Guide to The Trastevere Neighborhood, Rome: Things To Do + Places To Eat!

One of the astir communal questions we get asked astir visiting Rome is; wherever bash I stay? The reply is ever the Trastevere neighborhood! It was erstwhile a hidden gem but is present turning a batch of heads due to the fact that determination are truthful galore things to bash successful Trastevere and places to explore.

This quaint, vibrant vicinity is located conscionable South of the Vatican City and crossed the stream from the Colosseum and is the past working-class district. It’s known for being quieter and cheaper than the different neighborhoods successful cardinal Rome, but inactive being adjacent to the action.

Trastervere

It was by acold our favourite vicinity successful Rome and we are truthful gladsome we decided to unpack our suitcase there. 

While it’s a large basal for exploring each the apical sites and attractions successful Rome, it’s besides a vicinity that’s worthy exploring. 

In this guide, I’ve shared immoderate of our favourite attractions successful Trastevere arsenic good arsenic our favourite places to eat, wherever to stay, however to get around, and tips for visiting, truthful you tin program your sojourn to this breathtaking vicinity with ease!

Why Is Trastevere Famous?

Trastevere

Trastevere is the erstwhile working-class territory of Rome and is wherever you volition find a vibrant, bohemian atmosphere.

It’s celebrated for its quaint, constrictive cobbled streets, Renaissance architecture and medieval houses, and bustling atmosphere. It has a much section vibe, allowing you to consciousness the bushed of Italian beingness much intimately, and it’s besides a well-known territory for backpackers looking for cheaper accommodation.

In the daytime, Trastevere is quiet, idyllic, and somewhat romantic. At night, the bars travel live with unrecorded music, DJs, and laughing, smiling radical – locals and tourists alike – bringing the quiescent streets to life.

Since it’s located crossed the Tiber River, it’s overmuch cheaper than different neighborhoods successful Rome, and little crowded too, making it an perfect prime for travelers wanting to enactment adjacent to the enactment but without being straight successful it.

It’s wherever we recovered espressos for little than €1, wines for €2.50, thoroughfare performers and euphony successful the squares and connected the streets, and a mostly electrifying atmosphere.

Things To Do In Trastevere

1. Walk Down The Side Streets

Every broadside thoroughfare has thing to discover

I emotion strolling down the backmost streets of the Trastevere territory successful Rome. It’s similar walking done the pages of a storybook. 

The constrictive cobblestone alleys are lined with charming, ivy-covered buildings that exude an old-world, romanticist charm you won’t find successful the bustling tourer areas. 

As you locomotion down the broadside streets, you can’t assistance but announcement the delightful aroma of freshly baked breadstuff and the dependable of locals chatting successful Italian, creating an authentic and vibrant atmosphere.

Great vicinity for photos

The existent magic of Rome is not successful its iconic landmarks, but successful these backmost alleys and passageways, wherever family-run trattorias and gelaterias acceptable up tables extracurricular for the locals to walk their afternoons chatting happily distant implicit an espresso oregon two. 

This is genuinely the champion mode to acquisition Trastevere. As you locomotion down the streets, you mightiness stumble upon quaint piazzas tucked distant from the main thoroughfares, which are cleanable for people-watching from a adjacent java shop. 

2. Admire the Fountain successful Piazzi di Santa Maria 

One of my favourite piazzas successful the Trastevere territory is Piazzi di Santa Maria, which is known for its beauteous h2o fountain successful its center. It’s not conscionable immoderate fountain – it’s a stunning masterpiece that’s steeped successful past and beauty. 

The Fountain is believed to beryllium the oldest fountain successful Rome, thought to person been built successful the 8th century, though its nonstop root is unknown. The plan has changed implicit the years, but what you spot earlier you contiguous was the enactment of immoderate of Rome’s finest craftsmen, Donato Bramante, with additions by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Carlo Fontana.

Many radical flock to this fountain successful the evening to beryllium upon its steps and bask successful the bustling ambiance of the square.

3. Check Out The Nightlife

Live euphony successful Piazzi di Santa Maria

If you’re wondering however to walk an evening successful Trastevere, past you’re successful luck, arsenic determination are truthful galore things to bash successful Trastevere astatine night!

When it comes to nightlife successful Rome, the Trastevere territory is wherever the party’s at. This lively vicinity comes live aft acheronian with a vibrant premix of bars, clubs, and unrecorded euphony venues that cater to each taste. 

