Good to know: how to move in Rome?

Dress code to visit churches

If you plan to visit holy places, and this may happen every day in Rome, remember that you must be dressed in a decent manner to get in. At the entrance of holy places in Rome in fact, there is a sign, banning the entrance to people with sleeveless tops and shorts witch is not the correct dress code for these places. At the door, a guard checks your dress to prevent access, if your clothing is deemed inappropriate. Who writes cannot do anything to help you in this case. Even me, I must be respectful. In other words, to enter churches, basilicas, cathedral, cemeteries, catacombs, monasteries, cloisters, tombs and chapels in Rome, above all St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel, you must have your knees, your shoulders, back and belly covered. So, no shorts for anyone, nor miniskirts, no too short Bermuda’s either. Bermuda’s are fine only if they arrive on top of the knees. For the top, no sleeveless tops or t-shirts, no singlets, nor tank top or transparent filmsy items or anything that may leave these areas uncovered. I suggest you to take a scurf or a foulard with you to wear upon your shorders when. But be careful! This trick wouldn’t work for men. This rule is for everyone, men, women, girls and boy older than 10 years old. No restrictions for shoes in holy places, but bare feet are no permitted.

Dress code to visit Rome

And now, my personal suggestions to be comfortable during visits, because during my 10 years of experience, I have seen things, people, you wouldn’t believe…

My very first advise and the most important is not to wear wheel shoes for walking tours or the Vatican tour. 3 or more hours walking and standing, several miles run upon cobblestone, would be a very hard job for them, even if you normally use to wear them! Don’t wear flip-flops either, you may have the same problem, in addition to very dirty and wounded feet at the end of the day! Prefer sandal or sneakers.

Don’t wear anything made of nylon, like football t-shirts or gym ones. They don’t breathe and will make you sweat more than the temperature. Prefer cotton, linen or viscose. Don’t wear long jeans for the summer, they are absolutely too heavy for our temperature in mid-June, July, August and mid-September.

Finally, no handbags. Prefer a Waist bag or a small backpack with zips closing in order to keep your hands free and personal belongings safe.

Means of Transportation in Rome

The Subway

The most commun and the easiest mean of transportation in Rome is the subway. Roman Subway has only 2 lines that cross the city intersecting at Termini Station Stop.

The A line runs from Anagnina to Battistini, with 27 stations, ranging from southeast to northwest.

The B line goes from Rebibbia to Laurentina with 22 stations from south-west to north-east. Both are open from 05.30 AM until 11.30 PM.

The system called Metrebus Rome offers a wide variety of tickets and passes:

BIT (€ 1,50) is valid for only one trip in the metro, all public busses, tramway for 100 minutes.
ROMA 24H (€7,00) for the all day for unlimited trips.
ROMA 48H (€ 12,50) valid for 2 days for an unlimited trips.
ROMA 72H (€ 18,00) valid for 3 days for an unlimited trips.
You can purchasedall these tickets at newsstands, vending machines in all subway stations. Tickets offices are also available at train station of Anagnina, Battistini, Laurentina, Rebibbia and Ottaviano.

ATAC info | ROMA PASS info

Means of transportation in Rome from and to the airports

Rome has two airports for passengers, the main one where all airlines in the world use to land is called Leonardo da Vinci, but commonly known as Fiumicino (FCO).

This airport is connected to the city by a direct train called Leonardo Express (the name is also written on the side of the wagons). The ticket costs € 14 and leaves from platform 25 of Stazione Termini central rail station. It leavs every 15 minutes, at 22 to 52 minutes of any hours and takes you to destination in 33 minutes.

At Fiumicino Airport, the railway station is located in front of Terminal 3 and the train uses to stop and leave at platform 2. However you can check the platform at the screens in the station.

Ciampino airport is the one where low cost flights land such as Rayan Air, Wizzair and Easyjet. To get there you can easily take a bus leaving from Termini Station (Via Marsala) or from the Metro A station called Anagnina which is not far from the airport.

Taxis

Taxis in Rome are more expensive than in other cities of Europe so it is better to control rates before leaving.

