Hello,
We will be arriving in Rome around 8am on a Sunday and plan to take the train to Roma Termini. Our hotel is about a 20 minute walk (1.5 km). We are likely going carryon only, but my husband will have a garment bag. Is it better to grab a taxi for security reasons (standing out as visitors with luggage, more likely to be targeted by pickpockets), or is this a fairly safe thing to do? Thanks for any thoughts
You’ll probably be safe enough but that walk may turn into more than 20 min.
I’d just grab a taxi, they are fairly cheap in Rome
It is quite safe, and people with luggage are everywhere in Rome these days. You are more likely to be pickpocketed on a bus, but of course use common sense and avoid getting too close to others, especially in the train station itself.
Have fun.
You really think there is a pickpocket behind every corner? Anyway:
I would not have any fears about walking in Rome with luggage but I would not want to do it. Take a taxi to your hotel either from Termini or FCO.
I second taking a cab or bus. Better to take a cab as sometimes hotels are hard to find as they lack distinctive signage.
Taxi from FCO is a flat rate 50 euros
Not much more than 2 train tix and a cab from Termini and so much simpler
Take a cab from FCO
Have your hotel address on a slip of paper, hand that and 50 euros to driver
Sit back and enjoy the ride
Get in the official taxi line in front of terminal
Ignore anyone offering a cab before that official line
I’d take a taxi. Something I do is type out on an Avery label my hotels with the address. I stick it on an index card and keep in my purse to show taxi drivers.
you'd stand out as a tourist even without luggage in tow. Pickpockets are not blind and if they couldn't always spot an US tourist they'd starve
Ok, Dario, this made me laugh.
CupOfTea, it sounds like your first visit to Rome, so just take a taxi for that 1.5k, unless you are good with your Google maps skills. I have done similar and it’s fine as long as you can tell where you are headed (I did lots of street view ahead). It’s far more about being tired than about safety.
Relax --- you are absolutely safe. Pickpockets work crowds especially buses, trains, etc. So unless you are with a crowd of 50 headed to your hotel, you are perfectly safe. And please, don't be that American tourist that expects to see a pickpocket on every street corner. We have been going to Europe regularly since 72 and have yet to see a pickpocket in action, have had no problems ourselves -- maybe a couple suspicious situations but only guessing. Doesn't mean something can happen on our next trip but probability is low with a few reasonable precautions. Enjoy the walk. It will be good for your jet lag.
Thanks, everyone for the suggestions!
We lived in the Netherlands for a year and have traveled extensively throughout northern Europe without issue. We have never been to Italy, and have noticed a number of postings about pickpockets, so just wanted to check in. We will see what our exhaustion level and heat index bring! Nice to hear about many options.
Why make it so difficult on yourselves? I wouldn’t want to roll pieces of luggage for a mile (=1.6km) on cobbled streets and uneven sidewalks, especially while jet lagged after a night flight, regardless of the remote possibility of encountering some gipsy kids trying to snatch your purse or anything.
A taxi from the airport to your hotel costs €50 (flat fare imposed by the city) and, on a Sunday morning, will take you to destination in 30 minutes.
The train will cost you €15 per person. Once you add the taxi from Termini to your hotel, the total cost of the trip is approximately the same as taking the taxi directly from the airport.
So do yourself a favor. Take a taxi directly from the airport and leave the walking to when you are unencumbered by luggage, after you check into your hotel room.
Likely less than 10 Euro for cab ride. Makes it easy when tired - or lost!
We had a couple of girls try to get my friend's crossbody bag on the walk from Via Merulana to Termini, about a 10 minute walk.
I saw the hand go out and grab the strap, and shouted at the girl at the top of my voice.
She backed off and smirked at me, as if to say "I'll just get the next one anyway."
Anyway, apart from that, you'll be tired and really: a taxi from the airport is a great option for your first day.
It'll take you longer than 20 minutes to walk that distance on cobbled streets when you don't really know where you're going.
As someone else said, there often is not a big sign stating "Hotel" outside every hotel, especially the smaller ones.
I would do what Christine says, since if I remember a ticket to Termini from FCO is 15? euro or so? So 30 euro plus cab fare in Rome will probably be about 40-45 euros. Just easier and less stress to take the cab from FCO. Plus my experience with taxis, the cabbies love to drive in heavy traffic that is backed up, and the meter keeps ticking.
