how does one get around in Rome?
 

My travel plans for Italy are in the very early stages. It appears that we would have about seven days in Italy. As such - I'm trying to decide where to go and what all to see. If we chose to stay in Rome - how do most people get around? I get the opinion that it is wiser to take trains and perhaps taxis then to rent a car, so was wondering if you stayed in Rome could most of the historical sights be gotten to by foot or would you be relying on a taxi? I am not sure we would stay entirely in Rome, but for now am just trying to get an idea of how much we could see without overdoing it, so Rome seems to be a good place to start!

For a reasonable price you can buy a 24hr bus/metro pass. In summer 1999 it was about $6. <BR> <BR>With that you can see all Rome.

You can walk nearly everywhere. Taxis are not very expensive for the occasional time when you're just too tired or are going a little bit too far. You definitely don't want a car.

Seven of us 'girls' spent three days in Rome last March. Hiring a car would be more trouble than it is worth. Parking is a nightmare. The bus & metro services are excellent. There is also a regular tourist bus service that joins all the sites of interest. You can get on or off as you please with a ticket that lasts all day. <BR>Walking is probably the best option in many areas & certainly the most interesting, although rather hot if you are going in summer. <BR>There are also many fascinating places to visit just outside Rome - tour operators run trips which pick up at most central hotels. <BR>I hope you are allowing several days as there is so much to see in Rome!

If you really want to get the most out of your trip, do a lot walking. Rome is really a city for walking. A lot of the sites are accessible on foot. If you need transportation, the metro and the buses are very handy.

Walking and using the metro (where possible) for longer distances. We lost heaps of weight during our 10 days stay in Rome in 1996 from all the walking. Never got on a bus once, apart from trips to Villa Adriana to Tivoli, then back to Rebbibia, these obviously not in Rome itself. Each day we had worked out what we would do and the best walking/metro routes for same. For instance, the day we did The Vatican and Trastavere we walked from our hotel (b/w Trevi and Spanish Steps area) to San Pietro, then walked down the side of the Tiber to Trastavere, then walked back to our hotel late that night - an entire day on shank's pony.