Rome - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Safe and affordable - yes. Reliable - nope. I cannot tell you how many times the bus on the transportation apps says it's coming, and then it drops off completely. I've waved buses down and they refuse to stop. It's like a carnival ride on the buses. Most people use Uber or IT Taxi for longer rides, but I've successfully taken a mix of buses, trams, and metro to get where I'm going, it just will take probably an hour to do so. - Aug 2024
Yeah, public transportation is pretty good here. The subway is a little underwhelming, but it's Rome. You can't dig a tunnel for more than 100 meters without hitting some ancient artifacts. They have made attempts in the past to expand the subway, but abandoned them when they realized it was too much of a hassle to go through the red tape every time they run into an old, buried Roman ruin. The high speed rail between cities is pretty convenient. They have ride sharing apps (Free Now) that works just like Uber but with official taxis. It works well, but it doesn't work outside the city limits because the taxi unions are too strong so they ban the apps and make you sit on the side of the road, call some number with a person that only speaks Italian, then sit there for somewhere between 10-40 minutes waiting for your taxi to arrive. Very inefficient outside Rome, my only compliant about European transportation. - Sep 2022
Public transit is cheap (1.50 Euro for a ride) but nearly useless. The metro is two lines that don't go anywhere useful. Strikes are frequent. Buses just don't show up. Taxis are many (but only available by calling or at cab stands) but taxi drivers WILL take advantage of the unsuspecting. Cost is high if you call or take a cab at night, otherwise not bad. - Oct 2014
Yes and yes. - May 2013
Trains are awesome. Buses are entertaining. Taxis are taxis. The Rome metro is a little sketchy. I think they all are affordable and one can easily get around Rome with the annual ATAC Card. The card costs 230 Euros/year. - Apr 2012
Great public transportation, although if you're out in the Cassia area, it can take an hour to get into the Embassy. We drive the 3 miles and it takes us about 30-40 minutes. - Aug 2010
Buses are so crowded and the metro is just not extensive enough to take everywhere, so you will sometimes need to walk or take a cab (or even drive your own car). Monthly and yearly public transportation passes are available are a reasonable cost. - Apr 2009
Absolutely. One euro buys you 75 minutes of bus/metro ride. Taxis aren't super cheap but they're not prohibitive. Unfortunately, some cabbies will take advantage of non-Italians by taking them somewhere via a longer route, etc. But then again, if you are female, sometimes you get a little price break. You take the good with the bad, I guess. - Feb 2008
Taxis are safe and relatively affordable, not cheap, but not outrageous either. Public transportation is much cheaper and fairly easy to use. I use public transportation ALL THE TIME but many people are intimidated by it. I think it depends upon your approach to the city. I find it FAR EASIER to walk and use public transportation than to spend the money on a cab or to try to drive and find parking. Parking is a nightmare of colossal proportions. THERE IS NO PARKING IN THE CITY. - Feb 2008
