4 Best Hotels in The Vatican, Rome

The rooftop garden terrace with a center-stage view of St. Peter's Basilica is just one reason to stay here; proximity to the Vatican and superb shopping is another. This family-run hotel is set in a distinguished 19th-century building and has a classic atmosphere, with most guest rooms renovated with a modern style. The restaurant, Les Étoiles, serves sophisticated Italian dishes like tagliolini pasta with crab, basil, and tomatoes. A sister hotel, the Atlante Garden, just around the corner, has larger rooms at slightly lower rates.

On the west bank of the Tiber between the Spanish Steps and St. Peter's Basilica (a 10-minute stroll from Piazza del Popolo and the nearest Metro station), this hotel is removed from the chaos of the centro storico. Rooms are tastefully furnished with mahogany furniture, antique prints, hardwood floors, and marble bathrooms. Amenities include a bar, cafeteria, solarium, gym, and rooftop garden.

Set in the shadow of St. Peter's, this small hotel is a good value, with simply decorated, ample guest rooms that feature wood-beam ceilings, parquet floors, and comfy beds. The spacious attic rooms also have tiny terraces. Frescoes in the vaulted breakfast room, as well as the fountain in the courtyard, are romantic touches.

Set in a former monastery—still an extraterritorial part of the Vatican—abutting Bernini's colonnade of St. Peter's Square, the Paolo VI (pronounced "Sesto," a reference to Pope Paul VI) is unbeatably close to St. Peter's, with basic, quiet guest rooms. Replete with a stone terrace that directly overlooks Bernini's 17th-century porticoes, this hotel enjoys one of the most spectacular perches in Rome. For a truly exceptional stay, ask for one of the six "Deluxe Superior" rooms.