best way to get around in Rome

It really depends where you are going. The subway only has 2 lines but I think they're expanding to a 3rd line so use it if it's convenient to you. The busses are super easy to use. There are regular size busses and these cute little busses that navigate the smaller streets. Just make sure you get your bus ticket at a tabacchi store before boarding the bus. There are taxi stands everywhere and if you're travelling with a group, it's cheaper to just split a taxi. I've used all 3 methods. The 4th method is just using your own 2 feet! Rome is surprisingly small and if you like to walk then it's free!

For most of historic Rome, your feet are the best transport. The main sights are reasonably compact in an area (Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Fountains, Spanish Steps) the ruins (Forum, Colosseum, Palatine hill) a short walk, The Vatican a bit further.

The subway may be useful to get to Termini and to the Vatican, also as a link to get out to Ostica Antica via the Metro and Train lines.

Other than that, the trams and buses can shorten a walk and needed if you will be doing the Borghese Gallery.

Tickets and passes do work on all (buses, Tram, subway, and even city trains and regional trains within a zone) modes so the one that gets you there the easiest is best.

Within Rome I would say bus. The subway is good but limited - if you are on its route it is best but it doesn't go everywhere.

Really, walking is best if you have time and aren't going extremely far. It's the best way to see the city instead of sight-hopping.

Hi there. My husband and I are going to Italy in April and will be in Rome for a full 3 days. Our plan is to buy a 3-day transit pass when we arrive in Rome, and the pass covers the Metro and the buses.

Here is some info: http://www.rome.info/transportation/tickets/

Also I woukd recommend buying a copy of the Rick Steves Rome guidebook. I got a copy for Christmas and have read through the whole thing. It's incredibly helpful!

I'll agree with Paul; the best way to experience the historic center is with your own two feet. We've walked everywhere in Rome with only the a couple of hops onto metro or urban commuter train to cover ground when we were in a hurry or to reach locations some distance outside of the center. We've never taken a taxi.

Those cute little buses are down to one line now, the 117 (as of August 2016). Wish the 116 would come back.

Metro is good if you need to get somewhere quickly, but you won't see anything on the way.

I prefer walking, then buses, then metro.

Our hotel was near the Pantheon, so we mostly walked , took a tram to a cooking class and a train to Ostia Antica. If you have specific places in mind, you could always enter those in rome2rio.com and it will give you the fastest transportation options in the left column - walking, bus, etc. and even show bus number, etc. I find that site extremely helpful planning between cities and routes to hotel from train station, etc.

I walked from Trastevere to the Forum to the Pantheon and back to Trastevere. Combined with my talent for getting lost, it was a lot of walking, but definitely doable.

I took a cab once from Trastevere to the Vatican, but more because I was running short on time. I took a cab back because after the Vatican museum, I was just done.

Yes, walking is best. But, do you like carnival rides? If so, hire a taxi, tell them you are in a bit of hurry and pick a place quite a ways away. Then sit back and just watch the driver negotiate the 2000 year old streets in a modern traffic situation. I think it is something every Rome visitor should experience. And, it is much fun!

I marvel at the Italian ability toe make the 2000 year old street layouts work in their cities. Incredible.

Walking and taxi are the best. The buses can be very crowded and the Subway isn't very inviting. We walk everywhere and at the end of the night hop in a taxi.

The historic center of Rome is fairly compact. As for "best way," it depends on the time of day, where you are, where you want to go, how tired you are, what the weather is like, and what your budget it is. The answer could be walk, taxi, bus, tram, or metro. The Rick Steves book on Italy or Rome gives a good description of the travel options within Rome. Have a great time.

Gordon's comment about "Carnival rides" as a taxi ride brings back our memory of the early AM taxi ride to the airport outside Rome. We called it "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" and felt lucky to exit the little car alive! A few years ago, our taxi ride to the airport was the exact opposite - professional driver, nice car & no speeding.

We walked everywhere and it is not that far. I doubt if the pass would pay for itself. The subway is very limited and the bus/trams can be very slow so walking is faster. Have gotten total lost a couple of times so just carry a card from the hotel and find a cab.