Rome/Modern Center

The Modern Center of Rome is not hard to find as the Termini Station brings you into the west edge of it. As you leave the station, the Castro Pretorio neighborhood is to your right, with many smaller hotels. To the left the main roads of Via Cavour and Via Nazionale lead down the hill. Larger hotels here, catering more for groups than independent travellers.
Termini Station is a major bus hub with buses to all parts of town. Beware taxi drivers who operate at the station as it seems to attract the most crooked ones. Get a cab from the rank and ignore the drivers who solicit you outside the station. Always insist that you see the meter is turned on after you get into the cab. No matter what time of day or night the starting price should never be more than €6 (during the day less) and a figure 1 on the meter should indicate that the correct rate is being applied. A legitimate extra fee of €2 is levied for all rides beginning at the station.

• Trevi FountainCompleted in 1762 to a design by Nicola Salvi, this spectacular Baroque fountain features a mythological sculptural composition of Neptune, god of the sea, flanked by two Tritons: one Triton labours to control a violent sea-horse, the other controls a pacified creature, both symbolising the dual nature of the world's oceans. The location of the Trevi fountain marks the terminus of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct, completed in 19 BCE in order to supply the Baths of Agrippa, and is so named on account of its position at the junction of three roads (tre vie). The legend says that one who throws a coin in the fountain shall one day return to Rome. The coins in the fountain are regularly collected to finance charities. The fountain has been made even more famous by the 1954 film, Three Coins in the Fountain, and by a famous scene in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita. According to popular superstition and custom, throwing coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain is a practice endowed with good luck. Throwing one coin ensures that the thrower will return to Rome; throwing two coins will ensure that the thrower will fall in love with a beautiful Roman girl (or handsome boy); throwing three coins, finally, ensures that the thrower will marry that girl or boy in Rome itself.

• Via VenetoIt was immortalized in 1960 by the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita. It is also the location of the US Embassy, in the massive Palazzo Margherita. Via Veneto went into a period of decline in the 1980s but has returned to popularity and the roadside cafes are the place to be seen if you are into that sort of thing.

• Servian wallsRemains of the first city walls, built in the early 4th century BC and attributed to king Servius Tullius.

• Capuchin Monastery

  address: Via Veneto
  Built after 1631, the crypt of the church contains a macabre display - a series of chapels decorated with the bones of 3700 dead friars. The bones are glued to the walls and ceilings in bizarre and striking decorations.

• Le Quattro Fontane

  address: Intersection of Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale
  Four fountains from the time of Pope Sixtus V when much of Rome was redeveloped. A reclining deity is the theme of each sculpture. This is a busy intersection and if you don't look twice you may miss these exquisite examples of Roman mythology.

• Palazzo Massimo

  phone: +39 06 39967700
  A magnificent collection of ancient Roman sculptures, mosaics and wall paintings, including the famous paintings from the Imperial-era villa discovered under the Villa Farnesina, as well as the dining room from the Empress Livia's villa at Prima Porta. Located across the piazza from Termini, opposite the Baths of Diocletian.

• Rome's National Museum at the Baths of Diocletian

  address: Via Enrico de Nicola 79
  On the site of the Roman baths this museum houses an enormous collection of statues, etc.

• Palazzo Barberini

  phone: +39 06 482 4184
  address: Via Quattro Fontane 13
  This remarkable building, designed partly by Bernini, houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art, and includes some famous paintings by Filippo Lippi and Caravaggio, as well as Raphael's "La Fornarina".

• Piazza BarberiniWith Bernini's famous Triton Fountain. Via Veneto starts here too.

• Palazzo del Quirinale

  phone: +39 06 39 96 75 57
  address: Via del Quirinale
  Home of the President of the Italian Republic, and the Quirinal Gardens. Built in 1573 as a papal summer residence, and has since also served as the residence for the pope and later for the king of Italy.

• San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

  phone: +39 06 48 83 261
  address: Via del Quirinale, 23
  A very small and beautiful church, the first design commission of Francesco Borromini.

• Santa Maria degli Angeli

  phone: +39 06 48 80 812
  address: Via Cernaia 9
  This church was built inside the former baths of Diocletian. Very light and airy inside. Note the unusual art on the outside doors. Around solar noon check out the sun's image on Francesco Bianchini's meridian line inside.

• Santa Maria della VittoriaNow unfortunately invaded by readers of Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" this is an interesting Baroque church containing Bernini's "Ecstasy of St. Teresa". Either side of this chapel are characters in what can best be described as theatre boxes. These are members of the Cornaro family, who paid for Bernini's sculpture. (As of Feb 2015, not visible due to restoration work.)

