Wondering about budget hotel options in Rome? In this guide, we’ll cover where to stay in Rome without breaking the bank.
With its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and marvelous architecture, Rome is a default tourist destination for those looking to visit Italy. However, many would-be tourists hesitate to visit Italy’s capital city for economic reasons. It’s a shame since there are many ways to save on your budget and still get your dream trip to Rome.
For example, finding a cheap hotel in Rome instead of a 5-star hotel can help free up more of your trip budget for transportation, souvenirs, and other expenses, so it’s best to look over your options in preparing for a trip to the Eternal City. To help with that concern, here’s a list of the best cheap hotels in Rome, arranged by location.
Why arrange the list of budget hotels by location?
One of the key aspects of a successful stay in Rome is choosing the lodgings that are closest to your desired destinations and activities.
Rome has an excellent train system, and getting a hotel near Roma Termini, Rome’s most important train station, can immensely help with your travel arrangements. Hostels located near other metro stations are good options, too.
However, you still have to spend precious time getting to and from different destinations. Getting a room near the places you want to visit, like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, or the Vatican City, can help mitigate travel time and expenses and allow you to walk to your destination, giving you the chance to speak with the locals, find different shops and restaurants along the way, and get yourself a closer look at Italy’s culture and architecture.
So always remember: whenever possible, get accommodations near the locations of what you want to see and do in Rome.
Roma Termini Train Station
As we frequently repeat on this site, Italy has an excellent public transportation system. Roma Termini, being the most central train station in all of Rome, gives tourists and citizens access to direct, regional, national, and international train lines.
It offers many services you mostly find in airports that specifically cater to travelers from all corners, including the availability of several alternative modes of transportation a few steps away from its doors. The station’s distinctive block facade and the cantilevered canopy are a mainstay in modern Italian architecture. Tourists and travelers looking to find the best place to start or end their journeys won’t find anywhere better than the Roma Termini Train Station.
Best Budget Hotel near Termini Train Station: Hotel Marcantonio
After building a competitive list of the best budget options for your stay in Rome, we believe that nothing beats Hotel Marcantonio for its great value without compromising on class or customer service.
Quick Overview
| Hotel Name | Hotel Marcantonio |
|---|---|
| Classification | 2-star hotel |
| Google Rating | 4.3 stars / 631 reviews |
| Noted for | Beautiful and quaint room designs, impressive value, top-tier customer and concierge service, a wide range of accommodation options, excellent location near historic landmarks |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Roma Termini Station: 5 minutes
Piazza Barberini: 15 minutes
The Colosseum: 17 minutes
Spanish Steps: 21 minutes
The Pantheon: 27 minutes
Trastevere: 41 minutes
Located at Via Cavour 47 at Rome’s historic center, with a 4.3-star rating from over 600 reviews on Google, this beautiful yet unpretentious hotel features individually decorated, space-saving rooms that offer everything you might need for your stay in the Eternal City.
The walk from Termini Train Station will take you about three to five minutes, tops, and you’re immediately surrounded by hundreds of shops and restaurants right at the beating heart of Rome. You can get to the Colesseum in under twenty minutes by train, car, or even if you decide to walk there for maximum exposure to Italian city life.
Hotel Marcantonio offers the usual room features like air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast (with gluten-free options upon request), room service, paid parking, common item requests like iron and sewing equipment, laundry services (we suggest you discuss this with staff prior to your arrival,) and accessibility for differently-abled guests. The hotel also offers a variety of room options for different space requirements, from single-occupant lodgings to quadruple rooms. Once you’re done with your stay, you can ask the friendly staff to park your luggage or keep them in storage before your departure.
And as if that’s not enough, Hotel Marcantonio also has what they call “Aladdin’s Lamp.” Any customer can request a special day or night activity, and the hotel will assist them in planning the experience through local operators and venues. Favorite guest activities range from booking a night drive around the streets of Rome in a limousine to getting reservations at one of the best rooftop restaurants with city views. But don’t think that that’s all they can do — make your wish, and Hotel Marcantonio will do its level best to make it happen. This is perfect for surprises to loved ones or if you simply want to make the most out of your stay.
Bed and Breakfast option near Termini Station: Termini Terrace
If you prefer the experience of a bed and breakfast over Rome hotels, Termini Terrance is a great choice for you.
