Means of transportation in Rome

Public Transportation

Highly advised, since it is the most practical and fairly cheap. In Rome there are two subway lines, A and B, which cross over at Termini Station. Trains start running at 5.30 am and end at 11.30 pm (00.30 on Saturdays). Tourist routes and itineraries can be organised from various stations on the A line, linking visits to noteworthy monuments with shopping in the famous streets: the station Cipro for example, is the right stop to visit the Vatican Museums, Ottaviano is the right one for St. Peter’s. The stop called Lepanto leads directly onto Via Cola di Rienzo which is filled with shops for all purses. The station Flaminio can be used to reach Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, il Pincio, S. Maria dei Miracoli, Via del Corso and Via del Babuino. The station Spagna takes you to the square bearing the same name, with the Spanish steps and Via dei Condotti. Not far away the Trevi Fountain, Via Veneto and the Tritone Fountain are close to the stop named Barberini; the Terme di Diocleziano are near the station Repubblica. Getting off at the stop Vittorio Emanuele takes you to the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore. S.Giovanni brings you close to the Basilica with the same name and to the Holy Steps. At the station Cinecittà, one can visit the film studios. To visit the Via Appia and the Catacombs, it is necessary to get off at Colli Albani. Important stations for tourists on line B are: S.Paolo, to visit the Basilica with the same name; Piramide, to visit the Pyramid of Caius Cestius, Circo Massimo and Colosseo, to allow visitors to reach the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The stop Cavour takes you near to S.Pietro in Vincoli. There are 200 different bus routes that criss-cross Rome from 5.30 am to midnight. Fast or express lines, Esatt lines and electrical buses, night buses, disabled buses. Roman public transport is called Metrebus. Buying a Metrebus ticket, in fact, allows you to travel on the three means of transport, on the various routes, within one zone or in several zones.

On foot

You can go far on foot in Rome, if you don’t mind walking, and if you plan your route carefully, so that you visit places that are not too far from each other. Keep in mind, however, that Rome can be very hot in the summer, so walking long distances can get fairly tiring.

Bikes - Motorbikes

Due to the mediaeval, often cobbled, streets and the steep slopes that are everywhere (Rome was indeed built on seven hills), bikes are not a good option. Very few people go around by bike in Rome. A motorbike or a moped would be more practical, if it weren’t for the hectic car traffic, which is very dangerous because drivers are not very disciplined. Mopeds are themselves very dangerous for pedestrians and car drivers, since they tend to emerge out of nowhere at very fast speed.

By car

Another bad idea. Car traffic in Rome is not much better than in Sao Paulo, Brazil; it takes ages to get anywhere (unless it’s August, a month in which Rome is almost completely empty, since everyone is either on holiday or locked up in their homes pretending to be on holiday), adn drivers don’t respect precedence, red lights and fellow human beings. Queues of cars can turn into a big serpent-like formation, which produces a constant honking noise and in which every inch gained is gained at the expense of the neighbouring car. Those who chicken out of confrontation and give way to others are destined to remain where they are for ages. Maybe we’re exaggerating a little, but it’s not that far from the truth.

Taxis

A good option to get to your hostel or hotel if you arrive late at night and you’re full of luggage. It is anyway much more expensive than other types of public transport, and not much faster due to the heavy traffic.