More about hotels in Lazio
Order carbonara or cacio e pepe in a Trastevere trattoria and the waiter will crack black pepper straight onto the plate, toss in fresh pecorino, and have it on the table before you've finished your house wine. That's Lazio in one dish, old-school Roman cooking done properly, right in the middle of one of the busiest tourist cities on the planet.
Lazio is the region built around Rome, and Rome is why almost everyone books it. But the region runs well past the city limits, from Frascati's wine hills to a long stretch of Tyrrhenian coast a couple of hours south. There's a stay to match wherever your trip actually takes you, not just the bit inside the ring road.
The big three ancient sights are easy to tick off in a single day. The Colosseum's four tiers of stone arches still stand nearly 2,000 years after it was built, one of the most ambitious construction projects of the ancient world and still the largest amphitheatre ever built. The Pantheon's dome has a hole in the top, the oculus, that's been letting light (and the occasional bit of rain) straight onto the floor below since it went up. And the Trevi Fountain comes with its own ritual: toss a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand and, tradition says, you're guaranteed a return trip to Rome.
Where to stay in Lazio
- Rome: the capital, and the reason most people book Lazio at all. Base yourself in or near the historic centre and you can walk to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain in a single afternoon.
- Frascati: a wine-hill town about 30 minutes out of central Rome by train, in the Castelli Romani hills. Good pick if you want a proper local trattoria scene and quieter mornings without giving up easy access to the city.
- Fiumicino: the coastal town next to Rome's main airport, useful for an early flight or a late one, with a working fishing harbour and some of the best seafood in the region.
- Viterbo: a walled medieval town in northern Lazio, known for its thermal springs. A slower-paced base if Rome's crowds aren't your idea of a holiday.
- Sperlonga: a whitewashed clifftop town on the southern coast, beaches below and narrow lanes above. Worth the drive if you want Lazio's coast without the crowds of the bigger resort towns.
How much is Lazio accommodation?
Expect to pay somewhere around AU$300 a night for a solid mid-range hotel in Lazio, though it swings hard depending on how close you are to central Rome and what time of year you're travelling. Termini-area hostels and budget stays start well under that, and Rome's grand old five-stars go well past it.
- Hostels/Backpackers: From AU$57 per night. Dorm beds and simple private rooms, mostly clustered around Termini station with communal kitchens and rooftop bars thrown in.
- Budget hotels/Guesthouses: From AU$135 per night. Small, family-run places a short walk or metro ride from the main sights, no frills but clean and well located.
- Mid-range/Apartments: From AU$297 per night. Modern rooms or self-contained apartments, often just outside the busiest tourist strip where your dollar stretches further.
- Boutique: From AU$493 per night. Design-led hotels inside restored old buildings, usually right in the historic centre.
- Luxury/Resorts: From AU$1,295 per night. Historic five-stars and private villas, some with their own gardens or direct coastal access.
Top-rated hotels in Lazio
- Hassler Roma: sits right at the top of the Spanish Steps, with the Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant Imàgo serving up one of the best dinner views in Rome.
- Rocco Forte Hotel De Russie: built around a quiet, terraced Secret Garden that climbs the Pincian Hill, a proper escape just steps off a busy shopping street.
- La Posta Vecchia Hotel: a 17th-century seaside villa on the coast near Ladispoli, with its own small on-site museum showing off the Roman-era ruins uncovered under the building.
- Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo: modern, comfortable rooms an easy walk from the Colosseum, a solid pick if you'd rather put your splurge budget towards dinner instead.
- Generator Rome: a budget-friendly hostel near Termini station with a lively rooftop terrace and bar, good for solo travellers or anyone after a social base.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Lazio
- Base yourself near a Metro Line B stop if ancient Rome is the main game. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain all sit close together, and a room nearby saves you real time.
- Termini station is the easiest all-rounder. Both metro lines meet there, plus the direct airport train, handy if you're tight on time or arriving late.
- Consider Frascati or Viterbo for a slower few days. Both are close enough to Rome by train that you're not really giving anything up.
- Book a few months out if you can. Rome sells out fast and prices spike hard around Easter, summer and New Year.
- Check for air conditioning before you book. Older buildings in the historic centre don't always have it as standard, and Rome summers get properly hot.
Once you've sorted where to stay, Villa d'Este's Renaissance gardens and fountains in Tivoli make an easy day trip from Rome, and Trastevere's cobbled lanes are a short stroll from the historic centre for your next carbonara. Lazio also pairs well with a longer Italy trip, Tuscany and Umbria are both within a couple of hours by train if you want to keep exploring beyond the region. Check hotels across Italy on Traveloka to plan the rest of your route.