While Trastevere has much affordable prices erstwhile compared to different districts successful Rome, unfortunately, nights retired thin to beryllium conscionable arsenic costly present arsenic anyplace other successful the city. 

One of the astir fashionable bars successful Trastevere is Bar San Calisto due to the fact that the prices of drinks are a batch little than the swanky vino bars you spot astir the neighborhood. It’s the oldest and astir celebrated barroom successful the territory and has been a fashionable watering spread for much than fractional a century.

It’s a no-frills pub wherever some locals and tourists congregate aft the prima goes down. A classic, Roman pub, unpretentious and authentic. What much could you want?

Another fashionable barroom is Enoteca La Vite which has an extended postulation of section wines.

Come backmost present successful the greeting arsenic they person truly inexpensive espresso and gelato!

4. Take A Walking Food Tour

I can’t accent capable however overmuch we enjoyed the walking nutrient circuit of the Trastevere district. It wasn’t conscionable astir strolling done the charming cobblestone streets, savoring the astir mouthwatering Italian delicacies astatine hidden section spots, but astir learning the section mode of beingness and however important nutrient is embedded into Italian culture. 

As you locomotion from trattoria to trattoria, you get to illustration immoderate of Rome’s lesser-known and astir exquisite dishes, from crispy supplì to heavenly gelato, washed down with the acquired sensation of Grappa (it wasn’t for me) – each wound is simply a burst of authentic flavors that punctual you that Italian nutrient is much than conscionable pizza and pasta.

Suppli – inexpensive snack nutrient successful Rome

What makes this nutrient circuit truthful peculiar is that you’re led by a section guide, who tells you stories of the radical and the mode of beingness here, allowing you to genuinely soak up the district’s unsocial vibe. 

I inactive retrieve the sensation of the artisanal cheeses similar Pecorino food that we tried from a section nutrient store. If you’re a foodie, adhd this to your database of things to bash successful Rome!

5. Admire the Basilicas of Trastevere

Basilica of Santa Maria

When it comes to uncovering the champion architecture successful the neighborhood, look nary further than the churches and basilicas.

The Basilica of Santa Maria is arguably the astir celebrated religion successful the country and is simply a existent showstopper with its stunning mosaics and peaceful courtyard. It’s 1 of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, and the biggest Catholic Marian religion successful the city.

Dating backmost to 432 AD, the plan of the religion is simply a substance of Romanesque and Baroque styles, with 5th-century mosaics adorning the interiors. Walking down the cardinal nave is breathtaking. The marble arches and columns gully your eyes up to the gilded domed ceiling wherever the intricacies of the artwork support your attraction sucked successful until your cervix cramps up! 

The Santa Cecilia is different gem known for its breathtaking artwork and medieval design. What’s peculiar astir this religion is that it’s dedicated to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of euphony and poetry. 

The wrong of the religion is not arsenic awesome arsenic the Basilica of Santa Maria, but the statue of Saint Cecilia by Stefano Maderno, which sits astatine the precocious altar of the church, is worthy checking out. It was created successful 1600 aft the assemblage of Saint Cecilia was recovered buried nether the altar. It is said that the statue is successful existent likeness to her assemblage arsenic it was recovered by Antonio Bosio.

I besides loved the plan of Basilica di San Crisogono, which is tiny and unimposing from the outside, but lavish and ornately decorated connected the inside. I besides loved Chiesa di San Francesco a Ripa, a baroque-style religion which contains immoderate of Bernini’s masterpieces.

6. Catch Amazing Views from Janiculum Hill

view of Rome from Janiculum hill, Italy

For unthinkable views, caput up to Janiculum Hill (also affectionately known arsenic the Balcony of Rome), the 2nd largest successful Rome and a hidden gem with the astir breathtaking panoramic views of the city. 

The ascent up the elevation is steep and takes astir 30 minutes, but it’s wholly worthy it erstwhile you’re rewarded with a stunning vista that stretches from St. Peter’s Basilica to the full historical halfway of Rome. 

Make definite to get astatine midday to ticker the accepted firing of the cannon. Every day, a blank circular is fired astatine noon, which archetypal began connected 1 December 1847 erstwhile Pope Pius IX introduced it arsenic a mode to person a awesome for the authoritative clip and to assistance synchronize the bells of the churches.

The cannon dependable tin sometimes beryllium heard each the mode from Esquiline Hill if you perceive closely.

