Hostels in Rome

Italy’s capital city of Rome is a must-stop on any proper tour of Europe - but for travelers on a budget Rome can be a challenge. Italy in general is on the expensive side, and it’s easy to spend quite a bit on accommodation. This is one reason why staying in hostels in Rome is a good idea.

There are quite a few Rome hostels to choose from when you’re planning your trip, and the links below will help you sort through all your options.

• There are several hostels right around Termini Station in Rome, and I visited five during one trip to Rome. You can read my reviews of two that are still going strong: Alessandro Palace Hostel and The Yellow Hostel, which has grown into YellowSquare Rome.
• Not all hostels are party central, but some of them definitely have more of a reputation if you’re planning to be (as the song goes) up all night, sleep all day. Here are the best party hostels in Rome.
• For those of you who want to sleep cheap but are hoping to get away from the glut of hostels around the train station, here’s a map and a list of some of the hostels away from Termini.
• Finding a cheap bed near Rome’s most famous landmark is more difficult than finding one near Termini, but it’s not impossible - there are hostels near the Colosseum.

>> Ask around among budget travelers who’ve been to Rome a few times and you’re likely to hear the name “The Beehive” come up repeatedly. The Beehive, on Via Marghera near Termini, was started in 1999 by American expats Steve & Linda, and it still has both dorm beds and private rooms. It’s small and aimed at solo travelers and pairs: it doesn’t take groups of more than three, and reception isn’t open around the clock, so check the arrival hours before you book. It fills up fast.

More Rome hostels worth a look

Generator Rome, Via Principe Amedeo 257. A big design hostel from the Generator chain in the Esquilino neighborhood, a short walk from Termini, with a bar and dorms and private rooms.

The RomeHello, Via Torino 45. Between Termini and Piazza della Repubblica, with street art on the walls, a social kitchen and a garden. It’s run as a social enterprise, and its profits go to social and environmental projects. Guests rate it among the best hostels in the city.

Ostello Bello Roma Colosseo, Via Angelo Poliziano. The Rome branch of the Ostello Bello chain is in the residential streets between Termini and the Colosseum, which puts it within walking distance of both, and it’s one of the best-reviewed hostels in Rome.

Here’s a map of hostels in Rome, so you can see how the Termini cluster compares with everything else.

photo by mararie