World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Rome  - Getting Around
Getting Around

Public Transport
Termini station is the main hub of Rome's transport system. The city transport authority, ATAC, (tel: (06) 46951; fax: (06) 4695 2032; e-mail: clienti@atac.roma.it; website: www.atac.roma.it) operates the orange buses and trams daily 0530-0000. The regional transport authority COTRAL (tel: (06) 57531) runs blue buses throughout the Lazio region; three suburban railway lines departing from Termini, Ostiense and Flaminio stations; and Rome's two metro lines (A and B), which cross at Termini station. The easily mastered metro service operates daily 0530-2330 (Saturday until 0030). Night buses run daily 0010-0530 along 27 routes, and are marked on bus stops (fermata) and buses with the letter 'N'.

All tickets must be pre-purchased and are available for sale at ATAC counters, tobacconists, tabacchi (newsagents) and at automatic ticket dispensers at metros. Tickets should be validated at the beginning of the journey to avoid a hefty L50,000 fine. The cheapest ticket, the Biglietto Integrato a Tempo (BIT) costs L1500 and is valid for up to 75 minutes' travel on ATAC buses, or for one trip on the metro or suburban train lines.

Day (BIG) and week (CIS) passes, valid on all transport in the municipality, cost L6000 and L24,000 respectively. Monthly passes are also available. The BIRG pass covers a day's transport within the Lazio region, and costs between L3500 and L15,500, depending on the number of zones covered.

Plans to forge a new underground link between San Giovanni in Laterano and St Peter's, for the Holy Year 2000, failed to come to fruition. Just extending the two existing metro lines proved trouble enough, the uncovering of archaeological vestiges either postponing or preventing any advances.

Taxis
Taxi ranks are located at various points around the city centre. It is recommended that only the yellow and white official taxis be taken. Surcharges are applied for each item of luggage, night service (2200-0700), on Sundays, bank holidays, and for airport transfers. While taxis may be called by telephone, the meter is turned on immediately after the call, and not on pick-up. Companies include Auto Radio Taxi Roma (tel: (06) 3570); Radio Taxi Eurocosmo (tel: (06) 8822) and Capitale Radio Taxi (tel: (06) 4994). Taxi hire costs, on average, L1200 per kilometre.

Limousines
Centrally located providers include Autonoleggi Bavilacqua, Via San Nicola da Tolentino 20, Piazza Barberini (tel: (06) 483 756), which hires out limousines on an hourly or daily basis and Ghisu, Via P Meda 183, Monti Tiburtini (tel: (06) 451 1357), which hires out limousines for day use. Visitors should expect to pay about L100,000 for eight hours hire.

Driving in the City
The interweaving paths of mopeds, pedestrians and trams, the erratic driving, the one-way systems and the frequent traffic jams make driving in Rome an experience best avoided. The authorities have reacted to traffic congestion (and the ensuing pollution) by cutting off large areas of the city centre to non-resident traffic during business hours, and to a lesser extent, in the evening. Exceptions are usually made for visitors driving to their hotel.

Parking is as problematic as driving. Pay-and-display meters charge about L2000 per hour (although the fee may be waived in the evenings and at weekends). A L50,000 parking card, for sale at tabacchi, is more convenient for longer visits. There are various underground car parks in the city; the one at Villa Borghese is open 24 hours. The wily may snap up a free parking space but anything marked Sosta Vietata (no parking) is to be avoided - the municipal police have a nasty habit of towing away illegally parked cars and then charging a huge sum for their return. Unlucky owners should contact the municipal police (tel: (06) 67691).

Car Hire
Cars can be hired by drivers aged 21 years (23 for some firms) and above, on presentation of a passport and valid driving licence (held for at least one year). A credit card number or cash deposit is requested, and a valid international insurance policy is also necessary. Full insurance is advised. A small car costs about L120,000 per day. Providers include Avis (tel: (06) 41999), Europcar Italia (tel: (06) 520 811), Hertz (tel: (06) 474 0389) and the locally based Maggiore Budget (tel: (06) 488 0049) with various locations throughout the city

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
Bicycles are available for hire at Bici & Baci, Via Viminale 5 (tel: (06) 482 8443). Scooters are available at Happy Rent, Via Farini 3 (tel: (06) 481 8185) and Scooter for Rent, Via della Purificazione 84 (tel: (06) 488 5485; e-mail: scooterrent@hotmail.com), located near Piazza Barberini. Bicycle hire costs between L15,000-20,000 for 24 hours; scooters L60,000 for 24 hours.



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