The cheapest nicest hotels in Rome
This has certainly been the year for luxury hotels in Rome, with ritzy new openings like The Rome Edition, Bulgari Hotel Roma and Six Senses Rome making their splashy mark on the eternal city. Though Rome’s affordable stays have long possessed an equally beguiling quality, where reminders of the city’s ancient past are seeped in the storied patina walls and frescoed ceilings of refurbished palazzos-turned boutique hotels, or in its warren of modern stays and fashionable guesthouses. Whether you’re looking for a central stay on a cobbled street flanked by the city’s vaunted ancient landmarks or in the hip neighbourhood of Trastevere on the other side of the Tiber, we’ve rounded up the best affordable Rome hotels, all under £250.
- Marta Puglia
Passepartout, Navona
Located a few steps from Piazza Navona, in a discrete building in the heart of Rome near the city’s best restaurants and shops, Passepartout is a modern guesthouse hotel featuring 15 rooms all enhanced by the building’s preserved architectural elements, like exposed beams and travertine floors. For guests or families looking for more space and an apartment-style accommodation, opt for one of the two large apartments that can fit up to five people and consist of a well-stocked kitchenette for a home-like feel.
Price: Rooms from around £159 per night
The Hoxton Rome, Parioli
The Hoxton is known for its beloved collection of affordable design hotels and open-house lobby concepts. The 192-room Hoxton Roma is situated at the base of the elegant Parioli neighbourhood, with enough distance from the crowded city centre but still within close proximity to the city’s most coveted sights, like Villa Borghese and the MACRO. The hotel’s all-day lobby restaurant, Elio, is helmed by Sarah Cicolini, the founder of Rome’s beloved Santopalato, and offers authentic Italian dishes for long, drawn-out meals with friends, while the hotel’s coffee bar and takeaway counter, Cugino, serves freshly baked pastries, breakfasts and power lunches on the sun-lit terrace.
Price: Rooms from around £182 per night
- Giulia Venanzi/Courtesy Hotel Chapter Romahotel
Hotel Chapter Roma, Sant'Angelo
On a quiet street in Rome’s Roman Ghetto neighboUrhood, Chapter Roma describes itself as being both “glamorous and gritty”, which is effectively articulated throughout the hotel’s public spaces, where the mix of contemporary art and graffiti befit the creative spirit of the neighbourhood. The 42 modern rooms provide the same promise of quirk – while minimalist at first glance, eclectic details are subtly on display – from the velvet, jewel-toned headboards, to the exposed brick walls and the kitschy Lush Seletti rugs. Idiosyncrasies aside, Chapter Roma provides the sort of reliable comforts you expect in any modern hotel, with the promise of friendly hotel staff and comfortable quarters in which to retreat after a long day or night out – and if you’re night isn’t quite over after you’ve returned home, head to the bustling lobby bar (or to the rooftop in the warmer months) for a night cap.
Price: Rooms from around £197 per night
- Giulio Cesare
Villa Laetitia, Dalla Vittoria
Villa Laetitia has long remained one of Rome’s best kept secrets. Situated 20 minutes outside of the tourist bubble in the elegant Dalla Vittoria neighbourhood, Villa Laetitia is the favoured stay among the in-the-know fashion crowd seeking a discreet but glamorous port of call in the ancient city. The historical residence was initially designed by famed Italian architect Armando Brasini, and restored by the Fendi Venturini family when they acquired it a century later. The intimate villa was then reimagined under the discerning eye of its current owner, Anna Fendi Venturini, who wanted to host guests as she would in her private home. Each room is eclectically designed to exude its own version of Italian decadence, from the Adele room with its 1900s iron wrought bed and hand-painted boiserie, to the funkier Atelier room with a black and grey checkered bedspread that echoes its matching floor tiles.
Price: Rooms from around £231 per night
- Giorgio Possenti
Nobildonne Relais, Spagna
Nobildonne Relais was conceived by two Roman architects who used the building’s history and central location in Baroque Rome to inspire the hotel’s design – from its ceiling of frescoes and mosaic floors to the period furniture punctuating its rooms and corridors. Along with its uniquely appointed suites, Nobildonne’s common salon is the heart of the residence, featuring a Chesterfield sofa and a fireplace ideal for morning reading or catching up on work. While the relais doesn’t offer breakfast onsite, they do have a partnership with the nearby Antico Caffè Vitti located in the Piazza San Lorenzo, just a three-minute walk away.
Price: Rooms from around £208 per night
- ANDREA GETULI
Unahotels Trastevere, Trastevere
A welcome departure from the older boutique hotels that propagate the hip neighbourhood of Trastevere, the new Unahotels Trastevere, which opened in 2022, evokes a modern townhouse via its 95 bright rooms with reliable modern comforts like smart tech and sound-proofed rooms. The panoramic rooftop terrace is home to the Vista Trastevere Roof Bar & Restaurant by ‘Una Cucina’ and is open for breakfast, aperitivo and dinner, while the BeVere Cocktail Bar features views of the private inner courtyard.
Price: Rooms from around £229 per night
Babuino 181, Spanish Steps
Situated in the heart of the city centre between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, Babuino 181 deposits you within a short walking distance to Rome’s most sought-after sights, such as Villa Borghese and the Trevi Fountain. The 25 spacious and modern rooms feature marble bathrooms and original art – some even include stone fireplaces and writing desks with views of the inner courtyard. There’s a local feel here that’s underscored by a knowledgeable concierge team, available 24/7 to provide guests with insider information and secret tips around the neighbourhood. Tips can also be found in the hotel’s thoughtfully curated physical insider’s guide, provided at check-in and covering everything from the best gelato spots nearby to their favourite Roman millinery – but don’t leave without a visit to the property’s new restaurant, Emma.
Price: Rooms from around £224 per night
Relais Le Clarisse, Trastevere
Relais Le Clarisse is a bucolic oasis in the heart of Trastevere, one of Rome’s most lively neighbourhoods. Located in a historic residence with 18 homey rooms featuring vaulted ceilings, travertine floors and simple wood and wrought-iron furnishings, this unassuming hotel feels like a Tuscan farmhouse in the centre of the city. The simple charms at this small boutique hotel are characterised by the attention to detail, such as the quiet courtyard garden shaded by a large, ancient olive tree, where guests can enjoy morning breakfast in a serene atmosphere before heading out into the hustle and bustle of the city.
Price: Rooms from around £148 per night