• St Paul's Within the WallsMore modern than most Roman churches: it was not started until 1873. This is Rome’s Episcopalian church. Some very interesting artwork, particularly the mosaics by Edward Burne-Jones of the Pre-Raphaelite school.

• British Embassy

  address: Via XX Settembre 80
  At the northern end of Via XX Settembre next to the Michaelangelo-designed Porta Pia. The previous embassy had been destroyed by a terrorist bomb in 1946 and was eventually replaced by this world-renowned modern design by Sir Basil Spence. It was built on stilts so as not to interrupt the view of the garden.

• Palazzo Colonna

  phone: +39 06 6784350
  address: Via della Pilotta, 17 (entrance)
  One of the most splendid (still private) Baroque grand palaces in Rome.

• Palazzo delle Esposizioni

  address: Via Nazionale 194
  Rotating exhibitions, usually three at one time. Exhibition descriptions normally provided in both Italian and English. Avoid Sunday morning, when the Romans go, as queues to get in can be long.

• Scuderie del Quirinale

  address: Via XXIV Maggio 16,
  Former stables of the Quirinal Palace, now an exhibition centre that usually hosts some excellent art shows.

For a little bit of shopping, the Via Nazionale is perfect: souvenirs, clothes, Italian shoes, etc. But the main attraction is without a doubt, the Via Veneto.

• al Piccolo Arancino

  address: Vicolo Scanderberg 112
  Small restaurant with a lot of Italian guests (but they are tourists, not romans...) and moderate prices.

• Aquila Nera, Ristorante Pizzeria

  address: Via Principe Amedeo 49-5
  A street side restaurant with excellent food, attentive service and warm atmosphere. Eat outside or inside, depending on the weather. Try the fish fillet baked in potato which should please anyone who likes fish - it is excellent. Their marketing says they are a pub, perhaps to pull in tourists hankering after home but this is an Italian restaurant. The waiters hustle passers by into becoming satisfied diners. The white table cloths, linen and cutlery are presentable. The menu is varied and does not stress Pizza, though they do have it. There are a variety of meat and fish dishes and pasta. The house wine is modest but good value. There seems to be no wine list.

• Est! Est! Est !!!

  phone: +39 06 48 81 107
  address: Via Genova, 32
  The chefs here make a relatively small but amazingly good pizza. The calzone, one of their specialities, is excellent too. The staff speak English, and this is one of the few places where there are both plenty of tourists and very good food. Reservation is advisable. To cause confusion, there is another EST,EST,EST pizzeria in the same neighborhood.

• Il Gelato di San Crispino

  address: Via della Panetteria 42
  Considered one of the best ice creams in Rome. Check out the meringue ice creams and the fruit sorbets according to the season.

• Castroni

  phone: +39 06-20369680
  address: Via Nazionale 71
  Coffee bar upstairs, delicatessen downstairs. Stocks all sorts of imported food products to satisfy the homesick traveller.

• Gelateria Blue Ice

  phone: +39 06 67 96 762
  address: Via delle Muratte 18a/19
  An excellen ice-cream, one minute walk from Fontana di Trevi

• Dagnino Tea Room, Galleria

  phone: +39 064818660
  address: Esedra Via V. Emanuele Orlando 75
  If you haven't tried a "Cannolo" or a "Cassatina" then get one here, they are simply great. Don't sit at the tables (it's pretty expensive) just take them away. Good pastries too.

• Harrys BarYou can't visit Via Veneto and not go to Harrys Bar, immortalized in Fellinis' La Dolce Vita Harrys' is now a swanky upmarket bar/eatery where celebs can still be spotted. A piano bar. Sometimes guest artists availed themselves of the piano and entertain the patrons. For example, Australian Pianist Fiona Cohn played there.

Budget

• Alessandro Hostels

  phone: +39 06-446-1958
  address: Via Vicenza 42
  Other brach: Alessandro Downtown, Via C. Cattaneo 23. 2nd Floor, +39 06 443 40 147. All locations are 5 minutes on foot from Termini, include free breakfast, free linens, no curfew, cheap internet, video security, free pizza parties at the Palace pub, internet PCs & Wi-Fi available at both hostels.

• Domus Castrense Guest House Rome

  phone: +39 06 4469195
  address: Viale dell' Università 25
  Single, double and triple bedrooms with private bath, TV LCD, breakfast, internet connection, telephone and mini bar for this guest house of Rome.

