Rome - Bus or Metro or Taxi

All 3: the Metro system is fast and cheap, it's not quite as extensive as in Paris or London but will look pretty good in the Rome heat the end of June. Of course there's waiting around time for buses but they can work well for you, too. I have found taxis a good value, it's tough to flag one down so you usually need to find the nearest taxi stand. The Rome heat the end of June will limit your desire to walk, more than you might think, and taxis or the Metro start looking pretty good in that heat.

Read on my weather page today that it is the 90s both in Florence and Rome. Glad I'm not there!!!

www.weatherunderdround.com

can save your favorite cities

Linda: There's always waiting around time for buses, anywhere--but they can work for you in Rome. Read Rick's cautions and do's and dont's about using the buses (in his book), and then use them as they fit into your plans.

The Metro is very easy to use, and will take you to most all sightseeing.

You will realize once you are in Rome that most of the important sights are within walking distance of each other...the Vatican being the farthest out.

Our last day in Rome we walked from the Colosseum Metro stop all the way to the Spanish Steps, made a big circle and walked back. It was the most enjoyable day. We took our time, saw lots of stuff, ate Gelato, did a bit of window shopping and still were done by 3PM.

I didn't bother with the buses, the Metro is so easy to figure out. We also didn't use taxis either, even though our hotel was outside the historic center, we took the Metro to our stop and walked the 4 blocks to our hotel each night.

Maryann: Yeah, 90 in Rome is not like 90 in Southern California. I guess that's why we haven't heard from Ron or Claire today, computers must have overheated (plus it's 10:30pm there right now, they might be taking the night off).

well, my vote for times when "time is running short or when the mind, body and spirit are exhausted" is taxi. We used the Bus a little. It was jam packed, ok, but not great fun. As you suggest we walked just about everywhere, but there were a few occasions when we simply ran low on energy or time, and Taxi's were cheap and fast. During daytime hours you can get most places for €5-€8 euro's. Later in the evening the rates are higher. Obviously its a personal choice, but we were at times overwhelmed by Rome (and it is easy to get lost, even when you think you have things figured out). Taxi's will now be a key part of our Rome survival strategy. We really enjoyed walking, even getting lost was an experiences, but we could feel when the frustration level was getting up and then it was off to the neareast taxi stand.

OK - it's 89' degrees today in Rome - and BEAUTIFUL. Everything is blooming and the smell of jasmine, honeysuckle, roses, etc. fills the air - NO PLACE I'd rather be than Italy in springtime!!

That said - I'm not looking forward to another summer without AC!

Regarding metro/bus/taxi service. Yes, the metro is limited by only 2 lines. If you're in Trastevere or over by Piazza Navona/Campo Fiori area there is no metro service. The A line is cleaner than the B line - but both are "effective." If your destination is near a metro line, that's always my first choice - especially in inclement weather!

I ride the busses every day I am not on a motorino. It's my primary method of public transportation and why I purchase a mensile (monthly pass). You can buy a local "bus map" with all the routes. Your "waiting" time will be substantially cut if you know alternative busses. For example, to get off the Cassia, where we currently live, I can ride either the 201,301,223, or 220 - rather than just waiting for ONE BUS! Like driving here, you have to know your destination by name, rather than a hwy #, etc., when riding the bus. It does take some practice - or do as I did, just ask other passengers (or when desperate, the driver!). The busses DO NOT run on the same schedule on Sundays and holidays... they are far less frequent.

Because we live here, we do not take taxis often. We see them as a "privilege" and to us, they are expensive - as opposed to the bus/metro! But after a late night - faced with a 1-hour bus ride, we will jump into a cab for the ride home (Next month we move DOWNTOWN!). Always go to a taxi stand and always use a registered taxi with a meter. At different times of the day the meter will "START" at different Euro amounts.

We do walk a lot - A LOT! And that's how we see Rome - but we always know where the closest bus or metro stop is... and we see that as our place to crash on the way home!

Good Luck,
Ciao,
Ron

The actual center of Rome isn't as large as it seems, so you may find you can cover most of it on foot. Buses are easy to take, and many pass in the same places, the list at each bus stop shows where they stop, just remember to buy your tickets before hand. If you are tired and just don't want to deal with walking anymore, take a taxi, but remember you must go to a taxi station to get one, you can't hail a cab in Italy.
The metro is good, but a bit limited right now in where it goes (thought right now they are in the middle of seriously expanding it) so it depends where you are and where you need to go.

