Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Are you searching for a wonderful time in the old world and hoping that there are gay hotels in Rome waiting for you at the place where all roads lead? Amazing! You’re in for a treat, we promise.
When one thinks of Rome, one considers the city to be one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world – the host to a wide range of crucial historical events, one of the oldest surviving cities on the face of the planet, and a must-see destination for any dedicated traveler.
But while it’s clear that the city has an inspirational background in the past, how does Rome perform when it comes to moving on with the times and making modern visitors feel accepted? And how are the gay hotels in Rome?
Well – one could say that the city and queerness have quite a history, given the very open take that ancient Romans had on the subject – but Italy has somewhat of a reputation for being a conservative and ‘traditional’ country, meaning that some travelers may feel concerned about how their sexuality will affect their experience there.
With that said, Rome is an immensely popular tourist destination, and thus it’s to be expected that a more open, accepting attitude comes hand in hand with the city’s massive number of visitors every year. Most of the potential problems and things to avoid when visiting Rome will have nothing to do with being queer at all, and thus general safety and choice of location are just as important as anything else.
But, in the meantime, if you’re looking for a queer hotspot in Rome to satisfy all of your queer tourism needs, there is no location more exciting and diverse than the ‘Gay Village’ or ‘Gay Street’ in the very center of the city, located just adjacent to the Colosseum, and home to one of the most open gay quarters in the entire world.
Looking for a trendy, well-rounded restaurant where you can enjoy a romantic dinner with one of the world’s seven wonders in view? It’s here! A café or a bar where you can have a tasty drink with some excellent company? It’s here! Or, even a club where you can enjoy the nightlife and meet people from all places of origin and walks of life? You bet!
Now with the usual disclaimer. Obviously, in most cases, there aren’t going to be a heap of gay hotels in Rome out there marketed directly towards gay people or queer people in general. We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic. Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
So, with that said, let’s pack our bags, stock up on sunscreen, and roll out onto the sunny streets of Italy’s capital! It’s time to weigh the pros and cons of the best gay hotels in Rome for queer travelers!
In this article we will cover...
The Guardian
If you’re looking for a well-rounded, luxurious place to stay that doesn’t go too hard on the wallet and isn’t too posh for casual travelers, The Guardian is the gay hotel for you.
One of the best independent hotels in all of Rome and one of the very best hotels for queer travelers, The Guardian is a comfortable distance from most of the city’s main attractions but not too far to make traveling to the famous sights impractical.
After all, a good balance like that is incredibly crucial, as getting in and out of hotels closer to attractions can be tricky at best and annoying and disruptive to plans and your peace at night at worse. One can easily access Roma Trevi and the Castro Pretorio station from here, or vice versa, so you won’t be left catching a taxi or walking through Rome’s streets to get to and from your hotel.
Rocking four stars and a nearly five stars rating on all major platforms, The Guardian is amazingly cheap for what it offers and the comprehensive and attentive service its staff gives. The architecture is top-notch, the hygiene and cleanliness legendary, and the level of privacy and comfortability truly high enough to keep away even the most insidious of worries.
The Guardian has style and practicality and has just about everything you’ll need to make your stay in Rome a wonderful one to treasure forever. Each room also apparently comes with a free topped-up mobile phone that can make international calls, which sounds a bit strange at first but is an advantage for travelers who are yet to get their phone card but are regardless interested in making phone calls to loved ones or other numbers.
Unahotels Decò Roma
Many of the hotels on this list boast about their closeness to Roma Termini and the wide range of opportunities this gives rise to, but few have as good of a claim to fame as the UNAHOTELS Decó. The hotel’s block borders the station, meaning you’ll hardly even have to lift a finger to get between the hotel and some of Rome’s most desirable travel destinations.
That’s not to say that the inside of the UNAHOTELS Decó is something you’ll want to escape as quickly as possible, however. The rooms and common spaces are surprisingly homely and comfortable, given their prestigious nature and outfitting, backed up by a surprisingly wide array of other positives.
Many of the hotel’s other advantages fit well with the environment it finds home in, including the fact that it’s one of the few that allows pets and one of the best-rated when it comes to the opinion of gay travelers.
The beds and furniture are comfortable, the rooms are up to date and under top-notch maintenance, and every need is catered for while you’re there. There’s parking too, and though it needs to be reserved in advance, that’s still rare when it comes to nearby hotels in Rome.
Staying at the UNAHOTELS Decó is an escape from the heat and chaos outside that you’ll learn to look forward to all day after your first few hours in Italy, and it knows how to capitalize on winding down and winding up time as well. Nights are well filled out with an elegant bar and great lounging areas, and mornings in the hotel are more than sure to kickstart your day, thanks to the included breakfast buffet.