• Evergreen B&B

  phone: +39 06 44363186
  address: Via Milazzo 23
  No curfew, no lock-out. Towels and bed linen included. Daily room cleaning. English and Italian spoken.

• Freedom Traveller Hostel

  phone: +39 06 47823862
  address: Via Gaeta 25
  A four-minute walk from the central train station, this hostel has adequate dorms, some have nice balconies. Kitchens and communal areas. No curfew, but lockout from 11.00 - 15.00.

• Hotel Bed in Roma

  phone: +39 06 89687664
  address: Via dei Mille 64
  8 guest rooms which can be booked as single, double, twin, triple and family. All with en-suite services and shower. Special discounts with the local bars for breakfast.

• Hotel Cortorillo Rome

  phone: +39 06 4466934
  address: Via Principe Amedeo 79/a
  Two star hotel with 14 bedrooms divided in single, double and triple, and a single family room with four beds.

• Hotel Indipendenza Rome

  phone: +39 06 44362204
  address: Via Magenta 13
  3 star hotel. Single, double, twin, triple and family rooms available. All with en-suites services, LCD TV and free internet access.

• Holiday Rome B&B

  phone: +39 06 4453024
  address: Via Palestro, 49
  Bed & Breakfast near Termini. Three rooms with private bathrooms and an air-conditioning system.

• Hostel Papa Germano

  phone: +39 06486919
  address: Via Calatafimi, 14/a
  Near the station. Free internet, sat TV, minifridge, telephone, air conditioning, free maps, no curfew, credit cards accepted.

• Hotel Rubino Rome

  phone: +39 06 4452323
  address: Via Milazzo 3
  Cheap and cheerful low budget hotel right in the centre of Rome near the train station and public transport, caters mainly to young people. Clean and secure.

• Inn Central Rome

  phone: +39 06 64870844
  address: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 55
  Besides the single, double and triple rooms, this guest house of Rome also presents a cosy independent mini apartment for four people with kitchen facilities. Alla accommodations come with private bathroom. Single room: 60 Euros. Mini apartment: 95 Euros.

• M&J Place Hostel Roma

  phone: +39 064462802
  address: Via Solferino 9
  Within spitting distance of the train station. Friendly staff, reasonable dorms and nice private room. This popular hostel has a good breakfast for €3 but no lockout or curfew. Try the bar Living Room for food or nice drinks. Free Wifi, Tours, and Free Maps

• Hotel Sonya

  phone: +39 06-4819911
  address: Via del Viminale, 58
  The Hotel Sonya is a three star hotel in the centre of Rome, situated a few minutes away from Rome Termini Station and in front of the Opera House.

• Stargate Hostel

  phone: +39 064457164
  address: Via Palestro 88
  Hostel situated 5 minutes away by foot from the termini central station, near the Castro Pretorio metro stop.

• Independence Square Inn

  phone: +39 3475730310
  address: via castelfidardo 78
  Family run guesthouse, single, double/twin, triple or quad room with private or shared bathroom. Breakfast, LCD tv, A/C. Price from 40€

Mid-range

• Alex Inn

  phone: +39 06 97273360
  address: Via Emilia 47
  Small guest house in the centre of Rome near Via Veneto. Relatively new and pretty good facilities, and a small terrace off each room.

• Al Viminale Hill & Hotel

  phone: +39 064 7823235
  address: Via del Viminale, 38
  3-star hotel on Colle Viminale near Termini Station. Offers its guests 15 rooms with Jacuzzi tub.

• Art and Relax Suites Rome

  phone: +39 339 6166937
  address: Via Giolitti, 137
  The Art and Relax Suites is a cosy bed and breakfast of Rome with 6 double bedrooms with private en-suite services, shower and breakfast.

• B&B Trevi Rome

  phone: +39 06 69380944
  address: Via del Lavatore 83
  The Trevi Rome is a bed and breakfast with 14 guest rooms divided in double and twin, standard and superior. A third bed available if needed. Rate for a double room €120.

• Hotel Atlantico

  phone: +39 06-485951
  address: Via Cavour, 23
  A four-star hotel in a 1912 building on the highest of Rome's seven hills, the Esquilino, giving it good views of the city.

• Hotel Cortina Rome

  phone: +39 06 4819794
  address: Via Nazionale 18
  Three star hotel of the central street of Via Nazionale with 14 bedrooms divided in single, double, twin, triple and quadruple with private bath (shower included). Also available two apartments located 20 metres away from the hotel. €95 for a single and 115 for a double.

