Eco Hotels in Rome
Sustainable stays in the Eternal City. Best-price guarantee, 1 tonne CO₂ removed per booking. €5 free credit + 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
Why Stay in Rome
Rome needs no introduction — and yet it still manages to exceed every expectation. The Eternal City has been continuously inhabited for over 2,700 years, and that staggering depth of history is visible everywhere you look. Walk down a modern shopping street and stumble upon a 2,000-year-old temple embedded in the foundations of a Renaissance church, itself decorated with Baroque masterpieces. No other city on earth layers civilisation upon civilisation quite like Rome does.
The numbers alone are astonishing. Rome's historic centre — inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and later expanded to include the properties of the Holy See — contains more than 900 churches, 280 fountains, and some of the most visited monuments on the planet. The Colosseum, which could seat 50,000 spectators when it opened in AD 80, still stands as the largest amphitheatre ever built. The Pantheon, completed around AD 125 under Emperor Hadrian, boasts the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome — a feat of engineering that wasn't surpassed for nearly 1,300 years. And entirely within its borders sits Vatican City, the world's smallest sovereign state, home to St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and a collection of art spanning millennia.
But Rome is much more than an open-air museum. It's a living, breathing Mediterranean capital of nearly 2.9 million people (4.3 million in the metropolitan area) with a vibrant, sometimes chaotic energy that pulses through its streets from dawn until deep into the night. This is a city that takes food seriously — not as haute cuisine performance, but as daily ritual. Rome is the birthplace of four iconic pasta dishes: carbonara (guanciale, egg, pecorino, black pepper), cacio e pepe (pecorino, pepper, pasta water), amatriciana (guanciale, tomato, pecorino), and gricia (the "white amatriciana"). Add supplì (fried risotto balls with molten mozzarella centres), carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style twice-fried artichokes from the Ghetto), pizza al taglio sold by weight from glass cases, and the world's finest gelato tradition, and you have a city where eating well isn't a luxury — it's simply what you do.
Rome's Mediterranean climate means warm, dry summers (28–35°C in July and August) and mild, damp winters (4–13°C in January). The sweet spots are spring (April–May), when wisteria drapes over ancient walls and orange blossoms scent the air, and autumn (September–October), when the summer heat breaks and golden light turns travertine to honey. The city rewards early risers — arrive at the Trevi Fountain at 7 AM or walk the Forum at opening time, and you'll have near-solitude in places that later swarm with thousands.
For the eco-conscious traveller, Rome is both a challenge and an opportunity. The historic centre is remarkably compact and walkable — the stroll from the Colosseum to St Peter's Square covers just 4 kilometres and passes most of the city's greatest hits along the way. Rome's metro is limited (three lines: A, B, and the newer C) partly because every excavation uncovers ancient ruins, but the extensive bus and tram network fills the gaps. The city has been steadily expanding pedestrian zones, bike-sharing stations, and electric scooter availability. Green spaces abound: Villa Borghese (80 hectares in the city centre), the Appian Way Regional Park (3,400 hectares of ancient road and catacombs), the Orange Garden on the Aventine Hill, and the vast Villa Doria Pamphilj all offer escapes from the urban bustle. By booking through IMPT, you ensure that 1 tonne of CO₂ is removed per booking, at the same price you'd pay on Booking.com — with an additional €5 free credit on your first stay and 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
Rome at a Glance
Getting the Most from Your Trip
Rome is served by two airports. Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO), 30 km southwest of the city centre, is the main international gateway. The Leonardo Express train runs every 15 minutes to Roma Termini station (32 minutes, €14 one-way). Alternatively, regional FL1 trains serve Trastevere and Ostiense stations for less. Ciampino Airport (CIA), 15 km southeast, handles budget carriers like Ryanair; buses to Termini take 40 minutes and cost around €6.
Roma Termini is the city's central railway station and Italy's busiest, handling high-speed Frecciarossa trains from Milan (2h 55min), Florence (1h 30min), Naples (1h 10min), and Venice (3h 45min). The station sits at the intersection of metro lines A and B, making onward connections straightforward. Roma Tiburtina, the secondary station on the northeast side, also handles some high-speed services and connects to metro line B.