Quick Overview
| Hotel Name | Termini Terrace |
|---|---|
| Classification | Bed and Breakfast |
| Google Rating | 4.6 stars / 60 reviews |
| Noted for | Clean environment, proximity to tourists attractions, excellent personal service |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Roma Termini Station: 5 minutes
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore: 2 minutes
The Roman Forum: 10 minutes
The Colosseum: 15 minutes
Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps: 20 minutes
This B&B is only a short walk away from Roma Termini and near the Colosseum. The rooms in this bed and breakfast are elegant and well-equipped, offering both the best hotel services with the intimacy of a private apartment. Guests have noted the cleanliness and adaptability of Termini Terrance, with some of them arriving earlier than check-in and finding their rooms already prepared. Single bedrooms have a desk, a chair, and full HD television with complimentary access to Netflix. Breakfast is served in the kitchen in the morning, where you can chat with other guests. Other amenities include:
- Daily cleaning service
- Air conditioning
- Fridge
- Hair dryer
- Luggage room
- Free city maps
- Towels and bed linen change
- Tea and infusion kettle
- Independent heating
- Courtesy kit
- Soundproof, no-smoking rooms (smoking is allowed on the terrace)
- Fast internet connection in the whole B&B
- Iron
- Laundry (paid service)
Trevi Fountain
Originally designed by Nicola Salvi, Trevi Fountain (Three-street Fountain) stands at the junction of three roads and is the location of one of the oldest water sources in Rome. It was built as the endpoint of a Roman aqueduct that supplied water to the ancient city. It is the largest fountain in the city and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Rome, featuring the majestic sculpture of the Titan Oceanus in his chariot, pulled by one wild and one calm horse, representing the two moods of the sea (A lot of people think that this is Neptune, which is a common mistake.)
Tossing a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand is widely believed to ensure a safe return to Rome, which is why you’ll see a lot of tourists performing the ritual in an enthusiastic display of their desire to return to the Eternal City.
The best budget place to stay near Trevi Fountain: Hotel Hiberia
Situated in Via XXIV Maggio near Rome’s center, Hotel Hiberia is one of the best places to start your Italian excursion.
Quick Overview
| Hotel Name | Hotel Hiberia |
|---|---|
| Classification | 3-star hotel |
| Google Rating | 4.3 stars / 1,044 reviews |
| Noted for | Friendly staff, cozy rooms, proximity to tourist attractions, continental breakfast |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Trevi Fountain: 7 minutes
Roma Termini Station: 21 minutes
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore: 15 minutes
The Roman Forum: 6 minutes
The Colosseum: 12 minutes
Situated in Via XXIV Maggio near Rome’s center, Hotel Hiberia is one of the best places to start your trip to Rome. This budget hotel offers great value in a prime location in Rome’s historic center. Reviewers have repeatedly noted its cozy ambiance, quite unlike the bustle of the city outside. Hotel Hiberia offers tiled rooms with soft carpets and beautiful woodwork, ranging from standard to exclusive suites that include sitting rooms and fully equipped baths. They also have the budget room option with everything you need for your stay in Rome. Additional amenities include:
- Desk
- Ironing Facilities
- Heating
- Shower
- Hairdryer
- Free toiletries
- Bidet
- Telephone
- Satellite Channel
- Minibar
- Electric Kettle
- Alarm clock
Bed and Breakfast option near Trevi Fountain: Residenza Sciarra B&B
With gorgeously appointed rooms at reasonable prices, Residenza Sciarra is the perfect place for an intimate Rome getaway on a budget.
Quick Overview
| Hotel Name | Residenza Sciarra B&B |
|---|---|
| Classification | Bed and Breakfast |
| Google Rating | 4.6 stars / 67 reviews |
| Noted for | Cozy and elegant rooms, very friendly staff, transportation arrangements |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Trevi Fountain: 4 minutes
Roma Termini Station: 10 minutes
The Colosseum: 19 minutes
Near-unanimous praise has been given to the staff, and the B&B is always willing to work with their guests for whatever their needs, including services like transportation arrangements and luggage storage after checkout. Breakfast is served in the dining room, and guests have access to the lounge with a flat-screen TV.
Vatican City
Standing as the headquarters of one of the largest organized religions on Earth, Vatican City is a cultural, historical, and architectural wonder that should always be a part of any trip to Rome. The smallest city-state in the world carries an impressive collection of the world’s most prominent art and artifacts spanning centuries.
St. Peter’s Basicila and St. Peter’s Square, the product of the minds of Michelangelo Bernini, are among the world’s most beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture. The seat of the Roman Catholic Church has a lot to offer to visitors, with its galleries, museums, and, with the right access, the Vatican Apostolic Archives (previously known as the Vatican Secret Archives.) If you want to see the sights of Vatican City, then consider these budget hotels when you get to Rome.
