Rome - May 1, 2010

Also, what are taxi fares like in Rome? Any advice on getting the fair price and not being gouged?
For example - how much for a ride from Spanish Steps to Vatican Museum? Is that even possible - are taxis easy to come by?
Thanks from a first time to Italy traveller.

First off, walking in Rome is very easy. Remember that is all they did 2500 years ago. Most of the sites are close together. Taxi fares are reasonable. Always use a taxi stand, check the driver for the approximate amount, AND be sure that the meter is running. Taxis are very easy to come by. You can also use on on of the hop on/off buses for getting from site to site. For a first time visitor that is ofter a good way to get a good overview of everything. Ride the bus for one complete loop to you can see all of the stops.

www.0060608.it is a Web site of the City of Rome. It's generally reliable about things like opening hours, but the Italian version gets updated much more frequently than the English one.

The Roman Forum and the Colosseum are both open on May 1. The Circus Maximus is basically an open space that is never closed.

Hi fmpden -Thanks for the info and I agree with your comment about the walking - that is absolutely what we intend to do on day 2 and 3 of our trip to Rome. However on Day 1(April 30), we are landing from Canada mid-day (having missed a nights sleep) and need to get to the Vatican quickly before the 4:00 deadline as it will be closed on May 1 and May 2.
I'm envisioning that in our fatigued state we will be needing to conserve our energy for the museum/Sistene Chapel. Thanks again.

Zerlina - Thanks for the information.

OMG - I can't believe that I just spelled Sistine wrong! See, I'm already tired. Where's the taxi now??
Any more suggestions on hailing two taxis? I forgot to mention that there will six of us.
Thx.

If you are heading to the Vatican from your hotel, have your hotel call you two taxis. Just be aware that the taxis will arrive with the meter already running--the fare starts when they receive the telephone message and head to your hotel.

Thanks, we're staying at an apartment, and yes, we're heading out to the Vatican from the apartment (no concierge help available)- what are our chances of just heading out onto the streets and finding taxis?? Trevi fountain area.
Thanks

Here's a great article about the ins and outs of finding a taxi in Rome:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome_transportation/taxis.htm

Here's a list of taxi stands:

http://www.unicataxi.cgil.it/roma/posteggi.html

The Roma Pass provides you with 3 days of unlimited travel on public transport. Also, admission to first two sites is free (doesn't include Vatican Museum) and subsequent sites are discounted.

http://www.romapass.it/p.aspx?l=en&tid=2

Using the above-mentioned Roma Pass is a major advantage at popular sites like the Colosseum. You don't wait in the long ticket-buyers' line, you just stroll right in. At least we did, a few weeks ago.

We took the underground from the Spanish Steps area to the Vatican. It was pretty easy to figure out.