getting around

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.

For helpful information, useful numbers and websites to get you and your kids pleasantly and safely around town, 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.

Info Help-line | Muovi.roma provides 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.

The free App called Probus Roma gives real time updates on bus arrivals in coded bus stops. Available for iOS, Android and Blackberry.

ROME TRANSPORTATION
BY BUS
Muoviroma also publishes bublic bus routes, downloadable maps and custom itinerary tools

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
Roma Taxi 060609 | 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 Line A and the blue Line B. A third line, Line C (green) is currently under construction. Plans have also been announced for a fourth line, Line D. The current network has an X shape with the lines intersecting at Termini Station, the main train station in Rome. Line B splits at the Bologna station in two branches.
Rome’s local transport provider, ATAC, operates the Rome metro and several other rail services: the Roma-Lido line, the Roma-Giardinetti line, and the Roma-Nord line. The first of these, the Roma-Lido, connects Rome to Ostia, on the sea.
The metrebus subway tickets cost €1.50 and guarantee full access to buses, trams, metropolitana {subway} and local trains within the city limits. All tickets are effective for a 100-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 TOURS/SCOOTER RENTAL
Scooteroma Tours Annie and Mr. G provide the best city tours on vintage vespas, with or without drivers.
Bici e Baci
Eco Move Rent
St. Peter’s Moto
Viator

BICYCLE RENTAL
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 €5,00 per hour for the first three hours, €10,00 for the entire day. €20,00 per hour for a quadri-cycle seating 6.