Alternative accommodations in Rome

B&Bs, apartments, hostels, campgrounds—Where to stay (besides hotels) in Rome, Italy

Hotels aren't your only lodging options in Rome. In fact, hotels are often the most expensive options available, yet rarely are the most fun or remarkable. For a more memorable trip, you might want to try an alternative accommodation that (usually) costs less and (usually) affords you a better a chance to get closer to the local people and culture.

In Rome, I've rented apartments with view of St. Peter's dome or down the block from the Spanish Steps; stayed at B&Bs near Piazza Navona and the Pantheon; put up my entire boy scout troop on the cheap at hostels; and spent months living at a campground in a park just a bus ride north of the historic center.

Within an hour of meeting my Couchsurfing host a few years back, I was riding in his car to pick up a friend and take her to her surprise party at a Roman home (my arrival was an integral part of the ruse). Last—and far from least—it was at a Roman residence hotel in 1993 that I met the love of my life and future mother of my child.

None of that ever happens at a hotel, no matter how friendly the staff. And every single one of those experiences cost less than the local hotels (heck, the Couchsurfing was free).

Here are some of the best non-traditional places to stay in Rome:

Tips & links

Rome hotel & lodging links
Useful Italian for lodging
Rome's hotel tax
How long does Rome take?
Rome tours

Share this page

Intrepid Travel 25% off

Search ReidsItaly.com