Rome Budget Hotel Option: A Night With the Nuns in a Convent
A great budget hotel option in Rome is staying at a convent run by nuns or monks, which is possible even if you’re not Catholic or religious.
On my last visit to the Eternal City, that’s exactly what I did, spending a night with the nuns in the suburbs of Rome.
Staying in a convent in Rome
Rome can be an expensive city to visit, with even budget accommodation sometimes costing a small fortune compared to other European capitals.
Staying in a convent run by nuns or monks is a great way to save on accommodation costs in Rome and offers a fascinating glimpse into Catholic life.
Although I am Catholic myself, you don’t need to be a Christian or even religious to stay in a convent, as these guesthouses welcome everyone who respects the house rules.
Convent rules
There are dozens of convents across Rome and the Vatican City, each run by a different religious order, so it goes without saying that there can be significant differences between them.
Besides offering accommodation to Christian pilgrims, these convents are primarily meant to generate extra income for a religious order, meaning they are often nearly indistinguishable from a budget hotel, except for the fact that nuns or monks run them.
However, some convents take it a bit more seriously and may have strict rules for their guests, such as a nightly curfew or only accepting men (if run by monks) or women (if run by nuns), so it’s advisable to read the house rules before booking your stay.
Although each convent has its own chapel or even a church on site and organises prayer services, which you are always welcome to join, this is rarely compulsory, as the monks and nuns understand that guests typically have their own schedules to follow, whether they are in Rome for business or leisure.
A stay with the nuns
Convent stays can be booked directly online (or by phone) through the convent’s website, although many are now also featured on online booking platforms such as Booking.com.
Alternatively, you can use specialist websites like Monasteries.com or Ospitalità Religiosa to book your convent stay in Rome or other cities around the world.
I booked a stay at La Casa di Nazareth through Booking.com and paid €62.10 per night for a single room with an en-suite bathroom, without breakfast included.
Although it is run by nuns, you can also stay at Casa di Nazareth if you’re a solo male traveller, like I am.
However, it’s probably recommended that you don’t have a phobia of nuns if you plan to stay at such a convent, as I doubt people like Father Jack would appreciate the experience!
Getting to the convent
I arrived at Rome Fiumicino Airport on an AeroItalia flight from Bucharest and made my way to Termini railway station by taking the Leonardo Express.
At Roma Termini station, I switched to the metro and took a train on the red line towards its far end at Battistini, from where Casa di Nazareth is only a 10-minute walk away.
Although the location far out in the suburbs might seem unappealing to some travellers, I don’t really mind it — especially not in a city like Rome.
First of all, the location isn’t as bad as it might seem, as the nearby Battistini metro station provides quick access to the city centre and sights of Rome.
For example, Ottaviano, the nearest metro station to Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, is just five stops away on the red line.
Secondly, besides lower accommodation prices, you’ll also find more affordable restaurants in the suburbs of Rome without having to compromise on food quality, as these are the places where ordinary Romans actually go out to eat, unlike many restaurants in the city centre that are solely tailored towards the tourist crowd.
I’ve stayed before in a hotel near Battistini metro station and know the area has quite a few high-quality restaurants that are equally popular with Italian locals and visiting tourists staying in these suburban neighbourhoods.
Casa di Nazareth
When you walk down the street where Casa di Nazareth is situated, you might think it’s just a normal apartment building rather than a convent, as it looks exactly like many other housing complexes in suburban Rome.
Yet Casa di Nazareth is not your typical rental apartment or guesthouse, as it is entirely run by nuns.
The reception hours at Casa di Nazareth are quite limited, with check-in only possible between 13:30 and 19:30, although you can arrange late check-in if you inform them in advance.
Due to my rescheduled flight, I knew I would arrive at the convent around 20:00, which I communicated in advance.
When I arrived, there was indeed no nun waiting for me at the reception desk, but rather an envelope with my name on it, containing the keys to my room.
Room at Casa di Nazareth
Staying in a convent in Rome will provide a decidedly budget hotel experience, and my room at Casa di Nazareth was certainly quite basic, or even rather spartan, with its bare walls and tiled floor.
My room had just a single bed, a desk, closet, and a luggage rack — that was about it.
