Centro Storico (Pantheon area)

Walk to everything major in 15 minutes. Sounds perfect until 2am when drunk tourists sing outside your window. Expensive, minimal supermarkets, but maximum convenience. Like staying in Times Square.

Trastevere

Charming cobblestones, authentic feel, excellent restaurants. Gets touristy at night but maintains local character during day. Good metro connections via bus to Termini. After midnight it transforms into pure magic for nightlife enthusiasts, though some find the late-night party energy overwhelming. Similar vibe to Istanbul's Galata but with better food.

Prati (Vatican area)

Residential, safe, actual Romans live here. Metro Line A for easy center access. Supermarkets, pharmacies, normal life. Like staying in a real neighborhood versus a theme park.

San Lorenzo (University district)

Cheaper apartments, student energy, excellent nightlife. Can feel sketchy after midnight but generally safe. Best authentic restaurants because students demand value. Barcelona's Gracia neighborhood energy.

Avoid: Termini Station area

Convenient for trains, terrible for everything else. Tourist scams, aggressive vendors, general chaos. Stay here only if catching early morning flights.