Neighborhood: Trastevere

Also called: N/A

Pros:

• Not in the heart of the tourist area, so the throngs aren’t as bad
• People are out at all times of night, so it’s fairly safe (though that’s true of much of Rome)
• Lots of transportation options: various buses and trams

Cons:

• I thought most of the food in the neighborhood was low-quality, though neither B nor many online reviewers agree with me
• Not truly residential, like the Testaccio area, so it doesn’t give as good an idea of what local life is like (if you’re looking for that)
• No sights in the neighborhood (other than two churches), so have to travel to sightsee

Should You Stay There?

If you’re staying for longer than a week, likely; if you have only a few days, stay in the center. For longer stays, I actually prefer Testaccio, but they have slightly fewer food and transportation options than Trastevere.