We will have 2 and a half days in Rome, and want to know about the best transportation, other than taxis. We have already been to the Vatican and it's museums, so what I have booked so far is the colosseum (inside this time). We are staying in Trastevere, and just hope to wander some areas day and night. I am thinking that the metro may be our friend as my husband has a bad back. We are not there on a Saturday to see the underground tunnels I heard about, but are there any other underground places to visit, and must see museums?
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
The Metro doesn't serve Trastevere. This map shows bus and tram lines. I found these easy enough to use with a 72-hour pass.
The San Clemente church, just south of the Colosseum, has two underground levels including an earlier church and a Mithraic temple. I found it fascinating. The best non-Vatican museums I found in Rome were the Capitoline, the Borghese Gallery, and the National Museum of Rome (near Termini). Many of the churches also have great art. You can get our host's recommendations for Rome sightseeing under "Explore Europe" on this website.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2269 posts
We stayed in Trastevere in May and found the trams easy to use. Line #3 connects Trastevere and the Colosseum and Tram #8 will take across you the river near (you still have to walk a few blocks) the Capitoline and Victor Emmanuel. We also took a tour of Domus Aurea which is underground. It was a palace that Nero built and it very close to the Colosseum. It’s a working archeological site, so it’s not open every day.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15773 posts
AFAIK Domus Aurea is only open to visitors on the weekends. I second Dick's museum picks. The one near Termini is Massimo (wonderful frescoes and mosaics from ancient Rome).
Rick has recorded two audio walking tours near you, one in Trastevere and another across the bridge in the Ghetto.
Posted by
OP
25 posts
Thank you all so much for your wealth of information.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
The Rome metro is fine - when it goes where you want to go. Unfortunately, it's only two lines, and its coverage is limited. Buses go everywhere, and Trastevere also has a tram. Use whichever combination of buses, trams, and metros work for a particular trip, but don't just rely on the metro alone, or you'll have a LOT of unnecessary walking!
If you think you will be using a lot of public transit, the 3 day ticket can be a good deal. It's also convenient; you validate it once, upon first use. After that, you need to use it to get on the metro, but for buses and trams you just board. Just make sure you have it with you and remember where you have it, in case there are inspectors on your ride.