenirs to take back home with you.

Getting to Ostia Beach from Trastevere is very easy, so you can choose to spend half-day or more swimming and getting a suntan.

Before you go:

Trastevere is an awesome neighborhood but it is not the only area that’s best for staying in Rome on your first trip. Read my next article to see what other options would suit you.

Where to stay in Rome: A Guide to the Best Neighborhoods

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