The Best Way to Get Around Rome

Buongiorno and welcome to Stefano Rome Tours! 

Rome is the capital of Italy, continuously inhabited since its foundation in 753 BC, destined to become the mighty Ancient Roman Empire that still continues to impress and inspire the world.

Rome has also been a special place of pilgrimages since the Middle Ages, after all, the Vatican is where the Pope resides.  Legacies of Rome’s ancient, medieval, and Renaissance past abound, drawing millions of travelers and cruisers to visit the Eternal City of Rome and experience its wonders.

With so much to see and do in Rome, many travelers and cruisers ask before visiting Rome: What is the best way to get around Rome?

In this travel blog, we will address the different options available to get around Rome during your visit.

Ranked from the most challenging to the easiest, below is a list of the main ways to get around Rome so you may evaluate your options and choose the best way to get around Rome that’s most suitable for you:

1. Getting around Rome on foot and walking (most challenging)
2. Getting around Rome on public transportation
3. Getting around Rome by Taxi
4. Getting around Rome by car (easiest)

Even though getting around Rome is possible on foot or using public transportation, it’s not always easy. 

This is what one can expect when sightseeing in Rome on foot or using public transportation and taxis.  As lifelong locals of Rome, we’ve gotten around Rome on foot, on public transportation, and with Taxis, and this is what one can expect. 

Getting around Rome on foot

Rome’s peak tourist and cruising season are in the summer when many folks and families take their annual vacations.

In the summer months, you can expect very high temperatures in Rome (on many delays it even reached the 90s) which makes it challenging to walk extensively under the scorching sun.

In the winter, early spring, or late fall, it’s possible to encounter cold, wet, and rainy weather that makes it uncomfortable to walk around Rome all day soaked and chilled to the bone.

The streets in Rome’s historical center are crowded with vehicles, scooters, bicycles, and pedestrians - often all of them sharing the same narrow (and usually cobbled) streets.

You will also need a map or a navigator to get around as the ancient streets in Rome are not laid out in a grid, and directions are not always clear.

Getting around Rome by walking is certainly doable and many tourists do so, but you will see far fewer sites and will feel more exhausted in the end. Therefore, for many travelers, this may not be the best way to get around Rome.

The option of getting around Rome on foot is more suitable for:

• Adventurous Travelers
• Travelers on a budget
• Travelers staying in Rome for several days with have plenty of time to sightsee at a slow pace
• Travelers who are in good physical shape to endure hours a day of walking and standing
• Travelers visiting Rome in the shoulder months when it’s not too hot, not too cold, and not too rainy.
• Travelers who have taken the time to research and plan their itinerary routes

 
The option of getting around Rome on foot is NOT suitable for:

• Travelers who want to see more of Rome in a short time
• Senior Travelers and travelers with mobility concerns
• Families with small children
• Travelers visiting Rome during the hot summer or during the cold rainy months
• Travelers who don’t have the time to research and plan their itineraries 

Getting around Rome on public transportation

Public transportation in Rome will get you around faster than walking, but unfortunately, it is often slow, crowded, and hot (most buses and subways are not air-conditioned).

When using public transportation it’s always wise to mind your belongings and valuables at all times as crowded buses and metros going to touristy areas are often targeted by pickpockets who prey on distracted and confused tourists.

Also, monitor public transportation strikes as they occur at least a few times a year.

Getting around Rome by bus or metro will get you to different places faster than walking, but it is still a challenging and exhausting option for sightseeing in Rome.

Using public transportation to get around Rome is more suitable for:

• Adventurous Travelers
• Travelers on a budget
• Travelers staying in Rome for a few days with plenty of time to sightsee at a slower pace
• Travelers in good physical shape able to spend hours standing and walking
• Travelers who have taken the time to research bus and metro routes and planned their itinerary in advance
• Travelers who are street-wise to avoid pickpockets that target crowded buses and metros
  
  

Using public transportation to get around Rome is NOT suitable for:

• Travelers who want to see more of Rome in a short time
• Travelers who are not confident getting around on public transportation
• Senior Travelers and travelers with mobility concerns
• Families with small children
• Travelers visiting Rome during the hot summer or during the cold rainy months
• Travelers who are not comfortable in hot, cramped, crowded places such as buses and metros
• Travelers who don’t have the time to research and plan their itineraries 

Getting around Rome by Taxi

In Rome, Taxis are small white-marked vehicles that charge by the meter.  They can be found at Taxi Ranks near many of Rome’s attractions or can be dispatched by phone.

