I love shopping in Rome. The city is generous with shops for all budget, shapes and taste and retail therapy opportunities are easy to find
The city has several shopping streets with clusters of shops and some of them are close to Rome main attractions, making it easy to add a shopping afternoon to a sightseeing morning.
In this article, I am going to share my favorite shopping addresses in the city so you can bring home amazing Italian fashion, a special gift or maybe a bite of Rome’s most delicious food.
Best shopping in Rome: streets vs shopping malls
The first thing to do when planning an afternoon of shopping in Rome is to know what to expect.
In is important to know that Rome tends to have high street shopping opportunities more than shopping malls and large department stores.
Shopping malls and shopping centers in Rome do exist but they tend to be outside of the center and they do not often offer the local shops and Italian brands or the unique find you may be looking for.
In Rome shopping centers you often have the international brands (H&M, Gap etc) as well as local ones (like Benetton) and while they can be an excellent place to get a bargain, especially at sales time, if you prefer window shopping and a more unique shopping experience, shopping streets are a better choice
The best shopping streets in Rome
Via del Corso – Rome city center high street
A guide to the best shopping in Rome can only start with via del Corso, the large central street that runs from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo.
Via del Corso Is a beautiful road with a large concentration of shops, sitting beside each other along the whole length of the street, which is significant!
You can think of via del Corso as Rome’s high street: here you have all the international chains (Zara H&M, Diesel etc) but you also have smaller shops and brands that are unique in Italy and the occasional leather shop and family run boutique.
Via del Corso is a solid clothes shopping option if you want a bit of everything: just be mindful that it can be really busy, especially on Saturday afternoon, when the crowds of tourists and local teenagers make it burst at its seams.
Head here mid week or at opening time so you can also see nearby Trevi fountain without the crowds!
Via dei Condotti – best for designer shopping in Rome
Designer shopping in Rome happens in Via Condotti, the elegant road connecting Via del Corso (above) with Piazza di Spagna (Spanish steps).
Here, and in the streets nearby such as Via del Babuino and Via Belsiana, you have all the high end designer shops and you will find Bulgari, Chanel, Prada, Max Mara and all the best fashion brands.
Via Condotti is worth visiting as one of the best shopping streets in Rome but also happens to have a historical cafe worth noting: the Antico Caffe’ Greco, the perfect place for an upscale coffee while luxury shopping in the center.
Via Cola di Rienzo – best Rome shopping near the Vatican (clothing and food)
Closer to the Vatican lies Via Cola di Rienzo, another wonderful shopping street in Rome with a mix of shops to suit most budgets.
Here you have high street shops and international chains but also local shops and boutiques. This is traditionally a more local shopping street and has a good selection of shoe shops too, which other areas lack.
This is a fantastic street for shopping both for clothing and food thanks to the famous gourmet foods shop Castroni, which has been selling delicacies to Romans and tourists alike for decades and never disappoints!
Via Cola di Rienzo and nearby Via Ottaviano departs for just outside Vatican city and they are perfect to visit after a long morning in St Peter and its museums.
Via Urbana and Via del Boschetto – best vintage shopping in Rome
If you are looking to go vintage shopping in Rome, then head to Monti and in particular via Urbana and Via del Boschetto, two great streets for retails but also for charm (Santa Prassede, one of my favorite hidden gems in Rome is here).
Here you find small and pretty shops for clothes and accessories and at the weekends Mercato Monti, a favorite place for vintage lovers and market goers.
Monti is a wonderful area to visit if you are looking for a unique piece such as vintage sunglasses, accessories or to-die-for bags
Via del Governo Vecchio – one of a kind shops in Rome city center
Located near Piazza Navona, Via del Governo Vecchio is another lovely shopping streets in Rome with small boutiques and some vintage shops that are great for one of a kind type of finds or a special gift.
This is also a street with some lovely food so it is easy to plan a stop here in between a visit to Piazza Navona and dinner in Cul de sac, one of my favorite restaurants in Rome!
Via dei Giubbonari – great shopping near campo de’ Fiori (clothing and food)
Via dei Giubbonari departs from Campo de’ Fiori and is one of the first places I go to when shopping in Rome.
Here you have several clothing shops, some local, some with known international brands (Birkenstock , Superdry etc), and you also have one of the most famous food shops in Rome, Roscioli which while not cheap, surely packs a punch in term of quality of their food. (They have two shops beside each other, one is the deli and one their bar/cafe)
Via dei Coronari
If you are looking for antique dealers and design shops, another street not to miss is Via dei Coronari.
Close to Piazza Navona and Campo de’ fiori, this is a street full of charm and as well as shopping opportunities and it also has one of the best gelaterie in Rome, gelateria del Teatro!
Rome department stores
As well as small shops, Rome has some department stores offering a good selection of brands and more local fashion names.
La Rinascente
La Rinascente is one of the oldest and best known department stores in Rome and has several shops in different parts of Rome.
Their flagship store is on Via del Tritone and it is worth a visit both for shopping opportunities and something special or actually 2 special things! The rooftop terrace and the view over a Roman aqueduct, passing just below the store!
In La Rinascente you will find all you expect from a large departments stores including perfumery and cosmetics, women fashion, men clothing and children clothing / toys
Coin
Another excellent department store in Rome is Coin, a large shop with a good selection of brands at a variety of price points.
A little like La Rinascente above, in Coin you will find a good cosmetics session, accessories and men and women’s fashion.
Termini Forum
The forum below Rome Termini station is not a department store but it offers such a variety of shops it is worth mentioning it here as it can be a good go-to place if you are short on time and want many shopping options all under one roof (it is also a good place for shopping in case it rains!)
Here you find a bit of everything, from Coin (see above) to international shops such as Lush, Nike, Mango, Intimissimi and more.
I hope you enjoyed this overview of the best shopping in Rome. Safe travels!