Rome: Getting there & around

Orientation

Rome is halfway down Italy's western coast, about 20km (12mi) inland. It's a vast city, but the historic centre is quite small. Most of the major sights are within a reasonable distance of the central railway station, Stazione Termini. It is, for instance, possible to walk from the Colosseum, through the Forum, up to Piazza di Spagna and across to the Vatican in one day, but you wouldn't really want to. All the major monuments are west of the train station, but make sure you use a map. While it can be enjoyable to get off the beaten track in Rome, it can also be very frustrating and time-consuming.

The Palatine Hill and the Forum are the centre of ancient Rome. Via del Corso runs north from the Forum to Piazza del Popolo, with the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain just to its east. The Vatican is northwest of the Forum, across the River Tiber.

Getting There

• bus

  Buses run from various city bus stop to the Lazio region and from Stazione Tiburtina to other destinations throughout Italy. Eurolines is the main carrier for other European destinations, leaving from opposite Tiburtina.

• car

  The main road connecting Rome to the north and south of Italy is the Autostrada del Sole, which connects with the ring road circling the city.

• train

  There are regular train connections to all the major cities in Italy and Europe from Termini station, just northeast of the Palatine Hill and the Forum. Trains are comfortable and fast.

• plane

  The main airport is Leonardo da Vinci, also known as Fiumicino. The other airport is Ciampino, which handles the no-frills airlines, with mainly international plus a few domestic flights. You can get a flight from just about anywhere in the world to Rome. Departure tax is always prepaid with your air ticket into or out of Italy.

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Getting Around

• bus

  There's also a private network of J buses. Most of the main buses terminate at the bus station outside Stazione Termini (where you can get a map of the bus routes).

• car

  Driving in Rome is hairy in the extreme, and parking is a nightmare. Only drive if you absolutely have to.

• walking

  Sometimes, in Rome, it pays to just to get off the roads. The historic centre is relatively small and quite manageable on foot. Wear your comfortable shoes.

• taxi

  You can pick up a cab from one of the city's many taxi ranks or phone one any time of day. Be warned though, taxis are notoriously expensive, and if you call a cab, the meter is turned on as soon as you call, rather than when you are picked up.

• bicycle

  Cycling is possible, but you must be brave as a lion to try it. Hills, cobblestones and homicidal drivers combine to make Rome a cycler's nightmare.

• underground rail

  The city's Metro service (which is convenient for many of Rome's sights) has two lines, both of which go through Termini. The above-ground rail network isn't much use to most visitors.

• Disabled Travellers

  Rome is not an easy city for disabled travellers and getting around can be a problem for those in a wheelchair. For example, although many buildings have lifts, they are not always wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. Public transport is, however, improving. On Metro Linea B all stations have disabled facilities except for Termini, Circo Massimo, Colosseo, Cavour and EUR Magliana; Rome's newer trams are generally accessible; and there are wheelchair-accessible buses on several busy routes. For information on transport for disabled passengers, check out www.atac.roma.it. Some taxis are equipped to carry wheelchairs but it is advisable to book by phone and tell the operator that you need a taxi for a sedia a rotelle (wheelchair). Notify airlines in advance if you need assistance at airports. If you are travelling by train from Stazione Termini to Fiumicino airport or elsewhere, call 06 488 17 26 beforehand.

  Many of the city's main museums have been overhauled in recent years so things are looking better for disabled travellers than ever before with access ramps, toilets and spacious lifts in most of the main ones.

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