What’s not to love about a town where the default greeting is ciao, bella!? Plenty of cities are beautiful, but only Rome is as warm and accessible as it is gorgeous, with majestic ruins and umbrella pines that dovetail with ochre-toned palazzi in one very compact and visitor-friendly city center. Vespas buzz and buses screech over grand boulevards or down cramped cobblestoned alleyways, creating an urban chaos that somehow manages to keep a charming upbeat rhythm.
Romans aren’t completely content to rest on their laurels of 3,000 years of art and history: exciting new civic spaces are being developed in the districts just outside the centro storico–old center–and the Trastevere neighborhood in the shadow of a prison, half a mile from the Vatican, has–along with other areas like Pigneto, Monti and Testaccio–become a hotbed for young Bohemians and inspired expats. No matter where you go in Rome, there’s always something, or someone, ready to meet your gaze, and invite you in. Start here.
Transportation | There are many ways to move around the city. Rome public transport is not always punctual, but it’s wide-ranging and efficient with its network of buses, trams, subways, trains and taxis.
Read on for helpful information, useful numbers and websites to get you and your kids pleasantly and safely around town:
Info Help-line | Information and services for public and private transport systems, timetables and routes for public transport systems, travel passes and tickets, permits {limited traffic areas, blue curb areas, special badges for disabled persons}, tourist bus plan, car-repair permits, car sharing, traffic light and parking meter signs | 06 57003 | Help desk for the disabled 800.154.451
ROME TRANSPORTATION
BY BUS
Public bus routes, downloadable maps and custom itinerary tools | Atac website in English
Tip: Be aware of pickpockets on the #64 bus and always keep a close watch on valuables and handbags when riding a communal road vehicle.
BY TAXI
Radio Taxi | dial 06 3570 / 06 8433 / 06 4994 ~ ask for an English-speaking operator
BY SUBWAY | The Rome Subway {Metropolitana} articulates in two main lines: the red LineA and the blue LineB. They form an X shape, intersecting at the central Termini railway station. Bus terminals and taxi ranks are on the ground level in the exterior plaza | customer service 06 57531.
The metrebus subway tickets cost €1.00 and guarantee full access to buses, trams, metropolitana {subway} and local trains within the city limits. All tickets are effective for a 75-minute period of travel from validation, to and from anywhere in the city; and allows one subway journey plus admission on all buses during that time frame. Weekly, monthly, yearly tickets and special tourist passes with unrestricted number of journeys are another option. Tickets and passes can be purchased in major subway stations {Ottaviano St. Peter, Lepanto, Flaminio, Spagna, Termini} ticket offices and Atac sales points, bars, newspaper kiosks and tobacconists.
The metro runs every few minutes from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm {12:30 am on Saturdays}.
CAR RENTAL
Avis | 06 41998 ~ 800.863.063 {reservations only}
Eurodollar | 167.018.668
Europcar | 06 4882854
Hertz | 167.822.099
Vanitaly | Camping equipped vans and minivans
All car rentals provide car seats and boosters, some carry compatible infant car seat rigs as well.
VESPA/SCOOTER RENTAL
Scoot-a-Long | Via Cavour 302 | 06 6780206 ~ between Colosseum and Piazza Venezia
St. Peter’s Moto | Via di Porta Castello 43 | 06 6875714 ~ Vatican
Happy Rent | Piazza Esquilino 8/h | 06 4818185 ~ Monti area
Roma Solution’s | Via Filippo Turati, 50 | 06 4469222 ~ Termini railway station
50cc mopeds by law seat a single rider. Despite the fact that you may see Italians riding their scooters in twos–and oftentimes these are kids–it is illegal to carry anyone, let alone children, on a motorized two-wheel vehicle. Years ago I saw a man on the street in Napoli riding his scooter without a helmet, and behind him a woman, calmly nursing her child.
BICYCLE RENTAL
Bici e Baci | Via del Viminale, 5
Collalti | Via del Pellegrino, 82 | 06 68801084 ~ near Campo de’ Fiori
Green Rent | Largo dei Lombardi, 21/23 ~ off Via del Corso
Motoritos Way | Via della Frezza, 41/42 | Via Germanico, 38
Romarent | Vicolo dei Bovari, 7/a | 06 6896555 ~ near Campo de’ Fiori
Spagna Rent | Vicolo del Bottino, 8/d ~ Spagna subway exit
Villa Ada public park | Via Ponte Salario ~ Parioli area
Bikeaway | Via Monte del Gallo, 25/A | 06 45495816
Ronconi | Three city-wide locations: Via S. Leo 54 – tel. 06 8810219 | Via Conca d’oro ~ entrance Parco delle Valli – 06 8810219 | Villa de Santis – 06 8810219
Bicycles with vast selection of models depending on your needs and number of passengers are also available for rental in Villa Borghese. Infant/toddler seats, children’s bikes with or without training wheels, etc.
Rental & drop offs | Piazzale M. Cervantes | Viale dell’Uccelliera | Viale J. W. Goethe | Viale Medici | Viale dell’Orologio | Viale dei Bambini | Pincio hill.
Prices are around €3,00 per hour for the first three hours, €10,00 for the entire day. €20,00 per hour for a quadri-cycle seating 6.
