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You have more chances enjoy sightseeing if you use public transport in Rome. This choice will give you opportunities to multiply time in holidays. The public transport system in the capital of Italy is characterized by low cost, great variety and easygoing drivers.
There are five main types of public transport in Rome:
* Metro
* Bus
* Tram
* Urban railway
* Taxi
It’s better to choose from them based on your needs. If you want to learn more about locals, choose a taxi and speak with drivers. If you want to move fast and for a long distance, you would better use the metro or the railway. In case of desire to get into usual life of Italians and become one of them for several moments, it’s better to choose buses or trams.
The metro of Rome differs from others in European cities. It is the smallest in its size and number of lines. Only three lines connects the whole city and give an opportunity to reach main places of interest.
– Orange line will help you to reach museums of Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. Use this line if you are interested in St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica. Line A is good enough for visiting Piazza di Spagna and Villa Borghese. Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon will be also on your way. Orange line is for you if you want to take the Leonardo Express to get to Fiumicino Airport.
– Blue line is connected with Roma Termini railway station where you can also take the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport. Line B is convenient if you are going to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
– Green line is likely to be useless for tourists because it connects the commune of Monte Porzio Catone with the Lodi Square, which is located on the outskirts of the central part of Rome.
The Rome metro works from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm.
Buses of Rome runs along 338 lines and over 8 thousand stops, that’s why it can be difficult to understand which bus you need. The main advantage of moving by bus is punctuality: you can check the route and exactly know where and when you will be. But you must be ready for traffic jams and changes in the schedule.
As the metro buses have also various types of lines.
* Urban lines start working at 5 am and finish at midnight.
* Night buses run from midnight to 5 am.
* Express lines can be comfortable if you need to go far away.
* Exact lines work on fixed timetables and go around the centre of Rome.
For buses you can buy tickets in any metro station, news-stand or shops. And it’s important not to forget to validate a ticket.
Trams of Rome are the least attractive for tourists because of their short lines but this type of public transport is the most romantic one. The tram network has six lines:
– Line 2 connects Piazza Mancini with Piazzale Flaminio.
– Line 3 start from Piazza Thorwaldsen and finishes on Trastevere.
– Line 5 link Giovanni Amendola and Piazza dei Gerani.
– Line 8 runs from Torre Argentina to Trastevere.
– Line 14 will take you from Giovanni Amendola to Palmiro Togliatti.
– Line 19 is good for reaching Piazza dei Gerani from Piazza Risorgimento.
Trams in Rome start circulating from 5:30 am until midnight. At night, the trams are not available.
Urban trains of Rome supplement metro lines. That’s why you can use the same tickets. The urban system consists of three lines:
* Rome – Lido.
* Rome – Viterbo.
* Rome – Giardinetti.
Urban trains are available from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm. Trains leave every 10 minutes.
Taxis of Rome are more crowded than in other European capitals. That’s why this type of transport is the most expensive and not always the best one. Minimum price on weekdays is €3, at night time it will not be less than €7. Rate per kilometre is € 1.5. A standard journey in the centre of Rome should cost between €6 and €8.
The rates from Termini railway station to the city centre should cost between €8 and €15, not more.
It’s very important to make sure that the taxi you take is white, with a taxi roof sign and a taximeter in a car. Choose only official taxis not to be cheated.
Types of transport tickets
Some types of tickets will help you to save money.
1) One-way ticket (BIT) is for 75 minutes journey. You can change types of public transport unlimitedly. Such type of ticket costs €1.5.
2) Day pass (BIG) gives you also unlimited transfers among types of public transport but until midnight. This card costs €6.
3) 3 Day Tourist Pass (BTI) gives travelers unlimited transfers for two days and costs €16.5.
4) Week pass (CIS) works for a week and costs €24.
Interesting facts of public transport in Rome
– Children under 10 years old can travel for free accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
– You can enter a bus or a tram through front or back doors, but exit only through middle doors.
– The penalty for a stowaway is from 50€ to 100€.
– Buses do not stop at all stations, you can stop one that you need by raising your hand.
– If you want to get off the bus, just click on a special yellow button that will warn a driver.
