I'm headed to Rome for 10 days early next month and will be traveling with my 76 year old mother who is unable to ride the bus, even for short distances because she gets severe motion sickness. We plan to do a lot of walking, but in situations where walking isn't feasible I am looking at other public transportation options. I've researched the Metro, which I understand isn't great due to it's limited reach, but I've also seen mention of a tram, which I am assuming is an above ground streetcar/train like in Amsterdam. Any information about the 'tram' would be greatly appreciated. I think for the most part foot power or Metro will suffice, but I'd like to have a third option available just in case.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
All the info you would need.
Suggest you print the map as large as possible and keep it with you.
Posted by
Rome
62 posts
Where will you be staying in Rome? There's a fourth option, in the form of a train (actual train, different from the streetcars that you will indeed find in the city center): is part of the same bus/metro/tram network and can be used to travel longer distances within Rome*, but is indeed only very handy for select locations, that's why I'm asking :)
*edited to clarify
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Taxis are relatively inexpensive and taxi stands are at or near all monuments. You cannot count on hailing one on the street, they don't cruise for passengers.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Here's another vote for adding taxis to your options. Most travel within the historical center should be under 20 euros.
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
Interesting that it's only buses that are an issue. My husband has problems in any conveyance that he's not in control of, but boats and planes are the worst. Dramamine is his answer.
Has your mom ever been on a crowded subway train or tram? I went down to get on the metro in Rome once and it was so crowded that I came back up and took a (somewhat) less crowded bus.
Thanks for asking this question. I plan to be hauling my 71-year-old self around Rome in the summer and I was totally ignorant of the trams. That link has other forms of transportation as well.
Posted by
Chicago
2124 posts
After returning from Rome last month, I made the observation after riding the buses all over the city that I never saw many people at all validating their bus ticket when getting on the crowded buses. And although I knew that many people had weekly or monthly passes (anything other than a single-ride ticket requires validation only the first time on), I wondered whether the majority of riders were getting on as a freebie, which was poo-poo'd by many on this board. It just seemed like a chaotic situation with people getting on the bus from all three entrances, thus ripe for abuse. And our friends, Americans but Roman natives who have spent their winters there for years, noted that they've only seen the 'controllers' come on the bus to check passes once in six years!
Well, I just got an EMail from the woman of the couple we spent time with a few weeks ago. She said that tourism over the last few days has just exploded, spring break or not, with young people in tour groups. And, maybe not coincidentally, on two different buses the controllers came onto the buses checking passes. They observed one person getting a 54 Euro fine.
So--keep your passes current, and I am told to keep the receipt for the pass handy as well.