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Eating on Public Transportation

Is it permissible (or even generally acceptable) to eat on the Metro in Rome or on a Vaporetto in Venice? On some days I think my lunch will just consist of a quick slice of pizza or a panini on the way to another destination, and I'm wondering if I still need to build in extra time for sitting down at a restaurant, when all I really want is a quick bite "on the go."

Posted by
7977 posts

I don't know if there is a law i.e. you will get busted or thrown off, but it is very boorish behavior to be eating on public transport -- no one wants the smell or having pizza sauce on their travel jacket because of a careless fellow traveler in crowded transport.

Posted by
922 posts

I am not sure about eating on the metro or a vaporetto, but you can easily do as the Italians do and eat standing up at the counter! I have seen many people come into a place and eat a sandwich and drink some water and be gone in 5 minutes or less!

Posted by
118 posts

You could probably eat it while you walk to the metro/vaporetto stations.

I haven't been on the metro, but I imagine both metro and vaporetto aren't exactly comfortable for eating. I know I wouldn't want to eat on the London Underground just cuz it jostles around so much.

Posted by
1880 posts

No, not acceptable to eat on public transportation. Take a moment grab a sandwich and find a park bench and eat there....

Posted by
3514 posts

Most public transit in Europe is too crowded to attempt to eat anything and it is all you can do to just squeeze in unless you are traveling at the earliest morning or latest night times. Sipping on a drink is possible.

I would think it would be better to allow a few extra minutes to eat before getting on transit.

Posted by
32171 posts

I don't know if there are any rules against that sort of thing, but it's not something I'd ever do as that seems to be "in bad taste" (pun intended). As someone else pointed out, the Metro and other forms of transport are often crowded, with people pushing and shoving as they get ready to disembark, or trying to find a place to stand when they enter. Not the most convenient place to be having a meal, and I'd most definitely be annoyed if someone splashed pizza sauce on my clothing!

There are lots of small Bars, etc. that have Paninis and other items ready made, so I'd just buy one there and either consume it at the Bar or somewhere nearby. That way I've got somewhere to dispose of the wrappers and hand wipes, and don't have to carry them around.

Posted by
11613 posts

Buses and metro cars have signs (images) showing what cannot be taken on board. Good and drinks are two common items that are not permitted.

Trains are different, feel free to picnic at your seat between cities.

Posted by
5697 posts

Yes, on inter-city trains, where you have an actual seat (and sometimes a table) families often bring full meals.

Posted by
32171 posts

To add to my earlier reply, dining on trains is acceptable and frequently done, but the Metro is a different situation.

Posted by
2417 posts

I've tucked into a sausage roll or pastie first thing in the morning on the District Line in London, using a fresh copy of the Times as my placemat, and the usual response I get from fellow passengers is a more-or-less tight-lipped smile.
That's probably because they already have me labeled as an ugly American, though.
Apart from that, I generally agree that eating on local mass transit is a pho paw.
Wouldn't stop me from digging discreetly into a bag of granola or an energy bar,
but again, je suis un sauvage.

Posted by
15041 posts

The "Conditions of Transportation" of several City transportation agencies (including ATAF in Florence, ATAC in Rome, ATV in Venice) prohibit to bring aboard objects that could dirty the interior or that could cause unpleasant odors.

First of all any city bus/metro trip is too short (and often you will be standing up) to have a meal.
The vaporetto might take a bit longer if you travel from the station to P. San Marco, (about 20-30 min), but since boats rock a bit, it's not the most ideal place to eat.

You can certainly eat while you walk, or have a picnic at a park on a bench. Or, as suggested above, you could eat at the counter at a cafe/bar and be done very quickly.

Eating sitting on stairs of historical monuments (for example churches or palaces) is not always permitted and in any case is frowned upon. If you eat outside, look for a bench or a park.

Posted by
11294 posts

I just want to emphasize Stephen's point above - the places that sell things that can be eaten quickly have counters, which is where the Italians will be consuming them (it usually costs extra to sit at a table and get waiter service). So, join them; you can wolf down your food as quickly as you want there, then take your vaporetto or Metro food-free.

Posted by
693 posts

Apsrt from the social niceties, I would be more concerned with keeping my hands free and being aware of those around me on the metro than trying to eat. Pickpocketing can be an issue and nothing will mark you more out as a target than having your hands full trying to shove a panini down your throat.