A Rome Shopping Guide

The names of Italy’s finest designers sit alongside independent boutiques and market stalls as shopping in Rome caters for every budget. Here are some suggestions in my Top 5 guide of the best places to go whether you are looking for Prada shoes or a flea market bargain.

1. Via Condotti and the Spanish Steps
This is the home of Rome’s designer shopping area, where you will find every Italian designer you can think of from Prada and Armani to Gucci and Versace. The shops that line Via Condotti ,with their glittering window displays, will entice you to take your credit card out in no time.. Take time out to people watch as this is the haunt of any celebrity in town worth their Hermes bag. Visit Babbington’s Tea Room in Piazza Spagna to enjoy a cuppa in one of the most famous (and most expensive) places in the historic centre. (Metro A, Spagna)

2. Via Cola di Rienzo
This busy shopping street just behind Castello St. Angelo is home to mid-price shops with a mix of designer boutiques and high street chains. Look out for Brandy, a teenage basement clothes shop that is almost hidden below street level. COIN, one of Rome’s few department stores is a great place to spend an hour or two browsing. Check out ‘Castroni’, a delicatessen that sells not only a fantastic range of Italian delicacies but also stocks International food. The only place in Rome where you can buy peanut butter or baked beans! (Metro A, Lepanto or Ottiviano)

3. Via del Corso
This long narrow street is at the heart of Rome’s historic centre running from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo and a short walk from the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. During the evenings, the street is packed with shoppers. Wander around the mix of high street stores like H&M, Mango, Diesel, Levis and Zara and small designer boutiques, book stores and the elegant Galleria Alberto Soldi shopping centre. After a hard day’s shopping, you can also catch an English film here at the Metropolitan Cinema, which also shows original language films. . Look out for the annotation V.O. which means Versione Orginale. (Metro A, Spagna or Flaminio)

4. Porto Portese Flea Market
Held every Sunday morning, this is the largest market in Rome and the place to come for a bargain. With a mix of new and second hand goods, antiques, food, and general bric-a-brac, spare at least a couple of hours to browse the endless rows of stalls.
(Tram 8 Largo Argentina to Trastevere Station – then about a five minute walk to Via Ippolito Nievo. Follow the crowds.)

5. EurRoma2 and Castello Romano Outlet
Euroma2, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe has recently opened in the EUR area of Rome and is spread over three floors in an elegant temple style building with ornate glass domes. Chain stores and designer shopping sit alongside coffee shops and restaurants catering for all budgets. This indoor shopping centre is a good place to come during summeras it’s air-conditioned
(Take the Metro to EUR Palasport Metro Line B and then take the free shuttle bus that stops outside (10 mins approximately )
Castello Romano is a designer outlet village, part of the McArthur Glen chain, approximately 15km south of Rome. Designer discounted stores are housed in a mock ancient Roman village and brands here include Burberry, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, and Roberto Cavalli.
(There is a bus service to the outlet that operates from EUR FERMI Metro Line B and a private shuttle can be booked at most hotel receptions)