Getting around Rome
If you’ve arrived by car, because Italy is beautiful and worth seeing on your way to Rome, plan to leave your car in a garage for the duration of your stay. Getting around Rome by car is a complete nightmare.
Car sharing, scooter sharing and bike sharing are the way to go!
Public transport is certainly not the jewel in the crown of the capital. Rome spans a remarkable 1,285 square kilometers which makes it one of the major European cities. Here there are 2.8 million vehicles (including cars, motorcycles, mopeds and packed buses) in circulation, but we only have 3 subway lines. By staying in the center, where you can find accommodation for all budgets and tastes (from a luxury hotel to a monastery) you’ll still be in an area of 20 square kilometers where you can also get around by renting an electric scooter either for single journeys www.ecooltra.com or for the day. Here are a few options: bikesbooking.com. Unless you’re a cycling champion, I recommend renting an electric bicycle www.jump.com; remember that Rome isn’t flat – it’s built on seven hills!
Out public transport is not great, but it does exist
If you want to use public transport, you’ll need to buy your tickets first. A single trip by bus, tram or metro costs € 1.50 and tickets can be purchased at newsagents and tobacconists. It’s always worth buying a few extra, as finding them on a Sunday afternoon can be an impossible task. There are electronic ticket machines, which also accept cash, in most metro stations.
Taxis, Ubers and everything else
If you are travelling as a family, for short routes it’s better to take a taxi. There are taxi ranks where you can wait in line or you can also catch one “on the fly” by raising your arm. When you get into the taxi, check that the meter is put into operation. The vast majority of drivers are extremely correct, polite, nice people, but a sloppy driver will ruin your morning. To simplify your life download the app free-now.com which allows you to book a taxi and also choose cars with more seats (if you’re a group of 5 for example) and saves you from arguing with a taxi driver who hasn’t activated the meter.
A ride with Uber auth.uber.com, in a polished new Mercedes with excellent suspension (the cobblestones can be felt on all means of transport!) with leather seats and working air conditioning, generally costs twice as much as a taxi.
You can also rent a car with a driver, not only to and from the airport but also for a trip to Tivoli or for a half day in Rome. This is especially useful if you have limited time available.
If you have mobility problems you can take a tour of the sprawling historic center of Rome, with a Golf Cart. Finally, if you love to recall the atmosphere of times past, you can opt for a ride in a horse-drawn buggy; however, make sure you have agreed on the price and the route before leaving.