7. Watch The Street Artists connected the Ponte Sisto

Po

Connecting cardinal Rome to Trastevere is the stunning bridge, Ponte Sisto, which successful itself is simply a enactment of art, with its elegant arches and stunning views of the Tiber River. 

Tiber River sunset

What’s truthful peculiar astir Ponte Sisto is that it’s often lined with thoroughfare artists busking successful the aboriginal evening. It’s the cleanable spot for a leisurely walk, particularly successful the evening erstwhile the lights of the metropolis formed a magical glow implicit the river.

8. Relax successful the Botanical Garden of Rome

Botanical Garden of Rome

The Botanical Garden of Rome is simply a peaceful oasis close successful the bosom of the city. The infinitesimal I stepped into the garden, I was surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant blooms, and a consciousness of tranquility that’s hard to find successful the bustling streets of Rome. 

It’s a haven for quality lovers and anyone seeking a serene flight from the municipality hustle.

What’s truthful peculiar astir this botanical plot is that it contains much than 7,000 works taxon from each implicit the world. From exotic tropical palms to past olive trees, each country tells a unsocial botanical story. 

9. Admire The Art Inside Villa Farnesina

Villa Farnesia

Villa Farnesina is possibly the astir beauteous gathering successful the Trastevere district. It was built for Agostino Chigi, a Sienese banker who was besides the treasurer of Pope Julius II. 

He had a fondness for Renaissance creation and commissioned fresco paintings by immoderate of the astir beloved artists of the era, Raphael, Sebastiano del Piombo, Giulio Romano, and Il Sodoma. 

Cupid and Psyche

The astir celebrated portion successful the villa is Raphael’s depiction of “Cupid and Psyche”, which adorns the ceiling of the Loggia connected the crushed floor. Another notable portion is by Sodoma, who painted scenes from the beingness of Alexander the Great connected the walls of the upstairs bedroom.

Every country and corridor is decorated with immoderate of the finest frescos of the Renaissance. If you’re an creation lover, oregon not, you cannot miss a accidental to locomotion among these halls and witnesser the grandeur created by the Renaissance elite.

10. Step Back In Time astatine Museo di Roma

Museo di Roma successful Trastevere

The Museo di Roma is simply a tiny depository that belongs to the Roman civic museums network. It has a immense postulation of works documenting the communicative of “old Rome”, arsenic good arsenic respective galleries dedicated to Italian art.

One of the museum’s highlights is simply a postulation of 120 watercolor paintings by the nineteenth-century painter, Ettore Roesler Franz of Roma.

This depository is simply a treasure trove of Rome’s affluent past and culture, showcasing everything from captivating paintings to intriguing artifacts that bring the city’s past to life. 

11. Marvel astatine Palazzo Corsini

National Gallery of Ancient Art

Another architectural gem successful the vicinity is Palazzo Corsini, a late-baroque palace belonging to the Corsini family.

This stunning palace was erstwhile location to affluent cardinals and popes, but present houses the Accademia dei Lincei, the world’s oldest technological institution. 

It contains much than 600,000 books and papers connected technological subjects of assorted forms, arsenic good arsenic a postulation of marbles and statues belonging to the National Gallery of Ancient Art.

Visitors tin participate the palace by guided circuit only, successful which you tin locomotion astir the fresco-clad halls and exuberant rooms. A item of the circuit is to sojourn the erstwhile Throne Room, wherever the family’s wealthiness and power tin beryllium champion appreciated.

Tours tally Monday – Friday and instrumentality astir 90 minutes. You tin larn much astir tours of Palazzo Corsini here.

The palace is besides connected to the Botanical Gardens of Rome.

12. See the Ruins of Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus

If you were wowed by The Colosseum and privation to sojourn much of Rome’s past sporting stadiums, past a sojourn to Circus Maximus successful Trastevere is simply a must. 

This past chariot racing stadium was the archetypal and largest stadium successful the Empire and extends for 621 meters. In its prime, it could location implicit 150,000 spectators

Today, the stadium is simply a ruin turned into a sprawling municipality park, wherever you tin beryllium connected the grassy banks and ideate what beingness successful past Rome would person been like.

What I emotion astir Circus Maximus is however you tin easy spot what the stadium would person looked like. Everywhere you look determination are remnants of the seating tiers and pathways that could easy person been chariot tracks. 

This is conscionable implicit the stream from Trastevere. We walked past it connected our mode backmost tot our flat from the Colosseum.

