Rome Areas to stay
 

I've looked at tons of places to stay for Rome, and advice from this website. My question is - I found a great place in Piazza Navona. However, I wonder, is this like the Fisherman's Wharf of Italy, or totally different? I know it's close to all the tourist areas, but will there ONLY be tourists there (like myself), or a mixture of locals and tourists?

marie,

of course there are a lot of tourists in Rome, and in places like the Piazza Navona you are not going to be able to get away from them for long. But Rome is so rich with different people and experiences that it generally manages to absorb whatever the heathen hoards can throw at it. and mostly anywhere in central Rome is going to have quite a few tourists in the vicinity.

if you have found a great place in the P. Navona, grab it quick would be my advice.

Ditto.

Piazza Navona is a great area to stay. Yes, there will be tourists, but nothing about it is like Fisherman's Wharf. Go and enjoy!

In general, some places are good for some things and others good for other things. No surprise there. My preference is to stay within striking distance of a city center but not IN it. In Rome on my first visit not so long ago, I stayed in Trastevere, not in the center of it, but about half-way between the more touristed part and the Vatican and it was distinctly local-feeling. A walk up the hill to beautiful park areas and hardly a tourist in sight (just tourist me). Wonderful.

It's true that Trastevere is not the most convenient area in some ways. But there are buses running through and a short walk across the river will get you to all the transport options. So back to my original thought, if being in a lovely area that's close to, but not IN the more touristed areas, then maybe a neighborhood location like I described would suit you, as it suited me, perfectly. Rome isn't a huge city so the edges of it can be great alternatives. Also likely less expensive.

I agree. It is a huge tourist area. You will have lots of company.

If the lodging is right in Piazza Navona, then it will be full of tourists day and evening. However, hotels and apartments describe themselves as being in Piazza Navona, meaning in the general area. I really like the area to the north and west of Piazza Navona, between there and the river. The tourists tend to stay to the south and east, so this area is more like a real neighborhood.

I don't like the immediate area around Piazza Navona, and I wouldn't even consider lodging IN the piazza. But is the place you found actually "in" the piazza? I like the area north of the piazza and a little east.

I agree with Jean.

For me the overwhelmingly touristy/Fisherman's Wharf-y parts of Rome are often just certain blocks, certain piazze--walk one block in the opposite direction of a madhouse and it's fine.

Oops, I mean I agree with bvlenci: I like north and a little west of Piazza Navona.

This summer I stayed by the Pantheon which I thought would be insane, but I was actually behind Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, sort of between that and Galleria Doria Pamphilj and Gesu. My little pocket felt pretty relaxed and quiet, given the general area.

So, looking at a map, it's not IN Piazza Navonna. It says it's in an area of Via dei Pettinari, a few "steps" (whatever that means) from Ponte Sisto, which I guess is the bridge over to the Trastevere area. I am fine with people, but NOT fine with Fisherman's Wharf (and yes I am from San Francisco....). I do want to be near the sights, but not just surrounded. I did the same questions when I booked for Venice as well. Thank you!

My opinion only: if it's on via dei Pettinari itself, it will probably be pretty thronged with tourists shuffling from Campo dei Fiori to Trastevere and vice versa. Around Campo dei Fiori I again prefer north and west.

I also think if the apartment is worth it, you'll get there and won't care.

I Iive in SF too.

Don't know why I typed worth it; I meant "if the apartment is good, you'll get there and won't care [about being on a touristy street]."

Ponte Sisto is a couple of hundred meters from Piazza Navona. You can look at Via dei Pettinari in streetview at maps.google.com.

There are many locals in the Piazza Navona. They are selling bad art (as well as umbrellas and novelties) to the tourists.

I stayed at Hotel Ponte Sisto on via dei Pettinari and thought it was a convenient location. It's closer to Campo de Fiori than Piazza Navona. There's a bit of a scruffy element, however, especially on the bridge leading to Trastevere, with panhandlers, etc. and I was a little uncomfortable on the few times I had to walk back alone at night.

I'm planning another trip for September and thought about staying at that hotel again but decided to try a different location.

For what it is worth--
I agree with above posters that your location is not really Piazza Navona. I have not walked the area at night, so I cannot attest to the "scruffy" attribute.

As to Piazza Navona and Pantheon area itself---we love this location. We have stayed in this general area three times just so we could watch all the action. It's very walkable to almost every point in Rome. In fact, we never needed to take the Metro in our three stays near there to tour Rome, and when we needed to access the train station or airport to return home or tour other points in Italy, we found taxis to be reasonable in cost, probably because there is competition in the taxi ranks.

We stayed lately in the Aventine, mainly so that we could do a food tour of the Testacchio area. We liked our hotel there, and we loved walking downhill to "home base"--The Pantheon.

Thank you, everyone. I also found another place in the "Regola" area on Largo dei Librari. That seems to be south of Piazza Navona, although I heard west and north is "better" from a post above. Scruffy? TOO touristy? Not bad - just take it? It's so hard to tell. Living in San Francisco, areas can change from block to block, so just was trying to get others with experience who know the area! Thanks.

Go to Google streeview and "walk" around the neighborhood. It's an excellent tool which I often use when I can't decide where to stay.

via Pettinari and Largo dei Librari are (hilariously, IMO) close to one another.

I say pick the apartment that you prefer. I might pick the Largo dei Librari due to it's proximity to Forno Marco Roscioli.

Marie, by scruffy I meant that there druggies sitting on the bridge panhandling, which made me uncomfortable. I've been to Rome about a dozen times and have stayed in various locations and although I'm sure this occurs elsewhere, it was the only place I noticed it. They just gave off an ominous vibe. I just tried to avoid that bridge at night. My daughter spent a semester in Rome not too far from that area and she became pretty street savvy.

Regarding touristy, no IMO that area is nothing like Fisherman's Wharf.

Hi Marie,

I don't know if I'll be much help but I was in Rome in tourist summer season in 2013 and lived in Marina/Cow hollow area in SF. I picked a hotel in Piazza di Montecitorio. It faced the Parliament building so it is very quiet, although there can be people in doing a rally, the Police are around and the rallying people are stopped at a decent distance away from the parliament. The area is quiet at night and I've never used the subway system as the area is walkable from Vatican, Colloseo and even Trastevere.
I know the crowds in Fisherman's Wharf and I hate going there but the area in Piazza di Montecitorio is quiet and people/tourists are all just passing through. Lots of locals also visit Giolitti - a fave gelato place which was around the corner, literally. Also very close to Trevi Fountain and Pantheon.
BTW, I was solo traveling female if it matters. I've gone through hundreds of Hotel reviews in TA and the area was the most appealing to me.
Good luck.

Thank you. I have been scouring everything all night. Winkwinx - I lived in that area of SF as well! Loved it. I found another place on Via della Croce at Via del Corso - near the Spanish Steps. I don't particularly think the Spanish Steps are a "go-to" area to stay in, but that's the area. From what I can read, it seems a little high end shopping, which really isn't my thing. But I DO love to eat fantastic, non-tourist food, and drink great wine. I just wonder if this place is more to my style vs. the night crowds near the Navona. This other place is north of the Piazza Montecitorio - just not sure how busy it is. Seems busy, but with locals? We are 50 with 3 teenage daughters, if that makes a difference.