travel rome

Getting Around Rome - The Best Way

By Dom Bewley

So, you've decided to visit Rome? Brilliant choice! It's a city dripping with history around every corner, and contains some of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth! But how are you going to reach all those brilliant things and see them for yourself? Why public transport, of course! In this guide, we'll let you know about getting around Rome and the best way to do it. So read on, take notes, and prepare for your Roma adventure!

Getting Around Rome - Ticket Types

Let's start with tickets, as you'll need these to get on most public transport. Bear with us, as there are quite a few denominations to cover.

BIT (one way)

The BIT ticket allows for unlimited transfers between the metro, buses, trams, and urban trains. From the point of validation, it lasts for 75 minutes, meaning you can travel across the entire city with relative ease if you plan your route. Keep in mind that once you leave a metro station, you cannot use the ticket to get back in. Instead, you'll have to switch to an alternative mode of transport, so make sure to plan your journey with a travel app before you set off.

Cost: € 1.50

MetroBus 24 hours

Unlimited public transport from the moment the ticket is validated until 12AM.

Cost: € 7

MetroBus 48 hours

Unlimited public transport for 48 hours.

Cost: € 12.50

MetroBus 72 hours

Unlimited public transport for 72 hours.

Cost: € 18

Weekly pass

If you're spending the week in the city, why not pick up a weekly pass that will give you unlimited public transport for 7 days?

Cost: € 24

Now you know about the tickets, let's talk about the types.

Getting Around Rome - Metro

Rome's Metro system is actually one of the smallest in Europe, made of only three lines; Line A (Orange), Line B (Blue), and Line C (Green). However, of the 73 stations it serves, you'll find it covers nearly every attraction you'll want to see in the city center.

Line A serves the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon, to name but a few.

Line B serves the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, while getting you into the city center from Fiumicino Airport.

The easiest way to get from point A to point B, Rome's Metro is a great way to travel across the city.

Getting Around Rome - Bus

Rome's bus system is wide-reaching, with 338 bus lines serving over 8000 stops throughout the city. However, it can become a bit convoluted, and you'll be at the whim of Rome's famous traffic.

Many of the most used buses have displays that update when buses are delayed, but many others do not. You may feel like you're waiting for a bus that'll never come. Not ideal, but new screens are being put up every week, so hopefully, they serve your needs!

There are too many lines serving too many stops to mention here, go here to plan your journey and find out which station will take you where.

Getting Around Rome - Trams

Like many European cities, Rome has its own tram system. However, unlike many of those cities, Rome's trams don't connect with the center of the city particularly well.

So, while it may be useful for locals to get around, it may be less useful for your vacation. As so many of Rome's biggest tourist draws are in the center, you may never need to ride one.

Getting Around Rome - Urban Railways

Like the overground in London, Rome's Urban Railways connect outer parts of the city to the inner city. The three lines that connect to Rome are the Lido, Viterbo, and the Giardinetti.

If your hotel is near one of the above stations, you may be using these trains every day. And the good news is that, since they're run by the same company as the buses and metro, your tickets will work on all of them.

Getting Around Rome - Taxis

Taxis are one of the easiest ways to get about the city, ensuring you get straight to your destination without any wayward wandering.

We previously spoke a bit about the risks of taxis, but let's talk about it a bit here.

Taxi drivers are well known to try and scam passengers with exuberant fees. If they think you don't know the city, they may take you a much longer way around, or go off-meter to charge you whatever they like. They may even pre-agree a fee with you when you get in and then challenge you on said fee when you reach your destination. Not ideal.

So it's good to know some tips before getting in someone's car.

  • All taxis in Rome are white, so make sure yours is! Also, look out for a sign on the roof and a meter in the window.
  • Better yet, if the vehicle has a number on the side of it, you know they work for a taxi company. Call this number if you feel you're being swindled.
  • You'll find the vehicle's license plate on the back of the front seats, if you need to identify the car and driver to the company.
  • Rates can be fixed, depending on where you're traveling. Or, if not fixed, they will have minimum and maximum fares. Make sure to check these before your trip.
  • If the driver doesn't turn the meter on, request that they do so. If they refuse, ask to leave the vehicle.
  • Don't let drivers intimidate you. If you know you're in the right, call the taxi company or, failing that, the authorities.

Getting Around Rome - Walking

If you're fortunate enough to stay close to Rome's biggest attractions, you can always venture out and burn some calories while you're at it. Rome is one of the most picturesque cities on the planet, so what better way to drink it all in - and get some great photos - than exploring it on foot?

And that's our guide to getting around Rome! Not sure which of Rome's attractions you want to experience? Check out Go City. With us, you can see all of Rome's best bits when and how you want.

