Located in the Lazio region of Italy, Rome has 21 neighbourhoods.
It's considered the top city to live in Italy, hosting a little less than 600,000 expats permanently.

If you’re a future Roman expat, you’re most likely wondering “Which neighbourhood should I rent in?”. Don’t worry! You’re not alone!

This exactly why we have put together an overview of Rome and its top 7 neighbourhoods.

For the tops areas to live in Rome, we’ll walk you through;

• Transportation
• Average housing prices
• Life in this area

The 7 best neighbourhoods in Rome, Italy

Let’s take a deeper look at the best neighbourhoods in Rome.

Rome neighbourhood: Monti

Located in central Rome, Monti is the neighbourhood to be in when it comes to shopping and other leisure activities. Despite its central location, Monti is less touristy than the neighbouring areas. So, the neighbourhood offers more of a small-town vibe without forgoing the proximity to the hustle and bustle.

Moving quickly from A to B

Lucky you, the Parco del Colle Oppio is located right in the centre of the neighbourhood. You’d definitely be able to enjoy a breath of fresh air. There are numerous public transport connections in the area, so you’re going to be able to reach the more remote areas of the city.

Thinking of doing a trip to another Italian, or even European, city? Monti has you covered! Many trains are going to Milan, Venice, Florence and even Paris or London daily from the nearby Roma Termine train station!

Housing for every budget

The neighbourhood is full of accommodation options ranging from very expensive (~€ 2,000 + for an apartment) to affordable (~€ 500 for a private room in a shared apartment).

Watch out for the pickpockets

Considering the neighbourhood’s central location, you should be wary of the pickpockets lurking around, especially at night.

Rome neighbourhood: Trastevere

Located on the east bank of the Tiber river, the Trastevere neighbourhood is Rome’s most bohemian area. As such, it is home to some of Rome’s best nightlife options. Having a history as “the rebel’s area”, Trastevere is the perfect combination between old and new.

Getting around on foot or by bike

A distinct downside of the Trastevere neighbourhood is that there is no metro stops around. With the neighbourhood being car-free, you should rely on walking, using the bus or biking to get around.

Don’t be too concerned though, since no matter where you are, you’d be within a maximum of 20 minutes of your destination in the city.

Easily find affordable housing

An upside is that since the area is not as central as Monti, you wouldn’t have a hard time finding affordable accommodation. You can expect to pay around € 1,200 for an apartment and € 600 for a room.

Besides that, you’re likely to run into more expats around here. Still, it would be a good idea to have an arsenal of Italian phrases ready for when you need them.

A hub for locals and internationals

Liked by locals and tourists alike, the area’s stunning architecture and winding cobblestone streets make this Roman hub a one of a kind experience. There is a wide choice of leisure activities in the area: bars, restaurants and the roman botanical garden (Orto Botanico di Roma).

Students join the hustle and bustle

With its two American universities and near the city centre, Trastevere’s bohemian vibe means that the streets may get noisy at night. This means that the area is not as friendly to families as some of the more suburban ones.

If you’re determined to live here, we tell you to make sure that there aren’t many bars nearby. You also should be prepared to run into some crowds while out doing your supermarket run.

Rome neighbourhood: Centro Storico

Here we are - Centro Storico, the historical centre of Rome. This neighbourhood is where you’d want to be if you want to immerse yourself in the true Roman experience when it comes to history vibes.

Premium prices with a view

With the area’s attractiveness to tourists, the mid-to-long term accommodation is scarce. The limited selection is more expensive than in other, less central, areas.

You can expect to pay as much as € 2,500 for an apartment in the Historical Centre of one of Europe’s most famous cities.

Get around quickly

Living in the Centro Storico has its advantages as well. Living here, you’d be benefitting from the abundance of public transport options. Aside from that, the international popularity of the area means that you’d not feel out of place as an expat.

In the heart of the Roman scene

Yet, “the true Roman experience” nowadays comes with many tourists. Besides the famous Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Roman forum, Centro Storico is where the famous “Trident” of shopping streets is.

Rome neighbourhood: Ostiense

Once Rome’s industrial area, the Ostiense area is going through a period of modernization. The neighbourhood is known for its street art and countercultural scene.

