Ciao,
Is it safe to take taxis in Rome as a solo female traveler? What about Ubers if they exist there? If Ubers don't exist, is there another ridesharing app that's popular? Are there official taxis vs. unofficial taxis? How can I tell them apart? If I want to take a taxi directly from the Leonardo Airport to my hotel, is there a location where the official taxis wait and what is the current flat rate for taking a taxi into the city center?
Grazie!
Taxicabs are safe.
No Uber in Italy (banned by a court decision), Uber offers only Uber Black, which is an expensive black limo service.
You can use the Uber app to summon a regular taxi however since Uber reached a joint operating agreement with ItTaxi, the official app of the Italian Radio Taxi association. If you use Uber app, Uber will add a 3€ commission fee to the ride. You can also use FreeNow app (also 3€ fee per ride).
No hailing of taxicabs from the street, but you can walk to one of the many taxi stands and get on an official taxi. You can also call one
See below for more info.
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/node/18690
You can take an official taxi at the airport at the Taxi stand in front of the terminals. There will be a queue of passengers waiting for their turn, but there will be be dozens of taxis lined up so the queue goes fast.
Fixed rate from airport is 55euros
No tip needed
Don’t go with anyone outside the official taxi rank
Give the driver your address on an index card/piece of paper
Confirm that their card machine is “working” ( all taxis ate required to accept cards) or pay in cash
Official Rome cabs are white
I'm a single older female. No issues with taxis in Rome.
Note that taxis can't be hailed, but taxi stands are numerous.
I've traveled solo in Rome and always felt perfectly safe in a taxi. That said, I usually book a private transfer from FCO because the one and only hair-raising taxi ride I've ever had there was from the airport into the city center with a driver (official, licensed, from the taxi rank) who seemed to think passing everyone else on the road was a fun game. I don't want to deal with that fresh off an overnight flight. :-)
Thank you everyone for your responses!