Continue reading

Woman photographing St Peter's Basilica in Rome
Blog

Best Time to Visit Rome for Weather

When planning a visit to Rome, there are a few things you should consider *besides* all those bucket-list Roman relics you want to tick off. That’s right: we’re talking about the weather. Rome’s location in west-central Italy means a generally warm climate with all the usual peaks and troughs of temperature you’d expect from a Mediterranean country in southern Europe. So what’s the best time to visit Rome for weather? Read on for our guide to all the seasonal pros and cons. Planning to spend a few days in town? The Omnia Vatican & Rome Pass can save you money when on attractions, activities and tours, including the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Circo Maximo Experience. Best Time to Visit Rome: Spring No point beating about the bush: Rome’s spring season is hands-down the most pleasant time of year to visit. In terms of weather, average highs in March start in the low 60s, rising to the balmy mid-70s by late May, and rainfall is relatively low, so you won’t have to carry an umbrella everywhere you go. Perfect conditions, in other words, for city sightseeing: cool enough for pounding the pavements for several hours and being exposed to the midday sun at open-air bucket-listers like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, but warm enough (most definitely warm enough) to justify that daily gelato. As the city shakes off the relative chill of winter, so the streets begin to fill with a thousand colorful blooms, presenting yet another fine reason to visit in spring. Stroll the streets for Insta-tastic snaps of pink cherry blossoms, purple wisteria and clouds of yellow mimosa, and don’t miss the pink azaleas that line the Spanish Steps in April and May. This is also when the sprawling Vatican Gardens are at their blooming best. And those clear spring skies don’t half make a great backdrop for souvenir snaps of the dome of St Peter’s either. Best Time to Visit Rome: Summer Sightseeing masochists may well relish the searing temperatures, madding crowds and infuriating attraction queues during the height of Rome’s summer season, but it can feel a little unpleasant to most normal people. June through August is peak season in the Eternal City, when average temperatures sit in the upper 70s/lower 80s, but have been known to top out as high as 108°F, not exactly the most comfortable conditions for stomping up Capitoline Hill or the Spanish Steps (all 135 of them, each more sweaty than the last). Having said all that, summer can be a great time to enjoy Rome’s great expanses of green space without the risk of a surprise downpour to ruin your picnic. We’re talking the wooded glades, leafy lanes and tranquil pools of historic Villa Borghese and the beautiful botanical gardens in Trastevere, among others. Then of course there are all those excellent rooftop bars, perfect for summer sunsets and Campari cocktails. Not to mention the people-watching opportunities afforded by the crowds that pour through Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna, with a dripping gelato in hand, natch. Don’t miss the chance to catch the historic Teatro dell’Opera in its temporary summer home: the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla. It’s quite the atmospheric location for performances of La Traviata, Aida and the rest. Best Time to Visit Rome: Fall The temperature in Rome drops fairly rapidly in the fall, but not unpleasantly so. You can still reasonably expect September and October averages in the mid-to-high 60s, dropping down to the mid-to-high 50s by November. But what we’re really talking about is warm, comfortable days with slightly cooler evenings and an increased chance of rain: three out of four of Rome’s wettest months are in fall (the wettest, by some margin, follows in December). With peak season done and dusted and kids back in school, there are also plenty of hotel and flight bargains to be had at this time of year, and you won’t have to worry quite as much about booking all your tours months in advance nor queuing outside attractions like the Pantheon, Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica for hours at a time. The fall’s pleasant climate makes it a great time for exploring the Appian Way. Pack a picnic of market cheeses, cured meats and fresh bread (and a light raincoat, just in case) and strike out along this ancient road, which remains largely unchanged since Julius Caesar marched his armies up it a couple millennia ago. A rented bicycle will give you the freedom to cover way more of this fine cobbled avenue than you could manage on foot in one day, allowing plenty of time to explore the numerous ancient monuments that lie beyond the lofty pines. Best Time to Visit Rome: Winter It will come as little surprise to European weather watchers that Rome’s winter season, from December to February, is its coldest and wettest. So yeah, you can forget balmy afternoons in Villa Borghese and sun-soaked selfies on the Spanish Steps for now; this is not the best time to visit Rome if fine weather is top of your wish list. If, on the other hand, you thrill to the promise of long afternoons gorging on hot chocolate and panettone in atmospheric cafes like the landmark Antico Caffè Greco on Via dei Condotti, or Caffè Sant’Eustachio between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, your luck’s in. December is also, of course, Christmas market season, and boy does Rome go to town on its yuletide festivities. A Christmas tree festooned with hundreds of fairy lights towers over Piazza Navona throughout the season, as the city’s biggest and best Christmas market gets underway. Wander from this artisan craft stall to that roasted chestnut hawker, drinking in the joyful atmosphere, riding the old-fashioned carousel, joining the carol singers in full festive song, and sipping warming mugs of mulled wine, a drink that was in fact invented by the ancient Romans. Magical. Save on attractions in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with the Vatican and Rome Omnia Pass. Check out @omniavaticanrome on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Blog

