Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport is 26km (16mi) southwest
of the city. One of the best and easiest ways to go to town is
by the Stazione Termini direct train, which usually leaves the
Airport Station hourly. There's also a night bus service to Stazione
Tiburtina. If you're driving, an autostrada runs from the airport
to the city via EUR - it's a 45 minute drive and will cost you
loads of money by cab.
The other airport in Rome is Ciampino, about 20km (12mi) southeast
of the capital city of Italy. From there you can jump in a COTRAL
bus which connects with a subway to Stazione Termini, or you can
drive down the Via Appia Nuova.
The city bus company is ATAC and most of the main buses terminate
at the bus station outside Stazione Termini. Buses start their
duty from around 6am to midnight, with some services running throughout
the night. A bus ticket is also valid for the city's subway and
train services. You need to buy your ticket from a tobacconist,
newsstand or vending machine before you get on the train or bus
- there are quite big fines for travelling without a ticket, even
if you act like a stupid foreigner. The city's Metro service (which
is convenient for many of Rome's sights) has two lines, both of
which go through Termini.
Having a car in Rome can be great fun, or a huge liability. If
you do use a car in the city, take good notes of the some tips
listed below.
Remember: You are required by law to wear a seat belt at all times
and to carry a warning triangle in your car. Keep your driving
licence, Green Card, vehicle registration and personal ID documents
on you at all times. Do not leave anything of value (including
a car radio) in your car, and never leave bags or jackets visible
on the seats. Take all your luggage into your hotel when you park.
Short-term visitors should have no trouble driving on their home
licences (you'll need to be at least 21 years old), though if
they happen to be written in different languages, or less common
languages, an international licence might be useful. If you are
an EU citizen, you have to change your driving licence to an Italian
after your first year in Rome.
Flashing your lights in Italy means that you will not slow down
(contrary to British practice). If traffic lights flash amber,
you should STOP and give way to the right. Watch out for little
motorcycles and pedestrians. By local convention, pedestrians
usually assume they have the right of way in the older, quieter
streets without clearly-designated pavements. So drive slowly
and carefully while in Rome...
The Metropolitana, or Metro for short, is the fastest
means of transportation in Rome. It has two underground lines:
Line A (Linea A) runs between Via Ottaviano, near St. Peter's,
and Anagnina, stopping at Piazzale Flaminio (near Piazza del Popolo),
Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and Piazza San Giovanni
in Laterano. Line B (Linea B) connects the Rebibbia district with
Via Laurentina, stopping at Via Cavour, Stazione Termini, the
Colosseum, Circus Maximus, the Pyramid, St. Paul's Outside the
Walls, and EUR. A big red letter M indicates the entrance to the
subway. Tickets are 1,500L and are available from automatic tickets
distributors at all stations. These machines accept 50L, 100L,
and 200L coins and 1,000L notes. Some stations have managers,
but they don't make change. To get cheaper prices, ask for booklets
of tickets (carnet), they are available at tobacco shops (tabacchi)
and in some terminals. You can also get a tourist pass good for
a day, a week, or a year if you go there for your studies...
 Click
here to get a detailed plan of the Roman Underground !!!
For
more info on Rome, visit Travelnow.com |
