Rome boasts a wide range of accommodation, from intimate bed and breakfasts to top class international hotels. Before you begin your search for accommodation in Rome, try to decide which part you would prefer to stay in. Three popular choices are the historic district, the commercial district, and the outskirts of Rome.

Hotels in the historic district

Many of the buildings in the historic area of Rome date back to medieval times and it is often seen as the most romantic part of the city; ideal for a newly engaged couple. If you’re looking for beautiful squares and fountains, surrounded by quaint cafes and shops, the historic area, based around the Piazza Navona is the place to stay.

For a top class bed and breakfast in this part of Rome try the Hotel Artorius, housed in a beautiful historic building, but with modern facilities. For a more luxurious option try the ivy covered Hotel Raphael, adjacent to the Piazza Navona, and a firm favourite with Italy’s elite. The rooms are decorated in Florentine style and there is a superb roof top restaurant.

Hotels in the commercial district

If you’d like to be close to the main attractions such as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, and you plan to do a little shopping during your stay in Rome, the commercial area may be the best place to look for accommodation.

The Hotel Palace is a great choice located on the Via Veneto, and only a short from the Spanish Steps. The elegant building was designed in the 1920s by the well known architect Marcello Piacentini, and the hotel offers discreet but warm hospitality. For more luxurious accommodation, check out the Grand Hotel, now known as the St. Regis Grand Hotel, which is on the Conde Nast Travellers Gold List.

Hotels on the outskirts of Rome

If you want the best of both worlds, why not book accommodation in the lush green countryside that surrounds Rome, and then take a drive or the train to see the sights? For a welcoming bed and breakfast around twenty kilometers north of Rome, try Flavor of Italy, a peaceful haven from the bustle of the city.

For a luxurious five star hotel, close enough to see the main attractions, but set in its own lush grounds outside the city, try the tranquil Rome Cavalieri. Part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, the Cavalieri is a calm retreat with a luxurious spa and a superb art collection, just minutes from the center of Rome.

The Italian love of fine food means you will never be without a great place to eat in Rome. These five options will guarantee a romantic post proposal dinner, or just somewhere to sample an authentic pizza.

• For an authentic Italian pizzeria, Rosciolis on Via dei Giubbonari is hard to beat. Close to the Campo de Fiori, this superb restaurant with its own bakery gets very busy so be sure to book in advance.
• For an undeniably romantic choice, try the Imago restaurant, located on the sixth floor of the Hassler Hotel, right at the top of the Spanish Steps. As well as creative Italian cuisine, prepared by a Michelin starred chef, the Imago boasts a panoramic view over Rome and a stylish interior.
• The Vivendo restaurant in Rome’s St Regis Grand Hotel has been voted Rome’s best restaurant numerous times, and is a sound choice if fine dining is high on your agenda. The service is superb and the setting intimate; for a real experience why not book a private table in the restaurant’s wine cellar?
• The Hostaria dell’Orso is the oldest restaurant in Rome, originally built in the fourteenth century. It has recently been lovingly renovated and restored and boasts a beautiful fifteenth century dining room overlooking the Tiber, where you can enjoy dished by renowned chef Gualtiero Marchesi.
• For arguably the best seafood in Rome, check out Quinzi and Gabrieli, a traditional restaurant housed in sixteenth century building near the Pantheon, on the Via delle Coppelle.

If you are planning a packed schedule of sightseeing and fun activities for your break in Rome, you could consider including the following:

• Visit the lively Trastevere area at night and sip an espresso by the Pantheon
• See an opera at the Teatro dell’Opera between December and June
• Walk along the Tiber and picnic on the Isola Tiberina
• Buy a traditional ice cream, or gelato, and eat it on the Spanish Steps
• Sample the local wines, especially the dry white wines from the trebbiano grape
• Shop at the Porta Portese flea market, the largest in Europe