Within Rome, the metro has three lines. Line A (orange) runs from Battistini in the west through the Vatican area (Ottaviano stop), Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Barberini, and Termini to Anagnina in the southeast. Line B (blue) runs from Rebibbia/Jonio in the northeast through Termini, the Colosseum (stop: Colosseo), Piramide/Ostiense, and EUR in the south. Line C (green), the newest, is still being extended but already connects the eastern suburbs to San Giovanni, where it intersects with Line A. Buses and trams fill the gaps — particularly useful for reaching Trastevere, Testaccio, and areas not served by metro. A single BIT ticket (€1.50) covers 100 minutes of bus/tram plus one metro ride. The Roma Pass (48h for €33 or 72h for €53) includes unlimited public transport plus museum discounts — excellent value if you plan to visit multiple sites.
That said, the best way to experience Rome is on foot. The centro storico is a pedestrian's paradise: narrow cobblestone lanes open suddenly into grand piazzas, every corner reveals a fountain or a church façade, and getting slightly lost is half the pleasure. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip — Rome's beautiful sampietrini cobblestones are notoriously slippery when wet. For day trips, Tivoli (Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa, 30 km east) is reachable by regional train from Tiburtina in 45 minutes. Ostia Antica (Rome's remarkably preserved ancient port) is just 30 minutes by Roma-Lido train from Piramide station. The Castelli Romani — a cluster of hilltop towns including Frascati, Castel Gandolfo, and Nemi — make for a wonderful half-day escape into the Alban Hills, famous for their white wine (Frascati DOC) and porchetta.
Where to Stay — Neighbourhoods
Hotels
Handpicked sustainable stays across Rome — from historic luxury to contemporary boutiques and budget-friendly hostels. All bookable through IMPT at the same price as Booking.com, with 1 tonne of CO₂ removed per booking.
Rome's most iconic luxury hotel since 1893, perched at the summit of the Spanish Steps with panoramic rooftop views across the city to St Peter's dome. Family-owned by the Wirth family for five generations, the Hassler combines old-world elegance with modern sustainability initiatives. The rooftop restaurant Imàgo holds a Michelin star. 87 rooms and suites, each individually decorated.
A landmark five-star hidden behind a façade of Virginia creeper just off Piazza Navona. The Raphael has hosted artists, politicians, and filmmakers since 1963. Its rooftop terrace offers one of Rome's finest views — the dome of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza at eye level, the Vittoriano and St Peter's beyond. The hotel's art collection includes original Picasso ceramics in the lobby. 50 rooms blending antique furnishings with contemporary design by Richard Meier.
A charming three-star hotel built around a peaceful orange-tree courtyard in the heart of Trastevere. Set in a converted 16th-century cloister, the Hotel Santa Maria offers 20 ground-floor rooms opening onto the garden — an unusually tranquil retreat in one of Rome's liveliest neighbourhoods. Free bikes for guests. Two minutes' walk to Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, ten minutes to the Vatican.
A stylish boutique hotel with 15 individually designed rooms in a restored 19th-century building in the heart of Monti. Named for its fifteen rooms, each with its own character and key. The hotel has a beautiful internal courtyard with a cocktail bar, and the design blends industrial touches with warm Mediterranean tones. A five-minute walk to the Colosseum, three minutes to the Cavour metro stop.
A highly rated four-star hotel on Via Nazionale, one of Rome's grand boulevards, housed in a restored Art Nouveau building from 1890. The Artemide consistently ranks among Rome's top-rated hotels for service. 85 rooms with marble bathrooms, a rooftop terrace restaurant, and a small spa. Walking distance to Termini station (5 minutes), the Trevi Fountain (8 minutes), and the Colosseum (15 minutes). Excellent central base with reliable quality.
Part of the Generator chain of design-led hostels, this budget-friendly option near Termini station offers both dorm beds and private rooms in a converted 19th-century building. The common areas feature stylish industrial design, a bar with aperitivo, and organised social events. Ideal for solo travellers and budget-conscious visitors who want a social base with easy transport links. Five minutes to Termini, 15 minutes' walk to the Colosseum.
Things to Do in Rome
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The Flavian Amphitheatre — universally known as the Colosseum — is the single most recognisable symbol of ancient Rome. Completed in AD 80 under Emperor Titus, it could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and mock sea battles. A combined ticket (€18) includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill directly adjacent. The Forum was the political, religious, and commercial heart of the Roman Republic and Empire — walking among the ruins of the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Titus, and the Senate House is to walk through 1,000 years of history. Palatine Hill, the most central of Rome's seven hills, offers panoramic views across the Forum to the Colosseum and was where Rome's emperors built their palaces.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museums house one of the world's largest and most important art collections, assembled over five centuries by successive popes. The highlight for most visitors is the Sistine Chapel — Michelangelo's ceiling (painted 1508–1512) and his Last Judgement (1536–1541) on the altar wall are among the supreme achievements of Western art. But the museums' 54 galleries also include the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Laocoön sculpture, and Egyptian and Etruscan collections. Expect to walk 7 km through the museum route. Tickets €17; book online well in advance.
