Info Práctica

Rome, the Eternal City, has been one of the most important cities of the world throughout the history and the monuments, ruins and buildings that can be found in it are proof of the development that the city has gone through. There are lots of types of architecture, from Medieval to Baroque and Fascist, making the city almost an open-air museum.

Within the boundaries of Rome is the Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, which is a must-visit if you are in the capital of Italy.

Be really aware of pickpockets, they're usually small children or teenagers who make noises to distract you from taking care of your belongings. Also, be careful with beggers in the streets and on public transport and with people trying to sell things (water, bracelets, selfiesticks, roses... whatever they sell) because they will overcharge you. They will seem friendly at first, until you tell them you don't want what they sell. 

In the summer, small shops usually close 1 or 2 hours during lunch time or reopen after 16:00 to avoid the heat. Dinner usually takes place between 19:00 and 21:00, sometimes later because we have delicious aperitivo here!

Every first Sunday of the month many state museums and sites are free, like the Colosseum and Borghese Gallery. Yes, you can go in for free, but it's usually a lot more crowded on those days. The last Sunday of the month the Vatican is open and free.

There are lots of ways to move around the city. I suggest walking as much as you can, so you take in the beauty of its streets, but for longer distances you have these options:

The cheapest way: Public Transport

The Public Transport in Rome has buses, metro and trams. The same ticket is valid for all of them and they can be bought at an "estanco" or "tabacchi" and in metro stations. A single ticket costs 1.50 € and it's valid for 100 minutes in trams and buses being able to change between them without limits, but in the metro system it's only valid for one trip. There are other tickets, like the Rome 24 hs costs 7 €, Rome 48 hs costs 12.50€, Rome 72 hs costs 18€ or a weekly ticket for 24€.

Public transport is included in the Roma Pass, which you can choose get for 48 or 72 hours and which also includes skip-the-line admission to 1 or 2 attractions, discounts on the next attractions entrances. The price goes from € 29, you can check the details and buy the card through this link.

The door-to-door but hard to find option: Taxis

The licensed ones are white and have SPQR written on the driver's door. They charge from 3€  from 6:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday, and from 6.50€ from 22:00 to 6:00 on any day of the week. Sundays and holidays from 6:00 to 22:00 cost from 4.50€. It's hard to find taxis in the street during the day, so you can ask your hotel receptionist to call one for you.

The most comfortable and Panoramic way: Hop-On-Hop Off buses

I explain them in the following square.

With these buses you'll get to go around the city and get off and on at your desired stop, when you want to.There are 3 companies:

- Big Bus Company: you can choose three different options: the Classic ticket is valid for 1 day, the Premium ticket is valid for 2 days and the Deluxe tickets for 3 days, all of them with 8 stops around the city. You'll also get to do 4 different and free guided walking tours with any of the tickets. The price goes from € 32 per person, you can check more details and buy it in this link.

- Green Line Tours: it has the option of a 24-hour or 48-hour pass and it has 10 stops. The price goes from € 25 per person, you can check more details and buy it in this link.

- Panoramic route pink buses: they have 24, 48 or 72-hour passes and 8 stops around the city. The price goes from € 25 per person, you can check more details and buy it in this link.

Here are some basic words in Italian so you can try them out during your visit to Rome:

Salve - polite form of Hello 

Buongiorno - good morning 

Buonasera- good afternoon/evening

Io non parlo Italiano - I don't speak Italian ;) 

Parle Inglese? - Do you speak English?

There are different ways to get from Fiumicino airport, also known as Leonardo Da Vinci airport, to the city center, like buses, train, shuttles or taxis.

The comfortable and cheapest door-to-door option: Shared Shuttle

If you book one of these shuttles, your driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall and will take you to the vehicle. The max. number of people in one van is 8, so it won't take too long to get to your accommodation, usually around 45 minutes and 1 hour. It costs € 7.50 per person, you can book your spot in this link.

The comfortable and private door-to-door option: Private Transfer

With this service,  your driver will also be waiting for you at the arrival hall. The difference is that the vehicle will be all for you, so you won't have to wait for other passengers and the driver will take you straight to your hotel in max. 50 minutes, depending on traffic. The price is € 56 per group up to 4 people and you can book through this link.

The Expensive door-to-door option: Taxis

A licensed taxi, the white ones, costs from € 46 to get to the city center. When the airport is crowded it can be pretty hard to get ahold of one.

With Public Transport but expensive: Train

There are different trains that get to the city, like the Leonardo Express that leaves every 30 minutes and a ticket costs € 14 or the Frecciargento that gets to Roma Termini also in 30 min. and the cheapest ticket costs € 17.

The cheapest option: Bus

With this bus you'll get from the airport to 2 stops in the center of Rome: Piazza Cavour for the Vatican City and Rome Termini Station, where public transport connections are available for all districts of the city. The price is € 6 per person and you can book your ticket through this link.

There are 3 different passes that offer different possibilites to get easier access to attractions and transport in Rome:

- The Best of Rome All Access Pass: this card gives you fast track reserved entry at popular landmarks, like the Vatican Museums or the St. Peter's Basilica. The price goes from € 80, you can check the details and buy the card through this link.

- Roma Pass: you can choose to get this card for 48 or 72 hours. It offers skip-the-line admission to 1 or 2 attractions, discounts on the next attractions entrances and free use of the city’s public transport system (metro, trams and buses). The price goes from € 29, you can check the details and buy the card through this link.

- The OMNIA Vatican & Rome City Pass: this card gives you fast track access to some of Rome's historic sites, like the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. It works for 3 days and it gives you free entry to 2 out of 5 attractions and discounts for other ones. You can also use the Roma Cristiana Open Bus Tour, which works as a Hop-On - Hop-Off bus. The price goes from € 113, you can check the details and buy the card through this link.