Getting Around
The historic centre of Rome is compact and
manageable on foot and most of it is closed to normal traffic.
Driving in Rome is an experience to be avoided so if arriving by
car it's best to park it and use public transport to get around.
The network of buses, trams, metro and trains covers the whole city
from 5.30am to midnight (metro to 11.30pm) and night buses take
over until about 5am covering the main routes. The metro only has
two lines, but is the easiest and fastest way to get around and is
convenient for several attractions. The bus service is cheap and
reliable, albeit slow due to traffic congestion. Tickets cover all
forms of transport and must be pre-purchased and validated at the
start of every journey; there are daily tickets valid for unlimited
rides, or standard tickets valid for one metro ride or 75 minutes
on buses. Taxis are notoriously expensive and display a list of
surcharges; they are difficult to find on the streets or even at
taxi stands and are best ordered by the hotel concierge or at
restaurants. Note that the meter gets switched on immediately so
the time it takes to arrive is added to the bill. If hailing one on
the street use only the official yellow and white taxis, make sure
the meter is on and have small change handy. The 110 Open is a bus
service that stops at all the city's main sights, departing from
Termini Station square every 20 minutes.