The only decoration in the room was a crucifix above the bed.
I did have an en-suite bathroom with a shower, and both the room and bathroom were spotlessly clean.
The room did have air-conditioning, and the entire convent of Casa di Nazareth offers Wi-Fi internet, as even modern nuns want to stay connected to the wider world!
Casa di Nazareth also has a chapel, a conference room, and a breakfast room, although breakfast is typically not included in the room rate.
Exploring the neighbourhood
Although the area between Battistini and Cornelia metro stations has no major sights for tourists, it is a pleasant enough neighbourhood for a stroll and offers a much better insight into everyday Italian life than downtown Rome.
One thing I always love about walking through Rome is the sight of stone pines lining the roads, as these trees provide such a quintessentially Roman view!
Interestingly, it seemed that this suburban neighbourhood also has a significant Peruvian migrant community, as during my walk I passed two Peruvian restaurants and a couple of small grocery stores stocking products from Peru, such as Cusqueña beer.
If American-Peruvian Pope Leo XIV ever gets homesick and nostalgic for his time in Peru as a missionary and Bishop of Chiclayo, he might appreciate a stroll through this Rome neighbourhood and enjoy some ceviche or lomo saltado at one of the Peruvian restaurants!
A great Italian dinner
One of the great advantages of choosing a budget hotel in Rome over more expensive accommodation is that the money saved can be spent on delicious food at a great restaurant!
At the end of the day, I’d always opt for budget accommodation over a fancy hotel in a big city like Rome, as when doing such a city trip properly, you’ll anyway spend almost all your time outside exploring the city and sampling its cultural delights, rather than spending time in your hotel room!
For dinner, I stopped at a neighbourhood restaurant called Pasta al Volo, which had great online reviews and appeared to be popular with the locals as well.
Indeed, my meal didn’t disappoint and was absolutely delicious.
On the recommendation of the friendly waiter, who raved about their homegrown vegetables, I started with some toasted bread with tomatoes as a starter, which indeed tasted remarkably fresh.
I then opted for Pasta all’Amatriciana as my primi, followed by Saltimbocca alla Romana as my secondi — both were superb.
To round off my excellent meal, I couldn’t resist having some tiramisu and an espresso.
Back to the airport
After a wonderful stay in Rome, it was time to head back to Fiumicino Airport and bid farewell to Italy, as I had an Air Europa flight to Spain to catch.
Instead of taking the Leonardo Express from Termini station, I opted for a different route by taking the metro to Piramide, as it is directly linked to Roma Ostiense railway station, which also has a direct train service to Fiumicino Airport.
At just €8, the regional train from Roma Ostiense to Fiumicino Airport is also cheaper than the €14 Leonardo Express from Termini, although the journey does take a bit longer.
For what is in essence a regional train station just outside the historic city centre of Rome, Ostiense station has a rather grand feel to it.
Ostiense station was built in the typical Italian fascist architectural style, as Mussolini wanted to create a monumental entry point for Adolf Hitler on his state visit to Italy in 1938.
The entire façade of Ostiense station is made of travertine marble and features large reliefs of the mythical figures Bellerophon and Pegasus, with a grand entrance marked by a columned portico.
Conclusion
A great budget option in Rome is staying in a convent run by nuns or monks, which not only saves you money but also offers a unique insight into Catholic life in the Eternal City.
You don’t have to be Catholic, nor even religious, to stay in a convent in Rome, and most feel like simple budget hotels, except for the fact they are run by nuns or monks, though some may have strict house rules, such as a nighttime curfew.
As you would expect in a convent, rooms are small and simple, though you can expect them to be spotlessly clean, with an en-suite bathroom and some modern amenities, such as Wi-Fi.
There are dozens of convents in Rome offering accommodation to pilgrims and tourists alike, many of which are also listed on the usual hotel booking websites.
This was also the case with Casa di Nazareth, the Rome convent run by nuns where I stayed.
Another advantage of booking a budget stay in a convent is that the money you save can be spent on a nice meal at a local restaurant.
Many convents are located in the suburbs of Rome, where you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the city, as these are the places locals frequent for dinner, unlike many city centre restaurants that cater mostly to tourists.