Most Taxis in Rome belong to Coops, and they have just 4 phone digits that are often indicated on the side of the Taxis. 

Most Taxi dispatchers and Taxi drivers only speak Italian, so it’s important to learn some phrases in Italian when calling a taxi to be dispatched to you or when communicating your drop-off location to a Taxi driver.

Rome Taxi vehicles are mostly small economy cars that can squeeze in up to 4 passengers.  Larger Taxi vehicles are rare. Therefore, Rome city taxis are not suitable for families or friends traveling together that require larger vehicles such as minivans, or families traveling with small children that require a child safety seat.

Many tourists also reported Taxis don't always turn on their A/C in the summer, and sometimes inflate their taxi meter rates, so be sure to check around in advance the estimate of a Taxi fare between different attractions to make sure you are charged accurately.  Your hotel concierge could assist you with estimates. Most Taxis also do not accept credit cards, so be sure always to have cash handy.

Taxis are also subject to strikes (and sometimes taxis have gone on strike without notice). During general public transportation strikes, finding a taxi is very difficult as they are in high demand by locals and tourists who would otherwise depend on public transportation to get around Rome.

LOCAL TIP  - WHEN TAKING A TAXI IN ROME:

When taking a Taxi, it’s important to remember to take ALL your belongings with you and leave nothing behind.

With about 4,000 taxis in Rome, unless you jot down the Taxi’s Vehicle ID and Coop phone number when you get in, if you leave belongings inside the taxi you may never see them again without knowing which taxi vehicle to track. Many tourists lost cameras, wallets, bags, money, and other items of value that they forgot inside taxis and never found them again. So be sure to always jot down your Taxis’ Vehicle ID and Coop phone number when you get in.

Although getting around Rome using Taxis is better than walking or public transportation, it's still not the best way to get around Rome.  Relying on taxis is still an unpredictable and time-consuming option that requires advanced planning on your part to know where taxi ranks are, which numbers to call to dispatch a taxi to your location, and learning some basic phrases in Italian to communicate your needs to your taxi driver or the taxi dispatcher.

Using Taxis to get around Rome is suitable for:

• Travelers who are parties of up to 3-4 people
• Travelers who are used to taking taxis in foreign countries
• Travelers who don’t mind combining taxis with walking
• Travelers who have taken time to research plan their itineraries in advance

Using Taxis to get around Rome is NOT suitable for:

• Travelers who are parties of 4-5 or more people
• Travelers who want to see more of Rome in a short time
• Families with small children that require child safety seats
• Travelers who are not used to using Taxis in a foreign country
• Travelers who don’t have the time to research and plan their itineraries 

The Best way to get around Rome

Being lifelong locals of Rome and having personally used all the above options for getting around Rome, we’ve come to the conclusion that if getting around Rome on foot, by public transportation, or using Taxis is challenging for many locals, it must be overwhelming for so many foreign travelers who are unaccustomed to Rome’s public transportation, taxis, or the city layout.

To make it easy, convenient, comfortable, and efficient for travelers to get around Rome, Stefano Rome Tours was born 20 years ago offering travelers and cruisers the best way to get around Rome: Rome day tours by car.

What is a Rome tour by car?

Seeing Rome by car is by far superior to walking everywhere, using public transportation, or even relying on taxis.

The exciting itineraries on our Rome Tours are pre-organized to maximize your sightseeing in Rome while minimizing walking distances so you will see more in Rome in one day in less time. 

When touring Rome with us, you will tour in stylish deluxe vehicles such as Mercedes or BMW that in Italy are considered limousines.

Touring Rome in a limo with your personal English-speaking driver at your service is an affordable luxury that enhances your experience in Rome eliminating all the obstacles, challenges, and difficulties of touring Rome on your own on foot or by public transportation.

Why are Rome Limousine Tours the best way to get around Rome?

Because our vehicles are professionally licensed to have permission to access Rome’s historical center  (ZTL - Limited Traffic Zone) which is restricted to tour buses and unauthorized vehicles, our guests have the privilege of being driven directly to the most famous attractions they wish to see and visit.

On our Rome driving tours, your driver will take you as close as lawfully possible to each site on your Rome tour itinerary to minimize walking distances. 

