You can shop in Rome until you drop. It’s easy to spend an entire week browsing the shopping streets, markets and galleries without getting through even half of what the city has to offer. There are shops selling books, antiques, art, haute couture and branded clothing, as well as some of the world’s most famous shoe shops, craft workshops and souvenir shops where you can buy gifts and local produce to take back home with you.
Everybody knows that Italy has an extensive history in the field of fashion. It extends from the togas worn in Ancient Rome to the very latest designs on Milan’s catwalks. Since there is so much to choose from, you might find it all a bit too much, so here are some of our favourite places to do some shopping in Rome. Discover where to find the best places for good quality clothes (both well-known brands and cheaper options), excellent antiques, unique purchases and breathtaking galleries. That way, you can really make the most of a day out shopping in Rome.
Via Margutta, Via Condotti, Via del Corso and other shopping streets
Read on to learn the best places for outdoor shopping or where to buy a little something special, including like haute couture or vintage clothes, antiques, books and crafts.
Via Condotti
Via Condotti is known as the ‘golden mile’ and it is one of the most famous streets in the world. It is the place to be if you like brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci, Armani and Prada. There are spectacular and elegant window displays all along both sides of the street, so do a little window shopping for bags, shoes and dresses before you step into the majestic buildings. Even if these shops are not within your budget, it’s always fun to take a few photos to show friends.
Via Frattina
This street runs parallel to Via Condotti and you will find brands such as Tiffany and Versace here. Once again, this a very fashionable and luxurious part of the city. The shops around Piazza di Spagna are some of the most exclusive of all.
Via Borgognona
This street also runs parallel to Via Condotti and, along with Via Frattina, it forms what is known as the Trident. There are haute-couture ateliers, famous jewellers and high-end national and international designers’ shops.
Via del Corso.
This street is just two streets away from Fontana di Trevi. It is about two kilometres long and ten meters wide. If you like shopping, you’ll love Via del Corso. You’ll find all kinds of brands here including Nike, Adidas, Mango, Zara, Benetton and even the official AS Roma football club shop. It is the shopping street par excellence in Rome and it is surrounded by restaurants and cafés where you can have a rest and get your strength back for some more shopping!
Via del Governo Vecchio
This street is near Piazza Navona and it is perfect if you’re interested in buying some second-hand vintage clothing. You’ll find small boutique shops, unique designs and arts and crafts here. There is a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, unlike some of the other busy streets in the city.
Via Cola di Rienzo
In this shopping street near the Vatican, you can buy international and Italian brands. It’s where the locals do their shopping. Whilst it is very much like Via del Corso in terms of the type of shops, it’s far less busy and has a more relaxed feel to it. It’s really worth a visit, even if it’s just to have a coffee in one of the cafés.
Via Margutta
This street is to the rear of the Via del Babuino palaces where Rome’s warehouses and stables used to be. In the Middle Ages, an unknown artist established the very first workshop where craftsmen painted portraits, carved marble fountains and forged railings. Since then it has always been popular with foreign artists. Nowadays, most of Rome’s art and antiques shops are located there. It became particularly popular when the film Roman Holiday came out.
Via dei Coronari
This street is in the old quarter and it is one of the most pleasant and beautiful streets in the city. Unlike the other shopping streets, Via del Cronari does not have franchise shops and famous brands. The shops here are specialist antiques shops where you can buy furniture, sculptures and 17th-century art.
Shopping arcades and shopping centres in Rome
In addition to having a wide range of different shops, the shopping arcades in Rome are open and elegant places with impressive glass vaulted ceilings, columns and façades.
Alberto Sordi shopping arcade
It’s worth going to this shopping arcade even if you don’t intend doing any shopping. The art-nouveau building has high ceilings, it is very bright and airy
and there are both franchises and high-end shops. What’s more, you will find Fertinelli book shop, one of the most famous book shops in the city, here.
La Rinascente shopping arcade
This beautiful shopping arcade in Via del Corso has stone arches and a terrace with views over Rome. You can go there to watch the wonderful sunsets. Additionally, you can see the remains of the Aqua Vigo aqueduct on the ground floor. In terms of the shops, they are amongst the largest and most luxurious you can find.
In addition to shopping arcades, there are also a number of shopping centres in Rome. Some of the most significant ones are Porta di Roma (a shopping centre on the outskirts of the city that has several floors and hundreds of shops) and Anagnina (again, on the outskirts but closer and easy to get to by car).
Of course, don’t forget to go to the markets. They are, without a shadow of a doubt, the icing on the cake when you’re out shopping in Rome.
