< Introducing Rome

Getting around Rome

Family Guide
Tram in the streets of Rome
The best way to see Rome’s centro storico is to walk. However, with children it may be judicious to use the extensive bus and tram network or the metro between areas of interest. Several key areas in the centro storico have been pedestrianized, including many streets around Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Campo de’ Fiori, Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto – but bear in mind that many Romans consider moped riding a pedestrian activity.

By bus and tram

Rome’s bus and tram service, run by ATAC (Azienda Tramvie e Autobus del Comune di Roma), is cheap, reliable, frequent and quite comprehensive, although progress along the clogged streets can sometimes be slow. Routes are listed on stops, and electronic information panels that indicate the waiting time before the next bus are being installed at stops around the city centre. After 11:30pm a series of night buses take over, indicated by an “N“ before the number. These are all listed on bus stops.
Buses get very crowded and have few seats, so families travelling with prams and young children will need to be fairly assertive about getting on and – especially – off the bus. There is a bell to press for request stops – and a sign saying “fermata prenotata” (stop booked) which will light up at the front of the bus. In addition to regular buses, several extremely useful electric minibuses also squeeze along the narrow streets of the centro storico.
There are numerous tram lines too – some of them served by historic green trams – of which routes 2, 3, 8 and 19 are the ones likely to be of most use to visitors. Trams have ticket vending machines on board.

By metro

Rome’s underground system, the Metropolitana, has two metro lines – A and B – with Line C slowly burrowing its way across the city, its progress regularly halted by archaeological discoveries. Line A runs from Battistini in the west to Anagnina in the southeast. It connects key places of interest such as Piazza del Popolo, Via Vittorio Veneto, the Trevi Fountain, Palazzo Barberini, the Museo Nazionale Romano and Nuovo Mercato Esquilino. Line B runs from Rebibbia in the northeast to Laurentina in the south, covering sites such as Testaccio, Aventine Hill, Colosseum, and Cavour for Monti. Both lines cross at Stazione Centrale Roma Termini.
Stations closest to the places of interest include Colosseo, Spagna, San Giovanni, Ottaviano San Pietro and Piramide (for trains to Fiumicino). Both lines run from 5:30am until 11:30pm every day (till 1:30am on Friday and Saturday).
Line C, the third metro line, is still under construction; and, having already faced several delays, no timescale can be given for completion. When finished, it will run from Clodio/Mazzini, beyond the Vatican City, out into the eastern suburbs, with central stations projected at Piazza del Risorgimento, Ottaviano San Pietro, Chiesa Nuova, Piazza Venezia and Fori Imperiali/Colosseo.


Tickets

The same tickets are valid within the city on buses, trams, metro, inter-city COTRAL buses and trains on the Roma-Lido, Roma-Viterbo and Roma-Giardinetti lines. Tickets are available at tobacconists and newsagents with an ATAC sticker in the window, from booths at major bus terminals and at ticket machines at several smaller bus hubs such as Largo Argentina. Regular tickets cost €1.50 and are valid for 100 minutes, day tickets (BIG) cost €6, 3-day tickets (BTI) cost €16.50 and weekly passes (CIS) cost €24.
There are two kinds of monthly passes: one at €35 that can be used only by the ticket holder, and the other at €53 that can be used by anyone. Children under 10 accompanied by an adult travel free. Tickets need to be validated the first time they are used, in the little machines on board.

By taxi

The easiest way to hail a taxi is to find the nearest fermata dei taxi (taxi stand). Central ones include Stazione Centrale Roma Termini, Piazza Venezia, Piazza delle Cinque Lune near Piazza Navona, Largo Argentina, Piazza San Silvestro, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Barberini. Calling a taxi for pick-up costs more as the meter is switched on as soon as the driver sets off. Going from one side of the city centre to the other can cost as little as €10 when traffic is light, but a lot more when traffic is heavy and at night or on Sundays and holidays, when a supplement is charged. There is a minimum charge of €3 (€4.50 on Sundays, and €6.50 between 10pm and 7am) upto and including five passengers. Additional passengers are charged an extra €1 per person. The first item of luggage is free; any other piece of luggage bigger than the standard cabin bag (35 × 25 × 50 cmcm, 13.8 x 9.8 x 19.7 in) is charged at €1 per item. Only take the official white cabs; call 060608 in case of any trouble. Make sure to mention the taxi’s code, written on the side of the car.
There is a fixed price for rides from the airports to any destination within the Aurelian walls (see Getting to Rome). Check out the official taxi rates set by the Comune di Rome at www.tinyurl.com/nb4qq5t.

By train

There is a useful city line to Ostia Antica and Ostia Lido, leaving from Stazione Porta San Paolo, next to Piramide metro station. Regular bus, tram and metro tickets are valid for use.