Salotto Monti
It’s stylish, wonderful, and here to serve and make travelers feel at home no matter what sexuality they have or what background they come from. The Hotel Salotto Monti takes art deco to heart and is positively inspired when it comes to everything appearance-wise. If you’re looking to balance style and chill atmosphere with practicality, there’s no better choice than the Salotto Monti.
Taking a step away from Roma Termini and towards the Foro Romano and the Colosseum when it comes to location, The Hotel Salotto lives right in the middle of the city, just between the two. This is far from being a con, however, and instead works very much in favor of the hotel’s vibe and the quality of its service.
With different turf comes a different neighborhood, and what a neighborhood the Salotto Monti has. There’s an incredibly wide range of traditional and tourist-targeted bars, restaurants, and clubs available, and it’s incredibly easy to get lost in the sheer wonderful aura of the place – a lot easier than you might think a good thing.
Not only do visitors get the opportunity to explore the establishments nearby the hotel, but they also have a simple, reliable road of access to the ‘gay street’ and the city’s queer community centers.
Or, if you’re more inclined to stay in after you’ve seen your day’s worth of ancient history and city streets, you can find comfort with the hotel’s wonderful breakfasts, their dedicated in-house restaurant, or they’re honestly quite impressive drink catalog.
It’s all there, provided for, and you’re sure to have the time of your life regardless of what you are looking to get from Rome as a city and from your hotel as a home base between excursions into it.
The Independent Suites
The Independent Suites Rome – also known simply as ‘The Independent – is a modern and cutting-edge establishment, boasting (yet again) a perfect location, easy access to public transport, and a lively neighborhood nearby which allows visitors to enjoy themselves wonderfully both close and far.
Another four-star establishment with nearly perfect reviews across all platforms, the Suites are exceptionally noteworthy thanks to their rooftop terrace and the sheer quality of their accommodation facilities, paired and supported wonderfully with everything from a café, a bar, meeting rooms for business functions, and an in-house restaurant.
Much like many of the other gay-friendly hotels on this list, the Independent Suites’ greatest strength is their proximity to all of Rome’s best attractions and the city’s public transport, as we mentioned earlier, and this is a factor that they have down a tee.
The Roma Termini – Rome’s central train and metro station – is visible from the Independent’s terrace, as are the Ludovisi Cloister and the Fountain of the Naiads. Quite a view and almost impossible to compete with amongst the city’s relatively flat skyline.
The Independent Suites aren’t exactly the cheapest gay hotel on this list, but that isn’t to say that it’s particularly expensive, easier. It is still extremely strong regarding rationing costs to value and is a sure bet if you’re willing to shell out just a little more for a step up in experience and quality.
There’s more than just location and exquisite care on offer. The Independent’s staff and management have a strong commitment to equality and professionalism, and the hotel is held in a very favorable position by gay travelers from all walks of life, making it just a bit more feasible to consider as your base of operations when visiting.
Stendhal Luxury Suites
Hotels with ‘Luxury’ in their names aren’t generally those with low rates, but for what prices the Stendhal Suites do ask, one cannot deny that it’s worth it to a tee. These high-quality all services care for suites are perfect for travelers with refined tastes and high bars of satisfaction or just those looking to impress or splurge on accommodation that truly delivers a big wow.
Even closer to the Colosseum and especially the Fontana di Trevi than the rest of the hotels on this list, the Stendhal Luxury Suites gives you a doorstep that leads directly out onto some of the biggest ticket items that the city has to offer.
Public transport is a little harder to reach from here than from some other hotels, but that fact is offset by the reduced need to use it. Besides – there are bus stops on almost every street corner, and Roma Termini is only a ten-minute walk away.
But what exactly makes the Stendhal Suites worth the price tag? The Stendhal Suites come with a free, regularly topped-up mini-bar, which means that you don’t even have to go out to get bubbly and have some snacks to enjoy the evening. Likewise, the bar offers a free welcome drink upon arrival or that evening, which can be any cocktail or item off their menu.
As we said – with the price come the overwhelming benefits, and you can see how they start to add up to an undeniable advantage. Along with the material and food benefits comes a definitively superior level of service. Queer travelers can rest easy at night knowing that they have a respectful, professional base to return to after a night exploring the city, and that alone is motivation enough.
