There’s a reason Rome has a reputation for being one of the coolest places on the planet. And between the endless bowls of pasta you’ll devour on your trip, you’ve got to mix it up a little bit, right? So you might as well go shopping. And luckily, Rome takes shopping very seriously indeed.
At first glance, you might just expect designer boutiques and jewellers on the pricier end, but although the designer offerings are second to none, you’ll be able to source a ton of vintage finds as well. And if you’re only interested in a spot of window shopping? This is the place. Rome’s best shopping streets are a beauty to behold. Here’s where to go shopping in Rome.
Set up your GPS and go shopping!
THE BEST FLEA MARKETS IN TOWN
1. PORTA PORTESE
Porta Portese is the most famous of Rome’s flea markets, selling absolutely everything from antiques, vintage clothes, knock-off designer gear, second hand items, books and much more. Is the largest in town as well as one of the oldest. Located in Trastevere area. You should get there early if you want the best deals. Open only on Sunday 6 am-2 pm
2. VIA SANNIO MARKET
The polar opposite of Porta Portese, Sannio market is off the beaten path and it’s open from Mondays to Saturdays 7.30 am-2 pm. It’s a great place for good deals focused on leather clothes, shoes, belts, second hand items, homemade artisan style jewelry and much more. Much smaller than other Rome flea markets it is to navigate and makes for a pleasant stree-free few hours walk
3. MONTI MARKET
Is probably the most unique of all the flea markets of Rome and perhaps the coolest? Located in the vibrant cool Monti area, and precisely in Leonina St. 46, this weekend affair is the best place to get made in Italy style products. Is extremely well organized and far less eclectic in comparison with Porta Portese. Is not the cheapest Roman flea market by a long shot, but certainly worth a visit! Open only Saturday and Sunday 10am- 8 pm
THE BEST SHOPPING STREETS/AREAS
1. MONTI
If you’re going to start anywhere with your shopping, start here, in Monti. This is the place for strolling through cobbled streets, and dipping into vintage shops and little boutiques. One of the hippest neighborhoods in the city, Monti is filled with independent clothing brands, interior decor shops and quaint, Instagrammable eateries. Pulp Vintage, Humana, Pifebo and Blue Goose are all popular spots for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. Stroll down Via del Boschetto to shop for sartorial styles at Kokoro, global furnishings at Estremi and leather handbags at Sufir. This is the best place to nab a few bits from up-and-coming fashion designers no one has heard of back home.
2. SPANISH STEPS
If you think that your trip to Rome simply won’t be complete without splurging on a real Fendi purse, a bauble from Gucci or a wallet from Prada, look no further than the swanky streets fanning out from Piazza di Spagna, or the Spanish Steps. A dizzying amount of credit card debt gets run up on Via Condotti, Via Borgognona, Via del Babuino and Via Frattina because the big players are all here. From Bulgari and Max Mara to Ferragmo and Zegna, the choices are limitless. You’ll also find a few local brands squeezed in here, like Il Bisonte which sells leather goods, and plenty of eyeglass shops and perfume boutiques as well. Popular international stores like COS and & Other Stories are located nearby on Via Borgognona
3. VIA DEL GOVERNO VECCHIO
This pretty street weaves through the Centro Storico, right near Piazza Navona. There are some one-off boutiques and jewellery stores, but the real draws are the vintage finds: several of Rome’s best resale shops are a few doors down from one another. As you leave Piazza Navona, head into Piazza di Pasquino to begin your stroll down this street. Kolby and Wools Boutique sell contemporary menswear, while Silvia and Arlette focus on womenswear. A few of Rome’s most popular eateries are located on this street as well for a perfect lunch pause: enjoy thin-crust Roman pizzas at Da Baffetto or classic pastas at Da Tonino.
4. VIA DEI CORONARI
Once upon a time, it was the tradition in Rome – and most everywhere in Italy – for similar stores, studios, and vendors to be clustered on one street. The tradition still holds on Via dei Coronari, a street lined with antique dealers. It’s the place to go for vintage prints and maps, the odd antique Roman bust (or a still-quite-old reproduction), a little piece of estate jewellery or a Biedermeier bedroom set to ship home. A few favorite spots include Essenzialmente Laura for artisanal perfumes, Marta Ray for buttery soft leather ballet flats and handbags, and Lisa Corti for colourful textiles.
5. VIA DEL CORSO
The name-brand storefronts along Via del Corso include the usual global logos like H&M, Zara and Gap alongside well-known Italian brands like Benetton, Kiko and Intimissimi. This isn’t the best place for a made-in-Rome souvenir, but if you need a pair of jeans, new shoes or just want to shop familiar names, you’ll find them here. If you need assistance with your digital device, be sure to pop into the new Apple store which recently opened in a grand 19th century featuring vaulted ceilings, frescoes and marbled staircases.
