How to find a quiet room in a loud neighborhood
Noise travels by street, wall, window, and household. A busy neighborhood can hold a quiet rear bedroom; a calm block can have a loud bar, bus stop, or roommate above you.
Ask which way the room faces and what sits beside, above, and below it. Open the window during the tour. Stand quietly for a minute with appliances off. Notice traffic, buses, delivery trucks, music, stairs, and plumbing.
Ask current residents what wakes them up and whether they use fans, earplugs, or white noise. Their answer is more useful than “it’s usually fine.” If possible, visit near your expected bedtime.
You cannot eliminate city sound. You can avoid paying for a room whose predictable noise conflicts with your sleep.