The best hotels in Rome, from luxury palazzos to affordable boutiques
Spending a few days in the Italian capital in one of the best hotels in Rome is right up there on most people’s wishlist: this extraordinary living museum that invites us to reimagine ancient civilisation as much as wander off grid – spying private spaces with wisteria and ivy-draped courtyards – to that quiet piazza or less-visited basilica, doors open to the cool, candle-lit interior, moments so beguiling in the mix with pinch-yourself places from the Raphael Rooms at the Vatican to the Roman Forum.
The hotel choice can be overwhelming and this selection offers options both set back from the fray and slap-bang in the heart of things, from new luxury openings in centuries-old Renaissance palazzi and a Fascist-era security HQ to a townhouse secreted down a cobblestone side street. Some stand out with a garden or hidden courtyard where you can catch your breath, or a fabulous rooftop where romantic church cupolas rise above the sea of terracotta tiles. All have knowing staff keen to tell you about that lively little bar, a great family-run trattoria serving best-in-class burrata ravioli cacio e pepe, or their favourite gelateria, priceless keys to unlocking the Eternal City.