Central Rome is perfect for exploring on foot, with sites of interest often located close together, and much of the inner core is traffic-free, so you will need to walk regardless. However, in many parts of the city walking is uncomfortable because of the crowds, uneven cobblestones, heavy traffic and narrow sidewalks so you will need to use one of the options below.

The Metropolitana, or Metro, (tel 06-454640100), is the fastest means of transportation, operating from 5:30am to 11:30pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday. A big red ‘M’ indicates the entrance to the subway. If your destination is close to a Metro, take it as it will be much faster than the bus. There are currently two lines: Line A (orange) runs southeast to northwest via Termini, Barberini, Spagna and several stations in Prati near the Vatican; and Line B (blue), running north to south via Termini and stops in Ancient Rome.

Tickets are €1.50 each and are good for 100 minutes from the time you validate the ticket. They can be purchased from tabacchi (tobacco shops), many newsstands, and vending machines at all stations. Booklets of tickets are available at tabacchi and in some terminals. You can also buy a pass on either a daily or a weekly basis. To open the subway barrier, insert your ticket. If you have a Roma Pass, touch it against the yellow dot and the gates will open. Metro tickets and bus/tram tickets are interchangeable within the time validity of the ticket. Validation begins by punching them into the ticket counter found on either the subway or bus/tram. Keep the ticket with you at all times during your trip because if there should be a check by the controller, you could get a fine ranging from from €50 to €80.

Roman buses and trams are operated by an organization known as ATAC (Agenzia del Trasporto Autoferrotranviario del Comune di Roma (tel. 06-57003). Buses and trams stop at areas marked FERMATA. At most of these, a yellow or white sign will display the numbers of the buses that stop there and a list of all the stops along each bus’s route in order so you can easily search out your destination. In general, they’re in service daily from 5:30 am to midnight. After that and until dawn, you can ride on special night buses (they have an N in front of their bus number), which run only on main routes.

Tickets are €1.50 each and are good for 100 minutes from the time you validate the ticket. They are sold in tabacchi and at bus stops, but there are no ticket-issuing machines on the vehicles themselves. At Stazione Termini, you can buy special timed passes: BIG (biglietto giornaliero or 1-day ticket) costs €7 and a CIS (carta settimanale) is €24 for 1 week. The BTI (bigiletto turistico, or ‘tourist ticket’) is €18 for 3 days. If you plan to ride public transportation a lot then these passes save time and hassle over buying a new ticket every time you ride. Purchase the appropriate pass for your length of stay in Rome. All the passes allow you to ride on the ATAC network, and are also valid on the Metro (subway).

Please Note: Rome’s bus network is intricate and extremely handy for getting around the city; however, it takes a bit more to figure it out than the simple Metro. Not all maps of Rome include the bus routes, so if you plan to take the buses anywhere it’s important to get a city map that does have bus routes listed. Most newsstands sell them (they also sell transportation tickets, too).

Warning: Take extreme caution when riding Rome’s overcrowded buses (and Metro) – pickpockets abound!

Don’t count on hailing a taxi on the street. You must either go to the closest taxi stand where available taxis are usually waiting or call one of the main taxi companies in town. Look for orange signs with ‘TAXI’ written in black. You can also have your hotel concierge call a taxi for you. Be aware when calling a taxi that the meter will start running from the time of the call. Taxis on call incur a surcharge of 3.50€.

The meter begins at €3 (Mon – Fri, 6am – 10pm) for the first 3km (1 3/4 miles) and then rises €1.10 per kilometer. The first suitcase is free. Every additional piece of luggage costs €1. On Saturday and Sunday between 6am and 10pm the meter starts at €4.50 from 10pm to 6am every day the meter starts at €6.50. Trips from Termini incur a €2 surcharge. A small tip is fine, but not necessary, and at most, simply ’rounding up’ to the nearest euro is appreciated. If the driver is really helpful a tip of €1-€2 is sufficient.

A taxi from Leonardo da Vinci airport to the city costs approximately €48 and up for the 1 hour trip, depending on traffic. The expense might be worth it if you have a lot of luggage or just don’t want to bother taking a train. The 30-minute ride from Ciampino airport will cost €30 or more.

