Trastevere .... We have one free night in Rome and we are traveling with a young teen. Is Trastevere a good destination for us?

How much time should we plan on spending in this area? Our hotel is near the Borghese Gardens; how would we travel across the Tiber ? Anyone have a suggestion for a good moderately priced dinner? Thank you!
Sandy G

Enter your hotel address (are you sure you want to stay that far out?) and piazza santa maria in trastevere as your destination (it shows a change).
http://infopoint.atac.roma.it/bw.asp?lingua=ENG

I think I would just jump on the little electric bus (116 or 116T)that runs up Via Veneto and through Villa Borghese. Get off at Ponte Sisto and walk across the bridge to Trastevere. That way you won't have changes
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=389

I've seen a small electric bus in Trastevere, but don't know the bus number and it's not shown on the map.

I love Trastevere, but with only one night in Rome I'd want to stay somewhere more central where you could walk around the city right up until the last minute.

I've always taken the trolley into the city from Trastevere - perhaps that's what others were referring to as the electric bus - not sure.

MrsGo-I thought that you were from Chicago or Illinois so I hope that you take some advice from a fellow midwesterner?

I would either take the 116 bus to Piazza Navona and then walk back two blocks to Victorio Emmanuale(sp?) to the Largo Argentina aka "cat sanctuary"(across from the great bookstore that has all of the Roman ruins and is across from the tram stop and take that over.

Or do what I usually do as I also have to stay up by the Villa Borghese for my airline layovers-
Just walk down to the bottom of the Via Veneto from where you are and grab a bus(usually 64,62 ) going to the right.Get off at Largo Argentina,cross the street and use the same ticket on the number 1 or number 8 tram across the river.(So easy I do it even after a couple glasses of wine!!)

Then you MUST go to one of my favorite restaurants in Rome that I try and go to everyweek that I am in Rome on my airline layovers-called

ALLE FRATTE Di TRASTEVERE
Tel-06-5835775
address is Via delle Fratte di Trastevere

Seriously just get off at the second stop of the tram(1 or 8) after you cross the river and walk back one block.You will see a green pharmacy sign on the corner and you turn left-less than 500 yards!

This restaurant is so good that it is now considered a Fodors Pick in their books as people have discovered it.I found it years ago and it is consistently always fabulous.It is owned by an Italian woman who married an American man and moved to NYC.She later got divorced and decided to move back to Rome and open a restaurant and about three years or so ago her 40 year old son(Rick) left NYC to run the restaurant.Maria is the cook and her receipes are so tasty,reasonable.

My favs usually include her mushroom bruschetta for an appetizer(around 2 euros)house wine(bottle) is 10 euros and very good.I then either have the grilled seafood platter which is around 16 euros OR my other fav which is ravioli stuffed with ricotto cheese for 9 euros and topped with sprinkled sausage and a sauce to die for!!! Deserts-YUMMY!Most of the pizzas or pastas are under 9 euros for big portions which I consider very reasonable over there.They are closed on Weds. but open every other day from afternoon on so you don't have to wait till 7 or 8 to eat if you need to get up early.I usually get there by 7Pm so I can chose to sit outside(limited seating)or definitely have a seat inside.

If you are with a young teen I would recommend checking out the department store either at the bottom of the Via Veneto or at the second stop that you get off at in Trastevere called Orviesse.Its kinda like a Target /Kohls and my daughter and son through the years have gotten cute tops,coats,jeans,shirts,etc. Its really inexpensive,kinda hit or miss on what you find but when you wear the stuff back in the states it is nice to say when people asked that you "got it in Rome"!
If you go to the restaurant-tell Rick that Debbie from the "airline" sent you.Have fun-when are you guys going? Are you staying at the NH Via Veneto in Rome?

I don't think she said she has one night in Rome, only one free night.

I don't understand the point of getting off at Piazza Navona when you could stay on until the river and just walk across the bridge to Trastevere.

Here is the tram map.
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5

kybourbon-I deal with so many tourists on my flights to Rome and have found that it is sometimes better to suggest either a cab or public transportation when they go the river as they get lost or don't want to walk that far.I happen to always take the bus/tram as it is faster and easier for me from the Villa Borghese area.Most of the places that I like to stop at are on that side of Trastevere.

dutyfree thanks for the resto suggestion. We are staying at Donna Camilla Saveli so it will be ideal for us.

duty - Remember this thread? Wonder how much the prices have inflated and if many of the places are still open.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-a-person.cfm

With 3 people I would take a taxi. I stayed in Trastevere on a recent visit and enjoyed the area. Good restaurants, nice walks -- though the restaurant mentioned above sounds good.