We are headed to Rome next week and thinking about just using our iPhones to tap the contactless readers on the buses and metro. Or we can use our credit card to tap in/off the metro or tap in for buses, if the iPhones won't work.
Anyone have any real world experience in the last 6 months doing this? How did it go? Any settings on the iPhone I need to do in advance?
Yeah, I know we could just buy paper tickets at a Tabacco shop, but the tap on/off seems convenient, especially if at the last minute, we decide it's too hot to walk from destination to destination and google says there's a convenient bus stop right here.
Posted by
Washington DC
27396 posts
The best thing about tapping is that you don't have to guess how many trips you'll take and perhaps end up with leftover tickets. I don't think I did any tapping when I was in Rome earlier this year, but I've tapped on transit in other places without difficulty. It seems to work well.
One thing to be aware of is that on some vehicles in some cities (I don't know about Rome) there are two separate devices. Maybe one is for monthly passes and the like. If your card doesn't work on the machine you try initially, look around for another option--a machine that looks different. Better still, check YouTube for videos about riding Rome buses.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7428 posts
Bookmarking to see your answers. I used that method in London in June, and it’s very handy! Hope it works the same in Rome.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8579 posts
I don’t think paper tickets are sold at Tobacco shops anymore. At least that is what one tobacco shop owner told me a year ago. A paper ticket was required that you needed to purchase prior to getting on a bus. I was directed to the metro station to buy my tickets.