ourmandm

We've chosen a hotel at the top of the Spanish Steps. Can anyone offer their comments on the area? Distance from major attractions? Saftey?
THANK YOU!

J62

I much prefer the area around the historic center (Pantheon/Pza. Navonna/Campo de Fiori) myself for the ambiance and convenience of the pedestrian area. The area around Spanish steps is fine, but more commercial, high end shopping, etc. Not what I prefer, but fine nonetheless.

francophile03

We were located even further up closer to the Borghese garden. We did okay. Being at the top of the Steps is not far from the sights at all.

Safety? Well, you just have to be aware of your surroundings and belongings like anywhere else.

dawnnoelm

we rented an apartment in the Spanish Steps area - I think I would have been more pleased had we stayed in the Campio de fori <sp> area ... it was "okay" - high end shopping (very high end)... restaurants were "okay"...

tribi

We also chose a hotel a the the top of the Spanish Steps, and it is true is not far from the sights, I don't know how many days you are staying in Rome but I am sure you'll enjoy your walks to different sights. I think that area is beautiful

bobludlow

Lots of fancy boutiques and plenty of people-watching in your neighborhood. You can ride the cheap subway to the Vatican or the Colisseum, but getting to the old city is more of a schlep.

Graziella5b

The area is very nice. However last year I found such a crowd covering the steps from top to botton that my inmediate reaction was...Let us get the h...out of here....
All my memories of those beautiful steps empty in early hours of the morning, the Via Condoti at the bottomflowers being sold, the beautiful fountain, the Cafe Grecco ( I believe this is the name but I might be wrong) one of the oldest in Rome with its plush clientele....this last visit everything seemed so different, so crowded...so unpleasant...may be it was a bad day for me....but I could not find the glamour of those romantic and beautiful steps

kenderina

Graziella, I was at the Spanish steps last year at 11 am and there was no one but the dustman , my friend and me, it was strange !! I loved them much more when they were full of people on my first visit...
I like people watching !

josephina

I remember worrying about my first reservations, and I somehow had become convinced early on that the Spanish Steps was the way to go. Have no idea who it was on this board--Rex? or perhaps on another board, Ed and Julie--that convinced me I needed to go to either Pantheon or Piazza Navonna.

I shall remain ever grateful.

Both Piazza Navonna and Pantheon are crowded, but no matter what, there's something "there" there. We visited the Spanish Steps during that first visit almost nightly (we had a teen with another family with teens in tow), but we all kept saying, "At least we're not STAYING here."

If you should chose the Borghese area, or Campo de Fiori, or whatever, I won't argue with you. But I just will never ever become a Spanish Steps accomodation groupie.

bobthenavigator

It would not be my pick of locations.

rjsol

Well if you want to pay you´re in the middle. Anywhere is not far from attractions, and bus is easy nd reliable, beware of pickpockets in crowds. As everywhere of course.

Dukey

IMO you'll be fine. I've stayed there, in the Borghese area, and on the Via Veneto (and was famously creamed for the latter with a criticism that I wasn't staying in "the real Rome."

The Spanish Steps (or "stairs" as many locals refer to them) has long been a sort of "hangout" for younger folks who crowd in later in the evening). Many of them are probably future Fodorites who just haven't given up their total desire to be unfettered yet! One thing's probably for sure...none of them will turn up their nose about where you chose to stay.

Enjoy your stay.

Bluehour

I'm actually fond of that area, and would choose it over many others that people praise. To each his own.

I spent a lovely week with my family at a Landmark Trust apartment built INTO the right-hand side of the steps (looking up) a few years ago. We all have been to Rome many times, going back 40 years or more for my parents.

It IS busy and noisy. Teenagers from all over the world come and flirt and sing Nirvana and Oasis songs late into the night.
But I actually felt safer than I do in other areas of the city. And I think it's lovely being near the Pincio.

There is a taxi rank right in the piazza, which is very convenient, as you can't just flag down a taxi in Rome, as I recall. (Somebody will surely tell me if I'm wrong!)

It is true you become well acquainted with the hike down V.D. Corso to some of the sites. It's not strictly "central". But I certainly don't think you have to switch hotels.

Historically, I have read, it was the traditional first stop in Rome for everyone on their Grand Tour. English and Americans would apparently go to the area in search of accommodation, stables and local servants. And much has been made of the notion that Babbingtons Tea Rooms had perhaps the only toilets that a non Roman woman would consider using!

There is a small museum about Keats, Shelley and their contemporary ex-patriates at the foot of the steps that I recommend. It's just a couple of rooms, including the one where Keats died, so it doesn't take long to see, but it's quite moving, I think.

Travelnut

We stayed on via del Tritone by piazza Barberini.... enjoyed our walking to the S.S., Pincio and Borghese gardens...

Had no problems walking to Navono and Colosseum... also used the bus. So I wouldn't call it a bad location, either.

(if we ALL stayed in Navona, think how we'd drive your room rates up - look what happened to Paris' St Germain!)

cruiseluv

Year ago I stayed at the Intercontinental Dela ville. I loved it and the location. But I'm with Graciela, I hate seeing the steps filled with people, picnicking or otherwise littering the area. Not a pleasant experience.

bookchick

Personally I love the area of the Spanish steps. The Metro is right there, and cab stands are plentiful and it really isn't that far to walk to most places at a fairly leisurely pace. It's a short walk over to the Trevi Fountain, to the Vitorrio Emanuelle (aka "the wedding cake, aka "the typewriter&quot, Palazzo Barberini, and not that far to other places like Piazza Navona, either. Also, also as francophile03 mentions, you always should be cautious and aware of your surroundings, it's pretty safe.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

kaybee

Hi ourmandm-
We stayed at the Intercontintal De Laville at the top of the Steps last may and actually enjoyed the location. We walked to almost all sites and the metro is very close by. The shopping was great, there were some good restaurants and safety was not a concern. Having been there, I would now choose the P.Navonna area, but I think you'll be happy there!

gruezi

We stayed there and loved the location. We walked to just about everything. The steps were sometimes crowded but always fun. Lots of shopping if you like that. Each evening we raced each other up to the top to wear off the gelato we ate at the bottom...

gruezi

txtree

I have stayed at the IC too and found it reasonable well located. One reason to stay at the top of the Spanish steps is to have a great view of the city. If your hotel offers you a terrace, you will enjoy incredible sunsets and vistas. I agree with others, though, that it can be more fun to stay near Piazza Navona or Campo dei Fiori.

That said, I have stayed in many different Roman neighborhoods, some fairly far afield (and on our next trip in March we are staying in yet another - near the Campidoglio) and I have found each to be very charming.

dutyfree

I stay (everyweek that I fly to Rome) up near the Via Veneto and the area by the" Steps" is fine for walking around Rome abeit sometimes further out but definitely closer for public transportation. The one thing that I don't like about the area is that its such a tourist trap that everything(food,gelato,wine) appears to be more expensive than other areas of Rome.
The pickpockets are all over the steps and its interesting to watch them picking out their targets as they walk down the steps so be careful!