Romantic Hotels in Rome

There are plenty of places on earth where it’s easy to imagine a romantic holiday or honeymoon, and others that require a little imagination to turn them into romantic destinations. Rome is a bit of both. It’s Italy, and just about anywhere in Italy is going to be romantic enough for a honeymoon - but it’s also a big and bustling city that doesn’t, on the surface, seem to have many of those quiet corners that are ideal for snuggling with your partner and pretending the rest of the world doesn’t exist. Rome isn’t really into letting you forget it exists.
Which is why, when you’re planning a romantic vacation in Rome, you need to make sure your hotel is doing everything possible to aid the atmosphere.
Of course, the words “romantic hotels in Rome” don’t exactly conjure images of budget-friendly rooms, do they? There’s a good reason for that. Romantic hotels are typically the ones with amenities cheap hotels could never dream of, personal service from attentive staff, and luxurious decorations. So on this list of romantic Rome hotels I’ve split them into two groups - reasonable splurges, and serious splurges.
The former group is for those of you who are normally budget-conscious travelers who stay in 2-3 star hotels but want to do something a little more special. You probably won’t fall over in shock at the nightly pricetags on these places. The latter group is for those of you who don’t generally look at the nightly pricetag to begin with. I’d advise you budget travelers not to look at those serious splurges, lest you spit whatever you’re drinking all over your computer. And I’m sorry, you serious cheapo travelers, there are no hostels in Rome on this list. The term “romantic hostel” just conjures up a totally different image, I think you’ll agree.
One cost to plan for at any of these: Rome’s city tax, charged per person, per night and paid at the hotel, which is highest at 4- and 5-star hotels.

Romantic Rome Hotels - Reasonable Splurges

Duke Hotel
via Archimede 69 - 00197 Rome
The Duke Hotel, in the leafy Parioli neighborhood, is well away from the historic city center - so it better have something going for it or who would trek all the way out there, right? When you arrive, you’ll understand. This is an elegant hotel that doesn’t make you feel like you should have used the servant’s entrance. It’s beautiful, but it’s not too beautiful, y’know what I mean?
There are 78 rooms in this boutique hotel, all of which have private bathrooms, A/C, satellite TV, and internet/WiFi access. Breakfast is free with the room, and there’s also a free hotel shuttle that runs to the Via Veneto between the hours of 08:00 and 21:45. There’s an on-site bar/restaurant and room service, and because most of the rooms also have a balcony or terrace, you can have a romantic meal on the balcony in your room if you’d like.

Romantic Rome Hotels - Serious Splurges

Hotel Lord Byron
via Giuseppe de Notaris 5 - 00197 Rome
People aren’t staying at the Hotel Lord Byron, up in Parioli, because of its central location. It’s anything but centrally-located. But it is a sumptuous boutique hotel that’s absolutely worth the taxi fare to and from the city center (because if you can afford this place, you’re not taking the Metro). One thing you’ll love about the location is that it’s on top of a hill, so you may end up with a stunning city view from your room’s balcony or terrace. And that’s pretty doggone romantic.
There are 32 rooms, all of which have private bathrooms, A/C, and satellite TVs. The decor is Art Deco, the bathrooms are replete with marble, there’s an on-site restaurant that’s quite good, and the hotel runs a free shuttle to get you into the city and back. And did I mention that there’s a doorman to greet you when you arrive? And he’s wearing white gloves?
The Inn at the Roman Forum
via Ibernesi 30 - 00184 Rome
The Inn at the Roman Forum is basically around the corner from one of the most popular attractions in Rome but still makes you feel like you’re tucked away in a quiet part of the city that’s all yours. There are only 14 rooms in the hotel, all of which have private bathrooms (some with jacuzzis), satellite TVs, A/C and free WiFi access.
What this little hotel offers in its basement, however, is something you’re unlikely to find in every hotel basement. They call it the “Cryptoporticus” and it’s a part of the excavated Trajan’s Marketplace that dates back more than 2,000 years. So you can be excited about the hotel’s roof garden or the free breakfast and WiFi, but tell me about another hotel with a basement crypt. (Okay, so a basement crypt doesn’t exactly scream “romantic,” but you can ignore that the crypt is even there and the rest of the hotel is absolutely romantic. Just don’t tell your squeamish partner about what’s underground.)
>> And if you’re blowing your travel budget on one of these romantic spots, you might want to be even more careful about finding a good deal on airfare. Italy is notoriously expensive when it comes to airfare, but flights to Rome don’t have to make you go into debt. Do your research so you know what to look out for.
photo by Pensiero