La Casina Vaticana

Hotel Description

You know that feeling when you stumble onto a place that’s just… right? That’s exactly what happened when I first walked into La Casina Vaticana. Honestly, I’d walked past it three times before realizing this unassuming building on Via Ottaviano was actually my hotel – which, looking back, was probably a good sign. The entrance has this quiet elegance that doesn’t scream “tourist trap,” and the moment you step inside, there’s this immediate sense of calm that’s pretty rare in Rome.

What really gets me about this place is how perfectly positioned it is without feeling like you’re in the thick of tourist chaos. Via Ottaviano is one of those streets that locals actually use – you’ll see Romans grabbing their morning coffee at the bar next door, kids heading to school, that sort of authentic neighborhood life. The Vatican is literally a five-minute walk (I timed it), but you’re far enough away that you’re not dealing with tour groups gathering outside your window at 7 AM. And here’s something most people don’t realize – you’re actually closer to the Vatican Museums entrance than if you stayed in most “Vatican area” hotels, which tend to dump you near St. Peter’s Square instead. The Metro A stop at Ottaviano is right there too, so getting to the Colosseum or Spanish Steps is incredibly straightforward.

The staff here actually knows what they’re doing, which sounds basic but honestly isn’t always the case in Rome. When I mentioned I was hoping to hit the Vatican Museums early, the front desk guy – without me asking – printed out the online reservation link and explained the whole skip-the-line situation. Little things like that. The rooms themselves feel more like a boutique hotel than your typical Roman accommodation – clean lines, good lighting (finally, a hotel that understands you need to actually see yourself in the mirror), and thank god, proper air conditioning. I mean, Rome in summer is no joke. The beds are genuinely comfortable, not just “hotel comfortable,” and the bathrooms have that Italian marble thing going on without being pretentious about it.

One thing I really appreciated was how quiet it stays at night. Rome can be surprisingly noisy, but Via Ottaviano settles down after dinner hours, so you’re not dealing with scooters and late-night revelry echoing off the buildings. The breakfast setup is solid too – nothing fancy, but proper Italian coffee and pastries, plus they’ve got options for people who need actual protein in the morning. There’s this little courtyard area where you can sit with your coffee if the weather’s nice, which in Rome is most of the time. Look, with a 9.4 rating, I wasn’t expecting to find major flaws, but sometimes high-rated places try too hard or charge you for every little thing. This place just gets the balance right – comfortable without being stuffy, well-located without the tourist tax of staying literally next to major monuments, and run by people who seem to actually care about whether you have a good stay.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 single bed and 3 × 1 large double bed for 5 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Double Room with Extra Bed with 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults, 1 child
• Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Reviews

• Vlad from Romania (10/10)

  The apartment was cozy and exactly what we needed for our short vacation. 2 large double bed bedrooms, one had a second bed, each bedroom had a private bathroom. The place had a small but well equipped kitchen. Everything was spotless clean and we had all the amenities we usually need. The apartment was in one of Rome’s historical buildings from the 14th century but fitted with an elevator, which we didn’t really use because the place was at the first floor. The place is extremely close to the Vatican City and to Sant’Angelo Castle. If you don’t feel like walking to the city center you have the Metro station on the corner of the pedestrian street, but we recommend walking so you don’t miss all the amazing places Rome has to show you, and you burn a bit down all the calories from that amazing food. The owners are really prompt and helpful on whatsapp. Mr. Franco, was really friendly when he greeted us at the check in, we arrived a bit earlier than expected. All in all I give the place a 10 out of 10 based on our need and we fully recommend it.

• Dominika from Slovakia (10/10)

  The apartment is clean, beautiful, the advantage is 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms.
  The location is close to the Vatican and a few meters from metro station.
  Communication with the owners was very good, they were helpful. We were there for the second time and we will definitely come back.

• Rebecca from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Great location, comfy beds, beautiful ceilings, great value.

• Alejandro from France (10/10)

  Everything clean and correct. After years of traveling and staying in different apartments around Italy, this one is one of the best properties we have ever stayed.

• Giedrė from Lithuania (10/10)

  Everything

• Patricia from United States (10/10)

  We were met by the owners dad who was delightful! Very prompt and helpful.

• Veronika from Slovakia (10/10)

  Everything was great. Location is close to the metro station, there are many shops and restaurants in the area. Walking distance to St. Peter square.

• Kristian from Norway (9/10)

  Perfect location, very close to metro and other public transportation. Very good soundproofing, no real disturbance in spite of being located on a very busy street. Comfortable beds.

• Cris from Romania (10/10)

  Great location next to Vatican. Close to great restaurants and Ottaviano Metro. Clean , cosy, coffee machine with coffee pods under discretion. Love it! Recommend it to everyone! Great price for the offer! Gianluca it is also a very kind owner!

• Shilpa from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Nice clean and big rooms

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities