The best budget hotels in Rome

The Beehive Hostel

Credit: The Beehive

Stay at this hostel and you’ll be able to choose from dormitory rooms or private rooms, although it’s the public areas that we love the most. These include the cosy book and boardgame-filled Living Room, the beautiful courtyard (nab a spot in the shade of the towering banyan tree on sunny days) and the two fully-equipped kitchens. The regular quiz nights and aperitivo evenings are brilliant, too.

The Beehive is also one of Rome's greenest hostels – guests’ unwanted clothes are donated to local charities and all of the hostel's toiletries and cleaning products are eco-friendly.

Prices start from £87 per double room per night.

YellowSquare

YellowSquare is one of Rome’s liveliest hostels, which makes it a great option for budget travellers keen to get to know their fellow jet-setters.

Its amenities are seriously impressive – there’s a trattoria, bar, club, hair salon and restaurant, and the large kitchen and co-working spaces are ideal for travellers in need of some time out.

There’s also a packed calendar of activities including everything from beer pong championships and mixology masterclasses to guided walks and cookery classes. Sign up for one of the regular art sessions (the tote bag-painting sessions are especially popular), or join the hostel’s so-called hangover picnics if you’ve overdone the limoncello the night before.

Prices start from £120 per double room per night.

The Blue Hostel

Credit: The Blue Hostel

Value your own space? Consider checking into The Blue Hostel, which isn’t actually a hostel but a beautiful boutique hotel in a convent dating back to the 1600s, and located close to Termini Station.

Despite the wallet-friendly rates, perks include swanky Nespresso coffee machines, supersized televisions and daily housekeeping services, and all guests are given handy maps detailing local landmarks (these include the Santa Maria Maggiore – you’ll hear its bells ringing every morning).

If you’re travelling with friends, it’s worth noting smaller groups can rent out an entire three-bedroom floor.

Prices start from £117 per double room per night.

Generator Rome

This seriously swanky pad describes itself as a boutique hostel, and its location is hard to beat – it’s just a short walk from both the Colosseum and Roma Termini Station.

It’s also ridiculously good value for money. Private rooms start at just £39 for a twin room, and a bed in a dorm (there are three dorms, including a female-only one) starts from just £14. There’s a huge sense of space – the largest dorm has just six beds – and plenty of natural light.

Regular themed nights, meet and greet sessions and board game competitions make this a brilliant option for solo travellers, and the rooftop bar is a great spot from which to soak up views of the Eternal City.

A top tip? Book early. Reserve your bed (or room) more than 30 days in advance and you’ll get a 15% discount.

Prices start from £140 per double room per night.

Holiday Inn Rome – Eur Parco Dei Medici

Credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts

Just a few kilometres from the airport, this is a brilliant option for business travellers, although it’s popular with leisure guests too – there’s a sauna and two swimming pools, and getting to the city centre is easy, thanks to a complimentary shuttle bus service to the nearby Battistini metro station.

The recently refurbished lobby is a fantastic spot for those all-important aperitivo, too. When hunger strikes, head to La Serra, the hotel’s poolside Mediterranean restaurant.

Prices start from £103 per double room per night.

Hotel Villa San Pio

You’ll find this gorgeous hotel in Rome’s old town, and its rooms are tucked inside three individual villas perched on Rome’s Aventine Hill – hence the brilliant views. Expect vaulted ceilings, vast expanses of marble and more antiques than you can shake a stick at.

Rooms range from singles and doubles to triple and family-friendly quadruple rooms. Even in the ‘economy’ room, you’ll get a Carrara marble bathtub and a bedroom stuffed with antique furniture – these rooms are just slightly smaller than standard double rooms.

The best bit? If your energy levels are flagging after a day pounding Rome’s cobbled streets, you can book a massage with the hotel’s in-house masseuse.

Prices start from £122 per double room per night.

Hotel San Anselmo

Once a private villa, the Hotel San Anselmo was transformed into a charming hotel in the 1960s and is the perfect choice if you're looking for a quieter base from which to plan your explorations.

You'll find it in the heart of one of Rome's most sophisticated neighbourhoods, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and with easy access to the Circus Maximus and the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.

Rooms are spectacular affairs filled with antiques, damask-draped four-poster beds and lots of gold. In summary? A hotel truly fit for an emperor.

Prices start from £118 per double room per night.

Starhotels Michelangelo Rome

Credit: Chiara Cadeddu | Starhotels

This four-star hotel is ideal if you're after a little luxury but don't want to break the bank. It's right next to the Vatican City and just a seven-minute walk from St. Peter's Basilica.

The 179 rooms are airy, modern tributes to Italy's capital with classic red and ochre fabrics and sepia prints depicting the city's most famous sights.

When it’s time to dine, head to the hotel’s fantastic Dome restaurant for Italian delicacies such as parmigiano risotto.

Prices start from £189 per double room per night.

CitizenM Rome Isola Tiberina

Credit: CitizenM

We love CitizenM hotels. Why? Because this particular brand is brilliant at keeping things simple.

All of the rooms at its properties are the same size – beautifully minimalistic spaces with one double bed, a toilet and shower, and a small open area with more than enough space for luggage.

Black out blinds mean you won’t be disturbed by Rome’s bright lights, and the location is fantastic. You’ll find it in the often-overlooked (and much quieter) Jewish quarter, but you’ll still only be a short walk from sites such as the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and iconic Colosseum.

Public spaces are filled with books, art and iMacs, and there’s a gorgeous rooftop terrace, too.

Prices start from £121 per double room per night.

*All prices are based on the lowest room rate for December 2024 and are correct at time of writing. Please note that hotel prices are affected by seasonality and are subject to change.