Rome advice required please

RichyRich

What time do you land? Public transport from Ciampino finishes quite early and your only option may be a taxi.

Otherwise there are trains and buses.

Pee

Possibly not a fountain, but there is something just in front with steps around it that you can sit on - lots of people were sitting there. I didn't take much notice, I had my back to it.

When i went I used public transport as I thought the Ryainair bus, is it terravision? was a bit expensive. The ease of following everyone else onto the bus like a flock of sheep is quite tempting though, and I think the prices have been reduced since.

RichyRich

If I go back I'm going to look for it! I can't remember what the train back to the airport cost us. I'd guess around €15 each but don't hold me to it!

A single ticket "billete singolo" in Rome is, I think, €1, and that entitles you to a bus ride, a go on the tube, and another bus ride at the other end as long as your total journey is less than an hour and a half. You can buy them from newsagents and shops and have to stamp them on your first bus/tube ride.

I don't know where the spanish steps are but the bus station is right outside Termini, Rome's main rail station.

RichyRich

Actually you had best ignore everything I've said about airports. I can't remember whether we flew to Fiumicino or Ciampino now :-S

Sorry

cro-magnon

The Vatican is/was free the last Sunday of every month, this is when I went. The downside is that it closes just after lunch and only certain parts are open. The Sistine chapel was a huge disappointment imo, you walk ages and ages and ages down ornate corridors and eventually end up in a big room, I was ready to walk out it until I realised that it was the Sistine chapel!
Remember to take your camera, I was incorrectly advised that cameras were not allowed so left mine behind that day only to get there and see others happily snapping away. Flash photography is banned though.

When I went (3 years ago) there was a bus that cost about 2 or 3€ that took you to Anagnina (the end of metro line A) and you could buy the ticket from the driver (unlike regular bus services) and then stay on line A until Spagna, which is at the Spanish steps. A metro ticket was about 1€. Apparently it is possible to get anywhere on Line A from the airport for the cost of a single metro ticket as they are valid on trams and regular buses as well, provided they are used within 90 minutes of being validated. In order to do this you will need to buy a ticket from a newsagent/tobacconist as the bus drivers do not issue them and then find out which local bus goes between the airport and Anagnina (there is at least 1!) It is the same ticket you buy/use no matter where you are travelling by metro, train or bus. If you buy a ticket from a metro machine it does look different to the ones issued by the tobacconists but I was assured that they are exactly the same. Always remember to validate the ticket when you get on, if you are travelling somewhere that takes longer than the 90 minutes you validate the next ticket at the appropriate time/stage. If I recall correctly - if you are travelling anywhere and want to use both metro lines you need to use 1 ticket per line regardless of how long you are travelling for - the only link-up station is Termini (main railway station).

I’m sure the Terravision bus was 8 € each way…however, I’ve just checked out their website and see that you can book singles in advance for a mere 4€ and returns for 8€. You would still need to hop on a metro train, bus or taxi to get to the Spanish steps area though, so I stand by my original suggestions! Watch out for pickpockets on the metro and at Termini, there are lots of Beggars aroudn the touristy areas and lots of homeless sleeping rough under the bridges over the river and near Termini.

3 years ago a beer at any of the main attractions cost 7€ +. The Pantheon is recommended and is free. If you are not squeamish then I recommend the crypt of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. It’s free again but donations are…expected.

Hope you have a good time as my favourite holiday ever was to Rome. I spent a whole week there but could have stayed much much longer.

robbiecaratiger

Thanks for all of this - much appreciated

By the way, we land at 10:30am, so pretty reasonable

Te_Awamutu

We got back from Rome a few days ago. The easiest way to get from Ciampino airport was via the Terravision bus. It cost 4 euros each, each way, but you can buy the tickets on line in advance (in English). The bus takes 40 mins to get to the Termini station, then you can either get the metro to the Spanish Steps (1 euro each) or if you've not got much luggage you could walk it in about 30 minutes.

As Pee said, take good walking shoes and walk as much as you can - very MSE and you get to see so much more of the town. Also, be prepared for things to be quite expensive, if the exchange rate hasn't changed by March. Stay away from the main tourist areas if buying food and drink as that really pushes the price up. We carried water bottles and filled them up at the many fountains in town - the water is clean and everyone seemed to be doing this.

Final tip - there aren't many public toilets, so McDonalds will become your friend. They don't expect you to buy anything, but you may have to queue.

robbiecaratiger

Thanks for this - I've registered online with Terravision and I think that's superb value. 40 min journey into Rome for 4 euros each. Not much room for arguing there!

Checked with Crown Currency Exchange - they're offering 1.13 for the euro in March. Might have a dabble at that.

Cro-Magnon - Thanks for your advice too - much appreciated

DebG

The Vatican Museum is a must. It is worth to go there a couple of minutes before opening. The queue is huge, but it runs fast and you can get in within 15 minutes or so.

Nigbob

From Ciampino to to Termini should be 40 mins, unless the traffic is horrendous. Last month it took over an hour an a half on the day I was there.

Agree about the Vatican Museum. It's fantastic, but be warned, it will take you all day to visit. Actually I just turned up at 9a.m. and walked straight in, so you may be similarly lucky.

If you are into Art, the Borghese Gallery is superb too, though you have to book in advance.