 

This makes tours by car ideal for travelers who are in Rome for a limited time and wish to experience as much of Rome as possible in as little time as possible, senior travelers, travelers with mobility issues, multi-generational families, and families with children who wish to experience a safe visit to Rome.

Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off means you don’t have to go anywhere to meet your tour. Your personal driver will arrive at your hotel accommodation at the appointed tour starting time and whisk you off in your private deluxe vehicle for a wonderful adventure in Rome.

Are private tours in Rome worth it?

In short: YES! Private Tours in Rome are definitely worth it, and for many reasons. 

 

Whether traveling to Rome for the first time and wishing to see as much as possible during your stay, or returning to Italy and wishing to explore more of Rome or revisit favorite places, our Rome limousine tours offer you a superior experience in Rome while making you feel like a VIP in Rome!

Touring in your air-conditioned vehicle is truly appreciated during the hot summer months.  So is touring inside your toasty warm and comfortable vehicle during the fall through spring months when it's cold, wet, and rainy out.

If you are in Rome on a short stay during your trip to Italy, or staying in Rome briefly pre-cruise or post-cruise, Rome tours by car are the best way to maximize your sightseeing opportunities during your short stay.

Cruisers can enjoy a Rome pre-cruise tour with pick up from Rome hotel for a fun-filled 4-hour tour of Rome followed by a transfer to Civitavecchia.  With the morning free before embarkation time, why not make the most of it and explore Rome in the comfort of your private deluxe vehicle?  Your luggage will travel safely with you stowed in the luggage compartment of your vehicle until you arrive at Civitavecchia with your final drop off on the Pier next to your ship for optimal convenience.

 

Cruisers who disembark at Civitavecchia can enjoy a debarkation Post-Cruise Tour to Rome with pick up at the cruise port and drop off at a hotel in Rome or in Fiumicino near the airport if flying out early the next morning. Post-cruise tours from Civitavecchia offer the best way to squeeze in a wonderful day of touring in Rome at the end of your cruise.

Considering that you can see twice as many or more places in Rome in one day by car than on foot or public transportation, it’s also a money-saving option as you would not have to spend so many days in Rome staying at pricey hotels and dining at expensive restaurants to see all the “must-see” places in Rome.

What are the most popular Private Tours in Rome?

 

While we offer many different Rome tours to suit a variety of tastes and interests, these are our top-selling and most popular private Rome tours.

POSTCARD ROME TOUR

Our Postcard Rome Tour is the most frequently booked tour by both travelers staying in Rome and cruisers on shore excursions from Civitavecchia. 

This is a more leisurely and flexible tour that offers guests the opportunity to see and visit more postcard-perfect places in Rome while avoiding super crowded tourist attractions with difficult-to-obtain time slot tickets that restrict the tour’s flexibility.

This tour is perfect for travelers and cruisers who wish to experience a more relaxed tour of Rome without being rushed, families with children, senior travelers, and travelers with mobility concerns. 

Panoramic Rome Tour Itinerary:

• Piazza della Rotonda
• Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Piazza Navona
• St Peter's Square
• Capitoline Hill with view of Roman Forum
• Colosseum Square
• Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

ROME CITY AND COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

Next in line for the most popular Rome private tour is our Rome City and Countryside Tour. 

This frequently booked tour by cruisers as often as by travelers staying in Rome combines the best of Rome with the top places to visit in Rome's countryside.

Explore Rome’s most famous squares, followed by an authentic Italian lunch in a medieval village in the countryside, and visit a magnificent Medieval castle that overlooks a pristine volcanic crater lake - a destination fit for fairytale books!

Rome City and Countryside Tour Itinerary:

• Colosseum Square
• Piazza Navona
• Spanish Steps
• Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Medieval hamlet of Ceri
• Historic town of Bracciano
• Odescalchi Castle / Bracciano Castle

BOOK A DRIVER IN ROME FOR THE DAY

Don't see a Rome tour itinerary that suits you? Why not Book a Driver in Rome for the Day and explore Rome on your own? Visit only the sites you choose, and tour Rome at your own pace without a pre-set itinerary.

Thank you for reading our travel blog and for choosing Stefano Rome Tours for your Private tours in Italy. 

We invite you to browse through our vast tour collection on our website, and if we can assist you with customizing your own perfect tour of Rome send us an email and our dedicated expert staff will be happy to assist you with exciting Rome tour options.

We look forward to seeing you in Italy!