Uber in Rome or another service?

It is my understanding (someone else can confirm it) that the regular Uber does not operate in Rome. Taxis are frequent and cheap so use them. ------ But --- you can ONLY get a taxi at a taxi stand. You cannot flag them down on the street as you might in New York or Chicago.

Uber operates only expensive limo services called Uber Black, Uber Lux, Uber Van operated by licensed limo drivers. The Uber you are familiar with, where the average Joe drives his own car, is not permitted in Italy after a Court decision in 2015 (thanks to the taxi lobby).

You can use the Uber app to call and pay a regular taxi however, since they have a joint operating agreement with ItTaxi, the app of the Italian Taxi association, but they'll send you the regular taxicabs that are authorized to operate in Rome. you can also use ItTaxi app or the FreeNow app to call a taxi in Rome.

More info below:

https://romevacationtips.com/uber-in-rome/

My airbnb host recommended that I download FREENOW app for taxi service.

Someone else recommended appTaxi.

We won't be in Rome until next month, so I can't give you personal experience, but maybe someone else on this site has used them and can comment?

Also I saw this site that shows where taxi stands are located -especially in tourist locations:

https://www.livitaly.com/find-taxi-stands-rome/

FREENOW is the app you want.

It's legit, owned by Mercedes Benz Group & BMW. Works very well

https://www.ittaxi.it/app
https://www.free-now.com/it/

Both work. They are the most widely used in Rome.
The first one is owned by the Italian Radio Taxi association, the second one is jointly owned by BMW and Mercedes Benz.

I've used FreeNow and itTaxi, both work fine. If you're in the center, it's also usually easy to find a taxi rank and get a cab there. We used the taxi apps when we were going to/from dinner in far-flung locations, and once to return to our hotel from MAXXI.

I echo what others have already stated. We just returned from Rome a few days ago. Many sites are far enough apart making walking all day quite tiring. We used a taxi many times and well worth the small cost--(just be sure the meter is running). I downloaded a map of taxi stand locations which was helpful when we were out for the day. We also used the metro/subway a few times, getting to Colosseum and Vatican, but this depends on your hotel location; the metro is small and super easy, 1.5 Euros per 90 min. use.

I was in Rome recently and used the Uber app. It worked great. It gave us a choice of cheaper taxis or various levels of Uber cars. We chose depending on mood and availability. It seemed to be the easiest way to get around. We also had hop-on hop-off tickets but we only rode that around the circuit once because of scheduling and convenience issues.

the metro is small and super easy, 1.5 Euros per 90 min. use.

1.5-euro BIT tickets are good for 100 minutes after validation and are only good for one metro ride. Although you are allowed to switch metro lines within stations, you can't go outside the turnstiles (except for switching from metro A to still-under-construction line C, which you are unlikely to do) or leave the station and then re-use that ticket for another metro journey.

You can, however, use a BIT for multiple journeys on city buses, trams, or urban trains, or switch from a single ride metro to another form of public transport within the 100 minutes.

Unless you plan to use public transit a lot - in which case you want a one-day or multi-day pass - It can be useful to have a couple of these tucked away in your pocket. :O)

https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/bit

Question - What does BIT stand for in the Rome transit info online? Does anyone know which of the cards mentioned makes the most sense for a tourist? I use the Oyster Card in London and it works great. An equivalent for Rome would be nice since I don't like using my credit card for transportation.

literally -- Integrated Time Ticket - BIGLIETTO INTEGRATO A TEMPO

https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/bit

To see which multi-day or multi-journey passes the ATAC system will recommend for your time in Rome, start here:

https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes

For instance, for just a day (24 concecutive hours) in Rome and using transit more than 4 times:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes

2 days (48 consecutive hours) in Rome + more than 8 trips:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes

3 days (72 consecutive hours) + more than 12 trips:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes'

BIT tickets can also be purchased in ticket values of 2, 5 or 10 journeys.
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/10-bit

https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/cards

And so on. Passes and individual BIT tickets can't be used for transit to/from Fiumicino airport.
Does this make sense?

Thanks for the info. That all does make sense.

Contactless has been implemented in Rome - you may not need to purchase a pass.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-is-contactless-payment-working-on-buses-yet

As I'd linked on the ATAC website:

"Also BIT, 2-BIT, 5-BIT, 10-BIT, ROME 24/48/72 hour tickets and the Integrated Weekly Card (CIS) can be charged and purchased electronically - as well as in paper format."