Rome is a big city. And although there is an area that’s considered the historic center, there are still major attractions that are quite a distance from that area if you’re traveling on foot. In my book, that means (among other things) that you have more options for neighborhoods to stay in since you can’t realistically stay in a place that’s a short walk from everything. Since I highly recommend using the buses in Rome to get around anyway, staying in a hotel that’s not right in the city center isn’t necessarily such a big problem.
Many of the must-see sights of a trip to Rome are across that unseen border into Vatican City – so it only makes sense that there are hotels near Vatican City you can use as your home-base for a Rome visit. These hotels are good to consider if you’re planning to spend more than one day exploring the Vatican Museums (they’re big enough you could spend a week in them if you wanted to without seeing the same piece of artwork twice), or if you’re just looking for a hotel that’s not right around the corner from the Colosseum.
You’ll find a map of the Vatican area of Rome below, with St. Peter’s Basilica marked with a star. The blue and green icons are the hotels listed further down this article. You can click on an icon to get more information about each hotel, or scroll down on this page to get a few details and a link to learn more. If the icon is blue, it’s more of a traditional hotel – the green icon is a great budget hotel with some hostel-style rooms as well.
Orange Hotel
The stylish Orange Hotel is decorated in a modern style that’s still comfortable and fun, not to mention playful. There’s plenty of orange throughout the hotel, but it doesn’t overwhelm. The hotel features an on-site bar and restaurant, and there’s an outdoor terrace with views of St. Peter’s dome.
There are 26 rooms in the hotel (doubles, triples, and 3 junior suites), and all rooms have an en suite bathroom, WiFi, and satellite TV. There are laundry facilities inside the hotel, bicycle rental can be arranged at the front desk, and the terrace features a whirlpool for soaking. Breakfast is included with the price of the room.
>> Book Orange Hotel in Rome
Hotel Colors
Hotel Colors is part hostel and part budget hotel, so if your budget is more on the hostel end of things but you still want your own room this could be the perfect compromise. It’s a five-minute walk from the Vatican and located in a primarily residential neighborhood. As the name indicates, the interior is colorful and cheery.
The hotel rooms at Hotel Colors in Rome have air conditioning, international channels on the TV, in-room WiFi, and even mini-bars (with free drinks!). Some rooms have en suite bathrooms, some have shared toilets but en suite sink & shower (these rooms are cheaper). A buffet breakfast is included in the price of the room.
Beldes HR
The Beldes HR Guest House featured on my list of romantic hotels in Rome – and it deserves a mention here, too. Not only is it romantic and reasonably priced (especially for a romantic Rome hotel), it’s also roughly 1km from the Vatican. It’s a small boutique hotel, relatively new to the hotel scene in Rome, and decorated with a beautiful combination of “Old World” and modern styles.
There are 26 rooms at the Beldes hotel, and they all have en suite bathrooms, high speed internet access, LCD TVs with satellite channels, and air conditioning. There’s an on-site bar, a “sun terrace,” and even a massage service (I told you it was romantic). Breakfast is included with the price of the room.
Residence Vatican Suites
If your visit to Rome will be more than a few days, or if you’re traveling with a family or a group and want the flexibilty of having your own kitchen to cook in, then booking a stay at an apartment in Rome isn’t a bad idea. The self-catering “aparthotel” of Residence Vatican Suites combines the perks of an apartment with the ease of booking a hotel. These kinds of accommodation options are popular with business travelers, but leisure travelers are catching on.
There are three apartment styles at Residence Vatican Suites – studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom – each of which has a full kitchen, satellite TV, broadband internet, and air conditioning. There’s also a rooftop garden for use by anyone staying in the building, from which there are views of St. Peter’s dome. The building is a short walk from the Vatican and on the #64 bus route.
Starhotels Michelangelo Rome
Starhotels is a chain of hotels in cities throughout Italy, as well as Paris and New York. There are two locations in Rome, but only one that’s a stone’s throw from St. Peter’s Square – and that’s the Starhotels Michelangelo in Rome. The hotel is also close to the San Pietro train station behind the church, and on the #64 bus line.
It’s a 4-star hotel with 179 rooms, the most basic of which are the “Classic” rooms. These have a double bed or two singles, en suite bathroom, in-room WiFi, and satellite TV. Breakfast at the hotel is included in the price of the room. From some of the rooms you can see the dome of St. Peter’s.
Best Western Hotel Spring House
The Best Western Hotel Spring House is part of a recognized worldwide chain of hotels, and its location is about 200 meters from the Vatican. Because of its Best Western connection, this hotel offers some services that may be more popular with American customers – such as an “American breakfast buffet” (included in the price of the room), with breakfast foods that Italians don’t typically eat in the morning.
Each of the 54 rooms is decorated slightly differently, and each has an en suite bathroom, free in-room WiFi, air conditioning, and satellite TV. Guests can borrow bicycles from the hotel, free of charge.
Il Gattopardo Relais
Il Gattopardo Relais is a short walk from the Vatican, and it’s an even shorter walk from the Ottaviano Metro stop – so it’s simple to get into the city center from your hotel door. The hotel is nicely decorated, and each of the rooms is individually designed.
There are only six rooms at Il Gattopardo Relais, each of which has an en suite bathroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, and an internet connection (WiFi is available in public areas for a fee). Breakfast is available each morning and is included in the price of the room.
Residence Candia
The Residence Candia property near the Vatican is another offering short-term self-catering apartment rentals in Rome. There are three buildings with several different sized apartments under the same management, and although the apartments may not be decorated the way you’d decorate your own home – they’re equipped with everything you’ll need for your visit.
There are more than 250 apartments available in the three Residence Candia buildings, all of which have full kitchens, tile floors, free WiFi, and air conditioning. When you rent an apartment here you also get the use of a parking space in a nearby facility for free, which can be really valuable in a crowded city like Rome.
Hotel Emmaus
The Hotel Emmaus is a 3-star hotel that’s budget-friendly. It’s 100 meters from the Vatican, and many of the hotel rooms have views of St. Peter’s dome. The hotel is frequented by members of the clergy who are visiting the Vatican, and the hotel staff can sometimes help arrange an audience with the Pope.
There are 31 rooms in the hotel (singles, doubles, triples, and quadruples), and all have air conditioning, en suite bathroom, satellite TV, and internet connection. Breakfast is served daily and is included with the price of the room.
photo at top of post by jonathanjonl
