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Enjoy Rome City Guide
Practical Things: Getting to Rome
Note: the following text is originally written in English, in other languages is an automatic translation
By plane: If you are arriving on an intercontinental flight or on a European flight with a major airline, you will land at Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino which is, slightly confusingly, known both as “Leonardo da Vinci” and “Fiumicino”. Don’t worry, they are the same place!
Getting into town from Fiumicino by train: The Leonardo Express is a direct service from the airport to Termini (the central railway station). Tickets are €14, and the journey into Rome takes approximately 35 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes from 6:23 am to 11:23 pm (from Termini to Fiumicino 5:35 am to 10:35 pm). The Leonardo Express platforms at Termini are usually numbers 23 and 24, as you enter Termini with the tracks ahead of you and the concourse behind you go down the right-hand side some 500 meters to reach the “Air Terminal”. On the basement level there is also a conveyor belt which will save you some leg work, follow the airplane symbol.
Alternatively the FL1 regular rail service runs from the airport to either Fara Sabina or Orte, making central stops at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina stations. Tickets cost €8, and the journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes. Trains run approximately every 15 minutes (less often on Sundays and public holidays).
Tickets for both services can be bought from either the ticket desk or machines on the station concourse. Tickets need to be stamped in the yellow machines at the end of the platform before getting on the train.
Arriving at Ciampino: If you arrive on a European budget airline, you will probably land at the city’s smaller airport, GB Pastine, at Ciampino, universally known as “Ciampino”. There is no direct rail service to and from the airport, but there are a number of bus services between the airport and Termini station. The journey takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Services are run by Terravision (www.terravision.eu) and depart from the coach park on your left as you leave Arrivals at Ciampino, from Termini the service leaves on Via Marsala, outside the Terracafè at 29 F/G. Tickets cost €4,90 each way, and can be bought at the bus stop, or in the arrivals hall. Buses run roughly twice an hour, less frequently at night, and take into account flight departure and arrival times. Buses are also run by Bus Shuttle (www.sitbusshuttle.it) and cost €6. They depart from Termini, also on Via Marsala, just down from the corner with Piazza del Cinquecento at number 5. Bus Shuttle also makes a stop at Piazza Cavour, near the Vatican, useful if you are staying either around the Vatican or directly across the river.
The cheapest way to get into town from Ciampino is to take the local Cotral bus (from the stop opposite Arrivals) to the end of its route at Anagnina bus station (about 15 mins, tickets cost €1 and are bought from the driver). The bus station is connected to Anagnina metro station (Line A), and another €1 ticket will take you into town.
Taking a taxi: Always use official taxis, from the taxi stand. In a bid to combat the relentless fleecing of visitors the minute they stepped off the plane, the former mayor introduced a fixed taxi fare of €48 to and from the city centre (within the Aurelian walls) and Fiumicino airport. Regardless of how many of you there are, how many bags you have or anything else. Check your taxi has the red and gold shield of the city of Rome (bearing the letters SPQR); Fiumicino is out of the city, and taxis registered there have a different rate. When you arrive make it clear that you have no intention of paying more than the fixed rate. If he protests (and you are staying at and medium or smart hotel) involve the doorman. There is no need to tip a taxi driver if you are unhappy with the service.
Arriving by train: Most trains arrive at Termini, the central station. Night trains arrive and depart from Tiburtina or Ostiense, both just right outside of the city centre.
Driving into Rome: Our first advice would be “don’t”, although driving into Rome has been made easier since the advent of satellite navigation systems, Unless you are familiar with the city’s outskirts (and even then) it can be a frustrating and very slow process. Byzantine one-way systems mean that although all roads may lead to Rome, you can’t always go in the right direction. Once you do make it into the city centre the ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) doesn’t allow non-resident cars into the centro storico from 8am to 6pm Monday-Friday, and 8am-2pm on Saturdays. Keep an eye out for the cameras and ZTL signs which mark the boundary of the restricted area. Make a mistake and there’s a fairly hefty fine.
Parking: Finding a legal and convenient parking space in Rome is the stuff of legend, in the centre a good bet is along the Lungotevere, the wide roads which run along the banks of the river. Legal spaces are delineated either with white or blue lines. The white ones, mostly found outside the centro storico mean you can park for free, the blue lines delineate pay-and-display parking spaces. Parking tickets are bought at the machines on the pavement and cost about €1 per hour, parking is free from either 8pm or 11pm until 8am depending on the area, check the machine. The major public car park in the centre, with convenient pedestrian access to Piazza di Spagna, is the Park Sì under Villa Borghese, entrance on the via del Muro Torto (outside the ZTL), but if you’re leaving the car for more than a few hours it gets very costly. Many hotels advertise car parking facilities, they are almost without exception eye-wateringly expensive.
Car Rental: If you want to rent a car in Rome to continue your trip in Italy, we suggest the easiest, most painless way is to pick the car up either at Fiumicino Airport (for Tuscany and the North), or Ciampino Airport (for destinations south and east of Rome) and to get out of the city on the airport transport listed above.
