Where to stay in Rome for quick trip

I have the perfect place for you. Hotel Nazionale. It is a very nice hotel just a couple of blocks from the Pantheon on the same square the Italian Parliament building is on.

Is this your first trip and are you planning to hit all the major sites? If so, staying near the Pantheon is fine. My BFF lives equidistant from Piazza Navona and Pantheon, it’s interesting but so touristy....

OTOH, if you’ve been before and want a more local/neighborhood experience, consider a place in Trastevere, which is across the Tiber. You’ll have to walk a bit farther, but that will force you to see new things...and it’s more residential than the centro storico.

Hotel Nazionale is a good recommendation. I am going in November and will be staying in the Central District. If you are wanting to walk then that this the area you want to be in. Trastevere will give you more of a local experience but you will need to use Uber, taxi, or other public transport to get around. Make sure to check that your hotel has AC

I've stayed at the St. Regis in Rome. It is central to everything and very nice. Would recommend.

quote:

---

Stay at one of the hundred hotels next to tremini metro station and hop on to go nearly anywhere within 10 minutes. Very convenient.

---

Pretty sure this is a troll post. That is horrible advice. That area is Decatur St meets Mogadishu

Trastevere is fantastic because the nightlife is amazing, but also great ancient streets

Campo De Fiori is central to just about everything, and a good neighborhood

Check out private tours for the popular things you want to see, especially if you are short on time. I used Dark Rome for a private Vatican tour. Not only was the guide great, but it also saves a lot of time and aggravation dealing with lines and tickets. There are also Rome in a Day tours that drive you around to the see the highlites.

quote:

---

I can use part of third morning to catch anything if I feel the need to, but I only have 8 full days (not counting travel days) so I will prob be itching to get to Florence/Tuscany earlier than later that third day.

---

I dunno, Rome is pretty dense with things to see...and eat. Have you made a list of your "can't miss" sights in Rome? Some, like the Vatican Museums (the only way to see the Sistine Chapel), can take a half-day, easily.

Rome has far more to see/do than Florence, IMHO. Florence is primarily a site for Renaissance art, architecture, etc. whereas Rome is much older & has a plethora of ancient sites as well as fascinating stuff all the way to the present.

If you're planning well in advance, put in a request to visit the Scavi (the archaeological excavations beneath St. Peter's Basilica/Vatican). A very limited number of people get to visit each day, but it is completely incredible to descend beneath the modern St Peter's Square & church into the ancient, 1st-century Roman cemetery beneath it, containing the purported tomb of St. Peter himself. I'm not even remotely religious, and I was blown away by the entire experience. Seeing the graffiti scratched into the walls by ancient believers who stood in the same spot was profound. You can put in your reservation request here: Scavi Tour Request

We stayed near the Trevi Fountain at some small boutique hotel we found on hotels.com, I forget the name but it had good ratings but nothing really fancy. I did not really see many big name hotel in the old town area. 2 days is plenty of time for visiting. Make one day for the Forum and Colosseum and the second day for the Vatican.

quote:

---

I will prob be itching to get to Florence/Tuscany earlier than later that third day.

---

Arrange a tour through Montelcino with Franco Wine Tour. LINK He will pick you up at the main Station in Siena and you will visit 4 different family ran vineyards followed by an amazing dinner/pairing in Montalcino.

Some of the best wine in the world is produced in these parts. You can pick up some 100 pt Brunellos for around $30-50 a bottle. I loaded up on 2 cases of 2013.