13. Chill In The Gardens of Villa Sciarra

Another enchanting spot successful Trastevere is the Gardens of Villa Sciarra, a verdant paradise with lush greenery, meandering pathways, and a charming fountain with nymph statues that marque it a serene flight from the bustling city. 

What makes this plot unsocial is the assortment of flora from Italian and Mediterranean roots, alongside much exotic taxon specified arsenic respective varieties of palms.

Walking on the pathways, and smelling the fragrant blooms, is the cleanable mode to unbend aft a time of exploring.

Places To Eat & Drink In Trastevere

Restaurants abound

The bully happening astir Trastevere is determination is nary shortage of bully places to eat. The manager of our apartment, a section to the area, told us, “If you spot a line, don’t fuss waiting, conscionable spell to different 1 without a line, it volition beryllium good. It’s besides cheaper than crossed the river.“

But if you privation to program a bully spot to devour successful the neighborhood, present are immoderate of our favourite restaurants successful Trastevere…

1. Mama Eat Roma

Mama Eat was our favourite edifice successful Trastevere and truthful we person to see it arsenic our fig 1 spot! We ate determination a mates of times due to the fact that the paper tin beryllium made wholly gluten-free! 

They bash marque non-gluten-free versions of everything arsenic well, but for america with dietary needs, it was truly a luxury to person choices.

I can’t archer you however fantastic it was to cognize I could safely devour a delicious pizza oregon pasta carbonara followed by tiramisu.

The nutrient was truthful caller and flavorful, and you tin intelligibly archer it was each made from scratch.

The tiramisu was the champion I’ve ever eaten. Period.

2. Otello

Otello is different fashionable spot to devour successful the Trastevere district. The infinitesimal you measurement into the restaurant, you are greeted by the cozy and inviting ambiance that makes you consciousness close astatine home. 

The aroma of sizzling ail and the dependable of clinking glasses capable the air, creating the cleanable ambiance for a romanticist day nighttime meal.

Otello offers authentic Roman flavors, from the creamy carbonara to the perfectly crispy fried artichokes, each crockery is simply a culinary masterpiece that leaves you craving for more. 

It’s a spot connected the pricey side, but if you privation a memorable eating experience, this is the spot to go.

3. Osteria Nannarella

If you privation thing a small much casual, Osteria Nannarella is simply a bully choice. Described arsenic a “modest eatery”, this is simply a no-fuss edifice serving up accepted Roman dishes.

The amatriciana and the suppli are immoderate of the astir beloved items connected the menu, and the section wines connected connection are the cleanable pairing.

While radical travel for the food, radical enactment for the service, peculiarly by Ronaldo, the affable waiter who ever serves you with a grin and affirmative attitude. He’s go somewhat of a section personage successful the Trastevere district!

4. Alle Fratte di Trastevere

Alle Fratte di Trastevere is different engaged edifice that’s ever popping! You whitethorn privation to reserve a array here, different you tin expect to hold up to 20 minutes for a array successful the evenings.

And radical bash hold due to the fact that the nutrient is that good! The pasta dishes, specified arsenic Spaghetti Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe are immoderate of the astir fashionable items connected the menu. 

The tiramisu is besides amazing, and their location vino isn’t excessively shabby either!

5. Restaurant Ai Spaghettari

For a simple, family-friendly atmosphere, caput to Restaurant Ai Spaghettari. This small trattoria is similar walking into a location – you instantly consciousness invited and privation to footwear disconnected your shoes and marque yourself comfy.

The Spaghetti Caccio Pepe is peculiarly bully present and the unit are each precise affable and hospitable.

6. Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi

For a speedy time clip porchetta sandwich, a precocious nighttime snack, oregon a much relaxing beryllium municipality with precocious prime hams and cheeses, devour astatine Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi paired with a bully solid of Italian wine.

Don’t beryllium expecting a fast-food Subway acquisition here. It’s a rustic, old-world environment, but with precocious prime products cautiously selected by our Chefs and Sommeliers, with a absorption connected organic, seasonality and section workplace to table. 

We enjoyed grabbing a precocious nighttime pork sandwich present aft our sojourn to the vino bar. We took location sandwiches for the girls too!

7. Breakfast astatine Baylon Cafe

If you’re looking for a large meal spot, Baylon Cafe is it. It was astir the country from our apartment, truthful I popped successful connected my past time for a speedy instrumentality retired of pastries and coffee. Two coffees and 3 yummy cocoa filled pastries and croissants for little than €12

Many rave astir their American benignant meal and their luncheon and meal paper and large apertivo!

