Pura Vida

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw the address for Pura Vida, I thought “great, another Vatican area tourist trap.” But you know what? This little gem on Via degli Scipioni completely changed my mind about staying near St. Peter’s. The thing is, most people think you have to choose between being close to the Vatican and actually experiencing Rome like a local, but this place sits right in that sweet spot in Prati where you get both.

What really got me was how the owners (who actually live in the building, by the way) have managed to create this warm, almost apartment-like feel while still keeping everything polished and professional. The rooms aren’t huge – I mean, this is Rome, not Texas – but they’re thoughtfully designed with these lovely touches that feel personal rather than corporate. The morning light comes in beautifully, and honestly, the neighborhood itself is half the charm. You’re literally a five-minute walk from the Vatican Museums, but step outside and you’re surrounded by locals doing their morning coffee runs and picking up groceries. There’s this fantastic bakery just around the corner that I stumbled upon completely by accident, and the evening passeggiata along the nearby streets feels authentically Roman without the cruise ship crowds.

I have to mention the practical stuff too because, let’s face it, that’s what makes or breaks a trip. The metro connection is genuinely convenient (Ottaviano station is right there), parking isn’t the nightmare it could be in this part of the city, and the building itself is surprisingly quiet for being so central. The staff – well, they’re more like hosts really – seem to genuinely care about making sure you understand the neighborhood. They gave me restaurant recommendations that were actually good, not just places that give them kickbacks. The 9.1 rating makes sense once you’re there; it’s not trying to be the flashiest place in Rome, but everything works exactly as it should. If you’re planning to spend serious time at the Vatican but don’t want to feel like you’re sleeping in a tourist bubble, this is exactly the kind of place that lets you have it both ways.

Rooms

• Double Room with Private Bathroom with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Double Room with Private External Bathroom with 1 large double bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Julieta from Italy (10/10)

  I booked for my parents and they are really satisfied about everything, specially the attention of owners who take care of them from the arrival moment, waiting for them and giving a bunch of good recommendations

• Kudrat from Germany (10/10)

  The Host Roberto is an excellent person. He was so prompt. He waited for us downstairs to greet us.
  Location is amazing. Walking distance from Vatican City’s all attractions like Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica. Metro A station Ottaviano just 200 m. Bus stops near-by. All big attractions like Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Vittorio Emmanuel II Palace, Termini Station can be visited using Metro. Breakfast meal place was also very good. So friendly staff, they know English, Deutsch also in addition to Italian. Apple combined charger for watch/airpods and iPhone. Extremely clean rooms and washrooms. Floor was shining.

• Zsolt from Poland (8/10)

  Good location, easy to check-in, amazing host

• Kara from Australia (8/10)

  Location was great

• Emmanouela from Greece (9/10)

  Very kind hosts.
  Convenient location, next to the metro.
  Clean.
  I loved the pillows.
  Simple breakfast, but still ok.
  I would definitely go back.

• Doğa from Turkey (9/10)

  Location was good; you can either walk or take the subway. It is just 150 meters by walking.

• Jakub from Czech Republic (10/10)

  Staff, location, breakfast

• Egor from Serbia (9/10)

  Very nice and helpful host! It was clean and fresh. Great location. It's nice that there's a coffee machine, some snacks and water in the room. Service is great!
  It's the best option in the great and safe neighborhood close to Vatican for the price.

• Samanta from Ireland (9/10)

  Loved the design, how clean it was. The window view looked great, at night especially. Very modern, the tv worked perfectly. There was free coffee, tea and a few snacks. There was juice and water in the fridge. Everything was perfect. Umbrellas were available whenever it rained. There was help service numbers placed both in the corridor and place of stay. The cafe that provided you with free breakfast was amazing. Not only that it was right across from the property, but the people there were very nice and the food was delicious. The property also provided a lot of tourist papers and books, such as maps and places to eat. The room was only on the 2nd floor so it was easy to get to. Other than that, there is an old fashioned elevator, which is really nice to see as a tourist. The owners were lovely. The place is also very close to the Vatican, so we were able to walk to it for 5 mins. It is an amazing location, definitely worth the price.

• Betty from Ireland (10/10)

  perfect

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Facilities