A beautiful neighbourhood in Rome is Trastevere. Its name translates to mean ‘beyond the Tiber’, which is the name of the river in Rome, the Tiber, il Tevere.
It is a bustling neighbourhood packed tight with bars and restaurants. There are buskers often in its beautiful piazzas and many shops to wander in and out of. It is a neighbourhood I love, and here I’ll tell you some of my favourite places and things to do in the area.
How to Get to Trastevere?
There is no metro stop that will get you to Trastevere, but you do have some options.
Bus
Depending on where you’re coming from, you could take one of these buses:
- 23, 280, 115, 170, H, 75
Tram
Two tram lines will get you to Trastevere if that works better for your starting point.
- Line 3
- Line 8
Tips
Before I give you the list of my favourite places and things to do in Trastevere, I want to give you a few tips and some helpful information.
- If you want to explore the area but avoid the really, really big crowds, come on a weeknight rather than the weekend.
- No matter the time of year, you’ll find delicious food and a beautiful neighbourhood.
- If you want to stay in this area, there won’t be many hotel options, so you’ll most likely have to book apartments on sites such as Airbnb or booking.com.
- Don’t rush through this area. Walk down all the small streets and see all the small beauty it has to offer.
- Non-local cars are not permitted to park in Trastevere after dark, so you’ll have to park close and walk if you’re going by car.
Top Things To Do in Trastevere
Okay, here we go, top things to do in Trastevere. Full of my favourites and what I really think you should include in your itinerary if you’re adding Trastevere into it (which I think you should 100%).
Wander Down all the Side Streets and Alleys
The cobblestone roads and the beautiful colours of the buildings will give you the picturesque Rome you’ve seen in so many movies and photos of the Eternal City.
Supplì
When in Rome you have to try supplì! It is my very favourite of all the street foods you’ll come across when in Rome. And here at Supplì, you’ll find the very best one.
Supplì is a fried ball of rice with tomato sauce with minced meat and mozzarella in the middle. Here you’ll find the traditional supplì, but also some other flavours if you want to try them.
At Supplì, they also have some pizza by the slice, some pasta dishes, as well as other fried goodies, vegetables, and meat. It is a great place to stop for lunch on the go.
If you go at prime Italian lunchtime, around 1-2 pm, you’ll face a big lineup. I think it’s worth it.
After I get my food here, I like to head towards the Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere to sit by the fountain and enjoy the great food and view.
Ivo a Trastevere
On this same street, you’ll come across a restaurant called Ivo a Trastevere, and it is my favourite restaurant, not only in Trastevere but in Rome. They have delicious Roman-style pizza, with a great selection of fried appetisers but they also have amazing pasta dishes.
Bar San Calisto
This famous and very popular bar is a great one to check out, whether for a coffee or a drink. You’ll find it almost always full of people of all ages, and there’ll be foreign people and Romans alike. It is a neighbourhood staple, and I highly recommend you stop by.
Piazza Trilussa
This piazza sits directly opposite il Ponte Sisto, a bridge many walk across to get to this neighbourhood. It is named after a famous Roman poet, Carlo Alberto Salustri, and there is a beautiful memorial for him where one of his poems is shown.
As you approach this piazza, you’ll see the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola at the top of the stairs. It is a very beautiful piazza. Something that makes it even more beautiful is the community it creates.
Often you’ll find buskers set up in the middle of the piazza performing with a crowd in admiration around them. Grab a drink or treat at one of the locals nearby, find a seat on the stairs, and watch the show.
Pasticceria Valzani
Craving something sweet? Head over to pasticceria Valzani and try whichever sweet captures your eye the most. I always take more than one because why not?
Trapizzino
A very famous and very delicious ‘street food’ in Rome is Trapizzino. I put street food in quotations because you can for sure take this on the go, but I recommend giving yourself time to sit at one of their tables.
Enjoy not only the trapizzini of your choice, but check out what they offer to drink as well. Trapizzino has a good selection of delicious beers and wines as well.
Teatro e Cioccolata
Keep an eye out for this if you love chocolate. As I mentioned, this area has many bars and restaurants, and while this place is neither, it does serve alcohol. They serve shots in chocolate glasses, and they try to go with the shock factor a little when they serve them.
They play on some ‘indecent’ humour, from the names of the shots to the dialogue they give as they serve you. This place will surely give you and your friends a laugh and a story to tell.
Mr. Brown
This is a bar that is always lively and full of people, good music, and good drinks. If you don’t mind crowds, stop here and get a drink.
Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere
This basilica is so beautiful from the outside but also from the inside! Spend some time in the Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere (but not at the bars/restaurants in this main piazza, they’ll be very overpriced).
Admire the piazza life and the basilica from the outside before you wander in and walk around the beauty of the inside.
Shop
There are many shops in this neighbourhood. I’m sure you’ll find some you love. My favourite for good quality, beautiful leather bags, wallets, and cute shoes is Marta Ray.
Then there’s the Almost Corner Bookshop, a great place to get English books in Rome, and it is also very charming in its look. For some Roman-inspired merch, check out the store Elvis Lives or Mibo.
Aperitivo
Like most areas in Rome, it offers a great aperitivo. With its scenic streets, it is a great place to stay for an aperitivo. You’ll have many options, starting at around 5 pm, to stop and get a drink that’ll be served with some great snacks.
Orto Botanico di Roma
Looking for some greenery and an escape from the city streets? I love visiting the botanical gardens of the cities I’m visiting. I really recommend Rome’s garden.
Gianicolo
Head up to the viewpoint of Gianicolo. Here you’ll have a great view of Rome, but you’ll also get to see the big Fontana dell’Acqua, Paola.
Summer Tips
In the summer, there are a few extra things that happen in this neighbourhood that I think you should for sure try to experience.
- Cinema in Piazza. In Piazza di S. Cosimato, a huge screen is set up, and chairs are put throughout the piazza to allow strangers to join together in the summer air to watch a film.
I love doing this: you can bring some snacks, drinks, and maybe a blanket to sit on in case you don’t get a chair and enjoy life in the piazza.
Type ‘il cinema in piazza Rome’ into Google, and you’ll see their website with more information. Such as the film schedule and the language the films will be in.
- Lungo il Tevere a Roma. Presuming you’re starting from Ponte Sisto, once you’ve crossed the bridge to the Trastevere side of the river, you’ll head down the stairs. Once you’re down the stairs, you’ll see white tents set up by the river. These tents will be restaurants, games, bars, and little shops.
It’s a great thing to check out if you’re in Rome in the summertime.
- Grattachecca. This is an iced-based drink that is typical of Rome, and it is delicious. It is shaved iced with flavours on top and a nice change from gelato every now and then. There is a great place to try it on the Trastevere side of the bridge called Ponte Garibaldi. It is called ‘Alla Fonte d’Oro – Grattachecca dal 1913’.
Recommended Accommodation
Both Hotel Santa Maria, in the heart of Trastevere, and Santa Francesca Romana Guesthouse offer the neighborhood’s distinctive atmosphere: tucked away in winding streets. This accommodation offers comfortable and quiet rooms that open onto cool, monastic courtyards where to enjoy breakfast and plan the day.