Rome, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Rome - Transportation

Getting Around Rome

Italy's capital city is served by Rome Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport, located around 16 miles (26 kms) south-west of Rome city centre, and Rome Ciampino Airport, situated 10 miles (15kms) south-east of Rome. Getting to Rome is easy - as well as the international airport, Rome has excellent bus and train links with hundreds of destinations throughout Italy and the rest of Europe. See 'Airports' for transport links into Rome.

Rome has a wealth of options for transport, catering for any budget or timeframe. The Metro offers a quick and easy way of visiting the major sites in a short visit whilst regular bus services can take you further afield if your journey cannot be completed using the Metro, or if you prefer to avoid the often crowded carriages.

Public Transport Network and Tickets
Driving in Rome
Public Transport - The Metro
Public Transport - Buses
Public Transport - Night Buses
Public Transport - Trams
Public Transport - River Boat
Using Taxis in Rome

Public Transport Network and Tickets

Rome city centre has an extensive public transport network operated by ATAC though the leading attractions are easily accessible on foot. There are just two metro lines A and B (a third is currently in construction) which are complemented by buses, trams and a comprehensive urban and suburban train network.

You can use the same ticket for bus and metro travel, which should be purchased in advance from train and metro station vending machines and tobacconists. More detailed ticketing information can be found here. Day (BIG) and week (CIS) passes are valid on all transport in the municipality. Monthly passes are also available. For those staying only for two or three days, or a long weekend, the company has introduced the Biglietto Turistico (BTI), which is valid for three days on buses, trams, the metro and local trains within Rome. The BIRG pass covers a day’s worth of transport within the whole Lazio region, and cost varies depending on the number of zones covered. Alternatively, see Roma Pass (below) for a ticket that covers transport and museums.

Driving in Rome

Driving a car around Rome is not recommended - most of the city's historic centre is closed to normal traffic and parking permits are required for parking in the centre. Dangerous driving is now generally less common in Rome than historically, though driving around Rome is generally difficult due to the volume of traffic and the limited parking spaces - illegally parked cars are towed. The minimum age for car rental is 21. Many filling stations close on Sundays, though self-service and credit card payment is available.

The interweaving paths of mopeds, pedestrians and trams, the erratic driving, the one-way systems and the frequent traffic jams make driving in Rome an experience that is best avoided. The authorities have reacted to traffic congestion (and the ensuing pollution) by cutting off large areas of the city centre to non-resident traffic during business hours, and (to a lesser extent) in the evening. Exceptions are usually made for visitors driving to their hotel. Parking is as problematic as driving. Pay-and-display meters charge about €1 per hour (although the fee may be waived in the evenings and at weekends). There are various underground car parks in the city - the one at Villa Borghese is open 24 hours. The wily may snap up a free parking space but anything marked Sosta Vietata (no parking) is to be avoided - the municipal police have a nasty habit of towing away or, even worse, clamping illegally parked cars and then charging a huge sum for their return. Unlucky owners should contact the municipal police (tel: (06) 67691).

Car Hire
Cars can be hired by drivers aged 21 years (23 for some firms) and above, on presentation of a passport and valid driving licence (held for at least one year). A credit card number or cash deposit is requested and a valid international insurance policy is also necessary. Full insurance is advised. Providers include Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and the locally based Maggiore (tel: (06) 2245 6060 or 848 867 067), which also rents environmentally-friendly electricityoperated cars. All have various locations throughout the city.

To find great deals on car rentals in Rome, visit our Car Rental page

Mopeds
Scooters are a great way to get around the city. Expect to pay around 30 euros per day. Helmets are mandatory.

Rome's Public Transport

Termini station is the main hub of Rome’s transport system. The city transport authority, ATAC (tel: (06) 4695 2027 or 800 431 784), operates the city’s large fleet of buses and trams. The network consists of over 300 bus lines and six tram lines, which cover the entire city and run daily 0530-2400. After 2400, there are plentiful night bus routes. The regional transport authority Cotral (tel: 800 150 008) runs blue coach buses throughout the Lazio region. Another company, Met.Ro, is responsible for three suburban railway lines departing from Termini, Ostiense and Flaminio stations (and going to Pantano, Lido di Ostia and Viterbo respectively), and Rome’s two metro lines (A and B), which cross at Termini station. The easily mastered metro service operates daily 0530-2330 (until 2430 Saturday). Two shuttles (Navetta MA1 and Navetta MA2) will replace the metro above ground during those hours. Plans to build a third line have been in the works for years and seem to be accelerating recently, although don’t expect it to open until at least 2011. Just extending the two existing metro lines proved to be trouble enough, with the uncovering of archaeological vestiges either postponing or preventing any advances.

The Metro
The Metro service in Rome is not extensive but is a fast way of getting around. Line A (Red) runs between Battistini and Anagnina with stops near the Vatican Museums (Cipro), the Vatican (Ottaviano), the Cola di Rienzo shopping area (Lepanto), Piazza del Popolo (Flaminia), the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna), via Veneto (Barberini) and San Giovanni. Line B (Blue) operates between Rebibbia and Laurentina, stopping at Eur, St. Pauls Outside the Walls (Basilica S. Paolo), Piramide (also the Ostiense train station), Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo), the Colosseum (Colosseo) and the Tiburtina train station.

Buses
Bus is the most common form of transport in Rome - buses are operated by ATAC and Cotral, with ATAC buses generally serving the city centre and most of the suburbs while COTRAL buses service the outer suburbs and outlying regional areas. Buses and trams generally run between 6am and midnight every day, with popular routes served every 10 minutes and with night buses. Passengers should board at the front and back of buses and exit at the middle. Tickets must be purchased before embarking. There are two special tourist routes, the 110 Open and Archeobus, which loop around Rome's leading attractions. Slow Travel has more detailed information on Rome's bus services.

Night buses
Night buses run daily 0000-0530, along 22 routes, and are marked on bus stops (fermata) and buses with the letter ‘N’, as in 40N or 60N. All tickets must be pre-purchased and are available for sale at ATAC counters, tabacchi (newsagents, which can be recognised by their large white and black T sign) and at automatic ticket dispensers at metros. Tickets should be validated at the beginning of the journey (to avoid a hefty on-the-spot fine should a controller check your ticket). The cheapest ticket, the Biglietto Integrato a Tempo (BIT) is valid for up to 75 minutes of travel on ATAC buses and trams, or for one trip on the metro or suburban train lines.

Trams
Trams do not cover much of Rome's historic centre though some stop near the Vatican, Colloseum and Trastevere.

River Boat
For just one euro you can travel on the famous Tiber from Tiberina Island to Duca d'Aosta Bridge on a River Boat. Two-hour trips to Ostia Antica and longer cruises that take in dinner are available. Tickets can be purchased at Batteli di Roma sales points at Rome's airports or at the Termini Station.

Using Taxis in Rome

Taxi ranks are located at various points around the city centre, though there are notoriously never any when you most need them. Visitors are advised to use only the yellow and white official taxis. Surcharges are applied for each item of luggage, night service (2200-0700), on Sundays, public holidays, and for out-of-town journeys, except for airport transfers, which now have fixed rates whatever the time of day. While taxis may be called by telephone, the meter is turned on immediately after the call and not on pick-up. Tipping of 5-10% is gratefully received, although Italians often do not bother.

Companies include Radio Taxi 3570 (tel: (06) 3570), Radio Taxi Samarcanda (tel: (06) 5551), Pronto Taxi (tel: (06) 6645), and La Capitale Radio Taxi (tel: (06) 4994).

Hotels in Rome, Italy