Rome, Italy
Rome by foot
Once you’re in the center you’re best off on foot. What could be more romantic
than strolling through Rome on foot holding hands? Hard to beat!
Crossing a street in Rome can be challenging. There are crosswalks, but these
are rarely located at signaled intersections. Traffic can be intimidating, but if you are at a crosswalk the secret to getting across is to just start walking.
Cars will not slow down, but they will alter their trajectory to avoid hitting you. Do not try to run across, or anticipate gaps in traffic. Keep a steady pace, look straight ahead, and you’ll get to the other side safely.
By bus
Roman buses are not known for running on strict and reliable schedules. But
they are a great way to get around to all parts of the city, as long as you’re not in a hurry.
The buses basically operate on the honor system, but ATAC does police the bus system for people riding without tickets. ATAC officers may board at every door of the bus just before the bus leaves and check every passenger on the bus. Stamp the ticket before boarding the MetRo, or on board the bus or tram, or face a €100 fine. Though inspectors are rare, if you don’t have sufficient money on you to pay the fine, they will actually escort you to an ATM to pay the fee. If you don’t have an ATM card to withdraw money, the officers have been known to take you to jail for at most 24 hours.
Transport ticket (biglietti per autobus) – one metro ride and as many bus/tram
rides as you can do in an hour and a quarter (1 Euro). Tickets can only be purchased at Tabaccheria (big ‘T’ sign outside), newspaper kiosks or vending machines in some metro stations. You’ll have more chances to buy them in “Bars”
inside the Metro stations.
So called “24 hour” tickets are only valid on the day you buy them, not for 24 hours after buying. Be aware that many tabaccherie close on Sunday, so buy your tickets in advance. You can also get tickets for longer periods. For example, a three-day ticket costs €11. They’re dead handy, as you can use them on the bus, tram and metro.
One of the most popular and useful lines is the 40, which arches from the
Termini station through the historic center and then up to the Castel Sant’Angelo,
near the Vatican. It is considered an express route, so its bus stops are spaced
about 1/2 mile (2/3 km) apart; but it is also very frequent, very convenient for most places that the Metro does not go to, and very fast moving, especially compared to other routes.
Night buses Night buses should be useful due to the closing of the Metro
stations at 23:30 and the stop of regular lines of buses and Trams at midnight.
During the summer (until 23rd September) and on Fridays and Saturdays, the frequency of the rides is halved, which can vary among 10, 15, 30 and 35 minutes depending on the line, and of course, the particular pace of the city. In any case they are much more punctual than during the day, as traffic is much less jammed.
This makes the drivers drive at high speeds, allowing passengers to experience
a strange mixture of adrenaline and (the city’s) classical views.
By tram
The Tram routes mostly skirt the historic center, but there are stops convenient
for the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Trastevere area. The number 8 does run
into the center, not far from the Pantheon. If you want to catch a soccer game at one of the stadiums in the north of the city, catch the tram (225) just north of the Piazza del Popolo.
By Metro
There are two lines, crossing at Termini station. Line A (red line) runs northwest
past the Vatican, and south. Line B (Blue Line) runs southwest past the Colosseum
and northeast. Through most of 2007 Line A stops running at 9:00 pm. However,
it is replaced by two bus routes (MA1 and MA2) that parallel it at 5 minute
intervals. Also, through 2007 the Manzoni Metro station is closed for reconstruction.
There are nearby tram lines that go right to Termini easily, however. The Metro
is the most punctual form of public transportation in Rome, but it can get extremely crowded during rush hour. Watch out for your belongings. Pickpockets are very adept at unzipping pockets of pants and purses on crowded trains.