Testaccio Rome
Testaccio: Rome's authentic culinary heart, offering vibrant markets, delicious street food, and a genuine local atmosphere away from the crowds.

Highlights
Must-see attractions

Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Market buzz & delicious food
Testaccio Rome
Best Time
Market buzz & delicious food

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Testaccio: Rome's authentic culinary heart, offering vibrant markets, delicious street food, and a genuine local atmosphere away from the crowds.
"Testaccio Market is the best food market you can get in Rome!"
🎯 Savor the Market
Visit Mercato Testaccio before 3:30 PM on Saturdays for incredible street food like Trapizzino and Supli.
🚶♀️ Walkable & Connected
Testaccio is surprisingly walkable to Trastevere and even the Colosseum area. Buses also connect you easily to the center.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Testaccio Market
Via Beniamino Franklin, 12
A vibrant hub for authentic Roman street food, fresh produce, and local delicacies. A true taste of Rome!

Piazza Testaccio
The heart of the neighborhood, perfect for people-watching with a gelato or aperitivo. Lively and authentic.

Street Art Exploration
Discover colorful murals and urban art scattered throughout Testaccio and surrounding areas, showcasing Rome's contemporary creative side.
Planning Your Visit
Embrace the Local Vibe
Market Mornings are Key
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎯 Savor the Market
Visit Mercato Testaccio before 3:30 PM on Saturdays for incredible street food like Trapizzino and Supli.
🚶♀️ Walkable & Connected
Testaccio is surprisingly walkable to Trastevere and even the Colosseum area. Buses also connect you easily to the center.
🍕 Authentic Roman Pizza
Try Roman-style pizza at Remo a Testaccio for a true local experience.
🍷 Cozy Wine Bars
Explore wine bars built into the side of Monte Testaccio for a unique and intimate evening.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎯 Savor the Market
Visit Mercato Testaccio before 3:30 PM on Saturdays for incredible street food like Trapizzino and Supli.
🚶♀️ Walkable & Connected
Testaccio is surprisingly walkable to Trastevere and even the Colosseum area. Buses also connect you easily to the center.
🍕 Authentic Roman Pizza
Try Roman-style pizza at Remo a Testaccio for a true local experience.
🍷 Cozy Wine Bars
Explore wine bars built into the side of Monte Testaccio for a unique and intimate evening.
💰 Budget-Friendly Stays
Consider Testaccio for accommodation; it's often more affordable than central Rome but still well-connected.
🍴 Fifth Quarter Delights
Be adventurous and try Roman specialties like oxtail or offal, Testaccio's traditional 'quinto quarto'.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Testaccio is widely praised for its authentic Roman atmosphere, incredible food scene, and local charm, offering a genuine taste of the city away from the main tourist throngs. Visitors appreciate the vibrant market, delicious street food, and the neighborhood's walkable nature and affordability. Some find it slightly less central for sightseeing, requiring a bit more travel time to major attractions.
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Testaccio is easily accessible by public transport. You can take buses like the H, 75, or 170 from central Rome. The Piramide metro station (Line B) is also a short walk away, connecting you to other parts of the city.
Yes, Testaccio is quite walkable. It's a pleasant stroll to Trastevere, and you can even walk towards the Colosseum area in about 15-20 minutes, depending on your pace.
Testaccio is a very walkable neighborhood. For longer distances within the area or to nearby districts, local buses are readily available. The Piramide metro station serves as a key transport hub.
Yes, taxis are available throughout Rome, including Testaccio. Ride-sharing apps like Uber also operate in the city, though availability might vary. It's always good to have a local address handy.
From Fiumicino Airport (FCO), you can take the Leonardo Express train to Termini Station and then transfer to a bus or metro to Testaccio. Alternatively, a taxi or pre-booked shuttle will take approximately 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
No, Testaccio Market is a public market and does not require tickets for entry. You can freely wander through the stalls and purchase food and goods.
Piazza Testaccio is a public square, so there are no entrance fees. It's a great spot to relax and soak in the local atmosphere.
For popular restaurants, especially during peak hours or weekends, reservations are highly recommended. Some smaller trattorias might accommodate walk-ins, but booking ahead ensures a table.
The market is busiest on Saturday mornings. While vibrant, if you prefer a less crowded experience, consider visiting on a weekday morning. It closes by lunchtime, so early visits are best.
Exploring the street art in Testaccio is free! It's an open-air gallery, and you can discover the murals as you wander through the neighborhood's streets.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
