Rome's most fashionable neighbourhood, tucked between the Colosseum and the train station — and despite the location, genuinely characterful. Monti was historically the city's red-light district; today it's a dense grid of artisan workshops, independent boutiques, wine bars, and trattorias that manage to feel local despite the proximity to every tourist site in the city.
The focal point is Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, a small square where aperitivo crowds spill out from the surrounding bars every evening. Via del Boschetto and Via Panisperna are the main streets for browsing. The neighbourhood rewards wandering — it's one of the few central Rome areas that still feels like a place where people actually live.