To take a taxi in Rome you have to go to the parking place. You can find them on the major squares of the city. If you call them on the street, probably they are not going to stop!

If you are in the urgency to get one, you can enter in a hotel or restaurant and ask them to call one for you. This service has to be free of charge. You can also call one directly with your mobile. Here some numbers +3906 3570, +3906 5551, +3906 6645.

To reach Fiumicino or Ciampino airports, fixed rates are established by the municipality: 40 € from or to Ciampino and 50 € for Fiumicino.

Driving in Rome

In the center of Rome is totally a Limited Traffic Zone ZTL where you can not circulate from 7:00 to 18:30. Only authorized car can pass. The gates in fact, have cameras and you mya have a ticket of 75€.

If you have your own car, however, it is advisable to park outside the restricted traffic area. Then you can go confortibly use the subway, buses ok bykes.

In city center, there are authorized parking areas marked by a blue line on the ground. The rate is 1.00/hour but with 4€ you can park for the all day.

The ticket have to be displayed on the dashboard and can be purchased from vending machines with a grey P on the top that are located on all sidewalks. There are then public and private parking in any area of the city.

ParkSA Villa Borghese Blvd Galoppatoio H24 33 opened with a daily rate of 14.45 €.

Terminal Park: 30/32 Via Marsala (Termini Station) open all days from 6.00 to 1.00 with a fee of € 28.40 per day.

Piazzale dei Partigiani: from 6.00 am to 11.00 pm with a daily fee of 10 €.

Terminal Gianicolo: Via Urbano VIII, 16 / C (Vatican City) open every day from 7.00 to 1.30 with three pedestrian exits to St. Peter’s Basilica. The daily rate is € 27.60. The rates may change on weekends and holidays.

Funny means of transportation in Rome: hire a scooter or a vespa or…

There is a very funny and cheap way to move: ito rent a scooer. This alternative mean of transportation is not, however, devoit of dengers. In fact, city cars and scooters overtake both from the left and from the right. This is absolutely not the rule, but only a bad habit. Moreover, the road surface may have holes caused by the last rain and not covered yet. Cobblestones that cover our streets become very slippery with wear especially at the first drops of rain. That said, especially in summer, use a scooter is a very fun and practical way to move.

... hire a bicycle

Most of the historical part of the city is in fact a pedestrian area and therefore can be reached only on foot or bike. The Rome municipal transport company makes bicycles available – usable with simple cards – in the more central piazzas of the city. Riding around Rome on a bike is a very cheap way of knowing the city.

You can visit Rome the whole year round. It enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate that offers mild temperatures during spring and autumn. However, we recommend going in spring or autumn, and avoid Easter vacations and April when it is extremely crowded and expensive.

Fall is the best season to come. The Roman word ‘Ottobrata’ means just that, a typical October day, still sunny and warm, but with atmosphere and colors of the near fall. The pastel atmosphere permeates the whole city, but unfortunately it only lasts a few seventh.

The wettest months are March and April. In the last 10 years, it was not unusual to have a true floods and cold during Easter vacations. Spring arrives in June, when the summer heath is already strong.

The climate of Rome: the Ponentino

Summer in Rome is wonderful, very warm and dry with temperatures easily joining 36°C in July and August. But a true miracle is performed though in Rome in the summer. At around 11 am, when the heat stars to burn, a breeze from west begins to blow. It is the Ponentino, mild wind, barely moving the leaves, bringing with itself the freshness stolen from the surface of the see. Even the ancient Romans knew the climate of Rome, Stendhal and Goethe described it into theri femous books. It is really a great relief to feel it during our tours. By the way, if your vacations are planned to be in the summer, don’t deprive yourself of a visit of Rome, chose a visit by car with air-conditioned and tinted windows! Rome’s coldest months are January and February. It rains for 20 minutes every couple of days but some days the temperature can be quite pleasant. 17°C (64°F). At night, the temperature does down and can reach 8° (50F). If you don’t mind a little bit of cold in the morning and a bit of rain in the evening, the climate of Rome is really very beautiful and visiting Rome in this period is cheap than during other seasons.