The Pantheon
Rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around AD 125, the Pantheon is the best-preserved building from ancient Rome. Its unreinforced concrete dome — 43.3 metres in diameter, with a 9-metre circular opening (oculus) at its apex — remained the world's largest dome until Brunelleschi's in Florence, built 1,300 years later. Inside, the space is breathtaking: perfectly proportioned, the height of the dome exactly equal to its diameter. The Pantheon houses the tombs of Raphael and two Italian kings. Free entry; expect queues in high season.
Trevi Fountain
The largest Baroque fountain in Rome (26.3 metres high, 49.15 metres wide), designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762. The central figure of Neptune in his shell chariot, flanked by tritons and sea horses, is carved from travertine and stands against the rear wall of the Palazzo Poli. Tradition holds that throwing a coin over your left shoulder ensures your return to Rome — approximately €3,000 in coins are collected daily and donated to Caritas for charitable works. Visit at dawn for photos without crowds.
St Peter's Basilica
The world's largest church by interior area (15,160 square metres), built between 1506 and 1626 over the tomb of Saint Peter. Designed by a succession of architects including Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini, St Peter's contains Michelangelo's Pietà (carved when he was just 24), Bernini's towering bronze baldachin over the papal altar, and the stunning view from the dome (551 steps to the top, or an elevator partway). Free entry to the basilica; dome climb €8–10. Dress code enforced: covered shoulders and knees.
Galleria Borghese
A world-class art gallery housed in the 17th-century Villa Borghese Pinciana, set within the city's largest park. The collection includes Bernini's masterpiece sculptures — Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina, David — plus Caravaggio's Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Titian's Sacred and Profane Love, and Raphael's Deposition. Entry is limited to 360 visitors every two hours, making it one of the most intimate major museum experiences in the world. Reservations are mandatory (€15); book weeks ahead.
Trastevere
Cross the Tiber and lose yourself in Rome's most atmospheric neighbourhood. Trastevere's tangled lanes, ochre and terracotta buildings, and vine-draped trattoria terraces feel like a village within the city. Start at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (one of Rome's oldest churches, with dazzling 12th-century mosaics), wander through Piazza Trilussa, and climb the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) for a panoramic sunset view across the city. Evening is when Trastevere truly shines — the streets fill with locals and visitors, buskers play, and the trattorias fire up.
The Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
One of the earliest and most important Roman roads, the Appian Way was begun in 312 BC and eventually stretched 563 km to Brindisi in Puglia. The first few kilometres south of Rome are now a protected regional park — a hauntingly beautiful stretch of ancient basalt paving stones, lined with umbrella pines, Roman tombs, and the entrances to the Catacombs of San Callisto, San Sebastiano, and Domitilla. Rent a bike or walk; Sundays are best, when the road is closed to cars. Free to walk; catacomb visits €8–10 with guided tours.
Walks in Rome
Centro Storico Walk — 5 km
Start at Piazza Navona (Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers), weave south to Campo de' Fiori and its morning market, continue east to Largo di Torre Argentina (where Julius Caesar was assassinated, now a cat sanctuary among Roman temple ruins), then north to the Pantheon, the ornate church of Sant'Ignazio, and the Trevi Fountain. Finish with a climb up the Spanish Steps to Piazza Trinità dei Monti for sunset views. Allow 2–3 hours without museum stops; a full day if you linger in churches and cafés.
Appian Way Walk — 6–10 km
Take bus 118 from Piramide or the Colosseum to the start of the Appian Way at Porta San Sebastiano. Walk the ancient road southward through the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica, passing the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, the Catacombs of San Callisto, the Circus of Maxentius, and the impressive Tomb of Cecilia Metella. The further you go, the more rural and atmospheric it becomes — umbrella pines shade the original basalt paving, wildflowers grow between Roman ruins. Best on a Sunday when car traffic is banned. Pack water and a picnic.
Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) Walk — 4 km
Begin in Trastevere at Piazza di Santa Maria, head uphill via the Bramante Tempietto at San Pietro in Montorio (a Renaissance gem considered one of the most harmonious buildings ever constructed), continue along the ridge of the Janiculum to the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola (the "Fontanone"), and reach the terrace by the Garibaldi monument for what many consider Rome's finest panoramic view — the entire historic skyline spread before you, from the Vittoriano to St Peter's dome. The noon cannon fires daily from the Gianicolo. Return downhill through the Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden, €8).