Boat tours

Battelli di Roma runs trips up and down the Tiber between Isola Tiberina and the Ponte Nenni to the north throughout the year. There are just two embarkation points – at Isola Tiberina and Ponte Sant’Angelo – making it more of a pleasure trip than a means of getting between sights. Tickets are, however, valid for 24 hours – passengers can hop on and off perhaps to see the Ponte Sant’Angelo, St Peter’s and the Vatican, or to explore and have lunch around Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori.
Following extensive damage caused by heavy rains over some years, regular service is currently suspended. Call 06 9774 5414 or check the website for further information on special tours.
Battelli di Roma www.battellidiroma.it

By car

Driving is not recommended in Rome – roads are congested, street parking is difficult and parking in private garages is quite expensive, so public transport is a better option. Anyone bringing a car would be advised to consider staying in a B&B or hotel outside the centre where they can park safely for free. Breakdown services such as ACI Breakdown are available.
Firms such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty have rental offices at the airports, Stazione Centrale Roma Termini and in the city. However, you may get a better deal by booking a car in advance through a travel agent or online, or by using a local firm such as Maggiore.

Bus tours

The lime-green double-decker Archeobus is an excellent way of visiting the ancient sites of central Rome and the Via Appia Antica. Buses follow a circular route, beginning and ending at Stazione Centrale Roma Termini, leaving every 30 minutes between 9am and 12:30pm and between 1:30pm and 4:30pm, with the entire circuit taking around two and a half hours non-stop. Tickets are valid for 48 hours, and passengers can hop on and off as they like. Sites covered include the Museo Nazionale Romano, the Baths of Diocletian, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla, Porta di San Sebastiano and the Museo delle Mura, the Parco della Caffarella, Catacombs of San Callisto, Catacombs of San Sebastiano, Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and Piazza della Bocca della Verità. Adult tickets are €12, family tickets cost €40 and children under 10 are free. Tickets, which include reduced entry to many of the city’s museums, can be bought on board the bus or by going online. Service is normally suspended in winter, until March.
The red open-topped Bus 110 follows a circular route starting and finishing at Termini, with stops at the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Piazza della Bocca della Verità, Piazza Venezia, Piazza San Pietro, Ara Pacis, the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Barberini. It runs every 15 minutes between 8:30am and 8:30pm, and passengers can hop on and off as they like. Tickets cost €20 for adults, €50 for families and kisa under 10 can travel free. It includes reduced entry to many museums around Rome. Tickets can be bought on the bus or online. There is also a 72-hour ticket that includes both the 110 and the Archeobus, costing €25 per adult and free of cost for children under 10; family tickets are not available. Information on sites along the 110 and Archeobus routes can be down-loaded as pdfs from the website. The tour also includes the use of an audioguide in all major languages. Families who are interested in a tour with a Christian emphasis might prefer the Roma Cristiana bus, a yellow double-decker that runs from Termini to Piazza San Pietro with stops close to religious sights. This bus tour also includes the use of audioguides in all major languages.
Family Guide
Open-topped sightseeing bus on Piazza Venezia

Guided tours and activities

UK-based Italian Connection has an inspired portfolio of guided tours and activities for children and families, ranging from pizza-making and eating, to the chance to attend a school for gladiators. There are half-day walking tours taking in sights such as the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the church of San Clemente – with an emphasis on the kind of horrible history that appeals to kids – and child-friendly tours of the Vatican, St Peter’s and the Castel Sant’Angelo. Trips to sights further afield, such as the catacombs, can be made in a vintage Fiat Cinquecento or three-wheeler Api.
MAXXI, a museum of modern art and architecture, organizes regular workshops and activities for children, mostly related to the ongoing exhibitions. Although mainly in Italian, all children are welcome, and the helpful staff almost always speaks English. Prices vary, depending on the activity.
Italian Connection 014 2472 8900; www.tinyurl.com/84g57yo

Roma Pass

The three-day Roma Pass includes free use of the city’s transport network, free entrance to two museums, reduced ticket prices to all other museums and archaeological sites, and discounted tickets to exhibitions and events. It is priced at a reasonable €34. Check the website for a list of museums included in the Roma Pass scheme.

By bicycle or Segway

The city’s unique bicycle-sharing scheme Bikesharing Roma is open to tourists, although only adult bikes are available. Registrations can be made at 10 metro stations, and cost €10. A rechargeable smartcard costs €5 and bicycles can also be hired at €1 per hour. Bicycles are available from 29 bicycle stations throughout the city, and can be used for up to 24 hours at a time. They can be picked up at one station and returned at another.
Segways and bicycles can also be hired from Rome by Segway. It would probably be wise for families to stick to designated cycle routes and not venture on to the main roads and thoroughfares; there is a pleasant cycle path along the Tiber.

Horse-drawn carriages

Children might enjoy a gentle tour of the historic centre in carrozzelle or botticelle (horse-drawn carriages). These carry up to five people and can be hired from many points – Piazza di Spagna, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s, Via Vittorio Veneto, Villa Borghese, Piazza Venezia and Piazza Navona. Trips can last anywhere from half an hour to an hour, half a day or a day. They tend to be expensive (prices start at €240/hr) but prices for longer rides are negotiable; fix the fare before you set off and make sure you understand whether the rate is per person, or for the whole carriage.
Family Guide
Horse-drawn carriage going past an ancient Roman temple