By plane: If you are arriving on an intercontinental flight or on a European flight with a major airline, you will land at Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino which is, slightly confusingly, known both as “Leonardo da Vinci” and “Fiumicino”. Don’t worry, they are the same place!
Getting into town from Fiumicino by train: The Leonardo Express is a direct service from the airport to Termini (the central railway station). Tickets are €14, and the journey into Rome takes approximately 35 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes from 6:23 am to 11:23 pm (from Termini to Fiumicino 5:35 am to 10:35 pm). The Leonardo Express platforms at Termini are usually numbers 23 and 24, as you enter Termini with the tracks ahead of you and the concourse behind you go down the right-hand side some 500 meters to reach the “Air Terminal”. On the basement level there is also a conveyor belt which will save you some leg work, follow the airplane symbol.
Alternatively the FL1 regular rail service runs from the airport to either Fara Sabina or Orte, making central stops at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina stations. Tickets cost €8, and the journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes. Trains run approximately every 15 minutes (less often on Sundays and public holidays).
Tickets for both services can be bought from either the ticket desk or machines on the station concourse. Tickets need to be stamped in the yellow machines at the end of the platform before getting on the train.
Arriving at Ciampino: If you arrive on a European budget airline, you will probably land at the city’s smaller airport, GB Pastine, at Ciampino, universally known as “Ciampino”. There is no direct rail service to and from the airport, but there are a number of bus services between the airport and Termini station. The journey takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Services are run by Terravision (www.terravision.eu) and depart from the coach park on your left as you leave Arrivals at Ciampino, from Termini the service leaves on Via Marsala, outside the Terracafè at 29 F/G. Tickets cost €4,90 each way, and can be bought at the bus stop, or in the arrivals hall. Buses run roughly twice an hour, less frequently at night, and take into account flight departure and arrival times. Buses are also run by Bus Shuttle (www.sitbusshuttle.it) and cost €6. They depart from Termini, also on Via Marsala, just down from the corner with Piazza del Cinquecento at number 5. Bus Shuttle also makes a stop at Piazza Cavour, near the Vatican, useful if you are staying either around the Vatican or directly across the river.
The cheapest way to get into town from Ciampino is to take the local Cotral bus (from the stop opposite Arrivals) to the end of its route at Anagnina bus station (about 15 mins, tickets cost €1 and are bought from the driver). The bus station is connected to Anagnina metro station (Line A), and another €1 ticket will take you into town.
Taking a taxi: Always use official taxis, from the taxi stand. In a bid to combat the relentless fleecing of visitors the minute they stepped off the plane, the former mayor introduced a fixed taxi fare of €48 to and from the city centre (within the Aurelian walls) and Fiumicino airport. Regardless of how many of you there are, how many bags you have or anything else. Check your taxi has the red and gold shield of the city of Rome (bearing the letters SPQR); Fiumicino is out of the city, and taxis registered there have a different rate. When you arrive make it clear that you have no intention of paying more than the fixed rate. If he protests (and you are staying at and medium or smart hotel) involve the doorman. There is no need to tip a taxi driver if you are unhappy with the service.
Arriving by train: Most trains arrive at Termini, the central station. Night trains arrive and depart from Tiburtina or Ostiense, both just right outside of the city centre.
Driving into Rome: Our first advice would be “don’t”, although driving into Rome has been made easier since the advent of satellite navigation systems, Unless you are familiar with the city’s outskirts (and even then) it can be a frustrating and very slow process. Byzantine one-way systems mean that although all roads may lead to Rome, you can’t always go in the right direction. Once you do make it into the city centre the ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) doesn’t allow non-resident cars into the centro storico from 8am to 6pm Monday-Friday, and 8am-2pm on Saturdays. Keep an eye out for the cameras and ZTL signs which mark the boundary of the restricted area. Make a mistake and there’s a fairly hefty fine.
Parking: Finding a legal and convenient parking space in Rome is the stuff of legend, in the centre a good bet is along the Lungotevere, the wide roads which run along the banks of the river. Legal spaces are delineated either with white or blue lines. The white ones, mostly found outside the centro storico mean you can park for free, the blue lines delineate pay-and-display parking spaces. Parking tickets are bought at the machines on the pavement and cost about €1 per hour, parking is free from either 8pm or 11pm until 8am depending on the area, check the machine. The major public car park in the centre, with convenient pedestrian access to Piazza di Spagna, is the Park Sì under Villa Borghese, entrance on the via del Muro Torto (outside the ZTL), but if you’re leaving the car for more than a few hours it gets very costly. Many hotels advertise car parking facilities, they are almost without exception eye-wateringly expensive.
Car Rental: If you want to rent a car in Rome to continue your trip in Italy, we suggest the easiest, most painless way is to pick the car up either at Fiumicino Airport (for Tuscany and the North), or Ciampino Airport (for destinations south and east of Rome) and to get out of the city on the airport transport listed above.
On a cruise?
If you are visiting Rome on a cruise, your ship will dock at the port of Civitavecchia, 50 miles northwest of the city. If you want to make it into Rome on your own, there are two rail services to Rome from Civitavecchia Station, one stops at Stazione San Pietro (convenient for the Vatican), the other at Roma Termini. Services usually run twice an hour, and take around 1 hour.