Ron and Claire - thanks so much for your help. We're staying at the Casa De Santa Brigida on Piazza Farnese near the Campo di' Fiore. We chose it because of Rick Steves recommendation and it's central location. So I do think we'll be able to mostly walk. The two furthest destinations for us are the Borghese and the Vatican.

I've also be reading in RS's Rome guide about the "electrico." Sounds like a fun way to ride all around the city to get your bearding - like on our first day which is a Sunday - so we may have limited options for public transportation.

What do you think?

Linda,

Piazza Farnese near the Campo de'Fiori is a GREAT location. You'll enjoy that tremendously and you'll be able to walk or catch busses (on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II). The Vatican is a short walk across the Tevere and the Patheon is also a very short walk! you're right, Villa Borghese would probably be the farthest walk for you... but you can stop on the way at the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and of course for gelato at Giolitti's!

Piazza Farnese is one of my wife's favorite areas. She is always shopping the back alleys near Navona and Campo de'Fiori.

I don't think you'll need taxis to often from there... if your first day is a Sunday, you'll be walking and finding your way around so i don't think you'll be riding too many busses! Have a great time!

Ciao,
Ron

Hey Ron - great tip about shopping around Piazza Farnese! I wish I was leaving TODAY!

I found the combo of metro, bus and some shoe leather to be a delightful and economical method to explore Rome. We just got back home last night so still a bit jet lagged. You can buy a bus map which makes the system more user friendly. Many of the bus stops are very high tech. There's a board that shows which busses are coming and the time till arrival. Do be careful in that just because a bus travels on a particular street doesn't mean it stops at the fermata (stop) where you're standing. Check yellow signs and see which numbers stop there and also see a list of the stops it makes after you pick it up.

The metro doesn't go everywhere but can still get you many places of interest and you can transfer to a bus or busses from the metro for free within 75 minutes of validating your ticket on the metro.

Bring well fitting comfortable supportive walking shoes that are already broken in--- two pair if at all possible and soft cushy socks.

Many tourists fear the metro and bus because they are concerned about being pickpocketed. Some of the busses are notorious for attracting pickpockets 62 and 64 in particular. I found the Rick Steves silk neck wallet perfect for Roma mass transit and I could even slip my Canon digital elph inside. I carried a Jansport half pint backpack as my daypack I flipped it around so that the zippers were facing my back. It was comfortable and secure.

You can buy single tickets, day passes or a Roma Pass that gives you a choice of two free museum/site passes and three days of bus service. Use it for Borghese and Coloseum and in effect you are getting a free three day bus pass!

PS just like here in the US busses and the metro are most crowded at rush hour so leave a little early if you are pressed for time.

Hi Peter:

Thanks for the PDF map! That will help me get my bearings before we arrive. I was thinking about taking the 116 Electrico as soon as we arrive to get a general perspective of the city.

I'm getting great feedback about Piazza Farnese being a great location. I am so envious that you had 25 days and an apartment. That's my dream!

Hi Linda,

We just got back from a 25 day trip. We spent the first week a few moments from Piazza Farnese. We took a lot of busses and metros when we didn't want to walk.

We avoided the 64 and instead took the 40 express when we had to go to the train station. It was less crowded and seemed a little faster even though it runs on basically the same route.

We liked the 23 to get to the Vatican or Travestere...it runs along the water. The little electrico 116 runs right by Farnese and starts in the the Borghese Park. If you get on at the first stop you can sometimes get a seat.

We got a bus map and studied it. Most bus rides happen standing up. It was a little tricky at first finding the stops..our map wasn't as helpful at that.

Definitely buy your tickets beforehand.

Also be aware that there can be a wait. We waited for a 23 for half an hour one evening before we gave up and started to walk. Next thing you know, several 23s passed us by. There seemed to be more of them during the day.

Here's a link to a pdf map:

http://www.atac.roma.it/docunet/file.asp?mid=3&rid=3

We loved that location (we had an apartment there.

Ciao!

Peter McG

If you go with buses, plan on having a return ticket in hand. The time I didn't, the automated dispensing machine (by a major stop) swallowed my money w/out dispensing a ticket & I had to go a couple blocks & try a couple places before I could buy a return ticket.

Linda,
Just back from Rome & we used the metro alot & taxi once. The heat was awful & walking most of the day just takes so much out of you so transportation other than your feet was a nice relief. Our B&B owner just told us to be very careful on the metro because of pickpockets but we never had a problem fortunately.

I just had to add to Peter's comment. The 23 went right by where I use to live in Rome and it did the exact same thing--a LONG wait and then two or three together. It must be how that line is run or something, and this was eight years ago too, good to know that some things never change.