Hi, we decided to not rent a car in Rome, but I would like to know what is the safest, fastest, and cheapest way to get around Rome? I am going to book a transfer at our hotel which charges a 52 Euro pick-up at the airport. Don't know what to do from there. Any advice would be very helful (We have two small children 5 & 3). Oh, does anyone know where we can get information to all the sightseeing spots (for example: maps, hours of oper, etc.)

thanks in advance

I purchased a few guide books - Fodors are my favorite. They list all the times, spots et and usually have a "one day" or "Two day" what to do.

Regarding transportation - we walked just about every place or took a cab. I know that the subway is gets good reviews as do the buses. We were just to lazy to go that route.

This site is stuffed with good info. I would research Rome with small children and other related topics. Good call n NOT having a car IN Rome-you'd have to tie it round your neck! We used bus and subway with older children. Little ones aren't keen on the long walks that can be an integral part of visiting Rome and you would really benefit from the wisdom of others. Where are you staying?

Wise not to rent a car in Rome. Walking will get you to most places easily if your hotel is central. Otherwise, buses and taxis will get you there at a reasonable cost.
A good guidebook will give you all the info you need and more. Fodor's is excellent as is the Eyewitness guide. Rick Steves has good info on hours, etc.

Buses when you have time and energy to figure out where to get on/off.

Taxis when you are just pooped, not sure where the right bus stop is, or have luggage.

I strongly recommend you either download and print out or buy right after arrival a bus route map, then buy yourself a 2-3 day supply of bus tickets at a Tabacco shop for 1Euro each.

There are several major bus routes that are handy to learn (40, express from Termini through Piazza Venezia along Corso Vittorio E., #64, slower bus along a similar route. , etc) Buses are frequent, air conditioned, and handy. Remember to validate your ticket on the 1st bus you get on - the ticket is valid for transfers, including the metro, for up to 75min travel time.

For arrival, the 52Euro pick up is money well spent - they'll meet you after baggage claim with a sign (be sure to get a phone # to call), and drop you off at your hotel.

Where are you staying?

Don't know your finances, but if you do not want to indulge in taxis or private tour drivers, you have several options:

1. take stroller for kids & walk a lot. This is good even if you still use wheeled transport.

2. learn the public bus system. It seems a daunting task, but once figured out, it's easy. I gave a blow by blow account of how to do so on this board. just put Julie_Hurst in the search box & you should find it. You also can ask your hotel front desk how to get to & return each day & where to get tickets. However, learning the system will give you more flexibility once your hit the streets. We love the bus system. E1 pp for 75 minutes. You can change buses within the 75 minutes & if you board before your 75 minutes expires, you can finish that ride. There are multiple days & weekly tickets that decrease the cost & allow 24 hour boarding. You must buy a ticket before boarding & insert it in the stamping machine after boarding. (all explained in my Rome bus post)

3. metro - I haven't tried it yet because we wanted to see things along the way (thus used buses), but supposedly is fast & easy to use.

4. The #110 red double-decker bus for E13pp does a 2 hour loop thru the city, stopping at the tourist sites & you can hop on/off as wanted all day. Headsets for the narrative are included. Easy to use but more expensive. It is good to use on your first day to get your bearings on the city & visit several places in one day.

5. The #116 mini-bus goes to the tourist sites. It is slower than the public buses (because it has a long tourist sites route), but easy to use once your hotel tells you where to find it. Cost is same as public bus.

Hope this helps, Julie

Hi

How to get around town depends on where you are going Sometimes it is best to take the bus, sometimes the metro and sometimes you can just walk (the inner city of Rome is quite small). My wife and I went to Rome a couple of years back and we stayed near Termini. Here is my trip report with pictures and links: http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . I have also made this interactive Google map of Rome: http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy_map.htm . This shows you where the various attractions are located and you can click on the markers for more information. I have also pointed out some of the restaurants we went to.

Hope this can be of some help...get in touch if you have any questions Have a great trip.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

As an American who has been living in Rome for years, I entirely agree with your decision NOT to rent a car in Rome. The driving is too complicated and risky, access to the center is limited for private vehicles and parking is impossible to find. Rome is a great walking city - I have children the same age as yours and we walk all over. You can also purchase a multi-day public transport pass. They are quite reasonably priced - if you can avoid rush hours, you will be fine travelling with the kids. There are green tourist information booths all around Rome with pretty good maps/information hours. Personally, I think Italy is a great place to travel with children. Italians dote on them. There are no children's menus per se, but you can always ask for a "mezza porzione" (half portion) in any restaurant.

Walk! Rome is a wonderfully walkable town, even with a stroller. When you get tired of walking, I suggest either a bus or a cab, which is fairly inexpensive as most sights in the historic center are close together.

I would avoid the underground at all cost. Not only is it ridiculously crowded but its not really too convenience.

Tracy