Great connectivity to get around

It is well connected to the rest of the city via public transport and offers all the necessary amenities on its territory. The area hosts several schools and universities, you’re likely to find many local and international students roaming around.

Moderate rental rates

With regards to accommodation, you can expect to be able to rent a room or an apartment for, respectively, around € 550 and € 1,000.

Apart from the vibe and affordability of the area, you should prepare yourself to practise your Italian with the locals.

A motley mix of families and party people

Less central than the historic part of the city, Ostiense is a lot more welcoming for families. The nightlife in the area is concentrated in old factories and warehouses which are secluded from the residential buildings.

Rome neighbourhood: Prati

Located right next to the Castel Sent’ Angelo and the Vatican, Prati offers an optimal mix between traditional & modern and touristy & residential.

By metro to the city centre

The area connects to central Rome via the Metro Line A. Living here means that you’d never be too far away from the buzzing central areas.

Homes for bigger budgets

Affordable accommodation here is scarce, with single bedroom apartments running for upwards of € 1,500.

A taste of Paris in Rome

Referred to as the quiet side of Rome, you’re going to find wider streets and much more greenery around. As a result, Prati may feel like more of a Parisian quartier than a former Roman marsh. You’ll find a wide choice of high-end restaurants, shopping boutiques and convenient supermarkets.

High standard of living

Prati is the “white collar” neighbourhood with the highest standard of living in Rome. The upscale Parti is Rome’s corporate hub during the day and a calm area during the night. You’re a lot less likely to run into tourists here, with locals being the vast majority.

Rome neighbourhood: Testaccio

What Testaccio lacks in historic architecture, it compensates with exquisite gastronomical experiences. Having been the entry point for all the food imports into Rome in the early 20th century, the area is best known for its renowned market.

Getting around

The likelihood of needing a car to get around is low since the area has many public transport connections to the rest of the city.

What you can expect to pay

Testaccio has plenty of cheap accommodation. Rooms can go for as low as € 400 and apartments start at approximately € 900.

Life in Testaccio

Located right across from Trastevere, the Testaccio neighbourhood has its buzzing nightlife Testaccio is ideal for families, young professionals and artists alike.

Rome neighbourhood: Monteverde Vecchio

Known as the greenest neighbourhood of Rome, Monteverde Vecchio is the place to be if you’re seeking a calm escape from the urban jungle. The vast park, consisting of Villa Pamphilj and Gianicolo hill is ideal for some tranquil time.

By bus and tram from A to B

The lack of a metro connection is compensated by the several bus and tram lines which take you to Rome’s central part.

Inexpensive area to live in

The secluded location contributes to rental prices being low. A general sign for the prices of rooms and apartments is € 500 and € 1,000 respectively.

Settle with tranquillity

With its main population being elderly locals, the neighbourhood is as peaceful as it gets in the buzzing Rome. The calm atmosphere and several middle/ high schools make the area the perfect location for families.

A little more about life in Rome

You want to familiarise yourself with life in Rome before making the move. Let’s look into the most important factors for an expat to consider.

1. Getting around in Rome

Rome boasts an extensive public transportation system consisting of buses, trams and metros. Yet, many have said that it’s not very reliable and could ruin your experience if you live in one of the badly connected areas.

Many of Rome’s citizens have opted for either getting around on a scooter or a bike. Besides that, there are more and more ride-sharing services becoming available in Rome that you can make use of to fit your needs.

2. Safety in Rome

As with every other tourist city, Rome’s crime rate is moderate to high. Most crimes are pickpockets, vandalism and attacks linked to them. It’s advisable that you remain alert, especially at night. Of course, some areas are safer than others, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

3. Rome’s internationality

Unlike many other European hotspots, Rome is not the friendliest to residing expats. The main reason for that is the big language barrier that is present in the city.

As popular as Rome is for expats, the day to day life may make you feel a bit estranged if you don’t speak the local language. You should consider taking a language course before relocating to the city!

Thanks to the big expat community, there are frequent get together for English speakers. Yet, as tempting as it is to only count on those, it’s best to take a deep dive into the local culture. Take part in the Aperitivo and go out for coffee instead of making it at home.

Now that you’ve got a general impression of the top 7 neighbourhoods in the city, you’re ready to explore rental homes in Rome..

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