6. LA RINASCENTE
La Rinascente, Italy’s iconic department store, has sold luxury goods, fashion and accessories since 1865. It has two locations in Rome: one in Piazza Fiume (near Villa Borghese) and a more central location along Via del Tritone (a stone’s throw from the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps). You’ll find international designer brands, local artisans, cosmetics, home design, dining and more. La Rinascente isn’t just a shopping destination: it’s a cultural hub where modernity means Italian heritage. At the location on Via del Tritone, you should head below ground to floor -1 to see remnants of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct that dates back to 19BC, and head upstairs to Maio Restaurant & Rooftop for mesmerizing views of the city skyline.
7. VIA DELL’OCA
A tiny bijoux street tucked away behind Piazza del Popolo, Via dell’Oca has some of Italy’s most coveted contemporary artisans and upscale designer boutiques in Rome. You’ll find Lucia Odescalchi’s avant-garde jewellery atelier next to Patrizia Fabri’s dreamy hat workshop which sells dozens of styles for every season and occasion. Hip clothing boutiques include Artisanal Cornucopia, Laura Urbinati and Atelier Bomba — all household names with in-the-know locals. Eau d’Italie, a fragrance brand launched by Le Sirenuse in Positano, also has a shopfront here.
8. TRASTEVERE
The jumble of streets wedged between Via Garibaldi and Viale Trastevere holds a real treasure trove of one-of-a-kind stores selling gifts, shoes, clothes and oddities. And getting lost during the treasure hunt is half the fun. Don’t miss RomaStore Profumi for custom-made fragrances and Polvere di Tempo for antique watches, clocks, sundials, globes and maps. This area is best in the later afternoon when you can hit a cosy bar for an aperitivo after your shopping spree.
9. VIA DELLA SCROFA
One of the prettiest streets in Rome, Via della Scrofa has a great mix of dining options, furniture stores and chic boutiques. This is a top area to shop for your pals back home (or just yourself). Container16 Rome is the place to pick up funky kitchen tools, tableware and food books for the gastronomes in your life; Co.Ro. Jewels sells thoughtful jewellery designs inspired by the architecture of Rome; Sirni produces quality leather goods you’ll use for decades to come, and Spazioespanso stocks original fashion and accessories for women.
10. VIA DEI GIUBBONARI
Once upon a time, Campo de’ Fiori was lined with funky shops selling handmade shoes, handbags and clothes. Now, it’s all about wall-to-wall restaurants. Nearby, Via dei Giubbonari is still suitably weird, though most of its small storefronts sell clothes and shoes that are more made-in-China than made-in-Italy. Still, prices are low, and you can say you bought it in Italy…
11. TERMINI STATION
A busy train station may not seem like the most obvious or appealing place to shop, but Termini Station is a much nicer place to visit than it used to be. Head to the lower level for Sephora and Desigual or the platform level for Victoria’s Secret, COIN and others. There’s a decent food court on the upper level, and the fabulous Mercato Centrale street food hall is found by the station’s south side.
13. CASTEL ROMANO DESIGNER OUTLET
If outlet shopping is your thing, then it might be worth it to haul out to the hinterlands, where more than 150 medium- to high-end designer outlet stores await. If you go during July and August or January and February, you will catch Italy’s famed seasonal sales, with deep discounts on what might otherwise be very expensive wares. The outlet runs a shuttle bus from Termini Station for €15 round-trip.
MENS SUIT FOR THE KINGDOM HALL
Look for one of these stores in the city
- BOGGI excellent design/top quality
- SPADA excellent design/average quality
- DOPPELGANGER excellent design/commercial quality
- DAN JOHN excellent design/commercial quality
WOMENS SUIT FOR THE KINGDOM HALL
Tina Sondergaard – Monti Area – Via del Boschetto 1/D
excellent design/handmade
SHOES FOR THE KINGDOM HALL
Outlet shoes famous brand Via dei Coronari 227 top quality
SOUVENIRS
The best place to buy cool souvenirs at the cheapest prices in the city center is:
Via Nazionale where you will find lots of Chinese Souvenir Stores
LUGGAGE STORAGE
If you need of a luggage storage, available 24hrs/365 days in Rome, go this link:
www.bagbnb.com
BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETERS AND STREET SELLERS!
In general, Rome is a very safe and quiet city but like every touristy place pick-pocketers can be found in crowded squares, line-ups for monuments, buses or metros.
Often pick-pocketers are baby gipsy (8-13 years old), who look like tourists, but are very expert at picking your pockets!
Moreover everywhere is full of African people (90% of them are from Senegal), who will try to sell you bracelets and various manufactured objects.. Don’t stop! They say that the items are free but then they haunt you asking for money and running away without giving the rest!
Leave the following items inside your hotel/b&b safe: bags, backpacks and original passport/ documents.
Bring with you, if possible in your front pant pockets: some cash, credit cards and your phone which should have a picture of your passport/documents.
If you bring a bag, only bring items that are not precious or important to you.