8. Apertivo Hour astatine Antilia

Aperitivio Hour astatine Antilia

You’re successful Italy, Apertivo hr is important, and successful Trastevere, it’s buzzing. Like the restaurants successful this Roman neighborhood, you could beryllium astatine immoderate of bars successful Trastevere and person a fantastic Apertivo hour.

Relax with a crystal acold Aperol spritz and a sheet of escaped nibbles and ticker the streets travel live with radical getting acceptable to extremity their time and commencement their night.

Our spot extracurricular Antilia connected the country of 2 engaged thoroughfares gave america a fantastic vantage point!

9. Latteria Trastevere

If you’re looking for a bully vino barroom to extremity your evening successful Trastevere, past you’ll emotion the intimate Latteria Trastevere, tucked distant connected an endearing broadside street.

It volition beryllium hard to determine betwixt the twinkly lights strung among vino bottles inside, oregon the cute tables successful the leafy extracurricular space. This spot is classy and our server helped america take a solid of vino from the menu.

I privation we came present for dinner, arsenic I loved the quieter, much romanticist atmosphere. I heard large things astir the paper with nutrient sourced from tiny farms implicit Italy and meals that showcase the chefs Sardinian roots.

Lattteria is decidedly a hidden concealed of restaurants successful Trastevere.

Where to Stay successful Trastevere

Apartment Rental successful Trastevere

Our flat successful Rome

This is wherever we stayed erstwhile we visited Trastevere. It’s spacious, modern, and an casual walking region to each of Rome’s apical attractions.

It was besides connected a quiescent thoroughfare distant from the nightlife, truthful we had nary occupation sleeping astatine night. The big was incredibly affable and gave america a batch of recommendations for places to devour and drink.

See prices and availability here.

Hotel Santa Maria

The Hotel Santa Maria is simply a charming, cozy edifice connected the banks of the Tiber River. It’s a erstwhile 16th-century convent turned boutique edifice and features quaint rooms that look retired implicit the interior landscaped grounds filled with orangish trees and Mediterranean flora. The rooms are designed successful play furnishings, with terracotta floors and woody furniture. It’s similar staying successful a fairytale villa!

See prices and availability here.

Palazzo Velli

Another historical spot to enactment successful Trastevere is Palazzo Velli. Yes, you tin enactment successful a 15th-century palace! This erstwhile palace has been turned into self-catering apartments that person been kitted retired with mod cons, specified arsenic escaped Wi-Fi, surviving areas with a fireplace, and well-equipped kitchens. 

See rates and availability here.

FAQs About Visiting Trastevere

Love the Tiber River walking way connected Trastevere side

Is Trastevere a bully portion of Rome?

Yes, Trastevere is simply a bully portion of Rome. Its medieval houses clad with ivy, paired with cobbled streets and winding alleys filled with the laughter of locals, marque it an idyllic spot for those wanting to acquisition the authentic broadside of Rome.

How acold is Trastevere from Rome Center?

It’s astir a 30-minute locomotion from Trastevere to the metropolis halfway of Rome, and a 45-minute locomotion to Vatican City.

Is Trastevere Safe astatine Night?

Yes, Trastevere is harmless astatine night, arsenic agelong arsenic you don’t rotation astir unsocial and support an oculus connected your belongings. It’s ever busy, which adds an constituent of safety, but Rome is notorious for pickpockets truthful bash support an oculus connected your valuables astatine each times.

Before You Go

Summer restaurants on the Tiber adjacent Trastevere

Trastevere was by acold our favourite spot to sojourn successful Rome. It was our teens favourite spot successful Rome arsenic well. The cobblestone streets, vibrant piazzas, lively cafes, accepted trattorias, and artisan shops, truly gave america a existent sensation of section life. 

Before you go, marque definite to work up connected our indispensable things to cognize earlier going to Rome to get an thought of what to expect. To marque the astir of your visit, beryllium definite to research the country connected ft and beryllium definite to get yourself mislaid down the broadside streets. It truly is the champion mode to acquisition this neighborhood!

I anticipation this usher helped you program your travel to Trastevere and gave you immoderate inspiration for what to do, wherever to stay, and wherever to eat. 

Whatever you determine to do, Trastevere promises to beryllium an unforgettable destination, offering the cleanable blend of history, culture, and axenic Roman charm.