Testaccio is famous for its authentic Roman cuisine, including 'quinto quarto' (offal dishes) for the adventurous. Don't miss Trapizzino, Supli, Roman-style pizza, and classic pasta dishes like Cacio e Pepe or Carbonara.
The Testaccio Market is the prime spot for street food. Look for stalls like Mordi e Vai for sandwiches and Trapizzino for its unique triangular pizza pockets.
Highly recommended spots include Felice a Testaccio for classic Roman dishes, Piatto Romano for traditional flavors, and Da Bucatino for excellent pasta. The Testaccio Market also hosts great food vendors.
'Quinto quarto' refers to the fifth quarter of a cow, meaning the offal like head, tail, and organs. Testaccio is renowned for these traditional dishes. Many local trattorias, like Agustarello, offer these specialties.
Yes, Testaccio has many local bars and wine bars perfect for aperitivo. Il Testaccino is noted for its chill, non-touristy vibe. Many establishments in Piazza Testaccio offer a great atmosphere.
📸 📸 Photography
Piazza Testaccio at dusk, the vibrant stalls of Testaccio Market, and the colorful street art murals are all highly photogenic. The unique wine bars built into Monte Testaccio also offer interesting visual opportunities.
Golden hour, just after sunrise or before sunset, provides beautiful light for capturing the neighborhood's charm. Evenings in Piazza Testaccio offer a lively atmosphere for candid shots.
Street art is spread throughout Testaccio, Ostiense, and Garbatella. Keep an eye out as you explore, particularly in the areas around the market and residential streets.
A versatile lens like a 24-70mm is great for capturing both street scenes and food details. A wide-angle lens can be useful for the street art, and a prime lens with a wide aperture is good for low-light dining shots.
Generally, yes, but it's always polite to ask permission from the staff or other diners before taking extensive photos, especially in smaller, intimate trattorias.
🎫 🚶♀️ Onsite Experience
Testaccio has a distinctly local and authentic feel, less crowded with tourists than areas like Trastevere. It's known for its vibrant food scene, lively piazzas, and a strong sense of community.
Testaccio is generally considered a safe neighborhood. However, like any urban area, it's wise to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night, and keep valuables secure.
Testaccio Market is typically open from Monday to Saturday, from around 7 AM to 2 PM or 3:30 PM. It is closed on Sundays.
Testaccio is built on the Monte Testaccio, an artificial hill created from ancient Roman pottery shards (testae). The Protestant Cemetery, where poets Keats and Shelley are buried, is also located here.
At night, Testaccio comes alive with its many restaurants, wine bars, and trattorias. Piazza Testaccio is a popular spot for evening gatherings, and some of the wine bars set into Monte Testaccio transform into lively night spots.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Consider a leisurely stroll through Piazza Testaccio, where kids can enjoy gelato. The street art can also be a fun scavenger hunt for younger visitors. While some traditional 'quinto quarto' dishes might not appeal to all children, there are plenty of universally loved options like pizza and pasta available.
💰 Budget Travelers
Many trattorias in Testaccio offer authentic Roman cuisine at reasonable prices, especially if you venture slightly off the main squares. Enjoying an aperitivo at a local bar can also be a cost-effective way to experience the neighborhood's social scene.
couples
Spend an afternoon exploring the Testaccio Market hand-in-hand, sampling local delicacies. Evenings in Piazza Testaccio are perfect for a romantic stroll, perhaps with a shared gelato, soaking in the local ambiance away from the typical tourist crowds.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Culinary Heart of Testaccio
Beyond the market, Testaccio is renowned for its traditional trattorias that serve hearty Roman classics. The neighborhood has a historical connection to the 'quinto quarto' or 'fifth quarter' – offal dishes like oxtail, tripe, and lamb's head. For those willing to explore these unique flavors, restaurants like Agustarello offer an authentic taste of this culinary heritage.
For a more contemporary dining experience, Testaccio also boasts excellent pizzerias, such as Remo a Testaccio for authentic Roman-style pizza, and restaurants like Felice a Testaccio and Piatto Romano that are institutions for classic Roman pasta dishes.
Testaccio: A Neighborhood with Soul
Historically, Testaccio was the working-class district of Rome, built around the ancient port on the Tiber River. Its unique geography includes Monte Testaccio, an artificial hill composed of millions of broken amphorae from Roman times. This historical layer adds a fascinating depth to the neighborhood's identity.
Exploring Testaccio also means discovering its vibrant street art scene. Murals and graffiti adorn many walls, transforming the urban landscape into an open-air gallery. This contemporary artistic expression adds another layer to the neighborhood's appeal, showcasing Rome's modern creative pulse.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit