Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Italian Transportation in a Nutshell

Transportation is one of the most confusing aspects of life in Rome. Here’s a bit of a breakdown for anyone planning to travel to or from Rome soon:

Planes:

There are two airports in Rome, Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA).From the JFRC, both will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour in a cab. There are ways to get there by public transportation, but if you have more than three companions, it tends to be about the same price to take a cab. The JFRC actually has a deal where the porter can order a cab for a 45 euro flat fee. This holds up to four passengers. They can also call larger cabs, which tend to work out to be about the same price when divided amongst passengers. Both airports are great and security is usually pretty quick. ALWAYS have your passport out to speed up the process and be sure to take your liquids out of your bag. Don’t be that guy in line.

Trains:

The metro consists of just two lines. Orange and blue lines run through the area surrounding downtown. The closest stop to the JFRC is Cipro. From here, the metro stops at a lot of major sites, as well as connecting passengers to Termini. Termini is the central transportation hub of Rome. In addition to the metro lines, regional trains and buses also run from Termini. Cabs are always available in front of the building. The regional trains run further out into the suburbs, as well as some great day trip locations. The closest place to catch a regional train is the Balduina Station.

Buses:

Never count on a bus to get you anywhere on time. It’s a great system that takes passengers to the best locations in the city, however, the schedule is arbitrary at best. Still, the buses tend to be the most used transportation by students at the JFRC. The 990 and 913 stop nearby and take students into the heart of downtown Rome. Buses only cost a euro per ride and tickets are good for any transfers for 75 minutes after you validate the ticket. There is also a night bus that runs after midnight, with an extended range. It’s always easy to find the N6 on a late night and it stops just a couple blocks from the JFRC.

Cars:

In Italy, traffic rules are optional. Be wary of cars, scooters and other motorbikes.

Strikes:

They happen all the time, so keep an eye on what’s happening locally. The strikes usually only last a few hours, a day at most. They usually don’t hinder travel too much, but they can delay a trip or leave you waiting at a bus stop for hours confused. Just something to keep in mind.

But the best, most reliable for of transportation is…your FEET:

The best way to see the city is to get out there on foot and explore it. Once downtown, walking around Rome is no big deal at all. Maps tend to make distances look much larger than they are in real life. The roads are mostly short, narrow and easy to navigate. Also, people are friendly. Stop in a store and ask for directions, you’ll always find someone who can help you.

So go out and explore! It’s fascinating to see what you can find just by getting lost on all that transportation! Good luck!