Best budget hotel near the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica: Vatican City Relais
Vatican City Relais features 11 rooms oriented towards space-saving and comfort.
Quick Overview
| Hotel Name | Vatican City Relais |
|---|---|
| Classification | 2-star hotel |
| Google Rating | 4.4 stars / 150 reviews |
| Noted for | Clean and spacious rooms, buffet breakfast, tea- and coffee-making facilities, balcony view, limousine service |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Vatican City Center: 28 minutes
St. Peter’s Basilica: 29 minutes
Piazza Navona: 44 minutes
The hotel offers amenities like flat-screen TV and internet, a minibar, independent air conditioning, access to hairdryers, and coffee and tea machines. Rooms are cleaned daily, and the dining room is shared with other guests. You can sign up for various guided tours right from the hotel, featuring luxury buses with multilingual guides. Relais also offers personalized transfers to and from the airport with their trusted limousine service at the cost of a regular taxi ride, making it a great budget hotel choice for your trip to Rome.
Best Bed and Breakfast near Vatican City: Bed & Breakfast Vatican Town
A few steps away from St. Peter’s Basilica is Bed & Breakfast Vatican Town, this quaint little B&B offers a relaxing stay at the Eternal City on a budget.
| Hotel Name | Bed & Breakfast Vatican Town |
|---|---|
| Classification | Bed and Breakfast |
| Google Rating | 4.4 stars / 507 reviews |
| Noted for | Great value, proximity to the walls of Vatican City and the Ottaviano Metro Station, clean rooms, friendly and helpful host, |
Walking distance to tourist attractions:
Vatican City Center: 19 minutes
St. Peter’s Basilica: 9 minutes
Vatican Museums: 7 minutes
B&B Vatican Town offers the basic amenities of a hotel at a fraction of the price. The simple but beautiful rooms are lovingly prepared for each guest, and the location is near one of the city’s metro stations. Aside from that, this B&B is very close to the walls of Vatican City, making it a great choice for your excursion into the heart of the Roman Catholic faith.
Bonus video: Have your dream vacation in Italy without breaking the bank
Frequently asked questions
Excellent question! You can use this information and compare them to your preferences and requirements in your search for a budget hotel or lodgings in Rome.
Hotels are commercial establishments that offer travelers a range of services and amenities. They typically have private rooms with en-suite bathrooms and may provide additional facilities such as restaurants, bars, fitness centers, and conference rooms. Hotels in Italy are categorized by a star rating system, ranging from one to five stars, which reflects the level of service, facilities, and comfort they offer. Higher-rated hotels generally provide more luxurious accommodations.
Hostels are budget-friendly accommodations that cater primarily to young travelers, backpackers, and groups. They usually provide dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds, although some hostels may also offer private rooms. Common areas like kitchens, lounges, and communal bathrooms are often shared among guests.
Boutique hotels are smaller, often independently-owned establishments that offer a more intimate and personalized experience. They typically have a unique style and design, with attention to detail and a distinct ambiance.
B&Bs are typically family-owned or operated accommodations that offer a more home-like atmosphere. They are characterized by several rooms, often within a private residence or a small building. B&Bs in Italy often serve breakfast as part of the accommodation package, which is usually homemade and locally sourced.
Rome on a budget is absolutely possible. However, you don’t want to just cut corners without considering other factors. Here are some of our tried and tested qualifications for choosing hotels in our travels.
Customer ratings- This may be controversial, but it has worked wonderfully for us so far.
Our rule of thumb when it comes to trying out anything in Italy — be it restaurants, boutique hotels, hostels, villas, or tours — is that we check them on Google Ratings beforehand. Anything below a 4.0 score is an immediate pass for us. Frankly, even a 4.0 rating has us on the fence. This way, we always get our money’s worth without compromising on comfort or convenience. If you want to emulate this strategy, always check ratings on Google and other websites for more information.
Accommodations and services – Lodgings around Rome usually have the basics in hotel amenities: wifi, parking, free breakfast, minibars, laundry rooms, concierge service, access to common electronic devices like hair dryers, etc. In some cases, guests might need extra things, like pet accommodations, fitness centers, wheelchair access, PWD parking, and other similar amenities. Looking through the hotel’s website or Google Overview usually answers these questions. If not, then feel free to contact the hotel (we suggest calling or sending them a message via phone instead of emailing them for prompt assistance.)
Yes, they are. However, hotels offer more services and value, so it all comes down to preference and group requirements.
The months of Rome and Italy’s shoulder season (April, May, September, and October) are great times to visit if you want to maximize savings.