Hotel recommendations. I suggest two neighborhoods if this is your first trip to this fabulous, historic, huge, busy city. I tried to include lodging in all price ranges. Trastevere: This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Rome. It was a working class neighborhood so most buildings and quaint cobblestone streets were left unchanged for centuries. Now, it’s full of small family owned rentals and tons of restaurants. There’s a photo op on every corner. You will see graffiti on a lot of the buildings and most restaurants aren’t open until after 7:30pm, but it does become lively in the later evening. As a solo traveler, I’ve always felt safe here. Vatican area: The area right East and South of the Vatican is busy, but a nice place for tourists to stay. During the day there’s lots of restaurants and shopping. The evening has fewer dining options, but still an overall safe feeling. Plus, it’s always easy to find your way back to the Vatican! Where NOT to stay: Termini. This is the main train station of Rome the hotels and hostels in this area can be really hit or miss. I wouldn't stay here on your first visit.