Rome Travel Answers

Yes, absolutely safe. We were just in Rome about 3-4 weeks ago and stayed about 2 blocks from where you'll be: great location. With 2 children, I assume you won't be out quite as late in the evenings as we were, and we never felt unsafe coming back after after dark at all.

Just to add: virtually all of central Rome is safe. Other than dodging some panhandlers and keeping your valuables out of the reach of pickpockets (no different than any other city) there's nothing to worry about. Sure, there are possibly some corners than may look a little shady but as a tourist you're unlikely to wander into those. Police presence is also simply everywhere so relax, you'll be just fine! It is a very old city so just because an area may look a bit rundown and grubby, it doesn't mean it's at all dangerous - just historic and, well, OLD. :)

In the city center where there are people (i.e., apartment, hotels, restaurants, etc.), the biggest concern a visitor has are the professional pickpockets, not muggers and others doers of violent crime. Of course, pickpockets also tend to hang out where the unwary tourists hang out - at the Colosseum, the Forum, the train station, etc. I agree with Kate with two children, you're not likely to be out really late - note that in a city where in the summer, dinner can be 9 or 10 p.m., when we say late, we mean REALLY late (like 3 a.m.). The Via Nazionale can be a busy street, so if your children are young enough not to be street and traffic wary, you'll want to hold on to them - Italian drivers are accustomed to pedestrians who know what they're doing, i.e., pedestrians who don't step out in front of them without leaving enough space to miss them. You'll see what I mean when you get there and see people crossing the street in the middle of speeding traffic... Have a great time! Bill

LOL, Bill- between 10:00 - midnight is really late for us! I will admit to not seeing 3:00 AM but we were out and about some mornings at sunrise. Good tip about hanging onto the wee ones, though. Yes, there are streetlights in some places and crosswalks with no lights where pedestrians have the right-of-way but that doesn't mean that motorcycles and whatnot won't be zipping around you as you cross. It can be a bit unsettling until you get used to it. Just hang onto the kiddies (and your hat) and firmly make your way to the other side.

Agree with the above. Rome is perfectly safe as long as you use normal city commonsense about potential pickpockets and do not wander around in unlit and/or deserted areas in the early hours of the morning (which you will obviouslynot be doing). As Goodfish says, do not be misled by appearances. Graffiti and apparent grubbiness do *not* automatically equal 'danger'. A key point when crossing the road: do not hestitate once you have started to cross. Keep walking at a steady pace, facing oncoming drivers. They will of course avoid you...they obviously do not want to hit you!...but if you hesitate it makes it much harder for them to do so. So make your decision and cross the road with a firm onward stride, holding onto the children and ensuring they cross with hesitation or dawdling. If in doubt, follow a priest or a nun when crossing the road; Rome is full of priests and nuns. :-)

I agree you wont have a problem normally. just common sense will prevail. Cheers

We were in Rome in April and we walked through the Piazza della Repubblica and past your hotel often at various times of day and night, and would regard it as a safe place to stay. As others have said, Rome is a relatively safe place to visit if you take normal precautions as you would in any big city.I did check the hotel to see its exact location and noticed its rating on TripAdvisor and Venere was rather poor, and it wasn't listed on booking.com at all. I would look into this before making a final booking. Bruce