7 Must-Do Local Experiences in Rome

It’s so easy to get swept away in the tourist traps in Rome and forget about all the local culture and nuances unique to the city. Life in Rome is far more interesting than what meets the eye, and to live like a real local is to live a rich and authentic life, true to their roots. We’re encouraging you to put down the guidebook, go off the beaten track and try experience life as one of them. From where to have the best espresso, to the place where everyone hangs out, stay one step ahead and blend in like a true Roman with these 7 must-do local experiences in Rome. Get a real caffeine fix In true Roman style, coffees are taken standing up in a non-descript coffee shop-come-tobacconist. Very unassuming, these little holes in the wall offer up some of the most delicious coffee with no nonsense service and guaranteed cheap prices. You’re not paying for a table and you’re served in true local fashion: upright among the pastries and cigarettes. One of the best places to get your caffeine fix among the historic sites is Sant’Eustachio Il Café around the corner from the Pantheon. Order an espresso and never a cappuccino after 10am otherwise they’ll spot you a mile off. Food shop like a local Forgo the plates of pasta at every corner just for one day and head to one of Rome’s many mercati rionale (local markets). One of the best ones to go to for a mix of everything is the Nuovo Mercato Rionale Esquilino. It’s been around since the 1800s and traded even during the Fascist years, and thrived during the Second World War. Now, you can find everything from Chinese noodles, to unpronounceable locally grown vegetables, as well as all manner of tins and jars from around the world. Make sure you take loose change, get your bargaining skills up to scratch and can pack a picnic for lunch! Weekend with the Romans During the summer months, the city centre of Rome starts to thin out as tourists replace the locals. They know better than us and escape to the seaside where many of them have holiday lets and apartments in the coastal town of Ostia. In the ancient times, Ostia was Rome’s main port, now it’s a holiday destination for Romans to escape for some sandy beaches and warm seas. Simply jump on a local train from Piramide station, pack a towel and while away the hours under the hot sun. Ditch the water bottle Most people freak out at the thought of drinking from taps and unbottled sources. In Rome, it’s the other way around. You won’t see a Roman buying a bottle of Evian or imported water, instead they’ll head to a natural spring fountain down a back alley. There are hundreds of ancient fountains in Rome, spouting water through elaborate carved features, or fire-hydrant looking things, so the next time you get thirsty, here’s your answer. The water is pure, clean and comes straight from the reservoirs outside the city - and it’s cold! So if you have a bottle, make sure you refill it from a fountain and save that €1.50. Need for speed Rome is a city where taking taxi’s is not the done thing. It’s a big tourist faux-pas to hail a taxi in Rome and you’re more than likely going to be overcharged and be stuck in traffic for longer than you need to be. If you want to get around quicker than on foot, but don’t fancy the metro, then hire a Vespa. It’s the go-to vehicle in Rome and everyone has one. It’s a great way to nip between the cars and see the sights of Rome on your own agenda, plus you’ll get a real thrill experiencing Roman driving along the way. We recommend you wear a helmet at all times... Hang out with the locals San Lorenzo, around the corner from the main University (La Sapienza), is the go-to spot for young Romans to hang out in breaks between classes, or meet up after work. You’ll find the Piazza dell’Immacolata brimming with 20 and 30-somethings at all times of day, whether it’s sipping their morning coffee, having their panino at lunch, or sipping a relaxing Peroni in the evening. The area is full of bars, pizzerias and quirky book shops – the perfect place to really get to know how life as a young local is. Blend in with the crowd and sit out on the square steps after dark enjoying impromptu performances and live music. Pasolini’s place Pasolini is one of the best things to have come out of Rome and the iconic Italian intellectual had plenty of influence over Roman culture at the time, also leaving behind a real legacy. The city is littered with Pasolini hot spots, but one of the best places to visit to pay homage to this brilliant writer and director is Necci Bar in the Pigneto quarter. It was here that he cast for his film Accattone, whose scenes were mostly shot in the area. Pull up a chair at one of the outdoor tables, take it all in and really feel like a true Roman. Sometimes there’s nothing worse than being considered a ‘tourist’, so go undercover and blend in with the locals with these seven ways to experience the real local Rome. Spend summers with them out in Ostia, and haggle with them for locally sourced vegetables at the busy market. This way you’ll get to know what life is like as a true Roman – even if you are just a tourist!
Go City Expert

Dreaming of that Rome city break?

Sign up to receive top travel tips

    Thick check Icon