• Hotel I Giardini del Quirinale

  phone: +39 06 48930388
  address: Via Firenze 43
  Upscale B&B situated very close to Via Nazionale and the Presidential Palace of Quirinale. All the bedrooms offer internet connection, mini bar, air conditioning, telephone with direct line and LCD television. Also available private parking and continental breakfast.

• Hotel Martini Rome

  phone: +39 06 4880994
  address: Via Nazionale, 18
  The Martini is a three star hotel of Rome with a large choice of bedrooms divided in single, double, triple and family; all equipped with private bathroom and bathtub. Double rooms: 160 Euros with included breakfast.

• Hotel Romanico Palace

  phone: +39 06-42083881
  address: Via Boncompagni, 37
  A four stars hotel with 64 rooms divided between six floors, on the 7th floor there is a nice 360 degrees panoramic terrace with good views of historical center.

• La Piccola Maison

  phone: +39 06 42016331
  address: Via dei Cappuccini 30
  Guest House located in Via Veneto. Rooms with international channels, air conditioning, wifi, minifridge and telephone.

• Nuovo Hotel Quattro Fontane

  phone: +39 06 4884480
  address: Via delle Quattro Fontane 149/A
  A 3-star hotel housed in an entirely renovated 18th-century palace.

• Residence At Rome

  phone: +39 06 46661058
  address: Piazza Barberini 2
  A guest house on the third floor in a residential building on Piazza Barberini, so the name holds true. No elevator available, and it's a long walk up the stairs with your luggage. There are 8 rooms with en-suite services divided in double, triple and suites, but there are no common rooms or amenities. You are paying for a room and that's all, some have complained about missing air-conditioning during the day, broken bathrooms and noise from the busy square, but it's good value for the location.

• 69 Manin Street B&B Rome

  phone: +39 06 48987856
  address: Via Daniele Manin 69
  Cosy Bed and Breakfast of the historic centre of Rome with double, twin triple and quadruple rooms. Toilette with shower and breakfast included. €140 for a double. Same price for a double for single use.

• Magnifico Hotel Rome

  phone: +39 06 488 4331
  address: Via Nazionale, 243
  Budget accommodation with six bedrooms divided in single, double, quadruple and suites. All with private bath and modern facilities. Double: €130. Breakfast included.

• Target Inn

  phone: +39 06 4745399
  address: Via Modena 5
  A town house with 5 classic rooms, 1 deluxe and 1 suite, which can host up to four people. Modern facilities (plasma TV, internet ADSL), car parking, free breakfast, private bath and Jacuzzi bathtub.

• Hotel Esposizione

  phone: +39 06 48913029
  address: Via Nazionale, 66
  Hotel 3 Stars in the centre of Rome near Termini Station in front of Palazzo delle Esposizioni, exhibition center.

Splurge

• Hotel Villa Morgagni

  phone: +39 06-44202190
  address: Via G.B. Morgagni, 25

• Hotel Bernini Bristol

  phone: +39 06 488 931
  address: Piazza Barberini 23
  Near the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. All rooms come with an LCD flat-screen TV and WiFi access.

• Hotel Quirinale

  phone: +39 06 4707
  address: Via Nazionale, 7
  4 star hotel close to Piazza Repubblica. Style from the mid 19th Century, reasonably large rooms and high ceilings. Internet connection costs €15 for 24 hours. Service at reception can be very poor, on occasions, it is downright rude.

• Hotel Victoria Roma

  phone: +39 06 423701
  address: Via Campania, 41
  4 star hotel close to Via Veneto.

• Ambasciatori Palace Hotel

  phone: +39 06 06 47493
  address: Via Veneto, 62
  Prestigious five star hotel.

• Relais Trevi 41 Rome

  phone: +39 06 69921250
  address: Via della Panetteria 41
  The Relais Trevi 41 is a guest house with double and twin bedrooms. All with private bath and shower whirlpool. Double with breakfast included €200, double with no breakfast €190.

• Hotel Mascagni

  phone: +39 06 48904040
  address: Via Vittorio E. Orlando, 90

• Villa Spalleti Trivelli

  phone: +39 06-48907934
  address: Via Piacenza 4
  A splurge hotel in a quiet location. The rooms are large, with extra high ceilings, linens and bed of good quality, bath with shower and separate tub, bidet and two sinks. All the interiors are beautifully decorated, and the outside garden is perfect for a midday break. The staff is friendly and supportive.

• Residenza Frattina

  phone: +39 066783553
  address: Via Frattina, 104
  A clean, quiet and small hotel. Free internet in the spacious lounge. The rooms are not too big, but really comfortable. Good continental breakfast - a buffet of juices, toast, cereal and pastries. The staff is attentive and really helpful.