World City Guide

Getting Around

Termini station is the main hub of Rome’s transport system. The city transport authority, ATAC (freephone: (800) 431 784 information, daily 0800-2000; tel: (06) 4695 2027 customer service and complaints; fax: (06) 4695 2087; website: www.atac.roma.it), operates the city’s large fleet of buses and trams. The network consists of 297 bus lines and six tram lines, which cover the entire city and run daily 0530-2400. After 2400, there are 22 night bus routes.

The regional transport authority COTRAL (freephone: (800) 150 008; website: www.cotralspa.it) runs blue buses throughout the Lazio region. Another company, Met.Ro, is responsible for three suburban railway lines departing from Termini, Ostiense and Flaminio stations (and going to Pantano, Lido di Ostia and Viterbo respectively), and Rome’s two metro lines (A and B), which cross at Termini station. The easily mastered metro service operates daily 0530-2330 (until 2430 Saturday), though Line A will close at 2100 daily for three years from January 2005 in order for much-needed modernization work to improve the air-filtering system to be carried out. Two shuttles (Navetta A1 and Navetta A2) will replace the metro above ground during those hours. For information, call the ATAC freephone number. Plans to forge a new third line have been in the works for years but have not come any closer to fruition. Just extending the two existing metro lines proved to be trouble enough, with the uncovering of archaeological vestiges either postponing or preventing any advances.

Night buses run daily 0000-0530, along 22 routes, and are marked on bus stops (fermata) and buses with the letter ‘N’.

All tickets must be pre-purchased and are available for sale at ATAC counters, tabacchi (newsagents, which can be recognized by their large white and black T sign) and at automatic ticket dispensers at metros. Tickets should be validated at the beginning of the journey (to avoid a hefty 51 on- the-spot fine should a controller check your ticket). The cheapest ticket, the Biglietto Integrato a Tempo – BIT costs 1.00 and is valid for up to 75 minutes of travel on ATAC buses and trams, or for one trip on the metro or suburban train lines.

Day (BIG) and week (CIS) passes, valid on all transport in the municipality, cost 4.00 and 16.00 respectively. Monthly passes are also available. For those staying only for two or three days, or a long weekend, the company has introduced the Biglietto Turistico – BTI, which costs 11.00 and is valid for three days on buses, trams, the metro and local trains within Rome. The BIRG pass covers a day’s worth of transport within the whole Lazio region, and costs between 1.80 and 8 (depending on the number of zones covered).

Taxis
Taxi ranks are located at various points around the city centre, though there are notoriously never any when you most need them. With only one taxi for every inhabitant, it is hardly surprising that if there is a strike or demonstration (both frequent occurrences in Rome) or it rains a taxi with its light on is an almost miraculous occurrence. Visitors are advised to use only the yellow and white official taxis. Surcharges are applied for each item of luggage, night service (2200-0700), on Sundays, public holidays, and for out-of-town journeys, such as airport transfers. While taxis may be called by telephone, the meter is turned on immediately after the call and not on pick-up. Tipping of 5-10% is gratefully received, although Italians often do not bother.

Companies include Radio Taxi 3570 (tel: (06) 3570; website: www.3570.it), Radio Taxi Samarcanda (tel: (06) 5551; website: www.samarcanda.it), Pronto Taxi (tel: (06) 6645), and Radio Taxi Tevere (tel: (06) 41571). Taxi hire costs, on average, 0.78 per kilometre (more out of town).

Limousines
Centrally located providers include Autonoleggi Bevilacqua, Via San Nicola da Tolentino 20, Piazza Barberini (tel: (06) 483 756), which hires out limousines on an hourly or daily basis, and Airport Connection Service, Via A Fava 28/d, Zona Trionfale (tel: (06) 338 3221; website: www.airportconnection.it), which chauffeurs single passengers or groups to the airport but also hires out limousines for day or hourly use. Visitors should expect to pay from about 30 per hour.

Driving in the City
The interweaving paths of mopeds, pedestrians and trams, the erratic driving, the one-way systems and the frequent traffic jams make driving in Rome an experience that is best avoided. The authorities have reacted to traffic congestion (and the ensuing pollution) by cutting off large areas of the city centre to non-resident traffic during business hours, and (to a lesser extent) in the evening. Exceptions are usually made for visitors driving to their hotel.

Parking is as problematic as driving. Pay-and-display meters charge about 1 per hour (although the fee may be waived in the evenings and at weekends). There are various underground car parks in the city – the one at Villa Borghese is open 24 hours. The wily may snap up a free parking space but anything marked Sosta Vietata (no parking) is to be avoided – the municipal police have a nasty habit of towing away or, even worse, clamping illegally parked cars and then charging a huge sum for their return. Unlucky owners should contact the municipal police (tel: (06) 67691).

Car Hire
Cars can be hired by drivers aged 21 years (23 for some firms) and above, on presentation of a passport and valid driving licence (held for at least one year). A credit card number or cash deposit is requested and a valid international insurance policy is also necessary. Full insurance is advised. A small car costs from as low as 30 per day on the weekend, and 50 per day in the week. Providers include Avis (tel: (199) 100 133; website: www.avisautonoleggio.it), Europcar (tel: (800) 014 410; website: www.europcar.it), Hertz (tel: (199) 112 211; website: www.hertz.it), Sixt (tel: (199) 100 666; website: www.e-sixt.it), and the locally based Maggiore (tel: (848) 867 067; website: www.maggiore.it) which also rents environmentally-friendly electricity-operated cars, all with various locations throughout the city.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
Bicycles are available for hire at Bici & Baci, Via Viminale 5 (tel: (06) 482 8443). Scooters are available at Happy Rent, Via Farini 3 (tel: (06) 481 8185; website: www.happyrent.com), and Roma Scooter Rent, Via in Lucina 13-14 (tel: (06) 686 4283), located off Via del Corso near the Parliament. RomaRent, Vicolo de’ Bovari 7A, near Campo de’ Fiori (tel/fax: (06) 689 6555), has scooters, bicycles and cars for hire. Bicycle hire costs from around 6.50 per hour up to 15 per day, while scooters cost from 38 to 80 per day depending on engine size.