Taxis in Rome

Last week, taxis were challenging to find right away from the city center(they are not allowed to stop for passengers).The apt we initially rented in Rome thru X-Pollinate was to be ground level to accommodate our 80 yr mom. 6 flights of stairs later, they found another apt outside the city center. Definitely stay close to the areas you would like to visit or keep the phone numbers to the various taxi companies handy. Phoning for taxis, our wait was often 1-1.5 hours. We lost many hours trying to get into the heart of Rome.

Humor Stories: Arriving in Rome,our driver pulled 20E out of my hand for a 7-8E ride from the Termini to our apt & 12E for a wink! Thinking he was getting change, we didn't get the cab info as he sped off. Leaving Rome, our driver drove the long route,45 minutes vs 7. Upon arrival, we hi-lighted the shortest route. He was angry, but we had his taxi # and company logged and paid him what we paid the others.

Just be aware & have fun with their antics!

There are taxi stands throughout the city center (near the Coliseum, Piazza Venezia, St Peter, Pantheon, Spanish Steps). The empty taxis that won't stop that are empty are probably already on their way to a call. Your hotel will be call a taxi for you or you can ask a restaurant at the end of meal to call one for you. If you stay within the center you can get just about anywhere for 8-12 euro. There are no fees for additional passengers.

Pam,
We wanted to take a taxi to the Borghese Gallery and our receptionist at the hotel said it shouldn't be more than 10 euro. She told us to walk to the Piazza de Republica, which was a block away from the hotel and look for a taxi line there. We walked right up, told the driver where we wanted to go. He got us there so quickly...it only cost 6 euros on the meter...and we didn't have change so we gave him 10. So have some coins in your pocket, just in case!
Tom & Sherry

It seems that throughout Italy taxis are available only at taxi stands. Go there and get in the one first in line. Another advantage of traveling with only a carry-on bag is that I keep my bag with me in cabs; it's harder for the cabbie to cheat me if I have my luggage with me and he isn't holding it hostage in the trunk. My experience is that the meter is always used and you just pay what it says, plus a little rounding up for a tip. Of course, it helps if you have small bills. A 10-min ride in a taxi in Rome this spring was about 6E. The cabbie didn't speak, just pointed at the meter when we arrived at our destination.

We rented an apartment through cross-pollinate and there was no telephone in our place. We stayed about a 5 minute walk from the Colosseum and there was a taxi sign right there. The first day on our way to the Vatican, we just stood there and within 5 minutes a taxi pulled up. That weekend there must have been some kind of festival or something at night because our side of the street was closed off meaning, no taxi's were coming down. We had to hoof it up to the next piazza about 20 minutes up the road. Were not impressed. But there was the line of taxi's. On the day we left rome early in the morning, we were worried again, so, we ran across the street to see if the cafe or grocery store would call us a taxi and neither would. I'm like, "if I have to walk all the way up to that piazza with all our luggage I will be p*ssed". Luckily, our side of the road was open so we stood at teh taxi sign, crossed our fingers and within 5 minutes, a taxi pulled up. Whew!!!

We were in Rome for 3 days last week, and found that you can't just wave down the taxis like we do here. Like the other posts said, you go to the taxi stands to get one. They are all over the city. If you are looking and can't find one, stop in the first bar/cafe/shop you see (which are EVERYwhere) and ask where the nearest taxi stand is.

All the other comments were helpful. I just want to advise you to take a cab with a number on it (numbers on the door).
The first time we went to Rome we didn't and got a cab without a number on it and it cost a lot.
The number cabs are honest and reliable.

I absolutely agree with the poster who said to be sure the taxi has a number on it. The number is within a shield on taxi door. An attempt by a taxi driver to charge us $25 for a half mile ride was made on our last trip to Rome. Being very jet lagged by the time we were at the train station, we ended up with a non regulated driver. DH argued the rate down to $15 WO tip. Desk clerk at the hotel said we were still ripped off and commented that such drivers are a disgrace to the city of Rome. Angry words were exchanged (Italian/English) and looking back on it is laughable now but not a pleasant way to begin your visit in Rome. Also, to answer your question, it is not the easiest thing to get a taxi. Last trip we had walked many miles one day and found ourselves at Baths of Caracalla. When we were ready to leave we asked for a taxi to be called. We were told that was not possible but we could get one at the Coliseum--not particularly close to the Baths.

One of the main reasons they only have taxis in stands is to prevent that very problem....people being ripped off by illegal cab drivers prowling the streets. All licensed Rome cabs are painted white, all have the "taxi" sign on the top, and all have their license number painted on the doors, the rear, and posted inside. They also all have meters. Licensed cabbie will NOT approach you and offer you a ride, or a "deal"....those that do, are bandit cabbies, and should be avoided. Meters should be set to rate #1....rate 2 is higher, and only for trips outside the greater Rome ring road, which should not apply to most tourists. BTW, the city of Rome has also established fixed rates for taxi rides to and from the airport from anywhere within the Aurelian walls (up to 4 people and their luggage)...40 Euro to Fiumicino and 30 Euro to Ciampino. For trips BETWEEN the two airports, the charge is 60 Euro.

The only time we were ever ripped off by a taxi driver in Europe was in Rome. We came into Rome via train and took a taxi to our hotel. He took a very long way around about 20 minutes in what should have been a 3- 5 minute ride.
Beware and know how long it should take you to get to your destination. When you get suspicious and question them, they can get angry. Stay calm- they will get over it and you won't get ripped off.
-Sue-

Ask your hotel to order you a taxi and your restaurant to order you one. We had no problem with that. Also look or ask for taxi stands.

I go to the first one in line and ask the price to where I am going.I find that works and if it is too much look for someone else.I also agree that your hotel is the best bet to order a taxi.They usually have a relationship with one company and the service is reliable.

If there are taxis at the stand then no problem just grab the first one. But if you are in a line of people and no taxi I suggest acting like you are staying at a hotel nearby and walk in and request a cab. Some times of the day they are impossible to get.

Just returned and had no problems getting taxis at the stands near major tourist attractions Everyone in hotels and restaurants was very nice about calling for one.

ANYONE USE ROME CABS TO TRAVE FROM THE AIRPORT TO THEIR HOTEL?

Marty do you realize you woke up a thread that was nearly two years old. And, please, follow the postings guidelines and don't post in all capital. Very impolite and discourages folks from being nice to you. Yes, it is common for people to use a taxi from the airport to their hotels. Also can use a train and taxi combo or perhaps a train and walk to your hotel. You can also hire a car and driver. You have many options.

In fairness to Marty, lately people who have been asking questions have been chided for not searching for previous posts on the subject. He did search for the previous posts and is being chided for "waking up" an old post". As for the all caps thing, it's difficult to read but the connotation that it's yelling is a hangover from the old Usenet days. Younger/newer users of the net most likely don't see that connection.