B&B First Floor
Now this is a true all-in-one. The B&B First Floor would be the favorite of this list if we had (or wanted) to pick one, and that opinion is justified. First, all the amenities are more than covered, and you will do nothing but relax while staying there. There’s inclusive breakfast, a wonderful, expertly attended bar, and the hotel is quite literally next to ‘My Bar’, one of Rome’s most famous queer bars, and its bar, ‘Coming Our’, is also part of the action.
Not only that, but this hotel is one of the few on this list that is directly near the ‘Gay Street’ that we discussed earlier, coupled with the Hotel Capo D’Africa that comes next in the list, and this in itself makes it incredibly different.
Many other hotels on this list have been valued by simultaneously being close enough to public transport to make them practical but not too much amid everything. Rome can be insanely chaotic at even the best times, especially for tourist areas and peak months.
Thus, you must pay attention to where your hotel regards main public transport routes so that you can stay in touch with travel and know where to go and what to expect from crowds.
The aim is not to get swamped trying to get to and fro from your hotel, and while it can take a little while to get used to, the proper mind is paid to the location of your hotel – like the B&B First Floor’s relative isolation and shelter – you will have a massive head start on the rest of the tourists.
Hotel Capo D’Africa
Located smack bang in the middle of ‘gay village’ and its surrounding neighborhoods and benefits, the Hotel Capo D’Africa is quite literally marketed for its proximity to the Colosseum and the gay quarters nearby, meaning that it’s an absolute surefire choice for guests looking to capitalize on either of those factors.
There are also parks and great walking potential, and the Colosseum has its dedicated metro station, which means there won’t be much trouble getting to and from the other parts of the city if you’re looking to wander a bit wider during your stay.
The hotel has all of the niceties and much more – a more than capable in-house restaurant, a bar with some pretty nice cocktail selections and a scenic terrace that gives visitors a wonderful glimpse of the surrounding historical streets.
Reviews for this hotel are positively soaring, and with some of the accolades that the Hotel Capo D’Africa has gotten over the years for its terraces and well-maintained rooms, it’s very easy to see why. There’s parking available at a slight extra charge – which, as we mentioned earlier, is pretty rare for hotels in Rome of this price range – and there’s also a little party and meeting flexibility with some open rooms available.
The Hotel Capo D’Africa has a transport and mobility situation quite like the B&B First Floor before it, which means that you’ll be equally treated to the range of expanded opportunities and centricity in Rome’s gay night- and daylife.
These two hotels are certainly the most queer-centered out of the rest of the list and thus are very strong recommendations if you’re looking to enjoy Rome’s queer scene and spend your stay a bit more centrally rather than roaming the sights of the entire city!
Generator Rome
Now this is a gay hotel set for the ages. Decked out with a full bar, a rooftop café, and a second decks café, The Generator is a true all-rounder, and its laid-back, culturally open atmosphere is a perfect match for queer travelers. Located a five-minute walk – if that – from the city’s central train station, Roma Termini, and right amid the best kind of hustle and bustle, The Generator is the perfect place for those looking to have everything in arm’s reach all at once.
The surrounding area is multicultural, ripe with clubs and restaurants, and you don’t have to walk much, no matter where you want to go. Everything is either a short train ride or a ten-minute walk away, and the scenery along the way is incredible enough to make even the latter a pleasure and an unforgettable experience rather than any chore.
The Piazza Vittorio is just across the road from The Generator’s block, and there is only another turn necessary from there to reach the Colosseum.
Even though it is just as strong on the value and affordability side as The Guardian and many of its competitors in the area, the Generator’s level of charm and rustic yet incredibly modern amenities are next level, and staying there is set to make a memorable experience out of your stay. Not everything good about it is outside, either.
The Generator has a wonderful bar and café that are incredibly capable and stylish regarding hotel amenities, and the accommodation itself is wonderful. There are room options that fit perfectly to any traveling group, no matter how many tag-along you have, and they’re equally cheap and worth it.
Gay Hotel Map Of Rome
Feeling a bit lost while planning your journey to Rome? No worries, darling! Our detailed LGBTQ+ tailored map is here to guide you. We’ve pinpointed all the vibrant gay-friendly bars, exhilarating clubs, extravagant parties, cozy hotels, relaxing saunas, and soothing massage parlors to ensure you find the perfect spot.
And these aren’t just any spots; we’re talking about the creme de la creme of locations in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay scene. Think panoramic views, easy access to nightlife, and all the amenities to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
But hold on to your feather boas! These hot spots are fabulous; they vanish quicker than a drag queen’s five o’clock shadow. Don’t delay; book now to secure the best deals and locations. Remember, the early bird catches the best deals in Rome! So, pack your rainbow flag, and get ready to experience the ultimate gay-friendly holiday in Rome.