Other than walking, the best way to get through the medieval alleys and small piazzas of Rome is by bicycle. Despite the hilly terrain, the heart of ancient Rome is full of bicycle lanes to get you through the congested traffic. The most convenient place to rent bikes is Bici and Baci, Via del Viminale 5 (tel 06-4828443), two blocks west of Stazione Termini, the main rail station. Prices start at €4 per hour or €12.50 per day.

If you are renting a car to explore the countryside around Rome or drive to another city, we suggest you pick it up as you depart the city to avoid excessive rental/parking expenses. There are branches of the major agencies at the airport.

If you have not booked a private transfer with us then you have a few options to get you into the city center. Most flights arrive at Romes Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, popularly referred to as Fiumicino, 19 miles from the city center. Theres a train station in the airport. To get into the city, follow the signs marked TRENI for the Leonardo Express that leaves every 30 minutes to Roma Termini, Rome`s central train station (35 minute trip). Tickets are approximately €14 one-way (within 7 days of depature online) or can be purchased at the departure platform for about €15. Before getting on the train you must validate your ticket by inserting it in the validation machine found in the station or on the platform.

Roma Termini, Romes central train station, is the train, bus, and subway transportation hub for all of Rome. When you arrive at Termini, we suggest you get off the train quickly and grab a baggage cart. Its a long walk from the track to the exit (or to the other train connections) and baggage carts can be scarce. After your arrival at Termini station you can proceed to your hotel on foot, by bus, taxi or metro. If youre taking the Metropolitana (subway), follow the illuminated red and white M signs. To catch a bus, go straight through the outer hall to the large bus lot in Piazza dei Cinquecento. Youll also find taxis there.

Terravision bus is probably the cheapest connection between Fiumicino airport and Rome city center, but the journey takes 55 minutes. The online reservation does not guarantee a seat (Terravision recommends to arrive at the bus stop at least 15 mins before the bus departure). You can either book online (about €5.80 one-way or about €9 return) or buy the tickets there (about €7 one-way, about €10 round-trip). The bus departs near Terminal 3 of the airport and arrives at Termini station (the same applies for the route in reverse). Be careful, due to the heavy traffic in Rome, Terravision is not always on time.

Alternately, a taxi from Leonardo da Vinci airport to the city costs approximately €48 and up for the 1 hour trip, depending on traffic. The expense might be worth it if you have a lot of luggage or just don`t want to bother taking a train.

Once you’re in the center, the best way to get around is on foot. You’ll want to be careful when crossing the streets though. There are crossings but, sometimes, they aren’t located at signaled intersections. Traffic can be intimidating, but if you are at a crossing just start walking and cars will let you cross the street. While crossing watch out for the numerous mopeds: as in many European cities, even if cars are stationary due to a jam or for another reason, mopeds and bikes will be trying to squeeze through the gaps and may be ignoring the reason why everyone else has stopped. This means that even if the traffic seems stationary you need to pause and look around into the gaps.

Beware that unlike in other countries where a lit green man indicates that it is safe to cross the road, in Italy the green man is lit at the same time as the green light for traffic turning right, so you can often find yourself sharing the space with cars.

Much of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. There are some amazing rooftop gardens and all sorts of sculptures, paintings and religious icons attached to exterior walls. Take a stroll in the area between piazza Navona and the Tiber river in Old Rome where artisans continue to practice their trade from small shops. Also in Old Rome, take a stroll down via Giulia, which is lined with many old palaces. Downloadable walking guides through the maze of streets in this area will assist you.

Italy has a very low violent crime rate. Petty crime, on the other hand, is a problem. As you may have guessed, pickpockets are quite common. In order to keep yourself and your wallet safe you should always maintain your personal space. Do not let a stranger come into close personal contact with you if possible. Also watch out for any beggars with newspapers or pieces of cardboard. They use these devices to cover their operations. Lastly, do not pull out large amounts of money while shopping or using public transportation. The subway and buses can literally be the thieves’ den. Pickpockets generally prey on slower or distracted people. Families with children, confused tourists or older people are popular targets. Be alert, look confident and keep your valuables well hidden.

The currency of Italy is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Italy by clicking here.

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